James & Kenneth
Publishers
©
2004 Ian Dunbar
PUPPY TRAINING
When watching puppies in class having a good time playing off-leash
and responding happily and willingly to verbal requests and handsignals
to come, sit, heel, and down stay, one tends to forget the two most
important reasons for attending puppy classes: bite inhibition and
socialization with people. Off-leash classes provide an educational
forum for pups to play-fight and play-bite with other dogs and to
develop the confidence and social savvy for friendly interaction
with people, especially with children and men.
Basic Manners
Some form of training is necessary for all owners to learn how
to control their dogs' body position, location, and activity.
Certainly, all aspects of obedience training may be accomplished
at any time in the dog's life. But, it just so happens to be
easier, quicker, and more enjoyable to train the dog as a pup.
In fact, by using modern psychological, dog-friendly, and owner-friendly
training methods, off-leash control and hand-signals may be taught
when your pup is just three months old.
Behavior Modification
Similarly, a dog's natural behavior may be modified at any time
in the dog's life, although the older the dog, the harder the
prospect. To reeducate a dog it is necessary to first break the
existing bad habit before instilling a good habit. Since good
habits are just as hard to break as bad habits, smart owners
teach their puppies appropriate and acceptable behavior right
from the outset—what to chew, where to eliminate, where
to dig, when to bark, how to walk nicely on leash, and how to
greet people.
Socialization
Socialization and bite inhibition however, have pressing deadlines.
Unlike obedience training and behavior modification, socialization
and bite inhibition training MUST be accomplished during puppyhood.
Preventive intervention is the key; to delay is utter folly.
Prevention is easy, efficient, effective, effortless, and enjoyable,
whereas trying to resolve temperament problems in adult dogs
can be time-consuming, difficult, and often dangerous.
The temperament of every dog needs to be modified to some degree—that
is, molded to suit the owners' lifestyle. All dogs are different.
Some dogs lack confidence, whereas others are too pushy. Some are
sluggish and others are too active. Some are shy, reserved, standoffish,
asocial, or antisocial, whereas others are overly friendly and
rambunctious. People tend to forget that a domestic dog is not
fully domesticated until he has been adequately trained, and socialized
to enjoy the company of people, other dogs, and other animals.
Most potential dog-dog problems take care of themselves if your
pup is given sufficient opportunity to play with other puppies
and dogs. Puppies virtually train themselves to be friendly and
outgoing, and a friendly dog would much rather play than hide or
fight.
Your puppy does, however, require significant help to develop confidence
around people, especially around children, men, and strangers.
Your mission, Understanding Owner, is to teach your puppy not just
to tolerate, but rather to thoroughly enjoy the presence and actions
of people. Specifically, you must desensitize your puppy to every
conceivable potentially threatening situation, including petting,
handling, hugging, and restraint, especially by children, men,
and strangers, and especially around valued objects, such as a
food bowl, toys, and bones. In addition to attending puppy classes,
host a puppy party at home. Do not keep your pup a secret. Let
other people enjoy the puppy, and give your pup the opportunity
to enjoy other people. Socialization parties are a marvelous opportunity
to teach a lot of people how to help you train your dog.
Bite Inhibition
Bite inhibition is by far the single most important quality in
any companion animal, and bite inhibition must be acquired during
puppyhood. Bite inhibition is a dog's fail-safe mechanism, preventing
him from injuring other animals and people. Bite inhibition does
not mean that your dog never reacts when scared or upset. Instead,
bite inhibition clicks in when your dog does react to the unexpected:
for example, when a child trips and falls on a dog when he is
gnawing on a bone. Most dogs react when they are hurt, frightened,
or startled. A dog with good bite inhibition would only yelp,
growl, or snap, causing little if any injury. The prognosis is
good since the problem may be resolved easily and safely with
increased socialization and classical conditioning. However,
a dog who did not acquire bite inhibition as a puppy might inflict
deep puncture wounds and cause serious injury.
Dogs learn bite inhibition, i.e., learn that their jaws can hurt,
when they play-fight and play-bite as youngsters. Puppies amp each
other up until one puppy bites another too hard. Play stops immediately
as the injured puppy yelps and takes the time to lick his wounds.
When play resumes it is slower and gentler. Puppy classes, and
later, off-leash dog parks, offer the best venues for your puppy
to learn solid bite inhibition and develop a soft mouth. Enroll
in a puppy class right away.
To learn more about the importance of bite inhibition and socialization,
read AFTER You Get Your Puppy and How
To Teach A New Dog Old Tricks,
and watch SIRIUS Puppy Training. To locate
puppy classes in your area, contact the Association of Pet Dog
Trainers at 1-800 PET
DOGS or www.apdt.com. close window |