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Your Dog's Friend

A NONPROFIT IN ROCKVILLE, MD WITH FORCE-FREE, POSITIVE DOG TRAINING, WORKSHOPS & ADVICE

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Advice for Puppy Parents

To raise a well-adjusted dog, there are some things you should start doing with your puppy as soon as you bring him home, so that he is well on his way by 16 weeks. These are tips on what you can do right away, but also don’t forget to check the resources at the end.

Puppy Kindergarten

Even if your puppy hasn’t completed all of his vaccinations, it’s important that he meet other dogs and people, and that these be good experiences. Starting Puppy Kindergarten that uses positive methods, as early as possible, can help prevent all sorts of problems later. It allows for socialization in a safe, controlled environment.  You will learn how to read your puppy’s body language, so you know when he is excited, anxious, merely tolerant or has had enough. Puppies are like sponges that learn the skills you train easily, and this training helps you teach your puppy what you want him to do, instead of correcting him all the time.  In Puppy Kindergarten, common puppy problems and solutions are discussed.  And perhaps most important, you and your puppy can build a relationship built on trust right from the start. For more information on why starting early is so important, go to the position statement on puppies by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Click here to see our available Puppy Classes.

Searching for a trainer in another location?  Try these resources!
https://petprofessionalguild.com/Find-a-Member
https://karenpryoracademy.com/find-a-trainer/
https://peaceablepaws.com/find-a-trainer/
https://academyfordogtrainers.com/find-a-trainer

Socialization

Get together with friends who have healthy, vaccinated dogs. Have people over – all ages, races, with and without beards, with and without hats and coats, etc. As your puppy gets older, have him on various floor surfaces, in an elevator, around traffic and bicycles. You get the idea. If you have a fearful or timid puppy, don’t force him into a situation that makes him uncomfortable. Whether your puppy hides or lunges, don’t yell, punish or yank at his leash. Think of it as a signal that you’ll need to help him develop good associations with whatever he reacted badly to. So, next time, give him pea-sized treats in rapid succession the entire time that he is around what frightens him. Socialization can only have the desired effect if your puppy has GOOD experiences; bad experiences can create fears and anxiety. So, supervise your pup closely and don’t put him in situations where another dog, stranger or child could bite, scare or harass him.

Bite Inhibition

Puppies have sharp teeth, and they nip. It’s natural. But if you don’t teach bite inhibition now, it could be a problem later when his bite could really hurt someone. Puppies primarily bite to get our attention; they want us to interact with them. So we need to make sure that we aren’t inadvertently rewarding nipping. If attention is the goal, then your attention is the reward. While some people will suggest that you yelp or say “ouch,” it’s important to realize that this doesn’t work very well for many puppies. Most hear that noise and think: “Great! Now we’re playing! Game on!” If you yell, you have unwittingly joined in the fun.

When your puppy nips, keep your cool. Don’t look at your puppy, don’t talk to your puppy, and don’t yell at your puppy. You have a few other options. You can calmly get a toy, put it in his mouth, and engage in appropriate play. This says to your puppy: “No, you may not bite my hands (or feet or arms…), but you can chew on this and I’ll give you my attention.” If no toy is nearby, you will want to simply get up and quietly walk away from your puppy to find a toy. Sometimes just walking away by itself will send a clear message.

Resource Guarding

Some dogs growl or bite when things are taken away from them (toys, food bowls, bones) or when you get in “their” space (on the bed or sofa).  They should learn not to guard resources as puppies, so it doesn’t crop up later. When you feed your puppy, go by after a few minutes and put a really good food (maybe chicken) in the bowl.  After a while, pick up the bowl before he is finished eating, put chicken in, and return it to him.  He will get the idea that if you take something from him, he can expect something even better coming back.  If your puppy grabs something you don’t want him to have, don’t chase him.  If you do, it’s a game.  Instead, trade him for something even better while teaching him the words, “drop it”.  I want my shoe, but you can have this yummy chicken.

Touch

You will need to touch your puppy all over his body, including in his mouth and between his toes. Puppies can get used to being touched all over, which makes it a lot easier for the vet or groomer or when you give him pills or brush his teeth.  It’s much easier to work on it now than to have a touch sensitive dog later.  You don’t want him to whip around to snap or bite just because he was touched where he doesn’t like it.

