I have been a trainer for about 10 years and a behaviorist for a little over 2. Behaviorally I specialize in aggression & separation anxiety, and training wise my main focus is working dogs (specifically guard & patrol...PSA style).
I am trying to put together a training program for new puppy owners that really doesn't allow for the oppotunity to screrw up. In my experience the way we raise our working
uppies could apply to all dogs. The pups end up confident, well adjusted, eager to please, just in general a very happy dogs.
I see so many people screw up there dogs by scolding them, yelling at them, redirecting poorly, having very poor timing, misunderstanding basic training explanations, changing methods too quickly, not putting in the time, having to high of expectations, and so on....I have done all of the above at one time or another.
Here is the way we train our working puppies (more specifically
uppies that will be MY working dogs). The keys to the program are bonding with the dog, exposing him to as many environments as possible, and
being in clear control of that environment at all times. This is how your puppy learns to trust you implicitly.
When the pup arrives to our home the very first thing we do is focus on crate training. It is important for EVERY puppy to have a den in which he or she can feel safe and comfortable. It is equally as important that you have a place to put your puppy where he or she can be trusted from a very young age. For the first 3 days the pup is placed in the crate and the only time he comes out is to eliminate. This maybe every other hour, but he should only come out to eliminate. He should eat in the crate, drink in the crate, sleep in the crate, and play with his two toys in the crate. Ignore any whining, whimpering, and barking. 9 out of 10 puppies will be completely crate trained by hour 72. Now you have established a safe place for the pup that he enjoys and can be trusted. (People work really hard to break this rule because the puppy is so new and novel. If you follow through with this exactly you will be pleased with the results.)
The hard part is over and the fun begins. The rules of the working puppy are as follows. She is in her crate, unless you are doing something specifically with her, from now on. Your goal is to bring out as much of the dogs natural personality as possible.
What does this mean?
Working dogs are bred specifically to offer the trainer/handler a pup with the potential for certain skills and certain personality. As trainers our job from day one is to help that dog reach his potential. That should be your goal with your puppy as well. First, we help the pup get on track to reach his potential (first 8 months) then we start shaping that potential to meet our needs.
Here#%92s our routine:
In the morning we wake up together. His crate is at the foot of my bed and has been since day one. He comes out of his crate and stands in front of me patiently while I put on his collar and leash. He comes with me while I eliminate and then I go with him while he eliminates. We come back into the house and he goes back into his crate to get his first food/water of the day. He eats quickly (as he only gets 20 minutes or his food disappears). After he has digested for about 20-40 minutes (depending on how busy I am) we head back outside and allow him to eliminate again (on leash…you will notice a theme with the leash). After he goes, we go on a 10-15 minute sprint around the yard. We then play tug for 10 minutes, and finally we throw a ball or Kong around. My favorite toy is the tennis ball on a string. Every time he gets close to it the ball magically jumps away from him. After 45-60 minutes of play we head back inside to the crate.
He gets access to water again, and then it is time for a nap. He rests until it#%92s time to go out for elimination.
The pup goes back and forth from the crate to the elimination area all day until it is time for his next activity. In the early evening we take a trip to somewhere new every single day. Before we leave we have 30 minutes of chase, tug, and ball play and then we head out. It maybe to the store, gas station, downtown, the country, suburbs, train station, construction site, Dog Park, dog daycare, play ground, the lake, river, woods, neighbors house, basically anywhere I can come up with. All of the places offer different scents, sounds and sights. The entire time the puppy is on leash with me.
We head back home for another hour of chase, ball, & tug, and then it#%92s back to the crate for dinner/water break. Again he gets 20 minutes to eat, 20-40 minutes to digest, and then another chance to eliminate. The pup goes back and forth from the crate to the elimination area until about 30 minutes before bed. At this time I let the puppy out on leash, and we sit on the floor together and relax. I brace him in my arms until he relaxes and that is how we finish each day. Once he is calm he goes back into the crate for the night.
This is how my pups and I spend everyday for the first 8 months of their little lives. We don#%92t do any obedience, or specific training, all we do is play and introduce the pup to new things. Every working dog I raised this way has ended up fantastic dog, free from behavior problems and obedience issues.
People always ask “what do you do when the pup gets to rough during playtime...” we end the game, go back to the crate, and try again 10 minutes later. “What about when he jumps up on you…” we end the game, go back to the crate, and try again 10 minutes later. “What about when he is acting up in one of these new places…” we end the game, go back to the crate, and try again 10 minutes later. You mean you take the crate with you? Yep…everywhere I take the dog, I take the crate. It may not be with me on a walk, but it is never too far away.
The first 8 months of the dog#%92s life are all about play and being a puppy. It#%92s really a pretty sweet deal for you and the dog. You develop a great relationship, solid bond, and a well adjusted pup.
I have recently finished this process with a group of 20 clients that aggreed to do their best to follow through, and each dog has done exceptionally well. The group consisted of a Basset, Pug, Mutlipoo, Puggle, Mini Schanuzer, Doberman, Min Pin, Westie, Donovan Pinshcer, and 10 other various breeds (some were mixes). The starting age of the puppies was between 8-10 weeks. Next week will be the 6 month mark of the experiment and I couldn't be happier.
We are about to start our second round of this experiment with a few minor adjustments to the program. If anyone is interested in participating let me know. We offer 1 year of free internet and phone consults, plus free videos, and other helpful items for those participating.