Puppy Training Tips for Tender Personalities & New Pups

When you first get your pup, you will want to do everything right but sometimes, what you think is 'right' is 'wrong'.  I sent home these pointers in my Olive x ARI litter and thought I should post them here so that everyone might use these tips for guiding your family and new pup in the right direction.

• Use a positive based training facility/trainer (no choke collars, 'hard handed' techniques, or negative based methods).  Be sure to check with your trainer choice that they use positive methods only.
• Don't smother your pup or try to protect them from what they might fear.  Instead, coax them using treats to confront but do so slowly and look for the smallest improvements.  If they fear a hydrant, let them approach it at their speed.  Don't force the introduction.
• Do not allow people or animals to run up to them.  Ask people to use low voices and sit down to allow the pup to approach them on their terms.  Give people a treat to give your pup and wait until your pup has more confidence to happily trot up to them to get a treat.
• Don't coddle!  If your pup shows any type of fear of anything, don't pick them up and coo to them!  You are re-enforcing the reason why they 'think' they should fear this person/thing/sound.  Yes, you can pick them up, but go in a different direction and put them back down.  Get a special toy to interact with them if it is a sound so that they realize the 'sound' does not hurt them but it DOES initiate playtime!  If they fear a dog, pick them up and move away from the dog that is scaring them but use a normal voice of confidence.  
• Lots of interaction with social dogs would be great but NOT dog parks!  You never know what type of dog is at a dog park and one bad experience could be very detrimental to your pup.  Stay away until your pup has built up enough confidence to not be overwhelmed.  So visit friends with friendly dogs; go to Petco to meet and greet with other people and dogs; go for walks; car rides; Home Depot allows dogs; garden centers are fine with dogs; and always make your excursions positive ones.
• Car sickness:  Short trips at first.  Sometimes just placing your pup in the car in the driveway and giving it treats for a few days is all you should do.  Then a treat after you drive around the block; and lastly a short trip to get an ice cream.  All positive until they get very excited when you say 'Let's go for a ride'!
• Whining - expect it.  They are not going to have their siblings with them anymore.  They need to make new friends but it will take some time.  Be patient.  Place a blanket over their crate if it gets too loud but don't give in.  If it is very loud and pitiful, wait for a split second that they are not whining to take them outside for a potty break, etc.  DO NOT PUT THEM IN BED WITH YOU!  Worse mistake you can ever make.  People and dogs should not be 'equal'.  Dogs should always be on the bottom ladder.  This does not mean they should be ignored, but it is important that they learn YOU are the provider for their food and comfort.  Respect equals food and high places equal 'status' in the dog world - hence no beds until your pup fully understands his place in your family.  When they are trained fully, then you can invite them up on your bed for a cuddle.  :+)
• One more item to address:  NEVER allow your pup/dog to remain on your lap if it should ever growl at a person or another dog.  When a pup or dog does this, they are showing 'you are their possession'.  This should not be.  The pup/dog should be immediately placed off your lap and asked to lie down or sit.  Doing this every time will re-enforce their status within your family.

Trainers and training philosophies change often.  You need to find the ones that make the most sense to you and more than ever - ones that you know you can train with successfully.