Additional
Instructions
Many times
I get calls from “Puppy Parents” about various behavior problems.
These pups
are so cute and friendly that discipline seems cruel. Not at all.
In fact,
one of my breeder friends includes a piece of 2 x 4 (painted gold) with each
pup. That is a joke – sort of. These animals have hard heads and must be
corrected early. At the slightest sign of guarding food, toys, etc., the
punishment must be swift and consistent. These guys are not guarding sheep
and don’t need to repel danger.
Make sure
everyone in the family is on the same page with doing correction. Just like
in raising children – if one parent is soft and another harsher, nothing
gets done. The animal will exploit this from the earliest age. At about 4
months, you will see attempts by the pup to rule YOU.
Remember
when you told the two-year-old not to touch something and the child kept
looking at you out of the corner of their eye? This time there are four paws
to get into trouble. That is why I encourage going to class and having a
trainer come into the home. I know you are thinking I’m a big meanie, but if
YOU aren’t tough, your PUP will be.
There are
excellent training books. I think I’ve encouraged everyone to buy “How To
Raise A Puppy You Can Live With” by Clarice
Rutherford and David H. Neil. This book tells what is going on in the pup’s
mind month by month so you can stay one step ahead.
There are also
good books and tapes by Barbara Woodhouse. She is an English dog trainer and
some of her words are silly but she gets the job done. When we lived in
England, no one was outdoors on Sunday afternoons. We were all watching
Barbara and her dogs being trained and doing “walkies.”
I also
recommend books by the monks of Skye as they train shepherds. I think
they’re a little too tough for Old English Sheep Dogs, but whatever works!
I’m always
available for consultation but I’m not a behaviorist, so there really are
better sources if it’s an odd problem. But I’m always available to give
input if it helps.
Now go and enjoy your pup!
The
House of Rex
Geraldine House
1423 Rillview Court
Metamora MI 48455
USA |
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