What's Important (the 1st month home)?                                                                                         1. Crate Training                                                                               Crate Training (Links)                                                      2. Name  (micro chips are "cool")                                                        3. Initial Health Exam & Vaccinations                                                              (avoid unnecessary exposure until final shots)                                                      4. Design Predictable Routines                                                          Puppies thrive when their day is well defined.                                                                a. Adopt a "Training" Plan (sequential)                                                                b. Embrace a Realistic, Flexible Timeline                                                                      (puppy timelines vary - considerably)                                                                c. Develop Teaching Skills  (puppies are students)                                                                                                              As an example, the following link is to a journal                                                        of the first 3 months of Gunny's life. He was                                                          a singleton pup and his "early" days were                                                                   a bit different (extra six weeks).                                                         Do what the pup needs "in the moment.                                                                        (every puppy is unique)                                                                                  Keep it Fun!                                                      Gunny's Journal  June-August, 2007 (Link)                                                                                 5. Focus on The Two B's - Bonding & Balance                                                     6. A Daily Job (predictable time slots)                                                                a. Free Walks & Runs (different "safe" places)                                                                     This is the time to imprint "here".                                                                b. Games - (including retrieving)                                                                    Work on "here" before & separate from retrieving.                                                                c. Quiet Time                                                                d. It's not "you and me"......it's "us".                                                                      Responsiveness is a "two way" street.                                                                                  Keep it Fun!                                                     7. Warm Water! (when in season)                                                     8. Socialization (planned & regular)                                                     9. Birds   "The early bird "gets" the dog."                                                                     Early Puppy Bird Imprints (Link)                                                                                  Keep it Fun!                                                   10. "Imprinting" OB Words                                                               contrast formal OB with puppy OB                                                                         (there is a difference)                                                          Work on OB in the context of the day.                                                          Behavior is not a 10 minute drill.                                                   11. The Beginning of Gun Introduction                                                   12. Goals                                                               a. creating an "I like that! What's Next?" pup                                                               b. avoiding "fixes" by not making mistakes                                                                       (anticipation is an acquired skill)                                                               c. establishing significant, lifelong habits                                                               d. being fair, consistent and predictable                               Puppies will do what you allow plus that which you teach (in theory).                                                                              The wise trainer's mantra is "You own what you condone".                                                                                                                                                          Oct. 22, 2010