Total Dog Magazine

Tag: puppy training

  • Socialising My New Puppy (Checklist)

    Early puppy socialisation is so important, it’s to overstate just how much impact it can have as the pup grows in to an adult.

    If you read the situations listed on this puppy socialisation checklist, we’d also add some of the following tips for better socialisation of your puppy:

    1. Hand contact. Get your pup used to being touched, stroked and handled.

    2. Exposure to different sounds. Noise phobia can develop at any age, but the earlier a pup gets used to hearing different sounds, the better.

    3. Exposure to other dogs. Not to be done until pup is vaccinated, but exposure to other dogs at an early age can circumvent many problems developing later.

  • How to Keep Puppy Learning Fun & Entertaining

    How to Keep Puppy Learning Fun & Entertaining

    Looking for fun games that your puppy can enjoy? Check out these tantalizing activities that you can get a puppy of any age involved in.

    Grooming Made Fun

    Probably one of the most important things to do is groom and brush your puppy. So what better way to start on the right foot than to make it a pleasant experience?

    It is important to teach skills like staying in place. Also of great importance is to get the puppy used to being touched all over and yet be relaxed the entire time. This grooming/touching procedure will create a tight bond while allowing the owner to maintain dominance over the puppy as it grows into an adult.

    This is important since there will always be nails to cut and teeth to clean, as well as rules to follow. Fun grooming practice builds a foundation tolerance within the young pup.

    It’s Circus Time!

    Puppies like jumping so why not play bar jumping games, just like they do at the circus?

    The first thing to do is walk over the jump with your puppy. The pup will probably follow at your side. If the puppy doesn’t want to go over the jump with you then encourage your puppy over the jump with a treat. Be sure to start with the jump on the ground, then increase the height as the dog’s skill level develops.

    Hide & Seek, What A Classic

    Who doesn’t like hide and seek?

    Playing hide and seek with your puppy can be loads of fun while at the same time introduces the puppy to the come command.

    First you need to have a leashed trained pup or one that can obey the sit/stay commands. Put the leash and have a friend hold the puppy, or if the pup can obey the sit/stay command without a leash then that is just fine.

    Hide close by, like behind an open door or a small piece of furniture. If playing outside then get behind a bush or tree. After a short amount of time, call the puppy in a playful tone of voice. Make certain that the leash is not being held.

    Once your pup finds you, give him a treat and/or simply tell him how good he is and love him.
    You should attempt to move farther away and making finding you more difficult as your pup’s skill increases.

    Let’s Go On A Treasure Hunt!

    Finding toys and objects is another classic activity that can be fun for your puppy.

    First, put your pup on a leash and tie it securely to a chair. Then place many toys and other objects on the floor while the puppy watches.

    Now go see your puppy, but have a toy that your pup likes in your hand. Just hold it while the pup observes for a minute and then toss it into the pile of stuff you made on the floor. Now let your puppy go and say repeatedly “Fetch, boy Fetch!”

    When he goes to hunt down the toy you were showing him be sure to give positive reinforcement and lots praise. Eventually you will be able to have your puppy sniff one object for a few seconds and literally dig it out of anywhere you hide it.

  • Why Is Puppy Socialization So Important?

    Puppy socialization is so important, it’s worth saying twice. A failure to properly socialize young puppies is one of the single biggest reasons for bad dog behavior in adult dogs. Behavior such as aggression (dog on dog), disobedience and general bad manners around other dogs, particularly in public. The long term benefits of a high quality puppy socialization plan simply can’t be stressed enough. You can’t wind the clock back after all.

    puppy socialization

    Puppy Socialization Can Start Early

    Proper early socialization of your puppy can have the positive lasting impact over the course of your dog’s life. It really is THAT crucial.

    Socializing your puppy is such a critical part of raising a well adjusted dog. Through early puppy socialization, your young dog can learn to fit into society, learn to live with humans and also with other dogs. This leads to a calm, adaptable dog who isn’t fazed by what they encounter in day to day life.

    If dogs are not correctly socialized, they may develop inappropriate behaviors when exposed to new situations or new dogs and people. This can include being overly aggressive or fearful in unfamiliar circumstances. Puppy socialization can help your pup adjust to the world around them at an early age.

    When Does Puppy Socialization Begin?

    Socializing starts when a puppy is still with its mother and with the breeder. A puppy first learns canine body language and pack structure from around three to four weeks of age, while playing and interacting with its litter mates. It is important that a breeder handles her puppies and plays with them regularly, to give them positive early experiences with people.

