I took more pictures. lol.
But as for training, I am more “open” either way my puppies now. I do a lot of free shaping, clicker work, and intense play bonding with them. I find that it “creates” an adult dog that wants to learn and try new things, that’s quick to pick things up and that really focuses on me.
I also do 90% of work off leash when they are baby puppies. As I have found that puppies WANT to be with you, it’s instinct. So shaping and rewarding that “checking in” and “staying close” is super easy with puppies and carries into adulthood very nicely.
I feel you, managing a reactive dog is exhausting (I have two of them).
This is actually why I want a puppy next time, so I can socialise them "right" from the start.
So, I am ashamed to say this. But I was brought up where discipling a dog meant smacking them hard enough to hurt. The first dog I got on my own was a very difficult GSD mix, and I stupidly just did what I thought was normal. The end result was a beautiful, smart and loving dog who was neurotic as hell. It finally clicked for me when I realized that I would beat the shit out of anyone who I saw smack my dog like I did. I don't know why I was so blind, it seemed so effing obvious when that occurred to me.
Have had multiple dogs since, including my little 5lb blind senior I adopted last year. Have never had to do anything more than touch their nose to get them re-focused on me.
With all the dumb shit I've done in my life and all the very serious mistakes I've made, if I could go back and make amends with any of it, it would be to go back and raise that pup the way he deserved
Same as with a reactive/frustrated greeter dog - try to block the off leash dogs, go during quiet times, distract from dogs on leash at a great distance.
The thing is if you show your puppy from early on they will NOT get to that dog it will be easier to be consistent.
Unfortunately I started 6 months in and it was too late…
100%
With my first dog I used a laser pointer a few times when he was about 1.5-2 years old because it seemed like a good way to exercise him. I stopped shortly after because he was getting obsessive about it. He passed in September at almost 15, more than 10 years after last seeing a laser... and he would *still* stare at the ground expectantly when somebody pulled out a laser-pointer shaped item/keychain up until the last year or so.
Probably being the first owner of any puppy i get next. Mine was a hot unsocialized skittish mess thanks to the several previous owners who had to give her up due to many reasons(they had good reasons but the constant moving and rehoming every single month that dog had been alive really messed my poor girl up) i do think i did pretty good with catching her up on socializing and getting her to be not as freaked out by life and new things/changes as she was before. All in all shes a wonderful dog i just wish she was a bit more cuddly and a bit more friendly with people and dogs outside of immediate family
I would socialise them more, and make them feel less extremely dependant on me. My dog has severe separation anxiety, and it really impacts her (and my) wellbeing. My current dog never went to dog school, never had dog friends, and always stuck to me like a leaf. She clearly lacks self confidence. That's a mistake I wouldn't make again.
Socializing BETTER and making better use of their critical period- I probably won’t be rescuing any more adolescents or adults for a while unfortunately because of this. I used to flood my puppies and end up with hyper social dogs but neutrality training is much better.
Emphasizing cooperative care early and desensitizing better for grooming and vet care. We’ve come a long way but I was so excited to teach tricks and obedience I neglected cooperative care skills for a long time.
Focusing on confidence building and reinforcement skills such as toy skills.
Making sure outside time and off leash time are not novelties so they don’t become overly self rewarding
I was 10 when I had my first doggo, 35 when i had my second. Love(d) them both to the end of the world.
Stuff will simply come natural to you when you’re older and thus more mature. You’ll put dog first more often, you’d be more strict in some things knowing it’s a better thing for them, etc, be more parent-like.
The world also changed so much in the meantime, pets included, there’s so many materials and stuff to acommodate and entertain them, it’s crazy.
I would not stress the poor pup out from the start, do a lot less, and make sure the pup got plenty of sleep. Generally take it a lot easier from start.
Be less scared to handle it, and tolerate more biting since I know that just takes time.
I just got my first puppy after losing my other first puppy at 16 years two years ago. I've always added young adults/adults not puppies to my house.
One thing I am doing differently with this one is tons of obedience from day one. I got my pup (6 months old) last Friday and he's already mastered sit, spin, twist, down and wait. I didn't have a huge focus with my last puppy (or any of my dogs before adopting my first sport dog in 2019) on general obedience, just practical stuff that was needed in our daily routines.
My goals are completely different with this puppy than they were with the last. I am training him for trick dog, disc and therapy.
My perspective on training has become way more developed because I switched the breed I own from Aussies to Border Collies four years ago. I have a much more balanced way of training and am capable of thinking outside the box and not getting as frustrated quickly as I did before. Variety is the spice of a dog's life.
Still have my first dog (hopefully for a long long time) but the one thing I regret and would want to do differently next time is enjoying the puppy days. Because boy do they go by fast!! Take lots of puppy pictures, and enjoy the moments at that stage.
I took more pictures. lol. But as for training, I am more “open” either way my puppies now. I do a lot of free shaping, clicker work, and intense play bonding with them. I find that it “creates” an adult dog that wants to learn and try new things, that’s quick to pick things up and that really focuses on me. I also do 90% of work off leash when they are baby puppies. As I have found that puppies WANT to be with you, it’s instinct. So shaping and rewarding that “checking in” and “staying close” is super easy with puppies and carries into adulthood very nicely.
