Can a dog get information overload?

[missythemom]

I was just wondering what would be best in regards to training the pup.Should it be working on one or two things now then adding more as we go or should it be as much as possible in each session?I hope that is not a silly question.I just feel like I have scuh a small window of time to get this "right" and I don't want to screw it up and cause problems I can't fix later YKWIM? Please let me know what your opinion on this is.Thanks.

[moondog]

Not a silly question at all, in fact I think it's a very important question! Absolutely...YES...a dog/puppy can get information overload.

If you think about it, there are only a few things that we need our dogs to do for us and everything else is built on those few things. We want them to:

1. Go
2. Stay
3. Come
4. Take It
5. Leave It
6. Bring It
7. Watch Me

We may incorporate positions to the beginning and ends of those actions:

1. Sit
2. Stand
3. Down

We add proximity:

1. Heel
2. Front
3. Distance

Then we embellish!

K.I.S.S. makes it much easier for a puppy/dog to learn. Start with the basics and everything else will grow from there.

[Nishasmom]

Keep the sessions short and productive; if your dog is "just not getting it", take a break and resume later. I could always tell when Nisha had enough because she would start scratching; the trainer said it was a way of her to "displace" her frustrations.

When Nisha was younger we would train for 5-10 minute sessions. Example: while watching a TV program, train during commercials; this gives your dog 5-6 five minute "sessions". As they get older, you can increase the sessions; puppies get bored and don't have the same attention span as older dogs do.