Coaching Call | Feb 8, 2022

Catch up on the February 8, 2022 Puppy College Coaching Call to find out what you missed!

Topics include:

00:00:05 What to watch for in adult dog and puppy housemate interactions

- when to referee?

- watch for frustration or avoidance from either dog.

- how to determine which dog gets the time out when things get inappropriate

00:11:00 Pup gets mouthy when putting collar or harness on so Tagline redirects difficult

- leave Tagline on and let pup drag it so timing of redirects corresponds with pup's naughty behavior

- don't use treats to bribe good behavior when mouthy/biting

- treats are rewards for good and successful behavior!

00:17:30 Ten m.o. pup pulls on leash no matter what treats are used

- what collar or gear are you using?

- train polite leash manners in environments of increasing distraction (i.e. inside the house, the backyard, the front driveway, Lowes, then neighborhood, then pet store)

- employ the distraction exercise in the leash training module

- remember "Distance is your friend!'

00:27:15 Barking; Pup will redirect/recall away from stimuli, but then go back

- Give verbal praise and treat for a successful recall!

- Then go back to proximity of stimuli with the pup and let them choose;  to bark or not to bark!?

- Praise and treat continued quiet.  Redirect/distract any barking (don't reprimand).  Don't forget to add a cue word to associate with the quiet (i.e. "enough", "quiet", "hush").

00:34:00 Fourteen month old hasn't had 1st heat cycle yet.  Reason for concern?

- 1st heat cycles can get missed

- split heat cycles

00:40:35 Teaching sit and down with an implied wait or stay, vs teaching a separate "stay" command

00:43:00 How to help pup learn wait or stay in down position

- don't use your hands or pup isn't learning anything/making any choice

- continue to lean over from the waist and keep your feet still to help pup maintain down position (only working on duration, not distance or distraction)

- set pup for success!

00:48:45 The 3 D's of dog training 

- why especially important for teaching "stay"

00:50:30 Five m.o. is always squirmy or biting when held or picked up

- Tagline 

- when pup gets squirmy or biting how have humans responded?  (i.e. putting pup down and giving them freedom?)

- remember puppy "witching hours"

- caution about holding dog's chew toys for interaction

- reminder to use bigger toys than you think necessary for playing with pup to prevent unintended biting of hands

01:04:00 Pup is humping his snuggle puppy!

- mounting/humping is often a display of dominance, nothing sexual

- redirect this behavior as obsessive humping is not a good activity for ortho health

- redirect by calmly taking toy/snuggle puppy away & putting out of sight

- reintroduce it again after 30-60 minutes and repeat the above when humping resumes

01:08:00 Raw chew and gnawing toys

- look for US products (packaged and sourced -- i.e. look at back of package)

- we love "Farmhounds" brand!

- monitor your pup's chewing style

- things that are making shards or chipping should be rotated out of chewing circulation

- basted bones and things like chicken feet are usually safe as they are smoked or dehydrated at much lower temps

- avoid the "coin" sized raw marrow bones and opt for "shank" size of 4-6" instead