    The ideal time to bring your new puppy home is when he is eight weeks old. The period from eight to twelve weeks of age is very important for socialization, as your pup is very open to learning and enjoying new experiences. It is vital to take advantage of this stage of your puppy’s social development.

    Quick puppy socialization tip: It’s a good idea to invite friends and families to your house to visit, bringing with them their well behaved dog. You can also introduce your puppy to calm, well-mannered children. This type of puppy socialization strategy can allow your pup to learn in a relaxed, informal way.

    Puppy Socialization Classes

    Puppy preschool is also very important for your young dog. It allows puppies to meet and interact with other dogs of a similar age and level of development, as well as learning some basic obedience commands.

    This improves the communication skills of your puppy, as well as enhances the bond between dog and owner. It also allows your dog to sniff and explore in a safe and supportive environment.

    Other options for socializing your dog can include going to dog friendly places such as off-leash parks and beaches. It is vital to make sure that your puppy is up to date on its vaccinations, as there may be an increased risk of disease in these places. Also, you need to remember that the other dogs which are there may not necessarily be under complete control.

    There may even be under-socialized dogs who may frighten your puppy and set it back in its learning. It may even be better to keep your puppy away from these areas until he is more mature and better able to cope.

    It takes a lot of work and effort to socialize a puppy well, but it is an investment in his future, and will help him to fit into his world. Doing a good job will lead to a well adjusted and happy companion who can take anything in his stride.

    What’s The Most Important Word to Teach Your New Puppy?

    The most important word you can teach your puppy is his name. Getting him to recognize and respond positively to his name can really help during the socialization process.  Use your pup’s name in a positive context 100{d4f4ff813a06e2c77cbb9c6effe011ebffe2f8986e44983e90e08c54deb62f63} of the time. Don’t scold them using their name, use the word “No!” instead. Their name should evoke a positive response.

    The capacity to learn is born in every puppy, to a greater or lesser degree. Your puppy starts learning the moment he enters your house. (He starts learning about you and soon picks up on all your varying idiosyncrasies – whether you realize you have them or not, mark my words – your puppy will!). His capacity to learn grows as he does and is fully developed at the age of about a year. Although he’ll stop physically growing, he never stops learning and the early puppy socialization steps you take from day one can act as the building blocks to having the most well mannered, well behaved dog over the lifetime of your pet.

    Puppy Socialization Experiences From Owners

    How are other dog owners socializing their puppies?

    A question from a puppy owner on the best methods for deploying a puppy socialization strategy that works, elicited some excellent advice:

    Get the pup as much exposure to as many different things as possible (without scaring it )

    Elsie is just coming up to 16 weeks now.

    As a rough guide, she has been coming out with us (carried until she could go down) from 8 weeks old to shops especially garden centres and pet stores which are great for meeting people and seeing different things. She has met horses, cows, dogs, cats, alpacas, sheep, pigs, ducks, geese, chickens and been exposed to cars, lorries, buses, motor cycles, pedal cycles, boats, chainsaws, tractors, JCBs, pony & trap, carriage and four, . . the list is endless.

    However she is now, at 16 weeks happy and content in more or less any situation she finds herself in.

    She has also learnt to recall (instantly – but I know we will need to keep working on that to keep her focussed as she grows) she sits and waits for her dinner and also will sit when asked now.

    Interesting Puppy Socialization Disease Query:

    What are the risks of puppy infections vs reward for early socialization?

    Today I visited a dog training establishment to observe some puppy socialisation. When I said that it would be another 3 weeks before my puppy was fully protected from her jabs she suggested that, in her opinion, the benefits of early puppy socialisation outweighed the risk of picking up an infection.

    I make an assumption that the puppies attending will all have been inoculated (you don’t spend money for socialisation and training and not do basic health care), but the field is used for lots of dog work. At my vets there is a sign saying puppies that haven’t completed their jabs should not be allowed down on the floor for risk of infection.

    Any comments/feedback appreciated.

    BTW it was really nice to see loads of pups out having fun together…the younger/less sure pups were kept seperate from the older more boisterous one’s.

    —
    A great question. Answered succinctly…

    More dogs are put to sleep due to behavioral problems than all other illnesses put together.

    To me it is a no brainer IF the environment is safe. My dogs come home at 7 weeks go on the ground immediately and do not have their first vaccination for a couple of weeks.

    None have contracted any diseases.

    Puppy Socialization Checklist: To achieve the best early puppy socialization results, be prepared to let your puppy get exposure to many new things, new people, new dogs. Be patient but be focussed on the fact that you can’t rewind the clock. Puppy socialization is absolutely crucial for the long term benefit of you and your dog.