Puppy training plan

Hanne said:
Trini - that's exactly what I mean. :yes:

I have never "trained" Minnie, and she is good at all these ordinary things.

On our walks, people stop us to give her praise because she goes so nice -in her leash- next to me leg.
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Hanne, I agree. So often people think that they have to set aside time for formal training to have a well behaved dog and don't realize that literally every minute of the time they spend with their dog and every reaction they have to their dog's behavior is "training" their dog.

To me, the absolute most important basis for good behavior is the bond your dog develops to you...everything else falls into line once that bond is truly solidified because dogs desperately want to please the people they love and trust.

Trini
 
And I am agreeing with the other posters too! Puppy time is about play. Play walking on different surfaces, play going through a tunnel made from a sturdy box or under a chair, play romping up and down a step or two. I did put my Cubby on the counter and taught sit, down, paws up, touch, and shake -- that took all of 10 minutes because shelties are eager and smart. We learned stay or wait for picture taking! The rest was play.

The only kind of useful training is leash training in the house or a small area of yard. Let the dog walk you around while you are holding the leash just to get used to that. After that is fine with the pup, start calling the pup to come along to you on leash using a treat. Then progress to walking where you want to go using a treat. As the pup gets older you can stop every time the dog tries to get ahead of you and pull. If you practice this in a boring hallway or like me on my deck, the pup learns early on not to pull.

Carrying through places, even a 5 minute walk outside being carried, exposes the pup to the sights, sounds, and smells of the world. It helps the pup start making sense of life and not fearing it. It is the very best thing you can do. Your holding and cuddling makes the dog feel safe as it views the world. There is plenty of time after shots to explore the world, at first, just watching is enough.

Training, real training, can happen when the puppy's mind is more mature and in some instances (like agility) the body too. We did obedience 1 & 2 and then scent 1 & 2 at our dog school because mentally and physically these were appropriate for his age. Now that he is over a year, we can take obedience 3 which has more jumping practice and a much faster mental pace. Also, in another month or two there is agility when I know his joints are all mature.

Raising the pup is a process of exposure and expanding the world -- just like raising a child, same thing. Enjoy each step and don't rush anything. It's fun just taking time and really having some quality bonding.

And . . . with California, Central California, we have a major, beyond major, parvo problem. Many people I know have lost one to parvo. It is important to take it really seriously and just protect the little ones until shots are complete.
 
Great news! Were found a breeder who has been wanting to sell a 6 month old female puppy because she might be too big for conformation, and the breeder needs to cut down on dogs. She also happens to email us the day right before my last day of school. We believe that maybe this is a sign from God, but were not certain. Were going to visit her and the breeder today. We might come home with a puppy. :biggrin2:
 
Biscuit said:
We believe that maybe this is a sign from God, but were not certain. Were going to visit her and the breeder today. We might come home with a puppy. :biggrin2:
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Am a great believer in "signs from God". Also hope this is a match for you.
 
We got the puppy! Her name is Christy, and she is such a great dog. She instantly felt right at home. She and the cat are starting to get along. Considering that Christy never seen a cat before, she handled it well. She would bark, wag her tail, and go in the playing stance. Thankfully my cat is more easy going than most cats, and she doesn't try to run. She will go underneath something, watch Christy and quietly hiss. They are separated at the moment, but we will slowly work on getting them used to each other. We do have an issue with pooping. Christy will pee outside, but hasn't pooped yet. She pooped several times on our green carpet. Our backyard is all dirt, so she might've been confused. I wonder if she thinks that the carpet is grass-like. Were going to stop at petsmart later today and get some spray to discourage her form pooping there. And were going to be more consistent in letting her outside.
 
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