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| Can you train me Please? |
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Puppy Training:
Why should I do it?
The new puppy has arrived and Puppy training begins the minute he comes through
our door for the first time. The time that you spend formally training your pup is just
the beginning -- puppies are learning whenever they are awake. The more you can
include the puppy in your life and home, the happier all of you will be!
So what is Puppy Training? When does it start?
In the first few months when you are the most important person in his life, you can teach: Come, Sit, Down, and begin work on good manners. However be aware that before your puppy's immune system is mature, you should be very careful taking him out to places where he could come in contact with diseases and infections. In the next couple of months, after your pup has had all his shots and can go out in public, and into the adolescent months, you will be motivated to continuing the training because of all he has learned already.
Far too soon your puppy will become an adolescent, a teenager – and because you are not overwhelmingly, the most important thing in his life many aspects of training will be a lot harder. Also, a behavior that may have been cute when the puppy was
5 – 15 lbs is not so much fun when he's seventy pounds!
See the menu or the recommended links for many more pages related to puppy training.
Puppy Training: Weeks 8 through 24
There is so much to learn, and everything your puppy sees, hears, touches, and eats will be part of this learning process as well as what he learns from your actions!
Be Very careful where you take your puppy before his
immunity system is fully mature and he has had his puppy vaccinations.
Generally speaking most puppies do not go to their new homes until they are around
8 weeks. By this time he has usually had at least one Parvo and one DHLP shot.
The puppy will be at least 12 to 16 before he has had a complete series of shots and
is considered fully vaccinated. At that time is immune system has matured and he
should be able to go almost anywhere with you, until then, speak to your breeder
or veterinarian about their recommendations. You can however begin training Your
puppy in your own home and yard.
Are learning the basic commands the most important things to teach your puppy?
No...
Ian Dunbar, a well know trainer from California, has taught us that there are
other crucial things to be taught and trained during these first few months. . You can
make a tremendous difference in your puppy’s life by selecting from a good breeder
who socializes and continuing the training as soon as you get him home. Here is a
link to Ian Dunbar’s booklet “Before you get your puppy”, which is filled with
wonderful information. I had the privilege to work with Mr. Dunbar on many occasions
when I lived in CA and through the APDT conferences, and I can personally
recommend his books. He is and has been for many years, a forerunner in new
training methods and concepts. Some of the things you can teach your very young puppies are:
Bite inhibition... learning that biting and rough mouthing is not acceptable.
Socialization – learning to get along with people and other dogs.
Housetraining and crate training
Learning the basic good manners of refraining from jumping on people, excessive barking with out cause, pulling on eash, and many other behaviors that can be prevented by starting at an early age.
Here are some links to pages on The Sirius web site with some great information:
New Puppy Behavior Problems
During the first few months is the time for this essential puppy training. If you pay
attention when you look at the ads in the paper or go to the shelter, most of the
dogs looking for new owners are between the ages of 9 – 18 months and they
have never had the opportunity to learn while they were the most able to be
imprinted with good behaviors. There is an incredible amount of information
available to you, including books videos, breeders, and of course a good trainer.
Association of Pet Dog Trainers
is a good place to start looking. This is a listing of Trainers who adhere to a code of
ethics, and promote positive training practices.
Teaching Basic Commands:
By incorporating theses words into his daily life from the moment he comes into
your life, these words quickly become associated with the behavior. As long as
you make it fun and rewarding your puppy will quickly want to do the behavior to
please you (and get the reward!).
How to teach COME:
1. Have a good tasty treat in your hand,
2. Hold the treat right at the puppy’s nose
3. As you back up slowly, while keeping the treat to the pup’s nose
4. Call the puppy in a happy voice “Fido (your pup’s name) Come!”
5. You may also sit or squat on the floor, if you have trouble bending over.
6. When the puppy comes, give him the treat, praise him, and be happy.
7. As he progresses, move further back, offering the treat, and as he comes
to you back up saying “Come” repeatedly, and praising as he does so.
Try to work in an area or time when he has least distractions at first and
add distractions as he becomes good at coming every time. Also remember
that praising is always the best reward!
If he does not come, do not get upset with him! Just move in closer.
Never use the word come if you are calling the puppy for anything that can be
construed as bad by the puppy. Things like calling him because he a wet the floor
chewed a shoe or getting his nails cut are all examples of “bad” to a puppy. Coming
to you is always a “good” thing. It can mean the difference of Life and death in an emergency.
If you are calling him for a not so good reason, use another word such
as “let’s go” or “here”.
Always use a happy tone of voice, and make it fun. You should also practice this several times a day for just a short period of time.
How to teach SIT:
1. Have a good tasty treat in your hand,
2. Hold the treat right at the puppy’s nose
3. Move the treat up, keeping it at his nose, allowing him to raise his head up to follow the treat.
4. As his head comes up his butt will sit.
5. As his butt hits the floor, say “sit”. Give the treat as you say the word. “sit”.
6. If he jumps to get the treat you have it to far above his nose.
Remember to let the puppy figure out how to sit without putting your hands on him.
Pushing him on the butt or using his collar is the old way of teaching it. We have
learned that touching the dog actually slows the process as the touch is distracting
to the pup and prevents him from figuring it out on his own and using his brain. Also
timing is important, be sure you reward him for sitting, not somewhere between, on
his way down or popping back up.
As he gets better, if you use a treat that he can lick or you can hang on to while he
is munching on it, you can extend the time he is sitting, while praising him, “good sit”.
How to teach Down:
1. Have a good tasty treat in your hand,
2. Hold the treat right at the puppy’s nose
3. While the puppy is sitting, move the treat down, keeping it at his nose, allowing him to lower his head down to follow the treat.
4. Pull the treat down between his front legs, slowly.
5. As his belly hits the floor, say “down”. Give the treat as you say the word. “down”.
You may have to move the treat out or push it under his belly to help him flop down. Keep the treat on the floor. As he gets the idea, start him from a stand, lowering the treat straight to the floor.
Again, do not touch the pup. You will want to help him by pushing him to the
floor. Please, do not! And timing is also very important here. Use the word
“down” only when his belly is on the floor.
More to come!
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