Training my new puppy!

Jeanne Perciaccanto

Ultimate Dog Training

What are the first steps you must take in training your new puppy?  

The top of the list usually include: house training, sit; no biting and walking on a leash.  These are clearly functional aspects of daily life for any well behaved dog to learn and starting with a new puppy helps to set up easier transitions through stages of development through out the first year.

Most Dog Training schools will focus their programs on these particular behaviors and include more of the "how to" commands for down, stay, come and social skills of playing well with others.

While these commands and behavior skills are pertinent to building common language between you and your dog; also giving your dog the boundaries and expectations you have and how they can meet your established goals.

All to often, what is not taught and can only be taught to young pups are the preparations they need for practical and emergency circumstances in life.  These are situations which can and do produce stress.  Stress can be learned as acceptable or left unlearned to become fearful.

Stress has become the big "NO NO!" in dog training, yet dogs are left ill prepared for dealing with stresses that do and will occur in life.

Seemingly simple things such as Vet visits, nail cutting and basic grooming can create such difficult emotional stress. 

A visit to the Vet produces such apprehension and anxiety before ever leaving the house knowing full well what will happen when you arrive.  Some dogs will need to be muzzled or sedated with use of heavy drugs just have these basic needs met.  

Groomer will refuse to take dogs that are stress biters, throw crazed hissy fits on the table or become so stressed in the crates, they become disruptive to the enter staff and are not invited back.

Cutting the dogs nails is such a battle that owners wait until the next Vet visit as a way to avoid the impending struggle.

A dog in a medical emergency will look to get away, that is nature leading a dog into flight or fight.  The fear/pain will drive them into panic.  Teaching them how to settle when stressed can and will keep your dog less likely to further injure themselves and make it possible for you to handle them safely.

There are other types of stress we cannot foresee such as natural or home disasters which no one wants to think about but do happen.  We are taught to have emergency preparedness drills for our family or an escape route for hurricanes but have you prepared for how your dog will deal with all the stress produced as a result of evacuation?  Evacuation centers that allow pets only do so with pets crated.  If you dog has not learned to be calm, relaxed and settled in a crate may get you removed from the center.

If your puppy struggles in your arms at ten weeks and 10 pounds, imagine what that puppy as a full grown adult with size, strength and capabilities that involve using teeth will produce!

Not teaching your pup to learn how to self placate and relax while being handled in a state of stress is not only unfair for future expectations, but lacks in sound training principles leaving them ill prepared for life's stresses.

There is a step by step process in teaching dogs how to settle and should be taught by someone experienced in this practice.

Your puppy training program should and must include safe and gentle handling instructions to make life's stresses easier for your dog to understand and calmly handle life as adults.

  For more information on training your puppy visit http://www.ultimatedogtrainingnj.com

Why should I train my dog?

Jeanne Perciaccanto

Ultimate Dog Training NJ

Have you wondered why my dog won't: (fill in the blank) stop barking; running; pulling on walks; counter surfing; jumping on company or destroying the house?  Too make matters worse, your neighbors dog, which has never been formally trained, is perfect!

If you have had dogs long enough, somewhere along the line you will get Lassie.  The dog who just seems to know how or what you want them to do without having to speak.  They automatically do what is right, such as; never running away or leave the yard when off leash.  Never fight with other dogs nor pull wildly the owner down the street after a stray cat.  They are calm in the house, never chewing or destroying anything left laying about.  These dogs are a gift and will spoil even the most seasoned dog person lulling them into a false sense of calm.

The next dog you have may be a wild thing!  Frantic energy, in constant motion, chewing its way from one end of the house to the other.  An open door becomes an open invitation to speed and flight wherever their paws will take them with no thought of danger or harm.  Company enter at their own risk of excessive paw-molestation until the dog settles down from fatigue!

What is unseen becomes the key.  Even your neighbors perfect dogs has learned value in what the rules of the road are.  They just have a different learning curve than your dog.

Stop thinking of behaviors as just actions of good or bad.  Think instead of behaviors as questions.  Since dogs are incapable of speaking to us, "Use your words", they speak through acts which for them are trial and error or allowance and consequence.  If they jump on you, what is your response?  Is your response constant or does it vary.  Is jumping rewarded one time with petting and another with correction?  What information is your dog left with becomes trial and error, jump again to see what your response becomes, a pat on the head or correction.  Is your reaction to their action clear or have you given them an alternative to what they are doing?  If I don't want you jumping on me, here is what I want you to do instead.

Often the more actions or question your dog asks, the more clarity they need.
Back to your neighbors dog.  What you haven't seen is how/what their dog has questioned and how the answers have been presented.

Dog Training your dog is not teaching obedience commands to have a robot.  Those commands become language and a format in being able to answer those questions your dog is asking of you.  Language which helps both you and your dog speak the on equal terms and communicate on a level playing field of how/what you need your dog to do in the long run.  "Sit" stops jumping.  "Down" produces calm.  "Come" prevents door bolting and "heel" gives you an enjoyable walk.  The words mean nothing to your dog until they put into context of position, time and expectation.

Dog Training brings you and your dog together.  Seeing them as only a series of actions (good or bad) is limiting. Seeing them as a thinking, intelligent, problem solver with capabilities which far exceed our own helps your dog live the most fulfilling life utilizing their personal talents and gifts of nature.  Your out of control "wild thing" dog may be great at scent work, or wonderful at agility or a perfect therapy dog.  Training helps you to find their magic and help you polish that diamond in the ruff into your neighbors perfect dog.