Puppies will go home with a small bag of Fromm Gold Puppy food. Slowly add in food from YOUR purchased bag, even if it's the same, as it's likely from another lot number. Also filtered water during it's transition in homes for a smooth stress free week. The food can be ordered from Chewy.com, or purchased from your local pet store..Always use 5 star brands and keep an eye on Dog Food Recalls (internet search) I recommend small web collars that can be enlarged as they grow (Any store that sells dog collars will have them, inexpensive.) .with rolled leather once they are adult size (see Amazon.com or Chewy.com). For walking, chain slip collars are safest as a dog can't pull out of them...but aren't safe to wear around the house. .
House training:
As my pups are 100% using the litterbox when they go to their new homes, they are used to having a set place to potty. They understand the concept of stopping play, holding it until they get to their litter box. If you will take the litter you are given, set it in a baking sheet and set that by the door, show them the tray, they will start to use it instead of having accidents all over the house. Restrict their play area to where you can keep your eyes on them. Soon the pup will head to the tray to potty. That is your cue to whip them outside. Hang a bell on the door knob and they'll learn to ring it to go outside. Going outside every hour and half seems to work best. If the pup just runs and plays outside then wants to come back in and potty's as soon as they get back inside, then hover over the puppy and when they start to go whip them back outside. They are still infants and can't hold their pee or poo for long as yet. The quicker you respond, the more you help your baby understand where and how to tell you it needs to potty, the sooner the pup will house train. Typical sounds and behaviors when they need to potty and can't find their litter bin is to suddenly stop play, circle, whine and show clear signs of distress. if you miss those early signs of confusion and the pup has an 'accident' the pup just learned there is no set place anymore to just let go and relieve itself. The more work you put into the pup those first few days will reap fast rewards in a house trained adult. Three days is common for the pup to ask to go outside to potty if done correctly. The next time you get upset at the puppy for having an accident, hold your bowel/urine until you are so distressed you'd soil yourself. That is what that baby is going through at the beginning. Help it out as much as you can and you'll be rewarded.
How do I begin obedience training? Obedience can and should be a FUN game...If you don't know how to obedience train your puppy I STRONGLY recommend local dog training classes. It will be great for socialization as well as fun to show off your baby! Do a google search for (my city) all breed training club for the most affordable options.
Points to avoid: Do NOT repeat the command! Only say the command AS you give the food at first when the pup accidently does the behavior. That way it's easier for the pup to couple the reward with the command. A critical point of early positive training is to wait until the pup accidently offers a behavior then instantly reward that behavior and give it a name. In the *learn your name* and *come to name* you wait until the pup has focused on you and is wanting to interact..or is already coming to you. As time passes you can stretch out the seconds between the behavior and giving the treat. But in the beginning you MUST couple the treat with the command as the pup accidently offers the behavior. This is the key to positive training. Do NOT give a command if you aren't POSITIVE the dog will obey. Only once a dog fully understands the behavior can you reinforce obedience. And then ONLY if you are in an immediate position to force the dog to obey. Generally I find a dog needs to age to about a year old before they are mentally able to be truly obedient under all circumstances.
Obedience has two components: 1) the dog understands the command and 2) the dog understands it MUST obey the command. Learning it MUST obey comes far far in the distant future.
The first step is to teach puppy it's name. I start this by having a tooth size treat. My current puppy, Riki, I'm using pieces of bacon. When he's close to me, focused and wanting to interact with me, I say his name and immediately put a piece in his mouth. He chews it and is thoughtful. "Dang! Where did THAT come from! It was GREAT!!!" I continue to play with him and wait until he's focused on me again then when the timing is right I say his name and immediately shove a TINY piece into his mouth. Within the day as we are walking around the house and he is coming to me on his own, wanting to interact with me, I say his same and offer him the piece of bacon. Now I start to back away, say his name and offer the bacon. He LIKES THIS game! Within a day, I can say his name and he'll stop what he's doing and come running to get his piece of bacon bit.
1) This teaches the puppy his name
2) This teaches the puppy to give me attention instantly when I say his name
3) This teaches the puppy to come to me when I say his name
4) This teaches the puppy that when I give a command fantastic things happen
5) This is the beginning of the front command
This also teaches the pup VERY QUICKLY to run to the front of me so I have to be careful not to step on him walking around the house. Already the pup is trying to push MY buttons to give him treats. That is my goal-to get the pup to want to offer obedience for treats. later on it will be for praise, toys and treats.
