Training Success?

Now that I am retired and have Teddy he went through 1 puppy class and He gets to play with 3 of his neighborhood friends 1 time a week in a fence in space off leash. I walk him 2 times a day as far as I can go We go shopping together at pet friendly stores and when it's cold out he goes with me to the others. My wife walks him 2 to 3 miles every evening and our neighbor walks him when she needs a puppy fix. He greets people and dogs in a safe manner while on walks. I think it has made him a very well rounded pup and with the multiple people it gives him a secure place in our pack. The thing I have noticed is he will walk the speed of the handler.I am the slowest and he will walk at my pace and the same for the others We are beginning to do jumps in the backyard and this winter there is going to be basic agility classes close by. So we will sign Teddy up for that.

 

Training is not something that happens just in specific times/places like a class setting...it is literally a 24/7 happening even when we are not actively working on training...so most of the training our dogs get they actually get from us hourly. For first time dog owner's attending a class or having a trainer come to the house can be very helpful, but for people who have had dogs before, unless they are looking to certify a dog in some specific area, I honestly don't think that official training is necessary...esp if you don't have a trainer who you really feel is top notch. Experiences under a bad trainer are far more damaging than no official training at all. It is important for a pup to meet other dogs, children, and new situations and once vaccinated taking them into many different places helps build both their tolerance and their acceptance of new people and things. I know right now that can be hard with so many restrictions...both our Panda (2 years old) and now our Laddie (1 year old) haven't had as much opportunity to socialize with strangers and new places as my previous dogs have had, but in the long run both will be fine.
Trini

 

Good luck I call Angus the party hound as every day is a party for him. He has no focus and will flit around thing to thing. He is smart and does mind but things like fetching, please. Also once he has done something he just looses interest. But he is great for Spitfire and soaks up loving like it is the best thing in the world. Some just don't got it. Spitfire on the other hand can do anything, is smart as all get out but is so independant that at flyball practice someone looked at me and said 'I think he just gave you the paw' Yep if you are on his agenda great, if not no coaxing will help your cause. In contrast Sca was smart and all about me and had a TON of drive. Just got to love them for who they are.

Oh and separate them when training the puppy

 

I’ve heard about a puppy temperament test (although I’ve never done one). It may be helpful to make sure you know what they’ll be like.https://www.dummies.com/pets/dogs/how-to-test-a-puppys-temperament/

 

I would recommend talking to the breeder, and explaining the temperament you are looking for, and the temperament you don’t want. The breeder should be able to help you choose a puppy that will be the best fit. Is this the same breeder Roxy came from, or does the breeder know Roxy? If so, I think the breeder should be able to tell you if these puppies are similar in temperament to Roxy.

If you can, meet the parents as well.

Kip’s breeder chose him for me based on what I told her I was looking for: confident, playful, high energy, and that I wanted to do agility. That’s exactly what I got.

 

I absolutely agree with talking honestly with the breeder. There's no wrong or right in this kind of situation - it has to work for you, and it has to work for Roxy. My decision was made for me between two lovely girls when the one immediately pestered Faith, and the other (Meadow) sniffed her over, and then walked away.

They do learn from each other, good and bad. My little Ally was a terror with the vacuum cleaner, and she taught Faith, who then taught Elijah, who then taught Meadow that attacking the vacuum was the thing to do. Neither Faith, Eli or Meadow originally had that behavior - they didn't like the vacuum but they'd just leave the room.
Good stuff too, though, our first Sheltie Skye really taught puppy Asta a lot of good stuff.

 

They most definitely learn from each other! When Piper was a pup he never saw me leave so he never saw how Riley reacted (barking). We were in a different house with Finnie so Finnie did see me leave and saw Riley barking at me...now I swear Finnie has managed to pick up all Riley’s bad habits! I tell my mom he’s Riley reincarnated! Piper of course could care less. I am doing Blueberry the same as I did with Piper and she hasn’t learned this bad behaviour. Of course Blueberry tries to get the vacuum and she can even get Piper (who never bothered with it) going after it!