Puppy Biting can be so hard to get through! Especially if you have marks all over your hands or they have ruined your clothes!
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Not again!!!
WHAT. THE. HECK.
Why did my puppy just do that?!
A lot of people think that socializing your dog means exposing them to a lot of different situations, sounds and new things. While this is partly true, it is really only half of the story.
Watch a quick video here about what socialization means...or keep reading for "The Rest of The Story":
Socialization begins from the very first breath of life, when a puppy is exposed to a new environment. Puppies are born underdeveloped, with no ability to see or hear, as an animal adaptation so the mother is able to continue to hunt and get food for her pups. This means that socializing a pup will take an extended period of time as the pup develops over the years.
A puppy's brain is like a human brain, going through developmental phases, so even if a dog is exposed to multiple things in a short amount of time, that does not mean the puppy will be able to process that information all at once.
Dog owners need to not only expose a puppy to multiple people, places, things and situations, but they need to be aware of the pups emotional state as they interact with those things, especially in a "fear imprinting period" as you may cause an emotional imprint during one of these critical phases.
The development of the puppy brain over the first two years of life is a critical period. Although a dog can be taught new things after this period is over, the training required to achieve a desired effect takes longer and is more difficult to achieve, but not impossible. The most critical thing you can teach your dog during the early period of their life is "how to learn". A dog who knows how to learn is much easier to train then a dog who has not been taught to listen.
While teaching and interacting with your pup, and as the pup enters more situations throughout their life, you may notice some undesirable behaviors, like rushing to the door when it is opened, barking at neighbors as they walk past or lunging at dogs on a walk. These behaviors are not indicators that a puppy is "bad", it is an indicator that a puppy needs more training and socialization.
Socialization not only affects how the dog reacts in these situations, but also how they may not be so enthused about the vacuum or the blender. Anytime your dog has a negative emotional response to something, the dog needs more experience and training in that situation.
Lets imagine that you take your dog to the groomer, and they report they he/she was terrible! They bit the groomer, were wiggly and whiney. This can get expensive and groomers charge more when a dog does this...so training at home for some grooming desensitization and trips to the groomers to add some positive associations is a great way to help the dog become more comfortable.
So remember, if your dog displays any behavior that is undesirable, it is not an indicator that you have a "bad dog" or that you are a "bad dog owner", it is merely an indicator that your pup needs a little more socialization to certain things. Remember, baby steps and consistency, and if that seems to intimidating, get a trainer. Great socialization and training now will ultimately help your puppy be amazing in the long run. So watch for those negative emotional reactions and think of a way to break the socialization down into smaller steps your pup can handle to gain more confidence.
For a great video on how to socialize your puppy and breaking it down into steps, click the link below. Also, don't forget to go to lakemountaindoodle.com to apply for your perfect puppy through us!
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CN5tKwmioQq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
IT'S. THE. WORST.
You call your dog....and they won't come!
So how do you produce a Reliable Recall with your dog...because...it's important...maybe even lifesaving??!!
Watch these short videos to get some quick tips:
www.tiktok.com/@betterfurryfriend/video/6993144256445582598?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1
https://www.tiktok.com/@betterfurryfriend/video/7059820871267061039?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1
Don't forget to visit lakemountaindoodle.com to see what puppies we have available at this time or to get on our waiting list!
There have been so many ways to deal with your dog having accidents. Lets face it, they happen. What we all need is a good plan to deal with them when they happen.
The old school trainers would tell you to rub their nose in the mess, shame them, and send them to their crate.
Newer trainers would tell you to ignore the accident if you just found it or interrupt them if they are having one in front of you. Make sure that you keep your cool and remove them to the spot where you want them to relieve themselves - where they, presumably, would finish up and you will praise them lavishly.
The latter is good advice as far as making sure to keep yourself calm. You definitely do not want to make your pup afraid to relieve itself in front of you! That will just open up a whole can of worms you don't want to deal with. But, what if I told you there was a third option? An option you still have if you "find" and old accident!
I call this technique the "Not Right Here!" technique.
First, if you dog has an accident in front of you, I have found that interrupting them has been very ineffective. They usually finish up their business before you see them. So what do you do now? Well, you need to know a little about dog psychology. One thing you probably already know is that a dog does not want to be around it's own mess. When they relieve themselves, they like to do it in, what they think, is a remote place; "I'm not really playing right here, so, this seems like a good place." or "Mom doesn't really go into her closet that often, so that's good, right?"
Of course the last place we find accidents is in these remote, hidden places, and trainers have been telling us for years that we have to deal with this, clean it up good, and remain vigilant with your dog.
While cleaning is vital, you absolutely can bring this to your dog's attention with a clear message of "No!" if you find an old accident.
Here are the steps:
1. Bring them to the accident, on leash, and give them a firm, "No." It is vital that you are not angry, but firm. They need to know your displeasure, but not fear harm.2. Tether them to the spot for 15-20 minutes. Make sure that the tether is not so tight that they are in an awkward position that will get painful after 20 minutes, but the leash also needs to be tight enough that they cannot walk away from their mess. So just enough room to either sit or stand is perfect. Walk away and leave them there while you do other things and don't forget to set a timer!
3. Come back when time is up. Return to your pet, calmly. Untether them from the spot. Take them outside to relieve themselves. If they go, lavishly praise them. If they don't, crate them and take them outside again in an hour.
4. Remember to clean up the mess while they are in the crate. Some great cleaning tips are:
-Get as much of the mess out as possible.
-Soak the spot for 20 minutes in your favorite pet spot cleaner.
- Rinse and repeat (especially if it is carpet)!
You'll find that if you have a dog having frequent accidents, this technique will shorten the time their house training takes, when added with proper kennel training. The Not Right Here! techniques also works with male (or female) dogs who have a bad habit or "Marking" things.
Don't forget to check out our Instagram for a great discussion on the "Not Right Here!" technique. There are also tips on what to do if your dog is too big to be restrained by an ordinary chair. Check it out!
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CNVHLdfJLsz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Building communication and trust is the first thing you need to focus on when getting a new puppy. If your puppy does not trust you, you will not be able to train him/her to do anything with ease. When an environment of trust and love is established, training your puppy becomes easy. Everything from teaching them to sit, stay, come and house training is made easier when your first focus is building a relationship with positive emotions. Nothing sends a puppy into their natural state of fight or flight quite like an angry outburst of emotion from an owner. So trust me, if you want to make things easier for yourself, focus on the small stuff first: snuggling, belly rubs, and playing games.
These "small things" are how our puppies learn our personalities and they begin to open up more with theirs. I have found that the first week on a new puppy in our home has been more of a honeymoon phase where the pup is learning about it's new surroundings and owners and learning how to keep the rules. This is also one reason setting clear rules from the beginning is very important! Individual personality only comes our once the puppy feels secure and begins to trust their surroundings. If something traumatic has happened, it could be more like a month, but if the puppy comes from a well adjusted environment, this phase could last a few days or a week.
So get down on your knees and play with those pups. Snuggle and watch your favorite Rom Com. Go in the backyard and play around. Enjoy your pup and wait for that fun personality to emerge.
Check out our link below for a great training on this topic!
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CND2NXOiqWc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
