Coaching Call | Sep 28, 2021

Catch up on the September 28, 2021 Puppy College Coaching Call to find out what you missed!

To do so, you can either watch the video or listen to and/or download the audio file.

Topics Discussed on This Call

00:00:30 Puppy is possibly “too” food motivated?

• use the distraction techniques described in leash training module
• decrease the level of challenge by increasing distance from people (they don’t need to touch pup to interact) 
• desensitize by decreasing distance from people gradually

00:06:00 Pup whines when people aren’t in view

00:10:45 Does puppy have a “need” or a “temper tantrum” when whining?

00:12:30 Six month old is getting confident and further away from humans while on Adventure Walks

• Determine what your level of comfort is for distance dog should be away from you
• Don’t call dog, turn around and walk in opposite direction
• Putting responsibility back on the dog to keep an eye on their humans vs humans calling dog
• Keep puppy guessing!

00:18:00 Where, when and how of Adventure Walks

• remember the Adventure Walk module

00:20:00 Adventure Walks still ok with a 6 m.o. that’s not reliable with recalls?

• use a long line (no handle!!)
• wildlife poop (pick your battles, they ARE dogs!)

00:26:00 Adult dog uses the Tagline to “walk” puppy during play

• Without Tagline, owner can employ recalls or ‘back aways’ to redirect play
• Practice recalls and back aways when you *DON'T* need them (i.e. it isn’t always the end of play!)

00:32:45 Five month old has great recalls except for high distraction area in front yard

• Practice recalls on a 6′ leash (start off easy to set puppy up for success)
• When puppy is focused on neighbor or etc. say puppy’s name; PRAISE for even turning their heads toward you!
• Shuffle backwards to elicit ‘chase’ to encourage a successful recall
• DON'T wait for puppy to get to you before praising — praise the moment they turn their heads and take even 1 step toward you!!

00:38:00 Tagline isn’t working for mouthing 

• Negative attention (verbal scolding, frustration/emotional) is still attention according to puppies (inadvertently reinforcing unwanted behavior)
• NO attention can extinguish behaviors (stand up, say nothing, walk away)
• Tethering to furniture will lead to puppy frustration (use a crate, expen or tether leash to you instead)
• If mouthing is “demand behavior” to elicit play, redirect with “puppy push ups”

00:52:00 Is 3 cups of kibble/day too little food for 7 m.o. lab?

00:54:00 Four m.o. is consistently peeing in expen at 5am

• Too much space/freedom; use the crate for overnight

00:57:45 Exciting peeing during greetings

• although due to excitement, not fear, this is still submissive urination
• decrease energy level of greetings by increasing distance from people (no one needs to touch or approach your pup to interact with them, i.e. throw treats on the ground)
• watch human body language (no bending over from the waist)

01:03:00 Four m.o. pup is ‘demand barking’ to elicit play/human attention

• don’t verbal scold barking or you are just “joining the choir” and reinforcing the barking
• “Stop the World” strategies and “Puppy Push Ups” for demand behaviors

01:10:00 Stop using potty pan with 5 m.o. pup?

01:14:00 Six m.o. still does not like crate

• just went through the training steps too quickly
• now puppy only associates crate with being alone
• start over and focus on puppy’s behavior & emotional state 
• don’t move on to the next crate training step until puppy is calm and quiet, meeting goals for each step
• crate training modules