Two good reasons for not having a dog are anxiety and fear of responsibility. Who needs striped dolls, half-eaten sofas, and tattered leather shoes? Who doesn’t like to sleep all night? Who wants a smelly kitchen covered by yesterday’s news? or a cat that doesn’t want to eat and hides all day?
To have a well-behaved dog, you need to train the puppy. Before start training him you must understand certain things. It is not necessary that your human life has to stop for a year to accommodate that new four-legged family member. You must make certain sacrifices and be consistent with your commitment to training your puppy. Puppy education is directly related to how committed you are to teach him and teaching yourself about canine thinking. Because you can never make a dog think like a human, so to speak, you have to learn to think like a dog.
Humanity’s life has become increasingly complicated with each passing century, and dogs have tried to adapt accordingly. When the man used to spend the day chasing pterodactyls, skinning prehistoric lizards and dragging his wife by her un coiffed head, on the days when dinosaurs could not speak and were not syndicated, the dog knew his place and his instincts adjusted to Lifestyle. The man chased the buffalo, the dog chased the buffalo; the man gnaws on a deer and antelope’s leg bone, the dog gnaws on a deer and antelope’s leg bone. Life was simple and beautiful. The dog did not need much training and the man did not provide any.
Dogs do not read and do not speak to tell us what they are thinking or how they feel. And no, it is not a revelation that dogs think and feel, despite what the New York Times bestseller list tells you. They smile, cry and pout too. Dogs can communicate with each other and with us, those who are not from Cannes. They even communicate with cats and other animals, which apparently have less difficulty understanding their signs and sounds than humans.
Understanding your puppy before starting to train him:
A Puppy’s First Teacher Is His Mother
Puppies, of course, learn their first lessons in life from their mother. If their father or sire were available, they would learn their next lesson from him. Mama dog, however, is responsible for the education of puppies. She teaches how to eat, where and when to go, what is safe and acceptable and what is not. She can also correct her charges, and always does it with love and efficiency.
If the papa dog were still in the picture, he would take over by the fourth week and teach the puppies how to play, how to hunt, what is dangerous and how to protect themselves if necessary. The canine world has been ‘modern’ in this respect for centuries. It was never the sole responsibility of women to raise the family. In fact, the female was always the head of the den, the dominant and the survivor.
Although your new puppy is a mess machine, piddling, tattering, crumbling and consuming anything anywhere. The dog is instinctively a very clean animal. The mother dog cleans up after the puppies until they can leave the den and then shows them where they can be relieved.
We can learn a lot about raising and training puppies from the understanding of canine behavior and instincts. This natural approach will guide us through that difficult first year we call a ‘puppyhood’.
Dogs Are Not Designed To Live Alone
In the wild, wolves exist only in packs, hunting together and sharing a communal existence. A dog must rise to become the pack leader in order for the pack to survive. For this reason, your puppy will almost instantly accept you as a new member of his pack. The importance of a puppy learning to trust its pack leader cannot be overstated. It is the basis of a dog’s training. Remember, previously your puppy’s pack consisted of his littermates and his mother. In some situations of the kennel, there could even be other dogs during the stages of socialization, or even a grandmother or an aunt during rearing. Regardless, by abandoning his nuclear pack, where his mother was the leader, he ventures on his own and, naturally, can lead his own pack.
It is easy to detect the owner of a pack leader dog. He is not the guy who wins best at a show at Madison Square Garden with his perfectly polite poodle or his elegant Doberman. He is your next-door neighbor, being dragged down the street by the rambunctious Lhasa poo of his race.
If you are committed to giving your puppy as much as possible and letting him become the leader of the pack, you can quit reading this article now because your job is easy, although your life will not be. If, on the other hand, you intend to have a dog with whom you can live and love, it is also better that you take control as the leader of the pack immediately.
Start with the right foot, if you give your puppy an order or reprimand, always do so. Do not back down on your intention. If it’s ‘no’, or ‘down’, or ‘sit down’, it’s ‘no’ or ‘down’ or ‘sit down’ now! Don’t think that maybe the next time the puppy listens, because then for sure he won’t. In other words, unless you’re ready to deal with the puppy that ignores you, don’t give him the order.
