Creating kinder, gentler experiences for pets!
     

 

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Puppy Class Goals


Goals

  • To socialize the puppy to people, things and other dogs.
     

  • To take behaviors that dogs do anyway, (like sitting, coming and laying down) and teach the dog to do these behaviors on cue.
     

  • To teach basic manners necessary to be an ideal indoor dog and best friend.
     

  • To actively look for and praise desired behaviors like laying quietly and gentle play.  Most people mistakenly ignore these, and only give attention when something is wrong.  This is why most puppies think their name is “NO.”

Play Session Acceptable Behavior
  • Greeting
  • Sniffing
  • lay Bow
  • Chasing
  • Tag
  • Jumping
  • Rolling
  • Running
Play Session Unacceptable Behavior
  • Mounting longer than 5 seconds - best if other puppy corrects this
  • Persistent barking “5 bark rule = no more than 5 consecutive barks allowed.”
  • Serious fighting
  • Any panic by anybody
  • Pinning or chasing a worried dog
  • Approaching a cornered fearful dog
  • Growling with hackles raised

Pass the Puppy
  • Look for relaxed posture.
  • Test with acceptance of food.
  • If accepting food, increase gentle handling
  • If not accepting food, relax; no handling

Interrupt Inappropriate Behavior

It is only appropriate to interfere if the puppies are exhibiting repeated unacceptable behavior. Give puppies a lot of slack at first. Most pups learn to inhibit their aggression on their own through finding other puppies do not want to play with an aggressive playmate.

Try to interrupt and redirect the aggressive behavior if it continues. The dog’s natural desire to play is the motivation to modify its own behavior, because inappropriate play gets a redirection, or “time out” for several seconds.

Controlling Unacceptable Behavior

1.   Interrupt the behavior and redirect the puppy towards another puppy. No punishment or scolding.

 2.   If the puppy repeats the behavior suspend him for a short time out, and then allow the puppy to resume play redirecting it towards another puppy.

3.   If the same behavior occurs again, give the puppy  a time out in the owners lap for the duration of that play session. 

4.   The puppy should be allowed to play in the next play session. If the puppy repeats the behavior again, suspend the aggressing puppy in the air, then roll it on its side (while being calm, jolly, and being a gentle giant) on the ground and let the other puppies sniff all over it.  

5.   If the puppy repeats aggressive play again, put in time out on the owners lap for the duration of the puppy party, you may take pup for a walk or place in a kennel.

6.   Recommend a pet behavior analysis prior to attending another class
...::::::: Copyright © 2000-Present  All Rights Reserved by Rolan Tripp, DVM  and Susan Tripp, MS, Animal Behavior Network and Associates :::::::...