Top Two

[tlc]

Hi Guys, a few threads have got me thinking lately about puppies and what is most important for them to learn. It may be useful for newer puppy owners to hear others thoughts on what is important.

So my task to you guys is to tell me what you think are the two most important things you think a puppy should learn from the outset and why. (toilet training is not to be one of them)

also did you put these things in to practice when you first got your pup/dog or did you realize later that you should have but didn't?

Ill go first.

The two most important things for me to teach my pups were

1. Early socialization, with other dogs and people and environment, so that it was possible to be able to take my pups into any (within reason) situation and have them be calm and confident and able to deal with anything and everything.

2. reliable recall. so I can let them off lead and be comfortable that I have still have control and they respond to me especially in a situation that could be potentially dangerous.

Did I do these things.

1. Yes all 4 of mine were taken to puppy school and strait on to obedience training from the age of 8 weeks. This has been very beneficial for our lifestyle.

2. With Cooper now 4 years old, when I got him I hadn't had a puppy for 16 years so it was important for me to learn and do everything right, he was strong willed and recall was practically 0 till he matured a bit even though I practiced and practiced he seen everything else more exciting than me but I perservered and it is only probly in the last 18 months that I can now say that his recall is really reliable. The other 3 have had really reliable recall since they were young pups, don't know if I did anything differently but they certainly weren't as hard to train as Cooper was!!

There is lots of other things that it is important to teach them but for "me" these two things have been the most important. So no right or wrong answers I'm just curious as to others thoughts on what is important to them for thier dogs.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

1. recall.

Still working on it but it's better than everybody else at the dog park. Not as good as everybody else at dog club or sheep herding. Can save your dog's life.

2. no jumping on people.

Unfortunately loads of people keep corrupting her and giving her treats when she jumps on them. Sigh.

[tlc]

Arghhhh the jumping, I agree it is soooo hard to combat when they are encouraged by other people to jump up upon greeting, My MIL is the worst culprit she loves the dogs and encourages them to jump up and they do as much as I tell her not to do it she still does it! My oldest two are pretty good but my younger two are jumpers, with us it is still a work in progress!!

I agree with recall in a dangerous situation good recall can be a godsend!

[Tiggy]

1 recall

2 loose lead walking

[SkySoaringMagpie]

1 - The marker word or "click" that tells them: "you did the right thing"

2 - House training - if you don't have that nothing else matters.

[W Sibs]

1. Socialisation

Charlie was awesome at it. He generally just loves people and animals. Nothing phase him.

Emmy is still wary of new people and animals.. but once she knows someone and other animals, she loves them. Noise wise.. she is still a bit skittish but she doesn't run away anymore.. she just steps back and waits to see if she would get hurt or something.

2. Recall

Charlie.. he is never far from me. So recall was never an issue with him.

Emmy is still a working process. There are days where she is awesome and other days where she goes deaf. I would say her recall is at 80% right now.

[Dust Angel]

My top two would be Socialization and the second is really tough for me I tye between no food aggression and recall. Yes i teach these things from the get go.

[tlc]

Great answers, it is tough when you actually think about whats important there is so many that spring to mind and trying to narrow it down is quite hard. I have had to think about this a lot this arvo before I actually posted about it.

Whats interesting for me to is the different rates at which each different dog learns, my 4 are all so different and have done things at different stages.

Like you said CW EW Charlie and Emmy being so different with thier recall, that is similar to my lot but opposite.

No food aggression is a good one, we have so many people come to obedience and they have never even thought about taking a bone from thier dog and when they try find they can't.

Edited July 6, 2010 by tlc

[Jacquiboss&scoop]

excluding socialisation with focus on commands

1. recall real good recall

2. Drop fantastic drop

Yes I train these from the get go , for their good as well as mine

a good recall will get them back to you and fast

a good drop will stop them in their tracks and keep em still until safe for a good recall until I can rely on both no off lead anywhere that is not on my own property ( we dont do doggy parks I live on acres )

[OSoSwift]

No hesitation on the first one

Recall - I believe it is they most important thing anyone can teach their dog bar nothing. It is the difference between a dead dog and an alive one.

