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Last month we discussed how to potty train your pup. Afterwards I received many emails mainly about how one should treat their new puppy at home.
Generally your new puppy will be in the house for its first month with you, either because he will always be living in the house or because he requires the homes protection until all primary vaccinations have been completed. None the less this is a great opportunity to shape your pups future.
Always keep in mind that the houses new guest prefers a monotone life. A monotone life will make training easier and pup will feel safe. This means that potty times, walk times, play times must always be at the same time day in day out. If you want an obedient dog in the future that doesn’t growl when you tell him to get of the sofa or a dog that doesn’t steel your best shoes just as your about to go out then keep in mind the importance of early training and a monotone life style.
First get the whole family to sit down and make a list of rules on paper. All members of the household must understand and agree on all rules. E.g. Dont play with an old pair of shoes with your puppy. He doesn’t know the difference between an old pair of slippers and your best shoes. If you don’t want your dog in the kitchen when he grows up then he must not be allowed in the kitchen when he is a puppy. There must never be any of those ‘just once’ occasions. In short No is ALLWAYS No and Yes is ALLWAYS Yes. A dog that is never fed from the dining table won’t whine every time you sit at the table..
Your puppy’s ancestor is a wolf; however domestic he is he is still born with certain natural instincts and ways of communication. Teaching your puppy of no go areas automatically in his mind means that he is at the bottom of the family tree. The best ways to teach such rules are the coin and smell techniques.
Coin Technique: Drill 3-4 coins and loosely tie them together with a piece of string. This will be your no tool. Get puppy in front of you and give him a treat saying bravo (or anything similar) keep giving him treats and say bravo each time. Then drop a treat on the floor with your left hand and just as he goes of it sharply say no as you drop the coins on the floor and swiftly pick up the treat. Continue this in a random fasion until he doesn’t go for the treats on the floor. Once satisfied that he has completely understands take him around the house and as he enters each safe room say bravo and give him a treat. Then take him to a no room and just as he is about to enter drop the coins and say no, then call him back out and say bravo whilst giving him a treat. In no time you will see that he will decide not to enter the any rooms. The power of the coin method lies here. When your puppy is left alone have your coins set on top of the no-room’s door positioned so that they will fall when the door moves. When puppy tries to enter he will automatically be reminded of the no rule.
Smell Method: You can either purchase a smelly especially for dogs or any scent that is available at hand but is not used in daily life. Put a small amount of the scent on a few newspapers and scatter them about after marking them. Then get a few newspapers with no scent on them and put them around. Put a treat on every newspaper. Then take your puppy to the unscented newspapers and allow him to take his reward saying bravo as he does. Then take him to a scented newspaper. As soon as he goes for the treat swiftly remove it and say No. Continue in a random manner until he automatically stays clean from the scented newspapers. Then put the scent at the base of the doors of the no-rooms and take him around the house as explained above in the Coin Technique.
Preferably use the coin method. This way you can teach your dog to stay clear from the dustbin even whilst you are out simply by placing your coins on it. Telling a dog of after it has committed a crime doesn’t make a lot of meaning to your dog. He understands when scold at when caught on the act which can be awfully difficult.
Giving your puppy a monotone life and teaching bravo and no will give him a head start in understanding. A dog that knows what is wanted from him is a happy dog. Like this you spare having a dog that is shy and unhappy. NOTE: Never ever hit your dog even if it is with a rolled up newspaper. Unnecessary capital punishment is not beneficial for either you or your dog, a confused dog or a sacred dog or a dog that doesn’t trust or has no bond with its owner is nowhere near a dog that is full of life that trusts its owner that knows what no and bravo mean.
Ben Senova.
UPD Master Instructors Instructor, Behaviorist expert and WL Breed Master
senova@k9raben.com