Puppies are irresistible, and even more, or they seem to be disobedient or useless. It’s okay to let your puppy be a puppy. Accept what you can’t change, but don’t let your puppy become a spoiled child either. He will look at you along the way while looking at his dam. Be always there for him with instructions, expectations, discipline and especially praise.
The leader of the pack or the aggressive puppy naturally assumes a dominant role, affirming himself and acting seductively macho. It is vital for you as the owner to show him that you are the dominant figure in the pack. In addition, he must understand that every human is dominant to him. There are several accepted ways to make a puppy subordinate to your liking. These methods are oriented towards the dominant puppy at the time he is acting up. The most elementary of these is to lift the puppy so that he is facing you and his four feet are off the floor, saying ”NO” while suspending him there for a period of time, about 30 to 40 seconds. A similar method is to cradle him in your outstretched arms and keep him there until he calms down. Always say “NO” when the puppy is doing wrong.
How well do you growl? This is how your puppy’s mother expressed her disgust, and the mother knows best, doesn’t she? Since you are not a dog, you cannot expect the puppy to accept your behavior and can translate it accurately into the language of the dog. You may sound silly, and even more so to the other members of his family, but many of the best breeders in the world confess that they growl to teach a puppy. Your puppy may even assume that you are playing with him, but if you take it seriously, he will too.
Socialization Is The First Priority With A New Puppy
The basic principles for raising this puppy begin when you bring him home around 8 to 12 weeks of age. Most breeders release puppies to new homes around 8 weeks, although some breeders wait until 10 weeks, believing that guardianship of the dam in those additional 2 weeks greatly simplifies training. It is true, however, that some dams lose interest in their busy positions for the seventh week and are not good educators beyond that point. If there were a papa dog, he would intervene to ease mom’s burden; In a true dog pack, other relatives, uncles, and aunts would also help in the rearing and feeding of the puppy.
Socialization is the first priority with the new puppy. It is your job to expose him to all kinds of new experiences and environments in an effort to develop his sociability and self-confidence as a dog. He already has the knowledge of how to communicate with other dogs or at least with other dogs he knows. He may not understand that there are more dogs in the world beyond his nuclear family. Meeting the first new dog will be an eye-opening experience, and it is possible that all dogs out on the streets are not as happy to see him as his mother.
Socialization with people is equally important, if not more. The confident puppy welcomes the opportunity to meet new people. Depending on the breed and personality of the individual dog. He may be excited to meet new people or simply tolerant of new acquaintances. No doubt, the Golden Retriever or the German Shepherd puppy will greet each new person with a tongue licking like a long lost friend, while the Akita or the Chow Chow puppy may merely nod his head and respectfully submit to the hello scratch of the new person.
Responsible breeds spend a lot of time socializing the litter, giving each puppy the time he needs to experience the world. Puppies are no different than human babies in this regard. Both need love and handling to develop properly. Some studies in human babies indicate that the baby that is never handled can literally die. Puppies, being equally social creatures, need a great deal of affection and care to become touchable and adorable adult dogs. Young unhandled dogs tend to become too shy and fearful of new experiences. Some may even become scary biters. Nothing is more important to a dog than its ability to bond. A dog detached from any master is not a dog at all. Dogs need someone to love.
To continue the 10-week-old puppy socialization, take him to the park, where there are a commotion, people and funny noises. From 8 to 10 weeks, the puppy should be kept at home to increase his confidence. Be sure to inoculate the puppy before embarking on a socialization plan. Let him be handled by interested parties and talk to him through this experience. He should prosper with full attention and have a good time.
It is important that you keep the puppy with a loose leash for his outings. Not all breeds tend to stay close to their owners. Most puppies will find the experience very exciting and will want to explore all the places quickly. Don’t rush the puppy through these experiences. Many puppies can find the outings overwhelming. Start with smaller-scale outings. Don’t take him to a 1000-dog breed show with a big door and wait for him to mingle.
