The criteria for Puppy K:
Note that some of these videos are directed to dogs in upper levels, remember that puppies have shorter attention spans and may need luring to start some of these behaviors! Shoot me an email if you’re struggling!
Eye contact for 2 seconds, handler smiling! and Respond to name from 5 feet
Video: The Name Game (Video by fearful dog expert Debbie Jacobs!)
If your pup will not make eye contact, we can discuss strategies during class!
Video: Go To Mat!
Sit and Down 3 times using hand and/or verbal signal, no lure
Video: Sits and Downs
Luring is when the treat is in your hand — after the first couple of times, take the treat out of your hand and use the hand signals and verbal cues.
Pass the Puppy Sit/Down with lure
In class, this exercise is passing our puppies to new people. That’s nearly impossible right now, so we will combine this with body handling and you can translate this to new people when you are able. You can always have new people tell your puppy to sit or down with you rewarding them afterwards.
Body Handling/Pass the Puppy Body Handling
Video: Donna also includes what to have in a puppy first aid kit!
Calling out of play after 30 seconds
What we’re trying to do with calling out of play is start to ask our dog for impulse control when they are aroused. Another way to work on this is to play the name game while your dog is playing with someone else or while you’re playing a game that involves the dog being away from you like “chase the ball”.
Video: Getting your dog excited and asking them for a calm behavior to continue the game Note: your pup may need some encouragement or a trade to give up the toy. The more you can use your words (take it, drop it, all done) to ritualize your play, the easier it is for your puppy to understand what is happening! Use this method for tug games, stuffy play, and balls!!!!
Surface/tunnel games
It is important to get your puppy used to new situations. Make them an obstacle course, have them clamber over boxes, expose them to different surfaces. You can check out www.dogparkour.org for ideas and their tests.
Video: This is a Novice Parkour Test. No jumping for puppies, but you can get the idea about how your pup can adjust to moving their body differently. For us, this is really just to get them confident with new surfaces, new objects, etc. Socialization!
Back up and Focus with food/toy distractor
This one is part of the practice for loose leash walking! Walk a few steps forward reward by your side, then do the back up and focus!
Let's get Dressed Up game: This is one of the ways we work on socializing your dog! Here is a video on socializing your dog in the age of Covid-19
Wear weird things around your dog. Glasses, googly eyes, hats, etc.
Recall from 1/2 length of room (or more)
Touch is an important skill for your puppy — essentially it’s targeting your hand. We can use it to teach tricks, or use is for our recalls!
Video: Touch
Video: Recall
Loose Leash Walking for 10-20 feet
Leave It
Leave it when we want our dogs to turn away from something we don’t want them exploring with their mouth
Video: Leave it part 1
Video: Leave it parts 2 and 3
Retrieve different objects (Drop it!)
This is the Take It/Drop it game but with different objects! Use two wooden spoons, Two plastic/rubber bone toys, two tug ropes! Even metal spoons! Teaching your dog to bring you things is rewarding (someone once told me she taught her puppy to bring her socks instead of eating them!). Here is a video demonstrating the Take It/Drop it game!
These exercises may be performed with continuous rewards