puppy kindergarten

[Boulder]

hello! im very delighted to have found this site, many thanks to the person who started this. salute to you! i just got an 8wk old puppy, i have him for three days already, im wondering if any of you guys can recommend a really great kindergarten school for my little one in brooklyn (pref. near kings highway...). i hope for both of us to start right. any great books and great trainer is also very much appreciated if you can mention someone. i know there are a lot of resources from the yellow page but i appreciate it if i can find someone recommended because of an owner's great experience. many, many thanks!!!

[Roscoe's dad]

You may want to ask your vet for recomendations as a starting point. If your breeder is local to you he / she may be able to help also

[Boulder]

I got him from Colorado during my 5day stay for a workshop and flew him back to new york with me, he's kind of a "country boy". i know it must be a real adjustment for him to be in the big city. thanks though.

[SABELLESMOM]

http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/inde...uestTimeout=45
Do an AKC club search. Then, call and talk to the folks.

[Boulder]

Thanks guys! I have one concern, yesterday my neighbor's daughter came to check in with him. I was holding him, he semmed quite at first and doesnt mind the pat he is recieving but i noticed he growled when she tried to pat him some more, it scared me a bit. I thought he may be jealous or probably not used to them yet so i tried to calm him down. Also this morning he was in a playful mood and grab the hem of my clothes, i tried to stop him, coz i dont want to give him the 'tug of war' kind of feeling and when i said "no" he growled at me. Is it a normal behaviour?

[BostonRott]

Yes, perfectly normal behaviour. He's testing limits, it will continue for months and years to come. Be calm, fair and consistant and you'll be fine. Let him know it's not acceptable, and be consistant about it. You don't have to be harsh with him, just firm and consistant.

[Boulder]

I'm very much grateful for all your replies. Many thanks!!!

[Judi W]

As far as holding him when he is meeting new people, it would be nicer to let him down to move freely so he won't feel trapped if he starts to feel it is a bit much. Meeting people should be a happy thing for him, but it won't if he feels held down and restrained and forced. If you are out and about, of course he would be on a leash, but still able to move around.

[Platzz]

You've got at least 4 wks before you start any classes(due to puppy shots). Go visit a few training centers and see how the instuctors interact with the class. There are several good threads here on the topic. Look for instructors that talk to the class and not at it. Also, the owners should be handlingthe puppys not the instuctor.

Good Luck with your pup.

[Boulder]

I was wondering if any of you guys can share your overall personal experience with your rottweiler's behaviour, etc... when my friend found out i got a rottie, she've gone balistic and went on with "not so sweet dream story"... my Boulder is a purebred male and she said its even more "fierce". I'm seeing a personal trainer tommrow so Boulder and I can get a headstart with basics, i've been reading a lot of stuff here in the forum which are quite an information and books too. Your personal experiences are much appreciated.

[BostonRott]

Tell your friend to stop believing everything she hears on TV. If you want to read of people's experiences, then pick a thread and read it. That's what is discussed here.

You said you've been reading books, then you should be able to answer her outburst yourself.

[Boulder]

Hmm... thats an "insighful" comment BostonRott, thanks though and yes as a mattr of fact i was able to answer my friend with facts that i gathered... if you happen to understand the question... its asking for anyone's overall personal experience... i sensed a bit of "sarcasm there re: your last comment though but no offence taken... thanks anyway... and yes, i do checked threads in these forum, as i've said, i said there's quite an information here.

To everbody, im gratefull for all the shared information here. Its a wonderful page.

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by Platzz

You've got at least 4 wks before you start any classes(due to puppy shots). Go visit a few training centers and see how the instuctors interact with the class. There are several good threads here on the topic. Look for instructors that talk to the class and not at it. Also, the owners should be handlingthe puppys not the instuctor.

Good Luck with your pup.

Wrong. As long as he's had his first set of shots, and the owner uses common sense, this pup needs to get out and be socialized. The pup has had a few days to adjust to his new home environment - now it's time to get him into new environments - homework for my puppy class is 4 new environments every week, (4 week class term) Just don't take the pup to places where a lot of unknown dogs with unknown vac history are - again, common sense should apply. A puppy class is FINE, because the instructor should demand vac records for all the pups.

12 weeks is the end of the true socialization period.


Platzz, your ideas are antiquated. I allow pups from 8 weeks on in my class.

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by Boulder

I was wondering if any of you guys can share your overall personal experience with your rottweiler's behaviour, etc... when my friend found out i got a rottie, she've gone balistic and went on with "not so sweet dream story"... my Boulder is a purebred male and she said its even more "fierce". I'm seeing a personal trainer tommrow so Boulder and I can get a headstart with basics, i've been reading a lot of stuff here in the forum which are quite an information and books too. Your personal experiences are much appreciated.

If you take your responsibility as the owner of a large dog seriously, then you don't need to worry what others think.

Just make sure this trainer is using positive motivation for your young pup. Hopefully, your new boy has a lot of toy and/or food drive, this makes training a snap. Training should be fun for you and the pup - as this will keep both of you motivated to continue on with this very important aspect of dog ownership.

Don't worry too much about having perfect obedience at this age - worry more about teaching your pup the ropes of living with you. House rules, socialization, housetraining, crate training, confidence building, and basic manners. Pups should be allowed to be puppies, as well. Learn to redirect improper behavior and turn it into proper behavior. (acceptable chew items; your ankle is not one of them, etc...)

Good luck.