July Day Six -- Wrapping Up

It's hard to believe this week is almost over and it will soon be time to say goodbye to the boys. They are so sweet and they have been so much fun to have here. They both have worked hard all week (and played hard too).

Helping puppies grow up into nice, healthy adults takes time, patience, and consistency. They need to know when they are doing something right so they will more likely repeat that behavior. It's clear they are already off to a good start by the happy response they have when they are praised. It seems like such a simple thing but it really goes a long way with them.

Interrupting inappropriate behavior before they do is ideal. Do you see that glimer in his eyes? He's thinking about doing something naughty. Not really naughty, but probably not anything we would want him to repeat. Catching him before he commits is much easier.

Once he's already doing the deed, you can still interrupt but he may already be getting a reinforcement for that behavior and it's just that much harder to redirect him.

It's the same with Poni's reactivity. Catching him when he's just barely noticed the other dogs instead of when he has already started lunging and barking is so much easier and more effective. Once he's started barking he is already at a hightened state of arrousal and it's much easier for him to react again.

Give him plenty of time and avoid forcing him towards something that is scary for him.

The boys will be missed. We can't wait until they come back!

July Day Five -- Progress!

I absolutely love watching their little brains work. It's so satisfying to see progress every day and to remember what they were like in the beginning. Sometimes it can be challenging to raise puppies but all the hard work you put in in the beginning pays off in spades.

Poni is playing with my dogs and interacting with them just like he does Kiko.

Poni and adjusted to my dogs at his own pace and we took things very slowly. A lot of his comfort level with them is through habituation. He's been around them enough that he's naturally learned that there is no threat there and he's developed a comfort level with them. This doesn't mean that he will be comfortable with every dog he meets but it should help him add to the info he has about dogs and that they are not all scary.

The combination of improving skills (like coming when called) and getting a little more use to other dogs helps give him more coping skills.

Right now, if he starts to lunge towards an unknown dog behind a barrier, I can say "no" in a calm voice and he will retreat and go find a toy. He gets tons of praise when he does this and you can tell he's so much more calm about it. He wags his tail with a loose, wiggly body and tries to initiate play. All very good signs. This is not to say that he won't sometimes bark and lunge but he has more skills and options to choose instead of that behavior.

In general, both of the boys are so good about responding to verbal redirection when they are doing something they arenot suppose to be doing. Always, lots of praise when they change their behavior to something appropriate. What good boys!

I am also using their recalls if they are doing something they shouldn't be...

And both boys are coming very enthusiastically.

We're making sure they have a nice balance too. It's not all about work. Play and doing dog things are very important to a well rounded puppy.

Kiko had a hard time keeping his feet on the ground for his sit so we had to set criteria for him. When I lured him into his sit and held the treat there until all feet were on the ground.

The second all four of those feet are on the ground, it gets marked with a "yes" and he gets the treat. He's a quick study and it didn't take him long to figure out what he needed to do to get the treat. Smart little cookie...

All worn out. Another day of hard work and play. I think he's wondering if he gets a vacation after this...