When you get your puppy you will need to teach it right from wrong e.g, not to eat your furniture, where to go to do its business etc. The dog will need to know it's boundaries and it's place within your home as well as learning how to walk nicely on a loose lead, not jumping up at people, how to play properly with other dogs and to come back when you call.
You are going to have to teach this young pup how to be a civilised "person" in today's modern society!
There are television programmes that show you what we call "quick fixes" offering inappropriate advice.
It is sad and unbelievable that some trainers are still using harmful and damaging equipment, for instance, prong, choke and electric collars, along with training techniques such as alpha rolls, lead jerks, kicks and other punishing methods.
The practice of using aversive methods or equipment on fearful and aggressive dogs is detrimental and dangerous and can lead to re-directed aggression and even more problems.
People talk about "dominance", and that the dog needs to be dominated and " have a pack leader" are completely disconnected from the sciences of ethology and animal learning. Yes, a dog does need to know its boundaries and what is expected of it but not by fear and intimidation.
High profile dog trainers have a responsibility to all the people who watch their television programmes, read their books or watch their DVD's. Training techniques must reflect well researched non-aversive methods that will help dog and owner develop an understanding of each other's needs.
Dog owners should not be tricked into thinking that there is a 'quick fix' for every perceived dog behaviour problem - these techniques do not work.
Dogs learn through kindness, consistency and repetition. Also when you are out and about in the park you will meet people who have had dogs all their lives and offer advice that is 30 years out of date!
When you get a puppy you have got a blank piece of paper to work with and it us up to you how this puppy develops
By the 49th day of its life the brain waves of the puppy are the same as that of a mature dog but the puppy is a clean slate. Between 7 and 12 weeks is the most rapid stage of learning and the greatest impact of his social learning will be shaped by what happens at this point. The window of learning opportunity is closing after this stage although the puppy can still learn it won't be as easy.
Between 12 -16th weeks of the puppy's life, his basic character is set by what he is taught. This will apply especially to his attitudes toward people and toward his ability to serve them the very best he can.
By the time your puppy is 16 weeks of age he has been with you for approximately 8 weeks and this period is known as "period of cutting teeth and apron strings." Pups will attempt to clarify and resolve question of leadership. Suddenly you notice that they don't come back to you when you call them. They may even develop food-guarding issues.
Dogs don't wake up when they are adolescences and think, " I know! I think I will have a behavioural problem today!" and start flicking through a book to find one to annoy you! These problems have been allowed to happen slowly over a period of weeks and months – we just quite didn't see it coming! This is the time when a lot of owners suddenly notice that their puppy is developing a mind of it's own and get out of their depth and decide that they DO need to go to school! It is easier to put the "right thing" in than take the "wrong thing out". If they had begun to train at 8 weeks of age maybe life would have been easier and less mistakes made but dogs are a work in progress!
Just think – you don't let your child go to junior school and then drop out of education for the rest of its life!
Some owners see training a dog as a "one off process" – a short course and they think that the dog is trained. Or maybe if they have a particular problem they will opt for a 121 session but the process that a dog learns is by repetition and consistency.
These people are to be commended because at least they understand that a dog needs to be trained. Training means being taught to respond to human verbal cues generally by performing certain positions or activities and to follow a human list of expectations for manners and interactions. Dogs don't come that way.
Unfortunately some owners may have unrealistic expectations therefore they are likely to be disappointed either in the training process, the specific trainer, the methodology employed, or all of the above.
Frustration and disappointment can set in and the human – dog relationship can begin to break down.
How often have you heard: "Dogs want to please humans naturally, don't they? Dogs are genetically designed to obey a pack leader, right? He KNOWS what he did wrong!"
The thing is dogs don't speak English; we have to teach them this. They don't abide by the same social rules as we do, don't communicate in the same way we do, and don't come with remote controls or programs like a computer.
This makes them infinitely interesting as a different species with a mind of it's own that mostly lives in harmony with us, especially if we take the time to learn what makes them tick.
Think about it. You wouldn't get a car without learning how to drive it, would you?
If we look at it from this perspective training a dog can easily be seen in entirely new light. Would you be able to master a foreign language or a new skill in only six sessions?
The more you put into your dog the more you get out of it. To teach and train your dog will reap huge benefits – this beautiful creature is part of your family and you want and need to build a relationship together.
The benefits of going to a dog school or club are numerous. You will meet like-minded people, have fun, and learn how to handle your dog in different situations. Your dog will learn how to behave with other dogs, listening to you and not running off doing it's own thing. Up to date and modern methods are kinder – positive reward based training is the way forward and will help to form a wonderful working relationship with your dog. These animals have brains and bodies that need working – mental and physical exercise is needed. You will get advice when things may start to go wrong and you will have support when you need it.
So what do you need to look for in a good dog training school? Recommendations from your vet, pet shop and friends are ideal. Phone the Kennel Club, as they will steer you in the right direction to a listed school in your area.
Call the school and talk to the trainers – ask if you can sit in and watch a class. A good school will be only too happy to let you do that. Ask what methods they use – is it reward based training or is it still the old "check chain" form of training?
To sum up!
- Puppies need to be socialised properly – puppy parties are not socialising as they can be a recipe for disaster. Pups need to learn how to behave around other dogs and not play or beat other pups up all of the time. This can lead to a dog being so dog focused it will not pay you any attention.
- You need to find a good dog school that uses positive motivational techniques and not check chains, pinch- collars, sprays water at the pups or throws rattle cans at them
- Don't listen to everything that people tell you! Good dog trainers use up to date and modern techniques. The old fashioned methods were based on laboratory experiments on rats.
- Set your dog boundaries and be realistic with your expectations
- Do be consistent with your training – dogs learn by repetition and kindness
- Remember that dogs are sentient beings with emotions but they do not misbehave out of spite! Only us humans behave like that!!
- Think about how you would feel if you were on the other end of your lead – would your dog jerk you about, speak to you in a strange language and expect you to know what he wanted?
- Do no harm!
