We believe in positive training and experiences. We spend a lot of time with our puppies in the first eight weeks providing good experiences. Here are a few tips to help you continue with training after you have your new puppy home with you. And, of course, we are always available to answer any questions along the way. We love to stay in touch with our puppy families.
Listen to your dog
Teach a calm state of mind
Practice patience
Always have treats and/or toys when introducing new places or things
Don't chase your dog
Dogs should remain on the floor for the first two years (not on furniture)
Do not force your dog, give time and distance to avoid fear imprinting
Reward with lots of little treats - treat jackpot
Use a variety of treats, including some high value treats such as meat and cheese
For fun and focus, teach "touch" and "target"
Learn canine calming signals (see link below)
Reward naturally occurring good behaviour - quiet and calm in the house
Do not over exercise with running and jumping in the first year
Dragging a long line is a great tool for recall and to deter jumping
Early training starts with no distractions, such as in your kitchen with no one around
Practice sessions should be short (5-7 minutes for a young puppy multiple times per day)
End training sessions on a high note
Rewards can be play or treats - figure out what motivates your dog
Practice in different environments and new distractions as training progresses
If your dog isn't getting it, back up a step
Clicker training can be really rewarding and effective
While socializing puppies is important, negative experiences can imprint for a lifetime
Clicker Training VideosCalming Signals
Secrets to Training Your Dog to Come When Called, Every Time!