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Raising a puppy: All you need is love … and a lot more
By Liz Palika
April 21, 2009
I mentioned a few weeks ago that my Mom was looking for a new dog. I’m happy to say a cocker spaniel/poodle mix puppy named Ginger is now making Mom very happy. Ginger is making Mom tired, too, but that’s okay.
Dad passed away this past December and Mom is still grieving and lonely. Her older dog, Cosmo, is 13 and showing his age. Mom knows, even if she doesn’t say it, that Cosmo’s time is limited and I think she was worried about being alone.
Ginger has a golden, wavy coat with a tiny white blaze on her forehead. She is affectionate, loves to give kisses, and is very playful. She makes Mom laugh. Cosmo, unfortunately, thinks she should die and go to, well, you know.
Mom knows she hasn’t been the best dog trainer in the past, and says she’s going to do better this time. Right now, she’s doing well. Ginger is going to the back door to go outside and has learned how to use the dog door. She’s learning not to use her teeth on Mom’s hands and she’s already started to retrieve her toys so Mom can throw them. Mom and Ginger also began puppy class this week.
But Mom asked me a question this morning, “All of your puppies grow up to be happy, well behaved, confident, co-operative dogs. How can I make sure Ginger grows up that way, too?” I’ve been stewing over that question because I’ve never thought about it. Oh sure, I teach puppy and dog training classes every day but I haven’t thought about how I raise my own dogs. I just do it. So, here’s what I came up with (in no particular order of importance):
* Enjoy your puppy. Have fun with him, laugh with him, and treasure his puppyhood as much as you appreciate and love your adult dogs.
* Play with your puppy. Play is good for us – both humans and canines – and helps cement the bond you’re developing with your puppy.
* Spend time with him. Don’t get a puppy when you’re going to be really busy at work; it takes time to raise a puppy.
* Allow him time to amuse himself. You should not be a toy or fun dispenser all the time. Let him learn to play by himself, too.
* Teach him he can be close without interrupting you. I work at home and all of my dogs are in the office with me but are not allowed to interrupt me when I’m working. Unless, of course, a potty trip outside is needed.
* Teach him to be alone once in a while. Make leave takings and home comings low key and quiet.
* Set household and social rules and teach your puppy what they mean. (For example, no jumping on people, no raiding the trash cans, no dashing out the front gate). Praise co-operation enthusiastically.
* Prevent problems from happening and turning into bad habits, and create and build good habits instead. Think pro-actively instead of reacting to bad behavior.
* Have a vision of what you want your puppy to grow up to be and help him achieve it.
I’m sure there are more things that I do with my dogs but these are the things that came to mind this morning.
Archer, my youngest dog, is now about 15 months old. My husband and I were his fourth home by the time he was five months old. Archer was slow to bond with us; I think in some way he figured he wasn’t going to stay anywhere very long so why bother? But I instituted my normal puppy-raising methods even though he was older. Today, although he still has some adolescent attitudes on occasion, he is an affectionate, bright, compliant, joyful dog.
Image: Archer, left, and Bashir.
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Sounds like things are going great so far with Ginger. Very good puppy advice too. From my limited experience I would add—get your puppy used to being touched all over (face, paws, tail). And that this is very easy to do during a snuggling session. :O)
Comment by Original Lori — April 21, 2009 @ 2:05 pm
Socialization, socialization, socialization! To animals, people, and places, and happenings! Teaches a growing puppy he can deal with whatever the world throws in front of him!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — April 21, 2009 @ 2:13 pm
I want to second both previous comments.
We get so many dogs into the shelter that haven’t been handled. One turn of the head with teeth showing or a snap at a hand can very well mean going to rescue. Which isn’t a horrible thing, but it adds one more layer of adjustment for the dog.
Ditto socialization. So many dogs come into the shelter in our rural county who are thrown by the simplest things and everything. They’ve clearly never been anywhere, seen anything, met very many people. The world is a scary place to them. Sometimes they come around in a week or so, sometimes it’s off to rescue.
Then we get the ones who clearly belonged to someone and have been places and just want to be part of what’s happening. They tend to fly out the door.
Give your puppy the gift of the world beyond your home and backyard as soon as it is safe to do so. It could make a big difference someday.
Comment by Susan Fox — April 21, 2009 @ 4:07 pm
Ginger sounds like a sweet, lucky little girl (Cosmo not so much, at least for the moment). Your mom has gained half the battle by admitting that a change in approach will make a difference.
Good luck to Ginger AND Cosmo!
Comment by Phyllis DeGioia — April 21, 2009 @ 4:16 pm
Following on Susan Fox’ comment: mom should take Ginger with her wherever she goes that’s safe (with summer coming, leaving a dog in the car = not a good thing), and into whatever stores will allow her.
Comment by EmilyS — April 21, 2009 @ 5:23 pm
Liz - go herding dogs! :O)
I bring my two ACD mixes with me to work every day - one is almost 4 and the other is five months. People always comment on how well-behaved, sociable, calm and well-mannered they are. Then of course they make some comment about how we must have gotten the “good puppy” in the litter or how ACDs must just be great dogs - to which I generally go off on a rant about 6:30 wakeup times for walkies and a rigid routine, 6-9 hours of socializing with people and other dogs at work every day and varying hours of hard exercise and CONSTANT training.
No, they did not just “turn out” this way.
I have to admit though - I too would have a hard time writing down on paper exactly what we’ve done to always have such wonderful dogs. We just - did.
Part of me smirks a bit when I hear a comment about how much better behaved my 5 month old pup is than a client’s 4/5/6/7/8 year old dog of whatever breed - what can I say, I’m a proud momma. The rest of me just feels bad for the other dog… :O(
Comment by Kim — April 21, 2009 @ 6:42 pm
I’m pleased to say that I get compliments on Niki’s behavior and then people often say something along the lines of “I wish my dog was that way.” or “I can’t get my dog to do that.” Like come when I call him or sit on command or not dislocate my shoulder pulling on the leash.
I just smile and make neutral noises, because what I’m really thinking is “Have you ever considered TRAINING you idiot?” But people don’t seem to want to do anything that’s HARD.
And often the dogs pay the price. If they’re lucky, the ACO picks them up, we teach them the basics at the shelter, they learn that people are worth paying attention to and then get good forever homes.
We could probably get Liz 100 comments just on all the excuses people use for not training their dog or for its shitty behavior. I’ll bet y’all have some doozies.
Comment by Susan Fox — April 21, 2009 @ 6:57 pm
When someone applies for a puppy or rescue dog of mine, I always ask “What will the dog’s JOB be?”
There are as many good answers as there are dogs to fill those jobs, but I want to see that the owner has given this some thought.
When I’m raising a pup, I’m raising her to take on a JOB, which will have various tasks and requirements in its description.
If the job is “My faithful companion and comic relief,” there is training that is specific to the tasks involved, just as much as for jobs such as security patrol, surrogate eyes, sheep-tender, etc.
So I also ask students and clients to tell me the dog’s job. If they can’t, I have them go home and think on it, and come back next week with an answer about what they would LIKE the dog’s job to be. Then we work on a plan to make that happen.
Comment by H. Houlahan — April 21, 2009 @ 7:01 pm
I agree totally with the comments about touching the puppy all over and the socialization. My Mom enrolled in my puppy class and we teach all the students that those are vitally important.
Comment by Liz Palika — April 22, 2009 @ 9:52 am