Stage Your Dog’s Training for Best Results

Stage Your Dog’s Training For Best Results

Article by:   John Vella — DogTech® Master Trainer

Start Your Dog’s Training Early

Training your dog from an early age builds a stronger relationship with your dog. This is why everyone in the family needs to play a part in it’s training — they should all be following the same rules!

These rules cannot be human rules, but rules the dog understands through it’s natural instincts. It’s important your dog sees you as the leader of the pack — not as a litter mate they can constantly challenge & play with – in human terms:

• not coming when called
• jumping on us
• biting us

Puppy Training Helps Avoid Big Problems Later

In a pack, training starts at a very early age — the most critical time is between 8 –16 weeks and is known as the sensitive period –and is the time most people get a new puppy.

If your dog misses out on training at this time, or you are given the wrong advice, you may be in for 14 or more years of misery with a dog exhibiting behavioural problems like:

• Dog aggression
• Barking issues
• Human aggression
• Toilet issues

These are easily avoided simply by starting your dog’s training as early as possible.

REMEMBER:  Puppies need to be vaccinated prior to Puppy school

To start your puppy’s training it needs to be at least 8 weeks old, had it’s first vaccination, and be micro-chipped. With some very small breeds, I normally recommend to wait a few extra weeks so they aren’t too tiny — but it is best to contact us as soon as you get your new pup to reserve a place.

Behavioral Problems

Often people I see for In-home behaviour modification tell me they did not attend Puppy school because they were told that the dog to dog contact at a young age would lead to serious health issues. This is misunderstood by many people.

Dogs can interact with other dogs after their first vaccination as long as it is done in a safe environment with other healthy dogs who have also been vaccinated. They should not be taken to Parks or meet dogs that are not vaccinated

Proper Training is as Important as Food

I also sometimes hear, ‘ the dog costs so much and I don’t have enough money for the luxury of training’.

My answer to these people is that it is as important to train your dog as it is to feed it; it’d be like buying a car and not performing your maintenance; it’s short sighted & virtually guarantees expensive problems later.

More dogs die in Australia from behavioural problems because they were not trained ( leading to abandonment –often resulting in being put down), than die of starvation.

Budget for the Dog’s Training Before You Acquire the Dog

When making your puppy purchase, remember to factor in the training as you would food or it’s kennel –it’s part of the package. If you can’t afford the training, don’t buy the dog until you have enough for both.

The Minimum Professional Training Required

The minimum professional training your puppy needs is Puppy school, before they are 16 weeks old. DogTech® runs a three class course (one class per week) with each class going for about 75 minutes. The classes cover such topics as:

• toilet training
• leadership skills
• how to avoid behavioural problems
• basic commands such as, ‘sit’
• stay
• down
• come
• lead work
• socializing with dogs & humans of different size and stature

In-home visits — a good investment

Either before or after Puppy school, DogTech® recommends a home visit so we can access your dog in it’s own environment. We can also advise you on home safety issues for puppy both inside & outside in the garden. Most clients tell us it’s the best money they have ever spent.

Hoping to take your canine buddy out in public with pride?

The next stage of training is Adolescent class, when your puppy reaches 5 months and over. This is also a three week course ( about an hour and a quarter one day per week). This course covers basic training to make your dog more controllable so you will be able to take your best buddy with you in public without being embarrassed.

The way the course is structured is such that it fast tracks your learning by teaching you to hone the skills you learned in Puppy school. Some of the things we teach are:

• doggy being left outside the shop while you grab your croissant or carton of milk for brekkie
• meeting people politely in the street
• how to save time with your training schedule by training your pooch on your daily walks

Some of the commands we cover are:

• sit
• stay
• lay
• heel by your side
• doggy to focus on YOU in public
• food etiquette

The secret to enjoying a long, healthy, and happy relationship with your dog

Training your dog at an early age is a most critical part of their growth and development. It will ensure that you and your dog will enjoy a long, healthy, and happy relationship together.

I now have a new pup ‘Harley’ — I have applied this training with him and we are enjoying great results.

Remember– avoiding doggy problems is much easier than trying to cure them.

END

About John Vella:

John Vella is an Award winning DogTech® Behaviorist/Trainer based in Sydney, Australia. Learn more about John by visiting his Profile page on the DogTech® International website:

John Vella Profile

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