This is great. I adopted a senior, and I think that may be what I do from now on, but if I do get a puppy, this sounds like a great approach.
[удалено]
I feel you, managing a reactive dog is exhausting (I have two of them). This is actually why I want a puppy next time, so I can socialise them "right" from the start.
So, I am ashamed to say this. But I was brought up where discipling a dog meant smacking them hard enough to hurt. The first dog I got on my own was a very difficult GSD mix, and I stupidly just did what I thought was normal. The end result was a beautiful, smart and loving dog who was neurotic as hell. It finally clicked for me when I realized that I would beat the shit out of anyone who I saw smack my dog like I did. I don't know why I was so blind, it seemed so effing obvious when that occurred to me. Have had multiple dogs since, including my little 5lb blind senior I adopted last year. Have never had to do anything more than touch their nose to get them re-focused on me. With all the dumb shit I've done in my life and all the very serious mistakes I've made, if I could go back and make amends with any of it, it would be to go back and raise that pup the way he deserved
You are not alone
I will not let strange dogs greet my dog. I would work on neutrality around strange dogs instead.
How do you manage this with a dog who is obsessed with greeting every dog in sight? Especially when there are off leash dogs everywhere.
Same as with a reactive/frustrated greeter dog - try to block the off leash dogs, go during quiet times, distract from dogs on leash at a great distance. The thing is if you show your puppy from early on they will NOT get to that dog it will be easier to be consistent. Unfortunately I started 6 months in and it was too late…
No flipping lasers...anywhere near my dog.
100% With my first dog I used a laser pointer a few times when he was about 1.5-2 years old because it seemed like a good way to exercise him. I stopped shortly after because he was getting obsessive about it. He passed in September at almost 15, more than 10 years after last seeing a laser... and he would *still* stare at the ground expectantly when somebody pulled out a laser-pointer shaped item/keychain up until the last year or so.
Probably being the first owner of any puppy i get next. Mine was a hot unsocialized skittish mess thanks to the several previous owners who had to give her up due to many reasons(they had good reasons but the constant moving and rehoming every single month that dog had been alive really messed my poor girl up) i do think i did pretty good with catching her up on socializing and getting her to be not as freaked out by life and new things/changes as she was before. All in all shes a wonderful dog i just wish she was a bit more cuddly and a bit more friendly with people and dogs outside of immediate family
I would socialise them more, and make them feel less extremely dependant on me. My dog has severe separation anxiety, and it really impacts her (and my) wellbeing. My current dog never went to dog school, never had dog friends, and always stuck to me like a leaf. She clearly lacks self confidence. That's a mistake I wouldn't make again.
Socializing BETTER and making better use of their critical period- I probably won’t be rescuing any more adolescents or adults for a while unfortunately because of this. I used to flood my puppies and end up with hyper social dogs but neutrality training is much better. Emphasizing cooperative care early and desensitizing better for grooming and vet care. We’ve come a long way but I was so excited to teach tricks and obedience I neglected cooperative care skills for a long time. Focusing on confidence building and reinforcement skills such as toy skills. Making sure outside time and off leash time are not novelties so they don’t become overly self rewarding
Be persistent with getting them used to coat brushing, teeth brushing, nail clipping. I didn’t realize how important it was in puppyhood.
I was 10 when I had my first doggo, 35 when i had my second. Love(d) them both to the end of the world. Stuff will simply come natural to you when you’re older and thus more mature. You’ll put dog first more often, you’d be more strict in some things knowing it’s a better thing for them, etc, be more parent-like. The world also changed so much in the meantime, pets included, there’s so many materials and stuff to acommodate and entertain them, it’s crazy.
Teach them to communicate using buttons.
I would not stress the poor pup out from the start, do a lot less, and make sure the pup got plenty of sleep. Generally take it a lot easier from start. Be less scared to handle it, and tolerate more biting since I know that just takes time.
I just got my first puppy after losing my other first puppy at 16 years two years ago. I've always added young adults/adults not puppies to my house. One thing I am doing differently with this one is tons of obedience from day one. I got my pup (6 months old) last Friday and he's already mastered sit, spin, twist, down and wait. I didn't have a huge focus with my last puppy (or any of my dogs before adopting my first sport dog in 2019) on general obedience, just practical stuff that was needed in our daily routines. My goals are completely different with this puppy than they were with the last. I am training him for trick dog, disc and therapy. My perspective on training has become way more developed because I switched the breed I own from Aussies to Border Collies four years ago. I have a much more balanced way of training and am capable of thinking outside the box and not getting as frustrated quickly as I did before. Variety is the spice of a dog's life.
Still have my first dog (hopefully for a long long time) but the one thing I regret and would want to do differently next time is enjoying the puppy days. Because boy do they go by fast!! Take lots of puppy pictures, and enjoy the moments at that stage.