Dog training tip #1
Choosing a puppy
Avoid choosing a puppy that has been taken away from their siblings
and mother before the 7 weeks of age. This puppy has missed out
on Crucial Canine Imprinting. This is the time when the mother
disciplines the puppies for unruly behaviour and sets the social
boundaries. The ideal age to separate a puppy from it's mother
is between 7-9 weeks of age.
Dog training tip #2
Misunderstood
Many times the dog does not understand what you mean or does something
it thinks it should do because of the lack of communication skills
of the owner. A professional trainer knows how to communicate with
your dog right from the beginning. Most dogs really like to please
their owner.
Dog training tip #3
Commonsense questions
When choosing a puppy observe the behaviour of the parents when
possible and don't hesitate to pose any questions to the breeder
if you have any concerns.
- Are the parents calm and easy to live
with ?
- Were they easy to train ? -Do they look good for their
ages ?
- Avoid a puppy that shows fear or anxious behaviour.
- Look
for physical soundness in the parentage.
- Insist on commonsense
answers to commonsense questions.
- Remember a new puppy is your
companion for years to come.
Dog training tip #4
Suit your lifestyle
Choose a breed or hybrid that most suits your lifestyle and environment.
Don't make the mistake to base your choice just on looks. It is
unfair to the dog and it might lead to an stressfully relationship
between you and your dog. Take some time to research the breeds
and what they were bred for. It is important that the temperament
and energy of the breed suits your lifestyle. If you are unsure
talk to people who own a dog of your preferred breed or seek professional
advice.
Dog training tip #5
Stopping puppies from biting
When dogs are at the puppy stage, it is the best time to install
appropriate, respectful and compliant behaviour. This will set
your puppy up for minimum effort of training to achieve maximum
results when they become an adult dog. Puppies like to test boundaries.
If you let your puppy use yourself as a chew toy, you are setting
your puppy up for failure. You are creating an out of control dominant
dog that does not fit into society.
When your puppy wants to bite you, even a slight mouthing, give
the puppy an instant verbal negative and a quick grab on the back
of their neck. Be dramatic, dogs are masters of drama, use eye
contact, say a negative like NO or AHHH. Put your hand infront
of the puppy and let the puppy decide if its going to make the
same dishonest decision again. If the puppy doesn't bite or licks,
which is harmless honest non-dominant behaviour, reward the puppy
with verbal praise like GOOD DOG and PATS.
If the puppy doesn't choose honesty and begins biting again, do
the same verbal negative as before but be harder and sharper with
the correction and put your hand out again and watch what decision
the pup makes. Continue this until the pup makes the right decision.
Remember the session does not end until the pup makes the right
decision and gets praised for it. Be firmer with every step. Remember
to have lots of play toys for puppies and never them use your hand,
clothing,shoes etc.
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