ROTTWEILER TRAINERWHERE GOOD DOGS LEARN TO BE GREAT
TRAINING TIPS |
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Training Tips
The Rottweiler Trainer believes all dogs are trainable. With years of experience training Rottweilers, sometimes you come across a training session that is just a bit more challenging than others. Don't let this discourage you. All dogs have different attention spans, different interests, and different energy drives. The Rottweiler trainer shares important tips below that can help both you and your dog succeed. (New tip posted each month.)
Learn more helpful tips and information about the Rottweiler breed in general on my Rottweiler Blog.
Learn more helpful tips and information about the Rottweiler breed in general on my Rottweiler Blog.
Training Tips
You finally have your new puppy home and you are eager to begin some obedience training. You read how important it is to start training early, and you want to do everything possible to be the best pup parent. We understand how exciting this time is. You got your training ideas, a bag full of treats, and the weather could not be more perfect for some one-on-one time with you pooch. Before you go grabbing your leash to head outside, remember, your puppy may have never felt a leash on their neck.
During the 8-12 weeks when a breeder raises a litter, their focus is on health and socialization. A leash is rarely part of that equation. That being said, you want to make sure the first introduction to a leash, or any training material, is always a positive one.
If you were to place a puppy on a leash for the first time, chances are they will run when they go outside because that is what they know to do. If you do not introduce a leash properly, that first reaction may result in your puppy being choked by their collar, and ultimately teaching your puppy to fear the leash. I have seen too many people immediately put a collar and leash on their puppy and expect the puppy to know how to walk without having practice. Eventually they will learn, but at the cost of having a negative response to a training tool that will be used often. If you know you may be choked every time you went outside to potty, you might think it's better to just potty in the house where a leash does not come into play, right?
Think of it this way. If I put your first pair of high heels on your feet and expected you to walk, what would happen? Chances are you would twist your ankle or fall on your face. Then I tell you we are heading into town and you have to wear these high heels while I run my errands. No way, Jose! Right? Instead, if I gave you the pair of high heels and told you to practice wearing them for a week before we head into town, you may be willing to try them out after learning how to stand and walk in them. This is because you did not form an instant fear of these new shoes. Instead, you grew confidence from practicing.
Do you see the connection? In the first scenario, you had an immediate bad experience and you do not look forward to repeating that injury a second time, so you want to avoid those crazy heels in the future. In the second scenario, you learned to wear the heels first, so you almost look forward to seeing you progress in action.
Okay, maybe that was a silly comparison, but the idea is the same. So, before you jump into training with a leash, and yes, even walking on a leash is training, let you puppy learn that the leash is a tool and not a punishment. How do you do this? You do this by allowing your puppy feel the leash without feeling the choke. You do this by attaching the leash to the collar and simply allowing your puppy to walk freely as the leash drags on the floor. For this, a short lead works well to avoid tripping. This type of introduction allows your puppy to feel the weight of the leash, but no fear is connected with the leash. I would do this method each time your puppy goes outside for the first 48-72 hours. By then, your puppy will not mind the leash dragging on their collar.
Now that your puppy associates the leash with going outside, you can begin to lift the leash. Use common sense to lift the leash when your puppy playing calmly and not when running full speed. Hold the leash for 10 seconds and then drop the leash. This was a mini training session, so be sure to reward your puppy with positive praise and a small treat reward. Repeat this technique several times during each bathroom break outside. Your puppy will learn the feeling of a gentle restraint and know that it just means to pause for direction. This seems like such a simple and minimal technique, but your puppy is learning so much more. Your puppy is learning to not fear the leash, they are learning to recognize when to slow down or pause, they are learning respect towards their human, and they are learning positive behavior is rewarded. On top of all that, they are looking forward to learning even more.
Now that you puppy is comfortable with the leash, train on my fellow pup parent! Always remember... *Keep it short, *Keep it fun, and *Reward positive behavior!!!
During the 8-12 weeks when a breeder raises a litter, their focus is on health and socialization. A leash is rarely part of that equation. That being said, you want to make sure the first introduction to a leash, or any training material, is always a positive one.
If you were to place a puppy on a leash for the first time, chances are they will run when they go outside because that is what they know to do. If you do not introduce a leash properly, that first reaction may result in your puppy being choked by their collar, and ultimately teaching your puppy to fear the leash. I have seen too many people immediately put a collar and leash on their puppy and expect the puppy to know how to walk without having practice. Eventually they will learn, but at the cost of having a negative response to a training tool that will be used often. If you know you may be choked every time you went outside to potty, you might think it's better to just potty in the house where a leash does not come into play, right?
Think of it this way. If I put your first pair of high heels on your feet and expected you to walk, what would happen? Chances are you would twist your ankle or fall on your face. Then I tell you we are heading into town and you have to wear these high heels while I run my errands. No way, Jose! Right? Instead, if I gave you the pair of high heels and told you to practice wearing them for a week before we head into town, you may be willing to try them out after learning how to stand and walk in them. This is because you did not form an instant fear of these new shoes. Instead, you grew confidence from practicing.
Do you see the connection? In the first scenario, you had an immediate bad experience and you do not look forward to repeating that injury a second time, so you want to avoid those crazy heels in the future. In the second scenario, you learned to wear the heels first, so you almost look forward to seeing you progress in action.
Okay, maybe that was a silly comparison, but the idea is the same. So, before you jump into training with a leash, and yes, even walking on a leash is training, let you puppy learn that the leash is a tool and not a punishment. How do you do this? You do this by allowing your puppy feel the leash without feeling the choke. You do this by attaching the leash to the collar and simply allowing your puppy to walk freely as the leash drags on the floor. For this, a short lead works well to avoid tripping. This type of introduction allows your puppy to feel the weight of the leash, but no fear is connected with the leash. I would do this method each time your puppy goes outside for the first 48-72 hours. By then, your puppy will not mind the leash dragging on their collar.
Now that your puppy associates the leash with going outside, you can begin to lift the leash. Use common sense to lift the leash when your puppy playing calmly and not when running full speed. Hold the leash for 10 seconds and then drop the leash. This was a mini training session, so be sure to reward your puppy with positive praise and a small treat reward. Repeat this technique several times during each bathroom break outside. Your puppy will learn the feeling of a gentle restraint and know that it just means to pause for direction. This seems like such a simple and minimal technique, but your puppy is learning so much more. Your puppy is learning to not fear the leash, they are learning to recognize when to slow down or pause, they are learning respect towards their human, and they are learning positive behavior is rewarded. On top of all that, they are looking forward to learning even more.
Now that you puppy is comfortable with the leash, train on my fellow pup parent! Always remember... *Keep it short, *Keep it fun, and *Reward positive behavior!!!