Bringing A New Pup Home - Page 1

So there is a slight possibility that in about a month or so I'll be bringing home a pup. At any rate it will be a decade this year since I've brought home a puppy, so I'm a bit rusty. :)

I'd just liike to know how everyone else goes about it, what you teach first, when you start training, where you take them to socialize, etc. Potty Training and Name obviously start right away, and bonding just... happens. It is not something that can be trained. (I did refer to another thread before this one... I knew I had seen something similar in the past).

So how 'bout it then? What are your training sessions like? Walks? etc.?

How old is your pup?

Well, at the moment the one I'm looking at is 4 weeks but it would be 8 when I bring it home.

At that age I keep them short and fun.  Aus and leave it are one of the first commands I teach, they are going to get things you don't want them to have and when they do Aus comes in very handy.  Of course it goes with out saying Heir is easy to teach, more fun when they are in the funny ear stage because it's funny to watch them run to you. Sitz and platz I just mingle in play sessions.  Now at 8 weeks mine are on the puppy tracks a couple times a day, and of course we are starting the sack.  Socializing them is the fun part just take them everywhere.  I'm pretty careful with mine until the rabies vac is done but I live in an area where it is everywhere along with parvo.  Mine all like the agility equipment around 8 weeks.  At that age I don't really have a training session from the dogs point of view we are just playing a lot. If you are going to be doing narcotics with your dog this is a good time to start teaching them the active alert and imprinting odors.

How do you go about teaching them tracks and such? At what age do you start taking them to clubs?

Thank you for your reply. Heh, the last pup I had I wasn't into sports and such, she was just my buddy, so as far as tracking training and such goes I am totally green. :)

I don't take mine to clubs as I don't have sport dogs, I have police k9, SAR and pp.  I do start them basically the same way as sch.  So I can't help with what age they start.  To start with the tracking you just want them to realize if their nose is on the ground there just might be a reward with it.  I start mine on imprinting at 3-4 wks.  I just go outside and drop little pieces of food "hot dogs, or kibble" around the yard, no real pattern to it I do it in circles etc, all I'm teaching them at this point is your nose should be on the ground. Then as soon as the nose is down most of the time I do the short starter tracks.  As soon as they have the concept and if you lay a couple a day depending on the dog it is pretty quick, I cut back on the food, start adding scent articles and a person at the end.  I have a 9 wk old that is down to no food just scent articles and will be starting turns the next cpl of days and he's great at it. There are alot of good books if there isn't a trainer there.  Tracking is my favorite.  By 4 months mine will be tracking through the woods, across the creek etc.  Obviously in training but it will be reliable.  Just remember with tracking it's not practice makes perfect, it's perfect practice makes perfect.  For the bitework at the early age play alot of tug with your boy! Also a hint is when you are starting on tracking at least 1/3 of their daily food ration should be on the training tracks.  Don't feed them then take them out, you want them hungry when they are starting.

If you want, i'll take the pup, do tracking, and have him pretty much ready for the bh. I'll keep him til 6 months old. That's 4 months at $500/mo for $2000. Or, better yet, I'll take him for a month, have him tracking better than most 2 yr olds, do obedience and you can have him back at 12 weeks for $1000.

Thank you for your help, Donnerstorm.

PP is my top priority for the pup, mainly just being a detterent more than anything, but I would like to compete in sports, for fun.

No thanks Chaz....

Lol! Good luck with the pup.

Congrats! Your going to get (or should) a lot of replies. But this was another thread or two. Training as soon as he's adjusted to the new home. He's learning with or without you. Bonding is determined on how much time you spend with him and you always don't have to be doing "something". I would think OB, heavy OB, prey motivation and some bitework should be a good start. If you want I can send you a few pages of information I use concerning prey motivation but I'm sure others will chime in.

Good luck