Small Talk - Summer 2018

Puppy Socialisation thing in their life - you supply food and water, shelter, entertainment and activities, but most importantly you provide companionship and safety - so early on you trump anything or anyone else - so use it. When meeting dogs and people, ensure good things happen, and that these good things come from you - this will ensure you are the important one in their world. Give something nice to eat, or maybe play a game, but give them your attention. The outcome is that they are happy with people and dogs close by, but they continue to give you attention because you reward well. This will prevent puppies running after other dogs or people in the park, because you are the reinforcement of the desired behaviour. You can practice the same exercise with other stimuli, such as cars, lawnmowers, vacuums, etc. While these items are at a distance that allows the puppy to focus on you, play a game, or ask for simple fun behaviours such as twist or touch, or even a simple sit and reward with tasty titbits of food. When you allow your puppy to interact with people - be clear on their behaviour too. If you do not want your puppy to jump up when they are an adult, don't allow people to let them jump on them as puppies - ask them to stop fussing them when they do, and ask your puppy to sit and feed whilst the person interacts with them. On occasions, where I get a non-compliant individual who tells me ‘I don't mind, I love dogs jumping up’, I will usually advise them that my puppy has a contagious skin disease! Works a treat! When allowing your puppy to play with other dogs always interrupt regularly with an offer of some fuss, a game with you, or some tasty food (small and soft titbits are advised). This ensures you are in control, preventing any over arousal play that could lead to possible fights (which could have a lasting impact on how your puppy reacts to dogs in the future). Stop play if it is one-sided and the same puppy/dog is getting chased and jumped on, or if one of them stops interacting whilst the other continues to nudge or bite. Remember not every dog wants to interact with people and/or dogs, and that is perfectly normal and will not impact on your dog's happiness. Do not flood your puppy with people, dogs or other stimuli, or leave them to ‘sort it out’, as damage will occur be it physical or emotional. Help your dog to make a choice - learn to understand their body language, are they over excited (create space) or are they worried (create space), allow them to reassess and let them choose to move forward, move away or just engage with you! small talk 07 All interactions should have a positive impact on the puppy. Don’t be afraid to seek professional advice from a qualified dog trainer or behaviourist if you think your puppy is struggling. In summary