Dear Judy
We got our Jack Russell back after the second jab when he was just shy of two months. I bought our little O J from a shop where the dogs looked comfortable and loved. You can tell. First, the shop didn't stink of pee or poo. Next, the dogs had toys in their cages. Their room was bright and clean and the dogs were not yapping or howling or showing signs of stress. The dogs' cages were clean and the dogs themselves seemed contented and alert. None were circling in their cages. They have a regular exercise time to get out of their cages.
The shop assistants loved dogs. They would kiss and cuddle the dogs and speak to them in a loving tone. They were never harsh with the dogs. We had to sanitize our hands all the time. We were firmly told that there are no stupid pets, only stupid owners! we were shown how to bathe and groom our puppy. They gave us strict instruction how to toilet train our pup. For example, do not link the pup's name to negative commands like: "Don't poo here". Use a low voice and firm tone, spank the bottom and then bring the dog to the tray and say, " O J, poo here". The moment he does pee or poo in the tray, reward with a treat.
O J has been with us since 21 August and he pees 70% of the time in the tray now. The pooing is beginning to happen more often in the tray. He responds well to the low tone and knows when we are displeased. My kids are my co trainers in my absence and consistency is the key. We all say the same thing to O J.
As for people who say the dog can be trained in 3 days, I will say, that depends on many variables and there is no magic number of days. The well-being of the dog is foremost. To develop a confident, loving, loyal and happy dog, we need to be firm, supportive and loving. If the owner does not exhibit the traits he wants developed in the dog, then really, as the shop owner said, "Stupid Owner".
Regards
(Name)
E-MAIL REPLY
I am Dr Sing from Toa Payoh Vets.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences on puppy training and feedback.
1. Did you buy the puppy from the U.S or from Singapore? Is the puppy in Singapore?
2. In your email, you are correct in saying that success in getting toilet-trained depends on many variables.
2.1 The rare case of a 3-day success in paper-training by the first-time owner reported in our blog or website was due to the puppy's prior experience on newspapers. Many home-breeders confine the puppies to newspapers with their dam.
So, they become used to the smell and feel of newspapers. When the buyer places a puppy from such a background, onto the newspapers and confine him in a playpen or small room such as the balcony, the puppy goes to the newspapers.
With praises and maybe food treats, the puppy is "successfully paper-trained in 3 days" in the owner's eyes. If the owner has permitted the puppy free access to all rooms, the puppy may or may not go to the newspapers. So, there will be no success for many weeks.
3. Positive reinforcement training with firm commands, praise and food treat rewards is the best method.
4. We appreciate it and the beautiful picture of O J. and thank you.
REPLY TO 2ND E-MAIL
Dear Dr Sing
I bought the puppy from the shop em...I can't remember the name now, it displays this huge sign Puppies for Sale. It's along upper serangoon road, next to a paint shop, on the side of the crocodile farm directly across the traffic light for the road crossing.
O J is going through a biting fingers and toes phase and he is learning to respond to whomever is handling him by how they react, but already he knows who is firmer and stricter. He does not bite me as he recognises my tone of voice. My children are less firm so O J is not getting consistent feedback. Which is why I am going to enrol my children and puppy in obdedience classes as soon as he is old enough and a class is available. In the meantime, I try to spend more time with him, one on one and use a gentle but firm tone. Also, we give him the proper chew toys.
COMMENTS
BITING, ANKLE-NIPPING, PLAY-BITING are commonly reported by first-time puppy owners.
3 probable causes
1. Communicate with mouth - puppy's method of communication.
2. Testing the other party's reaction. The dog lives in a social hierarchy where there is the alpha dog (male or female). He bites to see your reaction. Whether you are his boss? This will be the main cause. If the child or lady runs away, the puppy chases and bites more.
3. Teething.
4. Aggression biting - food protection (growls and bites if you take away his food bowl), don't like being touched (growls first). This behaviour needs to be eliminated. Avoid tug-of-war games with the puppy. I note that a few male Cocker Spaniels in Singapore seem to behave this way. Grows up to bite every family member and the vet too!
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