Puppy Snow Day and Review of Puppy Class Night!

What a fun day! Fluffy snow falling all day! Puppy's First Steps -- making snowy footprints!
Then a great group of puppies and people at puppy socialization class tonight!
Between the snow fun and the play'n train in class I bet they will sleep soundly tonight!
Kinda like this fun loving pup!


Wanda, Babs, Sally and Jack have all done some great homework with their people. It was nice watching your interaction with your people!

We missed Icycle and Niki this class but here are some notes so you can see what to work on this week.

We talked a bit about the difference between learning and testing. Find ways to incorporate training into daily life rather than reacting. http://www.dogstardaily.com/blogs/not-test

Socialization - Keep up the good work. The critical socialization period is coming near an end. Make a checklist of what you still want to expose your puppies to so they will become adaptable canine members of society. http://www.aspcabehavior.org/articles/83/Socializing-Your-Puppy.aspx

Body Language - We observed the pups communicating with each using subtle effective body language. Appropriate interactions were praised. Inappropriate ones were interrupted and then the pups were redirected. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VmWizZueFQ&feature=related . Read up on stress or calming signals http://www.canis.no/rugaas/onearticle.php?artid=1. See

Attention - Last week I asked you to watch your dog out of the corner of your eye as often as possible and when they glance at you and to say "yes" or "good" and follow it with some rewarding treat, toy, praise, game, or activity. Owners said that their dogs were more tuned into them already! The next step we practiced tonight was to ask your pups to "say please" with eye contact before being released to freedom and play and other life rewards. http://dogscouts.org/Indirect_Access.html

Leave It Foundation Exercise - (Closed fist "zen") We used the Reward Marker RM when the dog backed off and stayed away from the treat hand. The reward came from a different hand. A couple of the puppies advanced to eye contact before being rewarded. We also tried "under the foot" zen with a couple of the pups. Great progressions. See what you can work on at home this week! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNAOe1djDyc&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Dogs NAME - That's my name ... don't wear it out! Reminder of the difference between training and testing again. In a learning situation if you think there is a pretty good chance of your dog responding then say their name and the instant they turn their head say "yes" and then reward that head flick with something really great! Treats, toy, game, or all of the above. In a "test" situation then try to prevent from repeating your dog's name multiple times. Say "hey pup pup" or "Fuzz Wuzz" or maybe just go and get the little wuffie and then make a note to keep working on training and slowly working up the distractions. http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/search/label/name%20game

Hand Target - This simple exercise is actually a key to many more training games. Use high value rewards and lots of enthusiasm for this game in the beginning stages so that it's value can transfer to other exercises and eventually become rewarding in itself! Focusing on you, poliste leash walking, off leash trail manners, meet and greet with people, and plenty of fancy tricks too! http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/search/label/Hand%20Target

By finding ways to incorporate these simple games into your ever day life you dog will look to you more often for interaction and as a provider of the good things in life. You will be your dog's benevolent leader!

Next week I have to remember to get out my camera!!! It is so hard to take my attention away from the puppy fun!!! I did get one short video clip the first night though...