Puppy training thread.

[Scotty]

Recently got a 10 week old Cavalier king charles spaniel. As its my first puppy im looking for everything i can in terms of training tips.

And also what not to do because i know i will spoil this little girl rotten and if my parents staffie is any to go by i know they can turn out very naughty.

Any help, tips and stories will be of huge help and interest.

Thanks

P.s. She like sitting watching tv sometime but havnt had chance to see if she likes rugby yet

 

[Which Tyler]

I'd say that the most important is to find a rewards-based trainer; and to socialise.

Treat the training as human-training with your dog along for the ride, because its you that's doing the learning, her a little, but not so much. And based around rewards and play is very important - basically, when she's got a mind of her own, you want whatever you've got to offer her to be more interesting than that cat on the other side of the road.

Socialising - needs to be done where she feels safe, and introduce her to as many different dogs, humans, and generally stuff that might spook her. But you also need to be careful not to over-stimulate her, and make sure she's comfortable whilst doing this. Good puppy classes will include a lot of this, and remember that you get to ask the trainer questions as well. Dogs spook at things like big dogs, little dogs, black dogs, tall men, short women, kids, people in hats, people wearing glasses, people with beards, deep voices, high voices, singing, horses... the list goes on and on. The more she meets these things without being spooked, and preferably without a big deal being made of it, then the more she'll ignore them later in life.

 

[Scotty]

Thanks for the reply, she loves everyone peoplewise, took her to the vets she got cuddles off about 8 different nurses and crowded she loves it. Got a 'puppy party' at the vets next week for her to socialize and ive got here to comes/sits/stays on command. The issue ive got is if there are any distractions what so ever she doesnt even respond to her own name which she does know but also has selective deafness for. And i dont know how to counter as i dont think shouting at her for doing something wrong is the right way to deal this at all so i havnt been. But dont know how to do it right.

All treatbased training and attention based and it is working. But i think I just need to take her to classes. Surprisingly she is almost fully potty trained at 10 week.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Great post WT and welcome to the wonderful world of dog ownership Scotty.

What do others have? Mine's a Golden Shepherd - a Golden Retriever / Alsatian mix. Jet black, obvs. Now 9, so slowing down a little but still in great nick and, hopefully not tempting fate, never had any real health issues. He's a first generation cross and it's a really nice mix.

We got him a few weeks older than usual and he hadn't been well socialised. Took a bit of work but he's still occasionally a little bit nervy and barky. Scotty, these next few weeks are incredibly important and WT's bang on when he says it's more about training the owners.

Predecessor was a Belgian Malinois ***** that we got from Battersea. The incumbent's bark is worse than his bite, not so with her, we had to be very careful. Again, took a bit of work, but she was a great family pet and ferociously loyal to me unlike the mummy's boy we have now.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Thanks for the reply, she loves everyone peoplewise, took her to the vets she got cuddles off about 8 different nurses and crowded she loves it. Got a 'puppy party' at the vets next week for her to socialize and ive got here to comes/sits/stays on command. The issue ive got is if there are any distractions what so ever she doesnt even respond to her own name which she does know but also has selective deafness for. And i dont know how to counter as i dont think shouting at her for doing something wrong is the right way to deal this at all so i havnt been. But dont know how to do it right.

All treatbased training and attention based and it is working. But i think I just need to take her to classes. Surprisingly she is almost fully potty trained at 10 week.

Go to classes and get a trainer's advice.

Every dog is different, but however she responds, the key is repetition and reinforcement, so whatever you both learn needs to be drilled in between lessons.

Lovely she undoubtedly is, but she has to learn that you're the leader of the pack. You don't want the tail wagging the dog, so to speak.

 

[Which Tyler]

Yep - firstly, set her up to succeed - to pretty much only call her when you know it's going to work; and keep the training sessions surprisingly short - her attention will only hold for what? 5 minutes if you're lucky.
And go to a puppy class - it will include human training, some puppy training, and a lot of puppy socialising. But that socialising will be limited to other puppies. Both training and socialising... never stop

As for my dogs - 10 year old Newfoundly X GSHPointer, and a 3 year old Leonburger X Bernese Mountain.
CBD oil has given the older dog a new lease of life!

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Fantastic hounds WT, bet they eat you out of house and home! Thanks for CBD info.

Here's mine.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I have a border collie and a Jack Russells youngster.

Border collie very easy to train just needs to be worked for a long time.
The Jack Russell was er more challenging but I've had them since I was born (Same with Collies as well TBH)

 

[Which Tyler]

Thanks for CBD info.

Vetinary osteopath was starting to make progress with her, but add the CBD, and I've got my baby back again! Actually played roughousing with youngster last weekend!

 

[Scotty]

Here's Daisy, now i went all the way to Wales to get her but i wont hold it against her.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I expect to see a walesonline article saying "English poaching more welsh superstar talent "

 

[Scotty]

I expect to see a walesonline article saying "English poaching more welsh superstar talent "

Just like the vunipolas she lived in wales when she was young but will make the right choice

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Really want to get a Newf.

 

[Which Tyler]

Really want to get a Newf.

You won't regret it. Everyone needs a floof bear in their life

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Here's Daisy, now i went all the way to Wales to get her but i wont hold it against her.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I don't understand dog owners who still use leashes connected collars around the dog's necks, especially if they're small and don't instead use a harness. I saw this one man on the tube practically strangle his small dog by lifting it up via the leash connected to its collar. Poor dog.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Puppy farming reports increase almost five-fold - RSPCA https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49195645

This is sad reading.

 

[Which Tyler]

Puppy farming reports increase almost five-fold - RSPCA https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49195645

This is sad reading.

I want to both "like" and "dislike" this post.

Any puppy purchasers - be careful, do your research, see the whole litter, and the dam, and see the vet reports for both parents, at the least, get the contact details for the side.

And be prepared to walk away without a pup (incredibly hard) if you think there's a chance of it being a puppy farm. If you're damned sure, then report to the RSPCA

 

[Every Time Ref]

I want to both "like" and "dislike" this post.

Any puppy purchasers - be careful, do your research, see the whole litter, and the dam, and see the vet reports for both parents, at the least, get the contact details for the side.

And be prepared to walk away without a pup (incredibly hard) if you think there's a chance of it being a puppy farm. If you're damned sure, then report to the RSPCA

What do you look out for, what are the signs?

 

[Scotty]

Puppy farming reports increase almost five-fold - RSPCA https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49195645

This is sad reading.

I bought mine from a dairy farm in Wales. And made sure it was KC registered, and had all relavent paperwork and vaccination paperwork. But also sat with them for 10 min and played with her for 10 min to make sure she was happy and playful and there wasnt signs of her being scared of people or mistreated.