I Am Nasty To My Puppy

[Agility Dogs]

Wikki is 7 months old and is going BRILLIANTLY. She is very together for 7 months, but is still very much a puppy a times. (Like the times she encouages the other two out into the rain - they haven't played in the rain for 3 years!)

The other night at training one of the newer handlers asked me 'if she ever gets to be a puppy'. She was horrified when I said, 'Not here. She is here to work and can be a puppy at home.' I don't work her for long periods - maybe only 10 or 15 minutes out of an hour class, but when she is not working she is in her crate quietly waiting.

Apparently that is cruel and she should be allowed to say hello to all the other dogs and generally run amok. On her way out the lady snuck a treat to Wikki. LOL.

Funny thing is my 7 month old pup works off lead and never leaves the job. Her older BC needs its lead on all the time or it runs off.

Hmmmm.........

Different perspectives are interesting.

[Sandra777]

Yes, some people can never get their heads around this can they?

[staffylover81]

I don't think that is nasty at all when I am at training I expect my dogs to work with me and not go and play with other dogs. The only time they will play with other dogs is if they are not working or if I allow them to play with other dogs.

[huski]

LOL that kind of attitude cracks me up. Right up there with the people who think dog sports are cruel and horrible and competition is bad for dogs.

[Staranais]

Don't worry, I got told that about my current girl too.

If the person giving advice to you isn't achieving the kind of results you want, I'd just ignore them.

[Ons]

Whether you like Caesar Milan or not I thought that this saying was so true

Rules aren’t something your dog resents—they are something he craves.[b][/b]

Your Pup is there for a purpose plenty of time to be a pup at home

[Agility Dogs]

I'm not at all concerned by what she said. I found it kind of funny reallly.

She gets plenty of naughty puppy time, but like others have said - when we are working we are working.

[sheena]

We get the opposite ..arrive at training & before we start setting up equipment etc. OH lets our BC out with the other two BC's, then gets out the soccer ball. Well, within a couple of minutes of playing soccer with them, comes the yell "put those dogs away, you will wear them out" Wear out a border collie....you have to be kidding :D

[Sayreovi]

I get it sometimes as well. There are times when she is allowed to socialise and act like a puppy and there are times when she is not, if I am training her, it's one of the times when she is not!

I've even got told my puppy was very shy by a fellow competitor because she was sitting on my lap quietly and just watching all the dogs around her acting, what probably looked nuts too her (we were at an agility trial) and didn't fall over herself to get pats from a stranger. Reserved around strangers does not equal shyness, and it is actually in our breeds standard!

I was completely shocked because everyone else who commented on her behaviour called her a well behaved puppy.

[Tay.]

Don't worry, I got told that about my current girl too.If the person giving advice to you isn't achieving the kind of results you want, I'd just ignore them.

Well said ;)

[OSoSwift]

When my dogs are worling they are working as well.

We do mad goofy stuff at home and the beach etc.

People think I am strange as if they try to let their dog come up to mine I block their dog and move mine!

My dogs focus on me and work, not leave their handler to play with random dogs - Me thinks I have got it right!

[Gayle.]

I don't let Isaak socialise with other dogs at training, if he's not working with me, he's to sit quietly and wait. He is 8 months old and I get lots of comments on how calm and focussed he is.

He can say hello to the other dogs after class, on the way to the car.