Your Puppy And His Environment
Your puppy is someone with whom you want to share your home. However, do not give the puppy free rein of the house on the first day. Let him explore his area, which can be a sectioned kitchen or a couple of rooms. It is here where the puppy has his things like toys, bone balls, crate, and his feeding bowls. He should quickly get used to this environment and start feeling at home.
As a new puppy owner, you must become a true “environmentalist.” In our context, the environment refers to puppy-proofing your home and grounds. There are everyday dangers that can cause serious damage or even death at your beloved charge. While the immediate area in which the puppy stays should be basically free of danger, it is a good idea to examine the entire house in case the puppy wanders without supervision.
Indoor plants can be toxic to dogs. Among the green things that can be harmful are Rhododendron, philodendron, dumb cane and dieffenbachia. Children’s toys, such as marbles, Jax, dice and other objects that are easily swallowed, are very dangerous. Make sure electrical wires are out of his way, under carpets or secured to floorboards.
Medicine bottles, cigars, cigarettes, ashtrays, household cleaning products, such as toilet bowl treatments and room deodorants, and small sewing items such as pins, needles, everything should be kept out of the reach of the puppy.
Antifreeze is attractive to dogs. Be sure to clean thoroughly every time you use it. Keep it somewhere where your dog never goes. There are some types of safe antifreeze for dogs on the market, but dog owners should keep this sweet-tasting poison and away from their dogs.
Detergents, corrosives, alkalis, and acids, as well as paint products, should always be kept on high shelves. Be careful about where you place mouse traps or ‘motels’ for ants and cockroaches.
When the dog is outside, be aware of the grounds that have been treated with pesticides, herbicides, rodenticides, and insecticides.
The safety of your puppy depends on your responsible ‘environmental’ position. Be prepared and informed.
First Lessons For Your Puppy
At home, with the puppy, you should start teaching him some basic commands. Of course, the house rules should be emphasized from the beginning. While the first word a baby learns is usually “mama,” a puppy’s first word is usually “NO.” ”NO” is such a wonderful word too. If possible, use the word in a positive manner. In other words, make “NO” a learning experience, not just a loudly shouted correction. Since your puppy’s natural instinct is to please you. Make him understand that undesirable behavior does not please you. Praise him instantly when he stops.
Do not over-praise the puppy during a training session. Parise is the key to training, but it can also be misunderstood as an invitation to get excited and play. You don’t want to distract the puppy from the lesson at home.
Training a puppy does not have to occur in planned sessions. Schedule training time can lead to frustration for you and your puppy. If you lead a busy life, it can be difficult to find the time. Train the dog, however, in every possible movement. Short three-minute lessons a day will lead to an attractive and well-trained dog.
Although you may not establish a rigorous daily routine, you should make sure you have ‘structured’ time with your puppy. Structured time can be seen as an individual time, a few minutes throughout the day where you stop, play with the puppy, talk to him, assure him that he is loved and that you can be trusted.
Leash Training
Leash training should be a fun experience for the dog. Start with a lightweight nylon leash, not a chain strap. The puppy should already accept the collar since most breeders put it on the pups at 3 or 4 weeks of age. Cheek the collar regularly for size because the puppy is growing rapidly.
While the puppy is in a familiar environment (indoor), attach the leash and let him walk alone. Keep an eye on him so that he does not snag himself or topple a floor lamp or side table. The next time you try this lesson, hold the strap in your hand and let him guide you to explore. The idea here is not to make the puppy panic when the leash is finally wrapped around your controlling hand.
Dominant puppies have more difficulties with a leash than the types of submissive followers. Some puppies will scream, others will try to gnaw and others will sit and not move. Prepare for any of these reactions. Your puppy can do something completely different, more creative and most likely more fun. Try hard not to let the comedian puppy entertain you to the point of running through the polaroid and abandon the lesson at hand.
When the puppy does resist by lying down, sitting down or just screaming, you must continue. He will soon recognize that his options are two, walk or be dragged.