Number two -hmmmm there are so many things.........

For me I think, leave it - We live on acerage and we have lots of snakes, so it is very important for my dogs to leave it when they are told and not a second after. If they stick their nose in long grass because they hear something moving it could we be a snake, so an instant response to leave it can be a life saver at my house.

These are trained all the time from day one, and still trained and rewarded almost daily in all my adult dogs. All of my dogs are taught and reminded of these things daily throught their whole life.

However there are quite a few things that could also be in second spot. Most things are important to do with doggy manners and training as far as I am concerned. Picking just two is quite hard!

Edited July 6, 2010 by Rommi n Lewis

[rastus_froggy]

Partial Quote

No hesitation on the first one

Recall - I believe it is they most important thing anyone can teach their dog bar nothing. It is the difference between a dead dog and an alive one.

Number two -hmmmm there are so many things.........

This is exactly the way I feel.

Nothing to me is more important than a 100% recall, it is the one thing that could save your dog's life.

EFS

Edited July 6, 2010 by rastus_froggy

[poodlefan]

1. Toilet training

2. Reliable recall.

[persephone]

Recall

Recall

[rotts4ever]

Hi Guys, a few threads have got me thinking lately about puppies and what is most important for them to learn. It may be useful for newer puppy owners to hear others thoughts on what is important.

So my task to you guys is to tell me what you think are the two most important things you think a puppy should learn from the outset and why. (toilet training is not to be one of them)

I only have one rule that covers everything.

Start as you mean to finish. So I think about what I want or will allow from an adult then start that routine for the pup.

I think it's confusing to let a pup do something when they are young because it's cute and then change the rules when they are older.

For example I know someone that gets cranky with their dog drooling for food at the table but as a pup they thought it was cute to have it fed at the table and teaching it to beg or the people that thought it was cute when their puppy was so tough having a go at big dogs but now don't want to take their dog anywhere because it is dog aggressive.

So I don't think its picking one or two things but thinking in advance what you would like from your adult and incorporating that into your everyday routine for your pup with plenty of praise when you get the desired result. I also teach all my pups a watch word, All my dogs look at me when I say lollies or watch, and I teach all my pups no. Two words can cover alot of things

Cheers Lee

[percyk]

ok ....recall for most breeds

some come with built-in recall...some dogs just hang round and wont go loose anyway

im thinking of my gsd of ol

and most shelties and the smaller breeds ....lapdogs that just like to be with you naturally and arent much for exploring on their own

so for them i think socialisation is next in importance

we have two shadows here..they just wont leave your side and this was not taught ...

nothing more frustrating when a dog wont come back

recall solves a lot of problems for most dogs

[Bully]

Of course socialisation is very important but the 2 most important commands IMO are

1. Recall. It may save their life one day. With a reliable recall they get much more freedom.

2. Watch. I taught Pele this from day one at 8 weeks. When I ask her to "Watch" she'll look away from almost any distraction 99% of the time and focus on me. If they are watching you have their undivided attention. Any other commands are a piece of cake to teach then

[TerraNik]

Recall

Recall

Recall

Recall... lol

[~*Shell*~]

Number One: Early socialisation - I have a dog who wasn't socialised and it's been a fight trying to get him used to everything. Now he's pretty good with most things and will let me do just about anything to him.

Number Two: Attention/Focus on handler. Everything else comes with attention. Z is reliable off leash because he watches me constantly. He might not repsond to a drop or a sit when i give the command but I can pretty much guarantee that if I've got his attention, he's under control and he's coming back to me. It has been just about the hardest thing to teach but has been a welcome by-product of having to socialise Zero at 2 years old.

[Mim]

1. I'm the boss, not them.

2. Toilet training. Can't have a dog sleeping in your bed if it's not toilet trained

[lovemesideways]

Recall!

Leave it - Meaning whatever you have in your mouth (food, stick, toy, dog.), Spit it out!