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We are not
going in-depth with training methods as each dog is
different and the subject itself can take an entire Web
Site!
Here are a few basic training tips and advice for the most
common issues of introducing a new puppy into the household.
If we refer to the puppy as a 'he' it is nothing sexist,
just easier :-)
Try to keep 'Training'
informal and think of it as 'Behaviour Shaping' !
Brief History of the Wolf
/ Dog
Firstly a
little about the origins of the dog to help you understand
what you are dealing with.
The forebear of the dog is the wolf. All canines - wolves,
jackals, foxes, coyotes, etc have a strong 'family' sense.
They live in 'packs' and have a strict 'pecking order'. The
dog has existed for thousand of years and even today it
retains many of the behaviours of its ancestor.
Taking one dog from a litter does not alter that instinct.
It is still a pack animal. The difference now being that it
is no longer in a canine pack, but a human / canine pack. To
the dog we are just another animal.. A complicated one, that
acts differently, but still an animal.
In the wild the Sire (father and pack leader) and Dam
(mother) of the pup teach correct behaviour and discipline.
With a dog the pup usually only has the Dam and the breeder
to teach it, and this teaching is limited.. This is where
the new family have to take over. To become the new pack,
and more importantly the new pack leader !!
The
Early Days / Weeks
The most
important weeks to you, as a owner of a new puppy, are weeks
7 to 16 (known as the socialisation period).
The first days of a puppy's life in a new home are quite
daunting for him. Suddenly he is ripped away from his mother
and litter mates, and placed in strange surroundings with
complete strangers and strange smells. The household routine
is different, and at night he is alone and in the dark.
So what can we do to make him feel safe and secure again ?
When you first collect the puppy, place him in the car where
you want him to travel. i.e: a box or a crate, or a blanket
behind a seat etc. Many people have the puppy on the lap of
the front seat passenger, and have it there for many
journeys until it gets too big or inconvenient. Then the
wonder why it barks, moves about and tries to clamber back
into the front when you place it elsewhere in the car. This
is not only a nuisance, but also dangerous whilst driving.
Try to collect the
puppy when you have a some days free to spend time with
him.. perhaps a weekend off work.
Give him lots of cuddles and attention, but don't spoil him
rotten.. Start as you mean to go on !!
As much as possible, introduce the puppy to the lifestyle
that it is going to have.
Do Not think of the puppy as a' baby' other than for the
housetraining and initial settling in.
During these early weeks the puppy is going to develop
mentally rapidly and it is programmed to learn. Avoid any
severe frightening experiences as things happening at this
stage stay forever. (Re-homing is not a severe frightening
experience although it may seem that way!)
Tip: When you
arrive home don't take the puppy immediately into the house,
even if you have excited children waiting. Take him to an
area of the yard or garden that you want him to use as a
toilet. After the journey he will probably want to go
anyway, so have it happen in the right place, and not on
your carpet!
*
Ask the breeder for some of the food he has been fed on, and
don't change his diet straight away. If you must change his
diet, do it slowly, mixing in a little of his original food
with the new food (see Diet)
Make his bed in the kitchen (this saves the lounge carpet
during house training!) and keep his bed, food and newspaper
(for weeing on!) close together (see Housetraining)
*
At night leave a small light on. Also a radio on low will
help him think he is not alone. Taking a blanket to the
breeder to get the smell of his litter mates on is also a
good idea.
He will cry at night, and this can last anything from a few
days to a week or so. DON'T be tempted to bring him into
your bedroom unless you want him there permanently. This is
where you feel cruel, but its best to leave him or go to him
as few times as possible. He will soon learn that you will
go back to him in the morning.. Trust me !!
Perhaps its also a good idea to buy the neighbours a bottle
of wine at this time too !! ;-)
*
As with a new baby, its also a good idea to get down on all
fours and see the house from the dogs view (seriously!!)..
and then move anything that you do not want broken, knocked
over or chewed !
DO NOT give in to him with anything that you do not want him
to do. Dogs like to live in packs.. The new family is his
'pack' and you must be 'top dog'! Be firm but loving. He
will enjoy being trained and will reward you with his
loyalty.
Most of all remember that he is a baby and try to understand
how he must be feeling in this initial settling in stage. It
will not be long before he thinks of you as the best thing
since chopped liver!
*
Introduce the puppy to as many things as possible that he
will have to live with, i.e: The vacuum cleaner, mop, radio,
television, washing machine etc (that can be fun when he
tries to chase and savage the mop!!)
Introduce him to other family pets or take to a veterinary
puppy socialising session to meet other animals. Puppies
introduced to cats at an early stage will accept them as
part of the norm..
* Put a collar on him and let him get used to wearing it,
even before he has had his vaccinations and can go outside.
The puppy may scratch at it from time to time, but will be
easily distracted.
A Puppy has so much to learn in such a short time.
Play Fighting
Puppies play together and do
a lot of play fighting. This isn't aggression, its a
learning experience. Testing themselves and getting some
exercise, just like children! If you watch puppies play you
will see a number of dog behaviours - stalking, chasing,
tracking, hiding, pouncing etc..
You can 'play fight' with your puppy. Its a game he
understands.
Extend you finger and thumb like a 'beak' - this is your
'bite'. Use both hands and you have two 'bites'. Any puppy
can cope with fighting two others. Three are too many.
When you puppy 'attacks' your hand you can 'attack' its rear
with your other hand - as he turns to retaliate the second
'attacker' can come in and 'attack' the back of his neck.
Be careful though as a puppy has got very sharp teeth. Roll
him over onto his back and pin him down - it is the
submissive position. Your puppy is learning that you are
bigger and stronger than he is ( and therefore Top Dog!) .
When dogs roll onto their
backs it is passive submission. Puppies often do it to get
their tummies tickled :-) and it quickly becomes active
submission.
Don't overdo the play fighting and don't let it
become serious fighting. Stop if the puppy starts to get
serious.
If he growls, listen it it. You will soon learn the
difference between a serious and a play growl!
When the puppy's bites hurt yell 'ouch' and 'No' let him
know he is biting too hard. You need to control that bite.
With some puppies it may be necessary to stop the play for a
few minutes. Introduce the word 'gently' to control the
'bite' and over the weeks the puppy will learn to mouth
without hurting.
Words
Puppies / Dogs
learn certain words over due course of time, but they
communicate by body language and sounds i.e: facial
expressions, looks in the eye, in addition to their barks,
growls etc.
Learn to use three voices. To give a command make it
matter of fact.
(Adjust tone to suit the dog). To praise use a soft / light
voice. To reprimand use a deeper, even growling, voice.
A dog does not
understand sentences.. so something like "come on Poppy
dear. come to mummy" will go totally ignored as the dog
thinks "what she on about". Keep instructions simple.
One word even, and adjust the tone accordingly. Looking at
the dog and one word "come" or at the most "Poppy (to get
the attention) Come". Use body language to signify what you
want, in this example, pat your knees or point to the floor
in front of you.. Don't use different words for the
same command, and don't change body language for that
command.
Don't confuse
the dog.
Socialising
Its a great pity
that at a time when your puppy is most receptive to
learning, he cannot be taken out due to the vaccinations.
However, you can take them out in the car . Carry them to
where they can meet people, i.e: carry them to the school to
pick up the children, or a supermarket etc. A lot of people
will stop and and stroke him even if he is tucked inside
your coat.
This page is still being
updated so please bear with us.. thankyou
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