Training puppy with older dog

[stevcha]

Hi Guys! I plan on getting a new male puppy in about 5 months. Currently I have a 7 year old female that is obedience trained. How easy is it to train a puppy with a dog that knows the ropes? Will the puppy pick up by example from my female or will I need to islolate my puppy from my female while training her? Thanks for your help.

Steve

[JD102175]

I would think your pup would learn a lot from your older dog. All babies learn from watching and then doing what they have seen.


Jaime

[Judi W]

I always use my older dogs as teachers. The pups learn utility signals at dinner time by looking at me, looking at the older dog and mimicing the behavior. Also, it is easier to leash break the pup going for a walk with the older dog.

Pup still needs their one-on-one work and KPT classes and going for a ride just the two of you, etc. but yes, dogs do mimic. I have with this working breed, not found there to be a problem with bonding as what they love best of the best is to go and do with me and they will all leave each other in the dust for the opportunity.

[stevcha]

Thanks for the great info!! Another question I had regarded crate training my puppy. My female was crate trained for about the first 3 yrs I had her and she's had free reign of the house since then. Would it be possible to crate my puppy even though my female has free reign of the house? There are some rooms of the house that I can keep a crate in and have the door closed when I'm sleeping or gone. I just don't want the puppy see my female walking around the house while he's going to be in a crate.

[Judi W]

You are putting human emotions on your dogs. It is perfectly natural for the pup to be crated and watch the older dog free. Good heavens, adults always have more privilege, yes, even with humans. If you had a 6 month old child would you feel guilty while it is in a playpen and your 5 year old was walking around the house? Would you make one of them stay in a room with the door closed so they wouldn't know what anyone else was doing?

Ha, I thought not! It would be silly wouldn't it?

[stevcha]

Thanks Judi! Never thought of it that way. Just thought the younger dog would think he was being taunted or something.

[Judi W]

Oh, I restrained myself - think how much fun we could have with this?

17 year old drives a car. Should we keep it a secret from the 10 year old????????????? what fun.......