29/12/2021
This information is spot on IMHO!
Teaching a dog or puppy to live in our crazy world is straight forward common sense. Sadly we can make it too complicated, make outdated assumptions, confuse and frighten dogs and puppies.
Love, understanding and taking time to make sure our dogs feel safe with us, results in having a confident happy companion. We are our dogs protectors and providers, enjoy them.
Wishing everyone best wishes for a happy and healthy 2022 🐾🐾
I have frequently been asked why my dogs are so easy going.
At a time when so many people are seemingly struggling to train new puppies, and many others are sadly giving up the attempt and turning their pups over to rescue..... I have decided to break my usual silence, and offer the 12 golden rules we apply here to achieve laid back dogs, when we have them as puppies.
First.... I AM NEITHER A BEHAVIOURIST NOR A TRAINER .... just a mum, and foster mum, to multiple dogs over multiple decades. This is simply a list of my rules when I raise a puppy
*** Expect to work hard! getting a new puppy isn't much different to bringing a human baby home.... you will be constantly watchful, get up in the night, and spend hours more time at the toileting end of things than you ever expected.
That said, and in no particular order
1. I talk to, love and teach my pups very much the same way I do small children. Its worth remembering an adult dog has the mental age of about two.... but pups are babies, and take a while to reach that.
2. Teach manners from day one. Stop them running to other dogs bowls when they have finished their own, prevent them stealing from other dogs ..... all with gentle hand guidance, and soft voices. A pup has no idea what a shouted "NO!" means .... but quickly learns your different tones of voice.
Using the word "Leave" with this guidance is a great early start to a very useful bit of a training, so don't be afraid to give an extra piece or two of kibble and lots of praise as a reward for 'Leave" 'ing.
3. Teach recall from day one, long before they can ever go out in public. Call the pup to you a dozen times a day, with a toy in your hand and a big fuss when they come. In the garden, recall when they are busy sniffing - or playing - with massive voice praise and a tiny treat. By the time they can go out in public they should already have well established recall.... then just work it up by repeatedly calling them back to you for praise & fun/play (favourite toy etc). Here, we continually do recalls all their lives, even when they dont "need" training.
4. Teach by example. Old school thought says take food away from pups, then put down again... or stick your hand in the bowl while they eat. All that does is teach that people will take food away!!
Instead, when your pup is feeling cuddly, curl up with them and keep holding one end of a chew so it is easy for them to gnaw the other end. Do it daily... every evening.... they are learning that people share, not take.
At mealtimes, leave them to eat most of the food put down... then put a hand to the bowl to drop in a couple more bits. They learn there is no need to be protective, because sharing = nice things.
Do the same with toys... its okay to let a puppy win the tug game. Its okay to let a person pick up the other end of a toy, because they play they don't take.
5. We never let a pup cry it out.... my children didn't cry alone either! dogs and kids alike have all grown to sleep happily in their own beds!! If not happy to have them in with you at the start (I have done that, and they usually only wake once to p*e) or if you choose to leave them downstairs (I have done that too, and just accept being up and down to give love and reassurance)
6. We don't use crates here. Its a very emotive discussion for some people so I reiterate that this is just MY list of what I choose to do because it works for me, and I have never had an issue with vet stays because of not crate training
If leaving overnight, or any other time, they have a warm cosy bed in the kitchen.... which is babyproofed.
It can take a few nights, but they do learn to sleep through, just as a baby does.
Note: pups chew and have zero idea that something might be precious or expensive, so DO make sure you puppy proof your home. If you leave shoes etc lying around, its your fault if the pup thinks its just another toy! .... as I was reminded when Charlie ate the heel of the ridiculously expensive shoes I had just bought for my daughters wedding!!)
7. Take your puppy outside to p*e from day one. Using puppy pads just teaches them that it is okay to p*e indoors!
You need the patience of a saint sometimes.... but only until you have watched your puppy enough to learn its signals. It is YOUR learning curve too.
