I have had my first puppy for 3 weeks now. She’s doing really well with tricks - sit, paw, down etc. She sleeps in a crate at night just waking once for a pee at 1ish.
I am really pleased with how she is and think we’re doing ok.
I don’t have much confidence when it comes to her meeting other dogs and getting her to walk nicely on the lead etc.
So I took her to see a dog trainer today. She’s a KC good citizen one. I want the puppy to learn good manners and that’s what the KC site promised.
That’s the background. I now need opinions on some of the lady’s ideas.
- Don’t fuss the puppy too much, don’t fuss her when she’s asking for fuss. Only fuss on my own terms.
- When feeding the pup, put her food bowl on the worktop where she can’t get it. Prepare and eat our tea and then let pup have hers - but only if she’s not fussing for it.
- Don’t let people stroke her. If they want a puppy to fuss then they should buy one!!!
- Don’t walk her where there are other dogs. She should be aware of dogs but not mixing with them.
- Ditch the harness as they teach her to pull. Attach lead to a collar.
Does that all sound a tad crazy? The kids came out feeling like they can’t enjoy the puppy if they can’t fuss her and take her to the beach etc. Some things made sense to me but it all seems a bit extreme.
She does group classes and they spend time standing chatting in a circle and the dogs are not to interact with each other.
She was very into packs and the puppy being at the bottom of the pack and having to earn her cuddles and attention.
If we let her get ideas above her station she will be ruling us like a little doggy dictator!!!
Opinions??