Lesson Fourteen – Empower Your Puppy With SocializationTekoa2018-04-11T13:21:55-05:00
Let’s Get Ready
Em·pow·er·ment
(əmˈpouərmənt/)
noun
The process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights.
The goal of this course is not only to create and Empowered Puppy, but to create an Empowered Puppy Parent! As you have gone through the lessons, you have seen how simple this truly is. You have seen how you simply can just “talk to your dog” and they get it. By opening up and letting your feelings show and letting your guard down, a whole new relationship has developed.
Your puppy understands you better, knows you will be there for them, and loves to be with you. Hopefully some of the things we have talked about, can help you in other aspects of your life as well.
Socialization is one of the most crucial elements of any puppy training. It must be done in controlled environments, and controlled by you. Often well meaning people actually teach your puppy the wrong thing.
Watch your puppy’s reaction and never push them to like something or force something upon them. It would be like as if you were afraid of spiders. If we put you in a room of hundreds of spiders you would obviously be in complete fear. However, if we put you in the room with just one spider, it wouldn’t be as bad. You would learn you could tolerate it. The next time maybe there were two or three spiders, and so on. So a little at a time. If ever you see your puppy take a set back, go back to start. Always go on their terms not yours.
Continue to work the sounds on the app, and expose your puppy to as many items, people places and things.
Congratulations! You are now an owner of an Empowered Puppy!
You and your puppy have accomplished much over the last weeks. You’ve built a solid foundation, but don’t stop moving forward.
LifeStyle training is a lifelong commitment. We all know how easy it is to slip into old habit patterns and forget how to do things when they aren’t at the forefront of our minds, and the same is true for our dogs. To continue to reap the rewards of a strong relationship with your puppy, be consistent and always aware that every time you interact with them, you’re teaching them.
Even when the ‘teenager’ months begin and it seems like your puppy has turned into the biggest brat ever, challenging you every step of the way, keep a cool head-pick your battles-and keep on working what you know. You will realize how much all of your persistence has paid off when the hormone driven nonsense subsides and your clear headed friend is once again a willing companion at your side.
Continue to keep your training sessions short and fun, following the routine of your life. Keep rewarding the behaviors you DO want. Work the default sit often. Use it often. Socialize at the rate your puppy can handle and remember it’s OK if they don’t particularly care for everyone they meet. You’re going to be tempted to slack off, but if you don’t, I promise the results will be so worth it. Enjoy these days of puppy hood, they go by so quickly. Make them days to remember fondly.
Please fill out the form below and we will send you a Certificate of Completion.