Dog questions
Julie Stauffer
I have 2 puppies, courtesy of Dar's dog (kiss and hug to Nana) that are 13
weeks old. They are half border collie. I am attempting to teach them
manners, etc., hoping a service dog organization will take them in a few
months. Here is the dilemma. The farthest I have ever gotten in dog
training is "sit". I have read lots of books but they all deal with a
single dog.
I have crate trained the pups in their own crates. They have time to spend
playing just with each other and times they are in our half-acre pen with
our adult dogs. I have been trying to use a "lead" system, where the dog is
attached to me on a 4-foot lead in the house or attached to a short lead in
their "settle down" area. We have lots of toys, bones, etc..
I have been working with them one at a time. Does this sound on track at
all or could someone recommend a good book? Just wanting to do what I can
to try to help these pups find a more suitable home than our very pet-heavy
one.
Julie--with 4 dogs, 6 goats, 30 chickens, 10 rabbits, 1 cat and 1 newborn
rat
weeks old. They are half border collie. I am attempting to teach them
manners, etc., hoping a service dog organization will take them in a few
months. Here is the dilemma. The farthest I have ever gotten in dog
training is "sit". I have read lots of books but they all deal with a
single dog.
I have crate trained the pups in their own crates. They have time to spend
playing just with each other and times they are in our half-acre pen with
our adult dogs. I have been trying to use a "lead" system, where the dog is
attached to me on a 4-foot lead in the house or attached to a short lead in
their "settle down" area. We have lots of toys, bones, etc..
I have been working with them one at a time. Does this sound on track at
all or could someone recommend a good book? Just wanting to do what I can
to try to help these pups find a more suitable home than our very pet-heavy
one.
Julie--with 4 dogs, 6 goats, 30 chickens, 10 rabbits, 1 cat and 1 newborn
rat
[email protected]
I have raised puppies for Leader Dogs of America for several years. If your
plan is to donate them to a service group I would suggest calling a group in
your state sooner then later. The most important lesson puppies for service
need to learn is socialization. they need to be exposed to as many different
situations and people as possible. Actually as a raiser they tell me this is
even more important then basic training since they will recieve intense
training when they are returned to the school. As for training at home we
spend several short sessions per day devoted to training, such as sit. In
training this from a young age we begin by saying sit (once only) then
assisting the dog by placeing your hand on the rump and pressing gently down.
Once the dog sits give lots of praise and remember to always stop a session
when the dog has done something right. After several days of repetion the
dog usually starts to sit as soon as you say the word. After sit is mastered
move on to the next command such as down. Oh and try to remember down is for
laying down and off is the command for not jumping on things. To teach down
we first have the dog do a sit then give the command down as you are saying
the word pull on the leash in a downward motion while sliding the dogs legs
forward. Soon you will not have to do either.
Another godd thing is to begin walkind with a leash as soon as the dog is
confortable with it always insisting on the dog staying in a heel position
slightly in front of your toe. And do not allow playing or rushing on leash.
We use two seperate leashes one a long 16' leash for play and a short 6' for
obiedence work.
Hopefully this helps with some of your questions, if you would like i could
go on with other techniques we have learned over the years.
Dorothy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
plan is to donate them to a service group I would suggest calling a group in
your state sooner then later. The most important lesson puppies for service
need to learn is socialization. they need to be exposed to as many different
situations and people as possible. Actually as a raiser they tell me this is
even more important then basic training since they will recieve intense
training when they are returned to the school. As for training at home we
spend several short sessions per day devoted to training, such as sit. In
training this from a young age we begin by saying sit (once only) then
assisting the dog by placeing your hand on the rump and pressing gently down.
Once the dog sits give lots of praise and remember to always stop a session
when the dog has done something right. After several days of repetion the
dog usually starts to sit as soon as you say the word. After sit is mastered
move on to the next command such as down. Oh and try to remember down is for
laying down and off is the command for not jumping on things. To teach down
we first have the dog do a sit then give the command down as you are saying
the word pull on the leash in a downward motion while sliding the dogs legs
forward. Soon you will not have to do either.
Another godd thing is to begin walkind with a leash as soon as the dog is
confortable with it always insisting on the dog staying in a heel position
slightly in front of your toe. And do not allow playing or rushing on leash.
We use two seperate leashes one a long 16' leash for play and a short 6' for
obiedence work.
Hopefully this helps with some of your questions, if you would like i could
go on with other techniques we have learned over the years.
Dorothy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]