WHY TEACH THIS COMMAND: This is your emergency brake, should the pup take off running to chase or from something, at least the pup will come to you...Really helps to grab the dogs attention. Truly a must teach command. IT CAN SAVE YOUR DOGS LIFE
SIT:
Whenever the pup plops it's butt on the floor, give the sit command and pop a treat in it's mouth. (Obviously you need to keep treats in your pockets, on the side tables, coffee tables! Hold the treat over the pups head, eventually it'll fall onto it's butt. Instantly give the sit command and pop a treat in it's mouth
WHY TEACH THIS COMMAND: There are times you will need to have control over your dog. The sit command keeps the dog in one spot. It also teaches the puppy not to jump up on people it is greeting. IT CAN SAVE YOUR DOGS LIFE
HEELING:
Such a simple way to teach a dog to heel! Have yummy treats turn your body so the puppy ends up on your left, say Cookie! and slip a cookie into the pups mouth. Quickly the pup will realize you are dealing out treats and will be concentrated and jumping up on you. Continue turning your body until the pup ends up on your left side again and slip it a treat. Start walking, only treating the pup when it's on your left side. (You can't see the pup if it's on your right) Soon the pup will catch on that it needs to be on your left side to get a treat. Once the pup starts coming to your left side as you walk, give the command HEEL and give a treat. Free walking and heeling are both on leash, one is meandering along the other is under control and safer..
WHY TEACH THIS COMMAND: Walking carrying something, out shopping, aggressive dog coming towards you, walking in traffic, crossing the street-having a dog that understands the heel command is such a game changer when you need instant control over your dog in the above instances. IT CAN SAVE YOUR DOGS LIFE and your health by not tripping over the leash or unruly dog.
DOWN
By now the pup knows it's name, comes running expecting a treat when you say it's name out of the blue. Comes to the front of you. Will walk beside your left side when you take off walking. Put the pup into a sit, use the food down between it's front paws, under the chest. The pup will likely eventually fall into a down-instantly pop food into it's mouth as you say "Down"
WHY TEACH THIS COMMAND: Part of the game to work for treats and enrich the pups life...sit-treat....down-treat
STAND:
Simply when the dog is standing still, give the command STAND and offer a treat.
WHY TEACH THIS COMMAND: Helps with grooming, getting burrs off, putting on doggie boots. Allows strangers a better chance to gaze in amazement at how beautiful your sheltie is....:D
OUT OF MOTION EXERCISES:
Once your dog understands the above commands, you can ask the dog to sit, then down, then sit again and get a treat. Eventually you can add in the stand. When heeling along, command "SIT" and re enforce the sit by spinning and popping a treat into it's mouth. But don't open your fingers and allow the pup to take the treat until it's sitting. Eventually you'll be able to continue walking and the dog will remain sitting. This works with down and stand as well. I use these commands ALL the time when I'm out walking with Tango.
WHY TEACH THIS COMMAND: It REALLY helps in teaching/conditioning the dog to pay attention to you and gives you the ultimate control. Can save your dogs life should you be out walking and have to put your dog in a stay and go help someone (child falls off a bike, person can't control their unruly dog, you have to save a bird that fell out of a tree...etc)
HEELING BACKWARDS
An advanced rally move, but INCREDIBLY helpful when out walking. After your pup understands to heel and stays in position as you turn left and right, walk along a wall. Put the treat at the level of the middle of their chest, below their chin. They'll naturally take a step backwards to get the treat-the wall and your leg preventing sideways movement. As the dog moves one foot backward you say "Back" and give the treat. Eventually you and the pup will be taking several steps backward. I use this ALL the time when out hiking with Tango to back off the trail to let unmannered dogs pass, bikes, runners and the like. Having a dog that truly understands to stay in exact heel position is incredible. Like power steering in a car.
WHY TEACH THIS COMMAND: Safety when out walking.
CAR RIDES:
Take the pup get into the car. Feed the pup some REALLY unusual and REALLY yummy treats. Exit and go back into the house. Do that about 5 times a day. Different ideas for treats: miniature marshmallows, Ritz crackers, Cheese It's, bread, tuna, chicken, beef...Once the pup is happily munching on the treats as you dole them out, start sitting in the car longer and petting and massaging them between treats. Point in mind, ALWAYS expect the pup/dog to sit and wait patiently for your command to enter or exit the car. I use the word "CAR" and a arm motion pointing into the car, and ok to leave the car. Once the pup is content with sitting in the car, turn the ignition on and continue. Start with very short car rides around the block and work your way towards longer car rides. ALWAYS end the ride with FUN, PLAY and excitement.
WHY TEACH THIS COMMAND: Prevents drooling, vomiting and creates a dog that is comfortable and looking forward to car rides
Training your dog is a time period that really cements your bond that dogs absolutely love. I strongly encourage everyone to look up a training club (search All Breed Training Club in your city) and join a few classes. Great way to meet more friends for you and your dogs. Greyfyre Shelties are excelling in obedience, agility, rally and on and are enriching the lives of their humans..Your sheltie can be much more than a house hold pet...He/She can be a partner of which you can be so extremely proud.
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