What You Can Reasonably Expect From Your Puppy

[DNeff]

I think many people have somewhat unrealistic expectations when bringing home a new puppy. I think as owners we forget that puppies have no clue as to what is right or wrong, what is not ok to chew, where to go potty, how to behave on leash, how to play with humans properly, etc…

All of these behaviors have to be taught by the owner with consistency and patience. Puppies only learn what we teach them and it takes time for them to understand what we are asking. Just they way it took you a while to learn algebra or chemistry; it takes your puppy a while to understand how to live and behave in a human household. The more clear and consistent you are with your training the faster the puppy will catch on.

The idea that a puppy is being spiteful, lazy, or stubborn is no more accurate than saying the same thing of a four-month-old child. Would you accuse a four-month-old child of being spiteful for playing with the remote control or stubborn for crying when he was lonely? Why is it any different for a puppy?

Puppies are developing mentally and physically for many months, and many breeds mature at very different rates. As a puppy owner it is your responsibility to provide fair, calm and clear guidance during this critical development period. It may take several months of work to make progress or change a puppy’s behavior, but remember learning anything new takes time.

Any mistakes your puppy makes mean that YOU have not been clear enough or have not taught the behavior correctly; not that they are intentionally misbehaving. If your puppy makes a mistake, evaluate how you trained that behavior and what you may have missed. Many times it is just a matter of taking a step back in your training program and giving the puppy more time and information to catch on to what you are asking of them. If you have made plenty of time and effort to changing a behavior and it is still not improved you should see if there is another approach or technique that the puppy might respond better to.

There are some outstanding resources available for puppy owners. The following books I strongly recommend to all puppy owners:
Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson
Positive Puppy Training Works by Joel Walton
Before You Get Your Puppy by Ian Dunbar
After You Get Your Puppy by Ian Dunbar
The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller

Dawn
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC NA NAJ TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[Bucky's Mom]

The idea that a puppy is being spiteful, lazy, or stubborn is no more accurate than saying the same thing of a four-month-old child. Would you accuse a four-month-old child of being spiteful for playing with the remote control or stubborn for crying whe

I think more first time owners are guilty of THIS kind of thinking than ANYTHING else -

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this - it should be a sticky :)

[nayjo12]

You mean I can't expect my pup to come home potty trained and ready to help do the dishes and the laundry?!!!:D Okay, I want a refund. LOL

[Greg_1111]

DNeff,, you are bang on !

[Carol Burke]

DNeff, Great post. It is sad so many new puppy owners have no idea what to do and what to expect. Hopefully, some will read your excellent post!!!

[damp]

Thank you DNeff !

[moondog]

Thank you for this. :) New puppy owners will be off to a good start by following your excellent advice.

[Rott-C]

Hey there! I'm new to the site and the breed, and I'm not sure I'm posting in the right place either. Feel free to direct me. My question is this: I have a six week old rottie with SPUNK! She's all of a foot long but growls at me like she's defending her turf. I chose this dog as a pet. Not a watch-dog. I am very willing to train her and love her but I am not sure the when and the how. I have read where the rotties are by nature aggressive, not mean, and that they must be shown who the "Alpha Dog" is in the family. Namely, not them! Any suggestions are welcome. :o

[DNeff]

Please buy the books I have mentioned above, in the first post. They are a fantastic resource for help in raising your puppy.

Plan on joining a puppy class as soon as she has had enough vaccinations to be admitted to class. Puppy class will help you in training your new girl.

I've got a few articles on puppies on my training page:
http://members.aol.com/dplantier/training.htm

Good Luck!

Dawn
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC NA NAJ TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[poohbearsmom]

Perhaps a more appropriate thread title might be:

What Your Puppy Can Reasonably Expect From YOU.

:D

[moondog]

A boot to the top to help all the new little puppies and their owners! :)

[RottiMomCT]

Originally posted by Rott-C
I chose this dog as a pet. Not a watch-dog. I am very willing to train her and love her but I am not sure the when and the how. I have read where the rotties are by nature aggressive, not mean, and that they must be shown who the "Alpha Dog" is in the family. Namely, not them! Any suggestions are welcome. :o

A rottie that is not properly trained and cared for can be aggressive. They are not 'aggressive by nature'. Consistent training and proper care will get you what you need and want from your dog. As long as you trian the dog and keep it up, the dog will know who is Alpha. It is your job as the owner/caretaker of the pup to guide her and mold her to what you want to be. Love and affection will get you so far...training will get you further when you keep the love in it.

HAVE FUN in training and the dog will too.

[Carina43]

Can we make this a sticky? :)

Rott-C, hi there! Many Rottweilers are not "aggressive by nature" and a heavy handed/dominant training approach can be counter productive. Definitely train and HAVE fun and make training "structured playtime" for your little puppy. :) She's awfully tiny, it is highly unlikely she is trying to be dominant or guarding anything much at this point.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally posted by Carina43
Can we make this a sticky? :)

I second the sticky idea Carina. I think that this is a wonderful post for new owners.....

:)
Brooke