Puppy biting and Hyper Behavior is a problem for many puppy owners. Dr Ian Dunbar, one of the foremost canine behavior experts in the world, does not find the term aggression helpful in diagnosing and correcting the problem. Part of the problem is that people believe that any dog that bites, growls, or backs away (stress/fear) is aggressive, or going to be aggressive. Without understanding this is normal dog communication. The second part of the problem…   Continue

Puppy Socializing 8 – 20 Weeks You have been exposing your puppy to new environments, new smells, new challenges. Each one should have been age appropriate. None should have frightened or stressed your puppy. Each ‘adventure’ should have been a happy one, ending in a good nap (latent learning). Puppies habituate to things very quickly, so the third or fourth exposure is no longer socializing. Don’t worry if your puppy is Wary. This is normal….   Continue

This article focuses on socialization. What is puppy socialization? And, what it is not. There are three development stages. Each one requires different skills and tasks taught the puppy. Socializing 8 – 12 Weeks – Comfort The most important things to consider when socializing is that: a) A puppy should never be forced to encounter everything or everyone – especially in your home. b) A puppy should be allowed to investigate ‘everything’ it wants to….   Continue

Puppies are not born able to control their emotions. They are not born knowing how to communicate. They have no learning skills, or stress coping skills. In fact, puppies are born ‘clean slates.’ All they know is how to eat, sleep, and fear.  These are the skills Mother Nature endows them with so that they can survive. When a puppy is born their first imprint is from their mother. If she is calm, it will…   Continue

Puppy socialization is the most misunderstood aspect of raising a puppy. We take a puppy on a play date with our neighbor’s dog, let 3 kids pet the puppy, and voila. We feel that we have socialized our puppy. The truth is, most of us don’t care until the puppy develops annoying behaviors, or even dangerous ones. You are ahead of the curve because you are here reading this blog. Remember that trainers do not…   Continue