Charlotte Schwartz - Puppy Training: Owners Week-By-Week Training Guide

KENNEL CLUB BOOKS: PUPPY TRAINING

ISBN: 1-59378-365-5

Copyright 2003, 2005 Kennel Club Books, LLC

308 Main Street, Allenhurst, NJ 07711 USA

Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

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Explore an overview of the advantages of training a young puppy, along with the basic commands and behaviors you will teach your puppy over the course of his training program.

Learn about basic theories of training and development, and the positive methods you will use in teaching your puppy. The equipment youll need for training, the use of food and praise and testing your pups personality are discussed, followed by an in-depth, step-by-step method to ensure your success in house-training.

Learn the secrets of success: how to get your dogs attention, how to practice properly and how to reward your dog. Begin with the sit and stand commands, and learn how to incorporate your pups toys into his training.

Progress to sit-stay and stand-stay, bring your pup out and about for some essential socialization, set up a feeding schedule and examine common behaviors in teething pups.

The down, heel and watch me exercises are introduced, along with how to discourage your pup from jumping up and how to explore new footing surfaces with your pup.

This week of new experiences includes the down-stay exercise and the sit-stay at mealtime. You will also introduce your pup to agility and teach him how to behave around strangers, plus teach him a fun trick.

Two important lessons for your pups safety are taught: the Where are you? game, to teach the dog to come when called; and how to wait when the need arises. A new experience and a new game also are introduced.

How to wean your pup off food rewards, the benefits of neutering/spaying, teaching your pup his place, more polite behavior and another new trick are on the agenda for this week.

The very important Leave it exercise is taught, along with accustoming the dog to various grooming procedures. You will also expand on previously taught lessons by increasing time and distance.

For the last week of the program, begin to teach your dog to retrieve in the form of a game. Also learn how to alter your pups bad habits and discover how a dogs memory affects his learning and your methods of teaching.

Everyone wants to have a well-trained companion dog that is a joy to own and fun to live with. Lets embark on our eight-week course towards an obedient and biddable pet.

Theres a new excitement in your life these days. It brings an automatic smile to your face every time you think of it. Its got a soft furry coat, a wagging tail and a wet nose. Its a puppy!

Regardless of the breed of dog you havea tiny Chihuahua, a giant St. Bernard or an all-purpose mixed-breedthe pup will need training. Naturally, the first kind of training we think of with a puppy is house-training, but thats only the beginning. You can house-train a puppy in a few short weeks at the most. Training him to live with you in harmony will take a lot longer.

Training for good manners and a lifetime of companionship will require knowledge, patience and a desire to develop this puppy into a wonderful canine friend. If possible, you and your puppy should enroll in a puppy training class in your neighborhood. Sometimes, however, attending a puppy class just isnt feasible. Perhaps there isnt such a class in your area or your work schedule prohibits your attending one. Another possible reason might be that you dont feel comfortable with the methods used in a local class or dont particularly care for the person teaching the class. Whatever the reason, you find that an organized class is not an option for you and your new puppy. Fortunately, there is another way to train your puppyand you are holding it in your hands.

THE CRITICAL PERIOD

Between birth and eight weeks of age, a puppy needs to be with and learn from his mother and littermates. A puppy between 8 and 16 weeks of age is going through what is known as the critical period. This is the time when the puppy needs to be introduced to the outside world: to people, fellow canines and other pets, and to new experiences. Between 8 and 12 weeks, the puppy should be removed from his birth pack and brought into a human pack, where he will bond with the new owners. If the puppy is left with his littermates too long, he will never be able to develop a strong relationship with people. Ideally, the puppy should begin his education before hes 16 weeks old.