YOU ARE YOUR PUPPY'S TEACHER!
Editor's note: Mike and Claudia Clifton graciously agreed to answer some of the most frequently asked questions regarding puppy training. These questions have appeared on the Boxer Mailing List many times, which is an indication that most (if not all) dog owners deal with the these issues at one time or another.
Mike and Claudia, of Semper Fi Boxers (a small, family-owned kennel near Atlanta), are more than qualified to provide answers to these common questions.
Mike has owned and trained Boxers for many years, putting Obedience titles on his own dogs as well as dogs owned by other people. Claudia began her dog training career in Germany at the age of 18. She started with German Shepherd Dogs and then quickly added many other breeds to her credits. Claudia has titled dogs from Basic Obedience to Schutzhund III. She has also garnered titles with many breeds in Agility, Flyball, Tracking, and Personal Protection. You may have seen movies featuring dogs and other animals Claudia has trained. Her media credits include movies, commercials and still productions.
Please remember . . . there are many different ways to answer these questions regarding puppy/dog training. Mike and Claudia provide answers based on their personal knowledge and experience.
YOU ARE YOUR PUPPY'S TEACHER! AUTHORS' PREFACE: Having a dog is a wonderful thing, and we cannot imagine having a more loyal and devoted friend. We want everybody to have that experience. Most people, however, do not realize that bringing a dog into their lives is like having another child. Not only does it need food, water and shelter, but guidance and discipline as well. You, as the owner or "parent" of this addition, are responsible for providing all this. Not only will proper training help to instill appropriate behavior, your "baby" will be a joy to live with for yourself and others. It will also provide the basis for respect, trust, and love your canine companion has toward you. We do not know how many times we have heard from people who wished their dogs would behave like ours. Don't complain -- train! Your puppy will not automatically "know" proper behavior – you have to teach him. Anyone who is not prepared to invest a considerable amount of time into training a dog should reconsider his or her choice of pet. Sometimes other pets might be a lot more suitable for certain lifestyles. If you do not spend time with your dog, giving it guidance and an education, you will have problems with it all your life. Your dog will either end up in some corner of the yard, because "it won't behave in the house" (have you attempted to teach it proper behavior?), be run over by a car (approximately 80% of all dogs killed on U.S. highways are intact males allowed to roam), or brought to the pound because that is a convenient way of dealing with the "problem." You think shelter workers can find him a good home (what makes you believe that if you do not want to deal with your dog's behavior, that someone else will?).Frequently Asked Questions About Puppy Training
By Michael and Claudia Clifton
Semper Fi BoxersPlease take the time to explore all the aspects of dog ownership before you decide to purchase a dog. If you already have a dog, please take the time to work with your dog, regardless of its age. It is never too late, and yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks. Help is out there, but you have to want it – and go after it.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PUPPY TRAINING:
Q. My Boxer puppy is 8 weeks old. When should I start training him?We recommend you start immediately! Start with house breaking, leash and collar training, and simple commands such as 'heel, sit, down and stay'. The puppy should also be introduced to commands like 'Go Potty' or whatever you would like to use for that purpose, and the words 'No!', 'Off!' and 'Okay!'
Q. What simple obedience commands should I start with? And how should I go about training him?
Start with the commands mentioned in the previous answer: heel, sit, down, and stay. The most important thing is to first teach the dog exactly what is meant by a certain command. Always use a leash and collar.
Here is a simple way to teach 'sit.' First, get the dog's attention. Then place the dog on your left side. While gently pulling up on the leash, push his rear down and give the command "sit" in a firm, but not necessarily loud voice. Hold it down for a few seconds, then release and praise. Repeat a few times, then end the session. Be aware that puppies have a very short attention span, and training at an age of 8-12 weeks should be 3-4 times a day, but not more than 10 minutes per session. It will take several sessions until Puppy realizes what you want, and he will forget it several times in between. Be patient and persistent at all times -- it will pay off down the road!
Q. What kind of collar and leash should I use for my puppy?
Opinions are varied here, but we prefer to use a choke chain starting at about 10 weeks for training and will go through several different collar sizes until the puppy is grown up. NOTE: THE CHOKE CHAIN IS FOR TRAINING ONLY! When not training, our dogs wear adjustable nylon collars until they are adults. At some point (usually after one year of age) we will buy them a round sewn leather collar to wear around the house. For the right collar and proper use, please consult a qualified obedience instructor or an obedience training book.
Q. Our puppy hates her collar and she fights the leash. Is there a way to get her used to wearing them?
Puppy will get used to it. Don't make a big deal out of it. Ours wear their collars day and night as puppies, so they do not know any different. You might try to do your first leash lessons in the privacy of your backyard until puppy realizes that screaming, bucking and throwing herself on the ground does not help. It might take a couple of days, but if you persist, she will give in. Then take her lots of places, so she can meet people (not necessarily other dogs, though). Make sure to stay up to date with vaccinations!!
Q. My Boxer puppy bites me when we're playing. How can I get her to stop that?
Stop playing immediately and show your puppy that you disapprove of this behavior by saying "NO!" in a VERY determined manner. If she continues, which she will if she has gotten away with this type of misbehavior previously, grab her preferably by the scruff of the neck and "growl" another "NO!" at her. You might have to grab her by the lip -- very sensitive in Boxers -- and squeeze it between your thumb and index finger. Your puppy has to realize that biting is absolutely inappropriate. You have to nip this at once. Try to not play aggressive/wild games and make sure you are always in control. What might be cute in a puppy can be quite annoying (and painful) in an adult dog!