Resources

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPGd7ElMCJ8: An excellent video introduction to puppy socialization

www.tz203.isrefer.com/go/puppy/yourdogsfriend/: “Raising Your Puppy” program for puppies from 8 weeks to 6 months with noted trainer Robin Bennett. Includes online video tutorials; tips for solving common puppy issues; a weekly “what to do” checklist; recommended puppy products; and access to a Facebook group with other puppy parents.

www.whatdogswant.org/product-page/see-spot-think-the-puppy-wellness-box: “Puppy Wellness Kit” from What Dogs Want. Includes eight different activities to develop skills like creative thinking, problem solving, and impulse control. Will also improve focus, body awareness, and confidence. Bonus activities to help with manners. Written directions, access to video instruction, and treats included in kit. If you use code ‘DOGSFRIEND’, 10% of your first purchase will be donated to Your Dog’s Friend.

position statement on puppies by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior

Your Outta Control Puppy – how to turn your precocious pup into the perfect pet by Teoti Anderson

www.dogstardaily.com: There is a lot of information on puppies, and you can even download Dr. Ian Dunbar’s books on puppies from this website.

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Dogs don't speak with words. They speak with their bodies. They are talking ALL the time. An excellent video by TheFamilyDog.

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yourdogsfriendtraining

Nonprofit that educates & supports dog parents in MD, NoVA, DC, & beyond.
Force-free dog training
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Your Dog's Friend
Early to mid Feb Puppy Party sessions are posted f Early to mid Feb Puppy Party sessions are posted for registration! 🐶 🎉 
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Link in our bio or visit YourDogsFriend.org/Puppy-Party. 
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#puppyplay #puppyparty #funforpuppies #rockvillemd #dcpuppy #mocopuppy #newpuppy #puppyparents #positivereinforcement #puppytraining #puppybehavior #confidencebuilding
Last Saturday’s webinar with @jwdogtraining all Last Saturday’s webinar with @jwdogtraining all about small dogs is up on our YouTube channel! Catch it if you missed it, watch it again, or share with friends! Link in bio. 😀
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#smalldogs #tinypup #littledog #happypup #certifiedtrainer #kpactp #dogtraining #positivereinforcementdogtraining #keepyourdogfeelingsafe #dogbodylanguage #dogbehavior #dogtraining #pomeranian #papillon #chihuahua #shihtzu #yorkie #bichonfrise
Puppy friends, we’ve just added a >20 lb Puppy P Puppy friends, we’ve just added a >20 lb Puppy Party for this Wed Jan 27 at 3pm with @metropolitandogllc ! 
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Go to link in bio or YourDogsFriend.org/Puppy-Party to learn more & register.
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#puppyparty #puppysocialization #happypuppies #dcpup #mocopuppy #rockvillepuppies
Friends with or expecting new puppies, we are sorr Friends with or expecting new puppies, we are sorry that the start dates for Puppy Kindergarten got so far out for a while there! We have new openings as soon as Tues Feb 2nd right now and would love to e-meet you and your puppy! Link to register for online Puppy K is in our bio, along with a link to read about some of the benefits of online training. 
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#onlinepuppykindergarten #puppykindergarten #puppyk #newpuppy #newdog #rescuepuppy #happypuppy #cutepuppy #positivereinforcementdogtraining #onlinepuppytraining #joinusfromanywhere #puppymom #puppydad #welcomehomepuppy
Free “Low Stress Handling at Home” webinar Sat Free “Low Stress Handling at Home” webinar Sat Feb 6 at 2PM ET with @abwellnesscenter Veterinary Behaviorist Dr. Amy Pike! 🙌
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Veterinary Behaviorist Dr. Amy Pike will explain how to handle your dog for everyday maintenance – like grooming, brushing teeth, giving pills, etc -in a way that will reduce your dog’s anxiety. High anxiety in these and other situations could potentially cause both immediate and longer-term behavior problems. If that surprises you, come hear why.

Speaker: Amy Pike, DACVB, @abwellnesscenter 

To register, visit link in bio or go to YourDogsFriend.org/Free-Webinars
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#freewebinar #lowstresshandling #lowstresshandlingathome #veterinarybehavior #veterinarybehaviorist #fearfree #grooming #nailcare #dognailtrim #dognailcare #doggrooming #dogtoothbrush #doghusbandry #fearfreedoggrooming
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