Pups needing to "go" usually start to turn circles, or sniff edges or certain areas, or show other signs that they only show when needing to go.... and thats the time to head out at sp*ed, and stay out with them until they go.
Have set routines for going out.....whenever they wake up, first thing and last thing (even if they are sleepy), after food.... and every couple of hours between these times.
To start with, a pup has no idea what you want it to do.... so its about connecting things in the brain. You have to stand outside with them until they go, however long it takes, so you can instantly offer mega praise ...and go in.
It really doesn't take that long for them to catch on (not even with dachshunds 😄)
If there is any accident in the house, never get cross .... but there is nothing wrong with an annoyed tone declaring to the room "who did this?!"
There is never need to shout.... dogs learn tones of voice just as well.
I shouldn't even have to say that you never, ever, hit an animal.
8. Don't keep picking up a puppy for a cuddle, and teach children how to respect animals by not allowing them to manhandle pups either!
Teach cuddling, by waiting until the puppy is sleepy and then picking it up and putting it on your lap, or curled up into your tummy if you like to be reclined, as we do. Gently stroke the pup as it falls asleep and teach children to do the same. If it wants to get down.... don't try to hold it in place, and never be tempted to try and force a cuddle.... just wait for a sleepier time. They quickly learn that snuggling is a safe, warm and pleasant experience
Note: every puppy and dog should have a quiet safe place with comfy bed, where they are never disturbed. It is in the kitchen, here. Teach kids and visitors that this is a no-go bed area, even for a stroke.
We all need peace sometimes and.... in the words of my favourite (mega qualified!) behaviourist at Perfectly Polite Dachshunds.... the age old rules always apply:
Let sleeping dogs lie, and
Don't touch a dog with a bone!!
9. Teach the puppy how to be left, from the get-go. It does them no favours to keep them with you constantly for days or weeks, and then expect them to be fine because you go back to work or are off to an event.
I say "in your bed" and offer a special toy or chew that they love. I then say "be good", close the kitchen door ....and leave. Ignore any noises, but do go out of the house.... they just know when you are still in!
On return, I make no fuss or major praising.... this is just a normal part of life, after all... but do give a tiny treat.
Start with just 5 minutes, and gradually work up the time left until they can manage a full 4 hours happily as an adult dog (I never leave puppies for more than 2)
10. Do start the rules, and stick to them...
if dogs are not allowed on furniture, learn to sit on the floor with your pup
If you do not want adult dogs begging for food, don't feed little ones bits from your plate because they are sooo cute.
If you want calm dogs, don't get a puppy excited by knocks at the door, or visitors.....
etc
11. Let fully vaccinated puppies interact off lead with every friendly dog they meet, whatever the size difference, and be confident when you do it. Your feelings pass down the lead, so a nervous owner response from you teaches your puppy to be wary.....and can lead to a dog being reactive. Just like children, they need to socialise.
On the same note.... let them meet and greet as many people as they can from the moment you get them, and take them to as many different places as you can once vaccinated.
If you dont have children..... borrow some, or regularly walk near a school at closing time. If you want your dog to be good with people, you have to teach it that ALL people are nice, not just you.
Note: do not let people pick puppies and small dogs up for a cuddle! They really don't like it, and it can cause them to become very 'anti'.
12. Start teaching simple things such as "sit" from day one..... just very casually when giving them a treat, or their meal. Then try other easy training .... all in the same way you have approached recall, leaving, and "sit". Calmly, no stress and no rush.
Thats it. My 12 golden rules for raising happy friendly dogs. Just mine, that work for me... regardless of whether a dog can see, or not 🙂
..and one final thought. My dogs are currently differing breeds and range in age from 2 to 11. I still spend a chunk of my day just saying "good dogs", randomly.... when they are quietly chewing in their beds, when they all come in from the garden on a call, or when they have all cuddled up for the evening with me. Any old time they are not misbehaving is a fine time to tell them they are good!
We all need praise, and even dogs respond to it better than negative input x