Q. My pup loves to chew - on anything! Is there something I can do to stop him from chewing on my shoes and furniture?
Crate training is the solution here. If there is a miracle solution to easier training, it is the crate. If used properly, the puppy and adult dog will consider the crate their den. Whenever the dog cannot be supervised directly, it has to go in a crate. Make sure it went to the bathroom first. The puppy will learn that this is the place were he sleeps, spends time while you travel with him, and where he can be safe. For housetraining purposes and proper use of a crate, we highly recommend the book How to Housetrain a Dog in 7 Days. It is available in bookstores and pet stores. You might not be able to housetrain your puppy in that amount of time, but it will move you a big step closer to it. It will save your furniture, shoes, and whatever else sharp puppy teeth can sink into!
Q. My puppy cries every time I put her in the crate. Will she ever stop that?
Yes, if you let it happen! Just make sure that your puppy went to the bathroom right before you put her in the crate. You want to be sure she is not crying because she has to go potty. Put her in, close the crate door, and leave the room. She will still scream for awhile, but if you ignore it, she'll eventually go to sleep. We found crate training a lot easier since we started offering the food in the crate as well. It also keeps the dog from being distracted while eating - and Boxers are easily distracted!
Q. My puppy gets so excited when people come to visit and he urinates all over the place. Will he grow out of that?
Most likely he will outgrow it. As it is a nuisance though, have your puppy greet visitors outdoors, and have visitors ignore him until he settles down. By all means be patient with him!
Q. I'm not going to compete in obedience - I just want a well-behaved dog. Should I still take my Boxer to obedience classes?
Yes, by all means take him to a good obedience class! It will be good for the both of you!
Q. At what age should I start taking my pup to obedience classes?
Most instructors recommend between 4 and 6 months, mostly due to the vaccination schedule. We start ours at home on a somewhat relaxed program with lots of praise and no harsh corrections. When starting that young, corrections are normally not necessary. Always remember: it is a lot easier to train a puppy of three months weighing 25 pounds, than an adult that can weigh up to 70 pounds or more.
Q. I just rescued a 3-year-old Boxer. Is she too old for obedience classes?
Definitely not! It is actually a good chance for the both of you to get to know each other and do some bonding. We rescued an 18-month-old male from the pound several years ago, and within 6 months he graduated to be a seeing eye dog. To our knowledge he is still working as such. Most of our rescues were not even placed without a Canine Good Citizen title, so there is definitely hope!
Q. An obedience instructor once told me Boxers are hard to train. Is that true?
We don't think so. However, we are sure there are breeds that are easier and faster to train than the Boxer. The Boxer, being a working dog, can be a challenge as he sometimes thinks independently. You have to be creative at times, and always stay ahead of him. You might consider using a less prejudiced instructor if the trainability is a problem for the instructor.
Q. What kinds of training methods should I investigate before working with my Boxer?
Don't use your Boxer as a guinea pig for different methods. Watch different approaches, different trainers, and their results. Some methods work great on one dog, but not on another. We still use the standard positive/negative reinforcement training, mixed with some food motivation on dogs that respond to it. Use the method/s that work for you and your dog – the method or methods that YOU feel comfortable with. There are no shortcuts to an obedient dog, and the way will always be the same: You teach the dog what you want it to do and then you repeat it over and over and over. Be patient at all times; don't lose your temper. Be sure to remember this: a dog that doesn't respect you won't work for you. Respect and love in dogs goes hand in paw, so to speak.
Q. There are several different organizations that offer obedience classes in my area. What should I look for so I can choose the right one for my puppy?
Visit several of these classes without Puppy, and watch their training. The best way to determine how good the class is, is to go to the class when they have their first or second lesson, and then again for graduation night. That gives you an idea on how effective the training has been. Speak to students and ask about the trainer's experience. How many dogs has he/she trained to achieve an obedience/working title, how many different breeds, etc. Ask for references. Ask yourself if you are comfortable with the training method. Most classes teach YOU to train your own dog. We usually recommend to check out classes before a puppy is purchased.
Q. I was told I should "socialize" my puppy. What does that mean?
Socializing basically means taking your puppy different places such as to the park, pet store, in the car when you make short trips, and let it meet people so it can meet "the world". We would not let our puppy be too social with other dogs for a variety of reasons, health aspects being the main one. Besides, you will want your puppy to be a 'people dog', right?
Q. My puppy jumps up on everybody. How do I stop him from doing that?
Teach your puppy to sit instead. Jumping up is an instinctive behavior stemming from the wolves. When they come home from hunting, the pups jumping up toward the adults' muzzle will trigger the adults to relinquish food. To satisfy that instinct, your puppy needs to be taught the more acceptable form of this behavior, which would be 'sit' and 'stay.' Teach at home first, and next time your puppy wants to jump up, you will have a leash on him. Tug with a sharp "Off!" or "No!" on the leash and tell him to 'sit' and 'stay' instead. Don't let people pet him unless he obeys the command. Don't expect miracles the first time around, but with persistence and patience it will work!
Q. My puppy is pretty aggressive toward other dogs. Is there a way to change her behavior?
Obedience training -- and not letting her be around other dogs for a longer period of time outside of training -- should help. When old enough, spaying/neutering is usually helpful. If the dog exhibits aggressiveness toward other dogs/animals, a sharp correction with a "No!" is warranted. Then put the dog in a down stay (that's where obedience training is important) - it's like a "time out".
Q. My puppy is real shy and wants to hide from people and other dogs. What can I do to help him overcome his fear?
Obedience training will build up confidence like nothing else. With a shy puppy, we definitely recommend classes. At the same time, socialize your puppy, but give it a chance to observe and approach people at its convenience and comfort level. We would stay away from strange dogs, as they can ruin any attempt to built up confidence should they snap or growl at your puppy. At any point is it a lot more important that your dog will be good and well-adjusted around other humans, and not so important whether he cares about other dogs.
Copyright 1998, Michael and Claudia Clifton and the Boxer Mailing List
