Discipline and your puppy
Photo by Lauren Trebbin
Article by: Dian Welle
Your puppy is learning every day. A dog learns from activities that you never thought contained a lesson. Things that may be a game for you may contain a major life-lesson for your puppy. Think before you act! If you remember the following suggestion, you will avoid most of the problems Associated with dogs.
Never let your puppy get by with anything as a puppy that you don’t want him to do when he is older and larger.
Behaviours that are cute at 10 pounds are often NOT cute at 70 pounds. Try to always ask yourself “would I want him doing this as a full grown dog? If the answer is no, then do not allow the behaviour.
Again, you puppy is learning every day… whether you are training him or not! He has begun learning every day since he was born, and his active learning began at about three weeks of age. He can be learning the things you want him to, or if left to his own devices, learning things he picks up on his own that you may not appreciate. If every day is a day of learning for you and your puppy, and you start off on the right path, you may be able to avoid many of the common pitfalls and behaviour problems often encountered.
Do not play rough with your puppy, unless you want him to play VERY rough at 65 - 85 pounds! You can imagine how pleasurable it would be to have a dog that size completely out for control.
Do not allow the puppy to develop bad habits such as jumping up on you or the children, biting at clothing, etc. At 65 - 85 pounds, jumping can knock someone to the floor, and biting at clothing and hands will only result in shredded clothing and torn skin.
Within the first four months the most common complaint we hear is that the puppy is nipping at the owners in play. To correct the behaviour, you hold the muzzle of the puppy in a firm manner while saying “NO BITE”.The very second he stops squirming, screaming, crying and acting as if he were being tortured, you let go of his muzzle and say “good boy...no bite” Every time he does it again, you must follow through in the above manner. He’ll learn eventually. Be ready for him to have a tantrum and start
nipping at you as soon as you let go of his muzzle. Be consistent, and punish the behaviour EACH TIME he does it.
For discipline we recommend the word “NO” used in a loud/stern voice. A good verbal reprimand will usually be enough. If it isn’t enough, and the sin is repeated immediately, you must respond just a bit tougher. A shake by the scruff of the neck (not collar), or restraining the puppy on his back may be used to let him know that you’re not happy. You must remember, however, that just as soon as your pup has stopped doing something he wasn’t supposed to do, he should be petted and praised. Tell him what a good dog he is.
NEVER CALL HIM TO YOU AND REPRIMAND HIM!! If you call the puppy to you and reprimand him, he will associate the word “come” with a reprimand. This is the best way to teach your dog never to come. The command “come” is a life saving command. The very word could save the life of your dog in a dangerous situation. Your puppy must learn to come EVERY TIME you say that word. “Come”is never taught without a means to make the dog come to you. A 12 - 20 foot rope attached to his collar will permit the dog to get away from you. When you use the word “come” you pull the dog into you, and praise it for coming. Never use the word without having the means to make the dog come.
REMEMBER THE PRAISE!!!
Your puppy is learning every day. A dog learns from activities that you never thought contained a lesson. Things that may be a game for you may contain a major life-lesson for your puppy. Think before you act! If you remember the following suggestion, you will avoid most of the problems Associated with dogs.
Never let your puppy get by with anything as a puppy that you don’t want him to do when he is older and larger.
Behaviours that are cute at 10 pounds are often NOT cute at 70 pounds. Try to always ask yourself “would I want him doing this as a full grown dog? If the answer is no, then do not allow the behaviour.
Again, you puppy is learning every day… whether you are training him or not! He has begun learning every day since he was born, and his active learning began at about three weeks of age. He can be learning the things you want him to, or if left to his own devices, learning things he picks up on his own that you may not appreciate. If every day is a day of learning for you and your puppy, and you start off on the right path, you may be able to avoid many of the common pitfalls and behaviour problems often encountered.
Do not play rough with your puppy, unless you want him to play VERY rough at 65 - 85 pounds! You can imagine how pleasurable it would be to have a dog that size completely out for control.
Do not allow the puppy to develop bad habits such as jumping up on you or the children, biting at clothing, etc. At 65 - 85 pounds, jumping can knock someone to the floor, and biting at clothing and hands will only result in shredded clothing and torn skin.
Within the first four months the most common complaint we hear is that the puppy is nipping at the owners in play. To correct the behaviour, you hold the muzzle of the puppy in a firm manner while saying “NO BITE”.The very second he stops squirming, screaming, crying and acting as if he were being tortured, you let go of his muzzle and say “good boy...no bite” Every time he does it again, you must follow through in the above manner. He’ll learn eventually. Be ready for him to have a tantrum and start
nipping at you as soon as you let go of his muzzle. Be consistent, and punish the behaviour EACH TIME he does it.
For discipline we recommend the word “NO” used in a loud/stern voice. A good verbal reprimand will usually be enough. If it isn’t enough, and the sin is repeated immediately, you must respond just a bit tougher. A shake by the scruff of the neck (not collar), or restraining the puppy on his back may be used to let him know that you’re not happy. You must remember, however, that just as soon as your pup has stopped doing something he wasn’t supposed to do, he should be petted and praised. Tell him what a good dog he is.
NEVER CALL HIM TO YOU AND REPRIMAND HIM!! If you call the puppy to you and reprimand him, he will associate the word “come” with a reprimand. This is the best way to teach your dog never to come. The command “come” is a life saving command. The very word could save the life of your dog in a dangerous situation. Your puppy must learn to come EVERY TIME you say that word. “Come”is never taught without a means to make the dog come to you. A 12 - 20 foot rope attached to his collar will permit the dog to get away from you. When you use the word “come” you pull the dog into you, and praise it for coming. Never use the word without having the means to make the dog come.
REMEMBER THE PRAISE!!!