When you take the puppy with his leash outside for the first time, start slowly, letting him explore in the direction you want to walk. A brisk pace is probably more effective for the first few times. This will limit the puppy’s ability to stop, as well as to see each tulip or fallen leaf in your neighborhood. Once you have taken the puppy to the point where he will walk without pulling, sitting or screaming, you can slow down and let him sniff around. The dog’s nose is his first means to explore. It is not natural for the dog to walk with its head up as you wish. This must be taught. Keep in mind that the male puppy will begin to discover the joys of each passing tree and each proverbial fire hydrant. This instinct develops slowly as he begins to notice the ‘perfumes’ of other males on the trees. Lifting his leg will one day be a spectacular revelation, and the joy of the owner when you see his little boy move towards doghood is equivalent to the first step of any father’s son.
How To Teach The Puppy ‘Come Here’.
Teaching puppies to come is the easiest and most difficult lesson of all. In theory, the puppy should like and want to come to you. In reality, many things in the new environment of the puppy seem more interesting than ‘dear dad’. Call the puppy to you, leaning over and using his name and command, “come.” Clap, wiggle your fanny, smile a lot and say his name.
Use your happiest voice and the most playful tone while calling the puppy. Don’t get too far from him or he may abandon his 30-foot haul towards you for any and all smells that distracting sights on the way to you.
Have a reward on hand and let him know it. And when he comes to you, give it to him immediately. He must be rewarded every time he comes to you to be associated with you like the best reward. Practice calling him to approach everyone during the day, inside and out, and always have a small reward on hand when you do. To make it easy for him at first calling him when he is close, then gradually increase the distance.
Puppy’s Play Pattern
This underestimated and dumb activity is vital for your puppy. Playing does not mean wasting time without thinking and learning nothing. Instead, paly means experiencing the joy of your surroundings with those around you. In paly, young dogs learn to hunt, protect, defend, train, hide, etc. The game highlights the puppy’s personality, a component of a pet that should not be overlooked.
While breed standards describe the personality of a dog. No two dogs have the same personality. Some very vertiginous, almost uncontrollable puppies become civilized and distant adults. Other puppies remain the same throughout their lives.
Fetch is a useful game because it tests the puppy’s ability to concentrate and his desire to please. While retrievers, other gun dogs, poodles, and many breeds will search and return a ball or soak, other puppies will search for it happily, but the return part is not naturally in their language. The tug of war has become an unpopular game among dogs, as it agitates the aggressiveness of a dog and makes him rowdy around human hands. If a puppy is well socialized with human hands and handled properly, the tug of war will probably not be harmful. Puppies love to play with each other. It is true that if you have a bulldog breed like Pitbull terrier, Bull terrier or Staffordshire terrier, the tug of war can fan your bulldog fires more than you desire.
Do not be fooled that each dog wants to please his master. Many of the more distant and independent breeds prefer to please themselves first and their master second. Chasing a ball is fun and satisfies the dog’s prey instincts, giving up the ball after the chase may not be rewarding for certain dogs. Your goal is to teach this puppy that if he returns, you can recreate the chase part again. Although some puppies never understand this idea, don’t give up and don’t chase the puppy with the ball or else it will become your game forever.
Playing games with a natural alpha puppy requires self-confident owners, one who believes he is the master. The goal is not to crush the will and drive of the puppy, but to redirect it. He must respect you, his alpha, who assures him that he is the best, the strongest and biggest dog in the world, next to you. Often the alpha dog is also an intelligent dog. To maintain the respect and attention of a dominant and intelligent dog, stay one step ahead. Create more complicated game scenarios that will keep him alert. Do not be repetitive. Be creative, unpredictable and a little smarter than your smart puppy.
If your puppy is not interested in plays and is the type of shy crustacean, it may take some effort to get him out of his shell. Don’t spoil him and never give up on games. Be persistent and loving and he will come. Do not overdo it. Go slowly but always a little faster than he goes. Be careful. Eventually, he will want to play more and learn from you.