What to look for in a professional trainer, and how you can develop skills at home
There is an absolute wealth of information about puppy training and what to prioritise first. Unfortunately, a lot of this information is conflicting and can be overwhelming for dog owners.
I can guarantee that anyone and everyone who has owned a dog will have some advice for you; some may be OK, but most will be rubbish.
As a trainer, I love teaching puppies. Watching them develop and create lifelong relationships with their owners is so rewarding. Unfortunately, there are a few potholes that are easy to fall into. This blog gives you my top tips to help prevent the overwhelm and get you to focus on what matters in those first few months.
Visit a class and observe
Finding the proper support for you and your puppy is essential. Puppy classes are popular, and there are many different styles, formats and teaching methods. So, who do you go with, and what should you ask a potential trainer?
I love it when people ask to come and observe, as it means they are interested in the methods I use and how the puppies will learn. You can pick up so much from watching someone train, teach and interact with puppies and owners.
Look for the What’s, Why’s and How’s. Is the trainer explaining their approach clearly? We recommend looking for a trainer who uses reward-based and other ethical practices. You’ll also want to consider location. Are you okay with the standard village hall, or would a venue with space (such as a park) be more suitable?
Click HERE for more information on picking the right trainer
Ask how many other puppies are in a class
While this is a great question, I often think people ask for the wrong reason. Most people believe that the more puppies there are, the better their socialisation will be, whereas the fewer the dogs, the better. Puppy to puppy socialisation should happen in a controlled environment. I pair up puppies for meet and greets and play by temperament. Puppies teaching other puppies is quite like toddlers teaching other toddlers - they don’t often make good choices!
We know that socialisation is vital in many aspects of our lives. However, when looking at this for our dogs, it seems to send everyone into a bit of a frenzy! This is because the word 'socialisation' is misleading for dog owners. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as "the activity of mixing socially with others".
Does this mean we have to introduce our dogs to everything to stop them from fearing it?
Well, yes and no. The right amount and type of socialisation are essential. Try and see it from your puppy's perspective. How many people out of 50 would you like? And out of those 50, how many would you want to hang out with at your house? Now apply this to your puppy.
We expect our puppies/dogs to love everyone, but this is not the case. Your puppy's likes and dislikes are pretty set by around 12 weeks, which is also when they're at the most social stage of their life. Too much of the wrong type of interaction or being put in too many stressful situations can be detrimental.
Do they have follow-on classes?
Our puppy class consists of 3 different parts for different stages of puppyhood. This means there are 12 weeks of weekly classes and support at the most critical phase of their learning. We also have our Club membership, which means you could be training continues throughout their whole life.
How many hours of learning have you completed in your life? Schooling is central in our society for children, and this should be precisely the same for our dogs. 4 to 6 hours of teaching is not enough.
Remember - trust the experts
Once you’ve found a trainer with proven expertise and relevant qualifications, allow yourself to trust them. Training is a marathon, not a sprint. While progress may feel slow and frustrating at times, trust in the skills of your trainer and follow the tailored plan they create for you. This is the most beneficial thing you can do for both you and your puppy!
How you can practise at home
We often forget to view the world through our puppy's eyes. Imagine being removed from your parents and siblings and put in a stranger's house near Disneyland. This is what I try and get my puppy owners envisaging when they start embarking on a journey with their puppy. There is a tremendous amount of adjustment that your puppy will go through in their first few weeks with you, and they need time, patience and consistent compassion (i.e. not just on the weekends when you have more time!)
Puppies will be cautious when viewing the world, quite rightly. However, their number 1 priority is safety, so keep this in mind with things like sleeping, toileting, eating, handling - everything!
My golden rules are:
Slow down. Puppies don't need to meet everyone and everything in their first few weeks, and this won't make them more social.
Build trust. Play together, and enjoy some quality time. Take the time to find out your puppy's likes and dislikes.
Prioritise learning to read their body language. Being able to understand what they are communicating is important. That way, you can look out for them in times of need.
Puppies are always learning. So reward the behaviour you want to see more of and ignore the stuff you don’t.
Puppies are wonderful, and we can learn as much from them as they can from us. They are curious, funny, mischievous, and so clever. If we can make their puppyhood the best it can be, they will thrive.
Taking the time to educate yourself about how they communicate and learn is the best thing you can do. Getting it right from the start can help give them the best advantage as they move through adolescence.
Remember, have fun with them and keep seeing things from their point of view!
Comments