Weekly Tidbits - August 18, 2021
On my mind this week and random things from around the web on dogs, behaviour and training.
“Let puppies be puppies” - Bad Idea
It’s something I used to believe. The idea that you should wait to start training your new puppy until they are 5 or 6 months of age is something I still hear dog lovers saying. But it is a bad idea for a few reasons. It’s not that waiting to start training will produce a dangerous or “out of control” dog. It’s more that waiting misses the opportunity to establish some good and useful habits and attitudes in the dog during a very impressionable time in their life.
When our new puppies arrive in our home at 8 weeks, we generally wait no more than 24 hours to begin working with them on training. When I say “training”, I do not mean drilling with the puppy for 30 or 40 minutes to get precise behaviours and instant compliance. It is far more gentle than than. This early training is intended to be an extension of their learning about the world. The behaviours we start training are simple but I’m looking for something much more important that the simple behaviours I’m teaching.
Using Mark and Reward training depends on my dog understanding two simple concepts. First, offering behaviours gives the puppy a reliable way to get me to deliver rewards. This teaches them that they have the power to affect the world around them in a positive way. It is quite literally the beginning of a system of communication between dog and human that will develop over time. That communication system begins with the “Marker” signal.
A marker signal, from the human side means “you have done something that has earned you a reward.” But from the puppy side, it means “Hurray! I’m going to get a reward now!” Both sides of that interaction are critical. It is a contract between me and my puppy. If you hear the marker, you are getting a reward. Every time. Guaranteed. Establishing the certainty of that contract gives my puppy the motivation to work with me without confusion or frustration. But this contract, by itself, is not enough. There is something more I need to do for my puppy.
The mark and reward contract is only worth it for my puppy if it is EASY. When I am starting to teach my dog, it is important that he hears the marker and gets rewarded frequently for the simplest of things. In fact, it should be so easy that my puppy might actually start seeking me out to “play that training game” because it is so fun and rewarding.
But “easy” also means not getting frustrated or fatigued. I choose my training times carefully so that my puppy has the energy and interest to play. I make sure that I do not train for more than a few minutes at a time with my puppy so they don’t get tired, bored, or frustrated with what’s happening. Puppy training, for me, is no more than 4 or 5 minutes spend on the simplest of behaviours two or three times each day.
There is something important that happens during this process that has nothing to do with the specific behaviours I am teaching. It is the bond that begins to form between my puppy and I. During those short training sessions, my puppy has my undivided attention and they know it. Lots of good and interesting things are happening and my puppy will begin to associate those things with me. And that Mark and Reward contract will begin to teach my puppy to trust in me because I am being consistent and reliable with my rewards.
And there is a bonus here. Puppies between 8 and 12 weeks of age are in what is called a “Sensitive Period” of development. Research has shown that lessons learned during this period, good or bad, will often stick with the dog throughout their lifetime. So all of the learning and trust and bonding and communication skills we develop will likely become life long habits for the dog.
“Letting puppies be puppies” and waiting to begin training probably won’t create problems for new puppy owners. But it misses out on some tremendous benefits that I have enjoyed with my own dogs for more than 20 years. There are lots of great resources in the form of books, online videos and articles, and more on how to teach your puppy simple behaviours like a nose-touch or a sit to create that positive bond.
In the end, I guess that waiting a few months before starting to train your puppy is not necessarily a bad idea. It’s just that beginning a regular, reward-based training practice with your puppy is a much better idea!
Owning dogs is a contact sport
It has been my experience that the best dog owners I know, the ones that have fabulous relationships with their dogs, also tend to be the ones most willing to be silly with their dogs. Nothing brings a smile to my face faster than seeing a 60 year old woman running around chasing with her dog at the park. You can just see the love and bond between the two of them. And you can tell that this woman couldn’t care less who might be watching - it’s all about her and her dog.
Dogs love to play. We make sure that our dogs get some play time every day. That usually means that at some point I’m going to have to roll around on the floor or get pounced on while on the bed. Life with my dogs is a contact sport. It’s not just about soft pats on the head or cozy snuggles. There are going to be paw swipes and tug games and even the occasional body slam.
This all may sound like there is a serious lack of discipline in my home when it comes to my dogs. But it is actually quite the opposite. We know the games we are willing to play with our dogs and we start out early teaching them what is and what is not acceptable when it comes to play. From simple rules like “No teeth” in play to discourage biting to more difficult rules like the humans get to say when play starts or stops, we are careful to establish and maintain those rules as our dogs grow.
Interestingly, not all dogs are the same. Different dogs like different games. Different dogs will want to play more or less. It is up to us to discover these things about our dogs and to interact with them in a way they find fun. All too often I see dog owners using play games like “fetch” as a way to tire their dogs out. But play should not be about exhausting your dog. Creating games that interest your dog mentally as well as physically can be great exercise and a great way to teach them new skills.
More than anything, I think effective play with my dogs demands that I be flexible and willing to accommodate my dog’s preferences. If they like to be chased, I need to run around like an idiot after them. If they like to tug, I need to find ways to do that without throwing my back out. If they like to wrestle, I need to find ways to do that safely so that neither of us ends up injured. Perhaps most important of all, I need to establish signals for when play starts and when it is over.
Playing with my dogs is a contact sport. They are Belgian Shepherds after all. There is wrestling and running and tug and occasionally a few teeth involved. But making time to teach good play practices with my dogs has made all of that safe and fun for everyone involved. It has helped to develop our relationship together. And yes, I have grown accustomed to looking foolish while doing it!
Schedule changes coming
Life happens. Over the next few weeks my publishing schedule will be more erratic than usual. So you may see shorter pieces being posted or I may even skip a Wednesday or Sunday posting depending on what’s happening. I just thought I should let you know in advance.
Belgian Shepherd Humour
Truth!
Have a great week and have fun with your dogs!
Great picture. I had a boxer/bulldog like that. I saw some malinois puppies on facebook last week. Cute fluffy they'll probably let them go to anyone. :-( I commented that these dogs need a lot of attention and are not for lounging around at home. I hope potential adopters read it.
Very well said Brad!! Love that picture too!!