puppy&dog TRAINING

The right tools and equipment are essential for good puppy training.

Here's what you need:
Buckle-type nylon collar (stay away from body harnesses and choke chains).
Two-metre (six-foot) lead.
Four-metre (12-ft.) bonding line (to use in the house to lead bond).
Kong (a hollow, hard, rubber chew toy that you can fill with food treats for your dog to try to retrieve).
Other safe, digestible chew treats that are appropriate to your puppy’s size; ask your veterinarian for suggestions.
Soft treats your puppy will love, such as dried liver snacks.
25Flexi-line – a long lead in a plastic covered case. This is great for teaching recalls (teaching your dog to come to you when you call him).

Head collar/head halter (such as Gentle Leader).
Clicker (a small, hand-held tool used to teach and reinforce correct behaviour).
Ball or tug toy on a rope (these are real motivators for some puppies).

Puppyhood is the right time to focus on your dog's socialization, establishing good manners and preventing behaviour problems, but training should continue throughout his life. Puppy training should not be considered a full-fledged obedience program. Puppies have short attention spans. They are not mature enough to perform commands reliably.

After your puppy has developed good manners with the help of puppy training,and you can reliably get your puppy's

attention, you can start formal obedience training. Most dogs love to learn, so you can continue training them when they are adults.

As your dog grows older, you may notice changes in behaviour that will require more intensive training than basic training can provide. Some behavioural problems can be quite serious, so it’s best to address them as early as possible. – Donna Davidson, B.A.