training

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but echoes are truly endless.

Training...This is the most important page of my website.
Training starts the moment your new puppy enters your car on the ride home. So far the puppy knows who has been the boss.
First Mom, then it was me and now it needs to be his/her new owners.
Puppies are so cute and people expect them to just fall right into being a good baby. That isn't always the case.
Dogs are pack animals and in every pack there is a leader. Even if it is just you and your puppy. If you don't let them know
who is the leader, they will take that role over immediately.
Puppies do play and bite, but when they draw blood or will not quit, that is a problem right off the bat. They need to learn what
is a soft, acceptable bite. I call this mouthing. This can show affection but anything too hard is not affection at all, it is dominant
behavior. The first thing I do is grab the muzzle and squeeze gently and give one firm quick shake and say NO BITE.
After a few times of this and no change then the 2nd step needs to be followed. Flip him/her on the back and look directly
into the eyes and glare at him/her with the same commands. When they go limp, then release them immediately.
Going limp is a sign that they are 'giving up'. You just won the dominant command. If the biting continues, the same procedure
must be followed until they realize it is not acceptable. Sometimes this has to be repeated a few times. At no point do I ever
accept growling or showing teeth. If they offer that they are on their backs within seconds. They need to know that behavior
is NEVER acceptable. Voice commands are also the best teacher. My dogs know how to count to 3 just by my voice
commands. By the time I get to 3 someone better be moving and they know it....I call #3 my lion voice. When they are used
to your normal tone of voice, they know by changing your tone something is not right. Dogs love to please so they will listen
and learn very quickly. Training has to be immediate and on the spot. I know the old way was to get a newpaper and shake it
at them. Well, by the time you find a newpaper, roll it up and then find your puppy, they have no clue what they did wrong.
Pack order training can be done for all behavior problems. I treat my dogs like I did my kids. 3 warnings with voice commands
and then mom is a lion. I have a lot of patience, but misbehaving is one area that I deal with immediately.
The main reason it is soooooooooo important to start this training right away is this....they only get bigger and harder to handle.
And the problem never just 'goes away'. It will develope into something else, be more intense and they are more dangerous
the bigger they get. It is impossible for me to give training tips when your dog is 8 months old and in charge.
You need to establish pack order right away. Your puppy will be so happy you did. It is his genetic make-up to be leader of
the pack and he will fight for it unless you show him/her differently. This applies to all breeds, not just Cockers.

Training is never violent. It shouldn't have to be. Voice commands work wonders. Just remember...if you said
NO three times and nothing has changed, then follow step #2. They listen to that procedure as the mother
taught them that at a young age. And believe me...what Mom says goes!!!!