Post by DeDe on Sept 9, 2011 6:36:31 GMT -5
While discussing my boyfriend's young dog with mom this morning, it dawned on me that as a 'newbie' in the world of 'performance/working' dobermanns, he had made a very common mistake in her rearing.
How many of you allow your puppies to 'own' their toys? It's out and available to them to grab and play with whenever they want. They are never made to give it to you, they just happily go off and play with 'their' toys.
Well, if you have any desires or aspirations to do any performance events with your puppy as an adult, this is something that you will definitely want to rethink. In our household, everything belongs to US. We just allow the dogs/puppies to play with them when we choose. Our puppies are taught at a very early age this important lesson! Toys are most fun when we play with them at the same time. Toys are thrown and BROUGHT BACK for more play. Toys mean FUN time with US. This way, as puppy gets into more trouble grabbing things it should not, what does it do with it? You got it! Brings it to US for play! When this happens, we praise the pup for bringing the item in question to us and quickly replace it with something they are safely allowed to play with. This brings on a short game of FUN!
This prepares the dogs for the Retrieve in many sports as well as helping with Service Dog work in future. Yes, we allow certain safe chew items left down for growing puppies. Gotta have something handy when that 5 month old tries to chew on the table or chair leg. They are always redirected to 'their' chew items (hooves, antlers, bones, NEVER WHOLE RAWHIDE!).
If you go thru the steps logically, one at a time, it makes sense.
Goal: Get the puppy/dog to bring you the item, whatever it may be.
Steps: Get the puppy to go to the item, get the puppy to pick up the item, get the puppy to bring YOU the item, get the puppy to release said item to YOU.
If a puppy is left to play with whatever it wants, whenever it wants, why on earth would it want to give up it's toy to you? This almost invariably brings on a game of CHASE for the puppy. MAJOR MISTAKE!!! NEVER CHASE YOUR PUPPY!!!!!!!!! Once you have started this 'game' with a dobermann, you will regret it the rest of their lives! We have the pleasure of owning one of the smartest breeds alive today. They learn extremely FAST! Especially if it's the WRONG thing! Many of our puppies end up in shelters and become unwanted because of owners not knowing HOW to raise them. They think that the chase game is fun and cute for a 3 month old. Well, guess what? That 3 month old becomes a 8 or 9 month old with your cell phone now firmly in it's mouth! But, instead of admitting that they were the cause of this unruly puppy, the poor puppy is blamed.
Please, use some logic and remember: NEVER let a puppy do what you don't want a full grown dog doing!!!!!
How many of you allow your puppies to 'own' their toys? It's out and available to them to grab and play with whenever they want. They are never made to give it to you, they just happily go off and play with 'their' toys.
Well, if you have any desires or aspirations to do any performance events with your puppy as an adult, this is something that you will definitely want to rethink. In our household, everything belongs to US. We just allow the dogs/puppies to play with them when we choose. Our puppies are taught at a very early age this important lesson! Toys are most fun when we play with them at the same time. Toys are thrown and BROUGHT BACK for more play. Toys mean FUN time with US. This way, as puppy gets into more trouble grabbing things it should not, what does it do with it? You got it! Brings it to US for play! When this happens, we praise the pup for bringing the item in question to us and quickly replace it with something they are safely allowed to play with. This brings on a short game of FUN!
This prepares the dogs for the Retrieve in many sports as well as helping with Service Dog work in future. Yes, we allow certain safe chew items left down for growing puppies. Gotta have something handy when that 5 month old tries to chew on the table or chair leg. They are always redirected to 'their' chew items (hooves, antlers, bones, NEVER WHOLE RAWHIDE!).
If you go thru the steps logically, one at a time, it makes sense.
Goal: Get the puppy/dog to bring you the item, whatever it may be.
Steps: Get the puppy to go to the item, get the puppy to pick up the item, get the puppy to bring YOU the item, get the puppy to release said item to YOU.
If a puppy is left to play with whatever it wants, whenever it wants, why on earth would it want to give up it's toy to you? This almost invariably brings on a game of CHASE for the puppy. MAJOR MISTAKE!!! NEVER CHASE YOUR PUPPY!!!!!!!!! Once you have started this 'game' with a dobermann, you will regret it the rest of their lives! We have the pleasure of owning one of the smartest breeds alive today. They learn extremely FAST! Especially if it's the WRONG thing! Many of our puppies end up in shelters and become unwanted because of owners not knowing HOW to raise them. They think that the chase game is fun and cute for a 3 month old. Well, guess what? That 3 month old becomes a 8 or 9 month old with your cell phone now firmly in it's mouth! But, instead of admitting that they were the cause of this unruly puppy, the poor puppy is blamed.
Please, use some logic and remember: NEVER let a puppy do what you don't want a full grown dog doing!!!!!
