Patient Pups Become Great Dogs!
One thing we all know is that young pups are naturally very mouthy. This is because they are teething, but also because they use their mouths like young children use their hands – to explore and manipulate the objects in their world.
It’s all a part of the learning and growing process for puppies, but if you don’t teach them to use their mouth in a controlled and gentle way, they will grow into bad habits, not out of them. Many trainers will get phone calls from dog owners who realize this when their pup becomes an adolescent around 6-9 months. It’s common to see those dogs mouthing too hard during play, taking treats with too much force, or snatching things right out of your hands before being invited to do so.
In our latest video, join School Director, David Muriello, and 10-week old puppy, Piston, as they demonstrate a great way to teach puppies that waiting and taking things gently is much more rewarding than grabbing and biting. If you practice these exercises with a young pup, they will go a long way towards helping you raise a polite and gentle dog.
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Are you a fanatic for learning more about behavior and training? CATCH courses and workshops go beyond basic obedience to help students work with dogs that have behavioral issues. We find the problem-solving process to be fascinating: from basic issues like jumping, pulling, barking, and house training to learning about the more advanced challenges like fear and aggression cases. Many of our students turn their passion for dogs into newfound skills and use them to work with dogs that otherwise would not have the easiest time finding a forever home. Get in touch with us to learn more!