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By Linda Scopa
Ohkom Farms Training Center
The new year often welcomes new puppies and new puppy owners. By now your new puppy should be enrolled in his or her first socialization class. With many programs out there being offered your decision can greatly affect your puppy’s social behavior.
The most popular question that is asked is “How do I get my puppy to come?” You may think that the puppy just doesn’t listen, or they are ignoring you when you call them. In all actuality, you may have inadvertently taught your puppy to “ignore” you. A 12 week old puppy will be more interested in working with you than a 16 week old. Once they hit the 16-18 week age their curiosity is at peak. This age is crucial to keep the leash on, this is their wandering stage, and the “I forgot to go outside and potty stage and I like my owners hand, shoes, and furniture better than my toys stage.”
When puppies come to puppy class at this age it may take more patience on your part to undo the negative and reinforce with the positive. The once “I won’t leave my owner” stage when they where 10-14 weeks of age is history. It is not hopeless, it can be fixed.
Let’s review teaching “Come”. Here is an easy exercise and should be done continually throughout the day, but make sure you are prepared to back it up. Start with your puppy on a short leash, (1-4 foot) say puppy’s name and “come”. Have a Cheerio handy for a quick treat. If there is no response you may have to start on the floor at your puppy’s level. Be ready to draw the puppy to you by slightly pulling in the leash and showing him you have a treat. Show lots of praise and excitement. As he gets better, extend the leash and start to stand up. He will soon catch on that word “Come” is kind of fun, I get treats, praise and my toy!
Before you take your puppy back in side practice some sits and walk him to the house with the leash on and puppy by your left side. The most important Tip from Buttercup is not to always restrain your puppy when calling him to you. A puppy will be more acceptable to coming if it always doesn’t mean, they are going to be put in the crate, I am going to get yelled at, or I have to come inside when I am having so much fun. By the way, yelling at your puppy only makes him more reluctant to come to you. The area around you should be the puppy’s favorite place to be. So every time the puppies are near you it should be all about praise!
For more tips from Buttercup register at Ohkom Farms Training Center. ohkom@winbeam.com. Visit our website at www.ohkomfarms.com
Registration at 724 668-7DOG.
AS ALWAYS — Be FUN
— FIRM and CONSISTENT — and Happy Training.
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