Supporting Your Dog's Socialization
As you get out into the world and investigate new places and meet new people and animals, your puppy or dog will have “out-of-the-box” experiences that may elicit different responses. It's not always easy to determine when you should console and when you should encourage. So that you don't inadvertently foster negative or fearful reactions, consider attending puppy kindergarten and get to know a dog's fearful stages.
Puppy Kindergarten
Puppies have so much potential, curiosity, and intelligence. That's why puppy training begins the moment your dog comes into your house — whether you want it to or not. Soiling, biting, jumping, barking, and running are natural behaviors; as a new puppy parent, it is up to you to show him where and when those behaviors are appropriate and, more importantly, where they are inappropriate. Begin teaching and socializing your puppy as early as eight weeks of age if he is properly vaccinated and his good health is confirmed by your veterinarian.
How do you go about finding a puppy kindergarten? Start by finding a local trainer who you trust and ask her if they run one or can recommend one. If you aren't sure how to find a trainer, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers has a database of trainers across the United States that you can search. Try www.apdt.com.
Like kids, dogs love to get together and play. Puppy kindergarten classes, dog parks, and friends, family, and neighbors with trustworthy dogs are all excellent opportunities for your dog to mingle and play. You'll have as much fun watching a game like this one as the dogs have playing it.
The best place to begin is in a puppy kindergarten class, so named because it serves as preschool for dogs. These classes emphasize socialization and early, informal training that evolves out of the puppy's behavior. By working with a professional dog trainer, you'll get the benefit of his perspective on your pup's temperament and overall personality. By working in a group with other puppies and their owners, you'll get the benefit of seeing that your puppy is a lot like the others — sweet and cuddly one minute, a ball of mischief the next. You'll learn by watching others' successes and failures as you all begin to use basic training principles to teach your new family members what you expect from them. And you'll leave with a pup who's been positively stimulated and had a chance to expend some energy in a constructive manner.
Overcoming Fear
For your dog's sake, ignore your natural desire to console a fearful dog. Whether her phobia involves inanimate objects such as garbage cans, loud or strange noises, other dogs, children, or places like the veterinarian's office, hallways or stairwells, reassurance only reinforces fear.
Her fright will diminish if you insist she concentrate on something else. Give obedience commands in rapid-fire sequence for two minutes or until she is relaxed, or at least responding automatically to “sit,” “down,” “stay,” and “come.” Then initiate playtime by running, nudging, patting the ground, or talking silly. Continue rapid-fire commands if she seems preoccupied by her fear. Practice first in situations in which she's only slightly uncomfortable — and certainly not panicked — then gradually progress to greater challenges.
My dog is frightened of the stairs. How can I teach her to go up and down?
If possible, begin practice on no more than a half a flight of stairs or use a very wide stairway with good traction. Leash your dog, grip the railing, and progress up or down one step at a time, looking straight ahead to convey confidence. Ignore her balking and expect the first step to present the biggest challenge. By holding her leash short and tight you'll prevent her from losing balance if she begins scrambling. Repeat methodically and mechanically until your dog takes stairs without hesitation.
Trouble-Free Car Rides
Good car-riding manners ensure safety for both driver and dog. A dog who sticks his head out the window exposes his eyes to injury, and if you swerve or brake abruptly he may fall out of the car. His movement can obstruct your view and that, along with barking or whining, can distract you. Reduce the chance your dog will develop bad habits like vocalizing and lunging by containing him during car rides.
A trip to the pet store or a search through a pet catalog will reveal many choices for keeping your dog safe and secure in a car. The most obvious is, of course, his crate. If you crate-trained your pup from the beginning, he will have no fear or hesitation about settling into his crate for a car ride. If you use a crate, be sure that it, too, is positioned in the car so it won't slide around or be thrown if there's an accident. You can also try a dog seat for smaller dogs, or dog seat belts for larger dogs.
By making sure your dog is a secure passenger like everyone in your car, you can minimize the chances that in the unfortunate event you have an accident, he won't be thrown about the car or escape through a broken window and run into traffic.
Veterinary, Groomer, and Kennel Visits
These experiences are more pleasant if your dog is under control. Test and improve her obedience by using calm control as you invite her out of the car, walk around the grounds, and enter the building. Hand her over to caretakers without fanfare and expect her to remain somewhat composed when she's returned to you. Especially when you venture away from home, treat the outing like a training session rather than a vacation from obedience.
