A well adjusted puppy is enthusiastic about playing.
They are young, rambunctious and sometimes over-eager to engage other dogs in play. While it is not wrong to ask another dog to play, trouble can arise when they don't notice that the other dog is not interested in playing.
Young, playful pups are often too young to have learned how to read the intention-signals of other dogs, they sometimes get corrected.
Corrections from an older dog can be a learning experience, but owners need to protect their pups from getting harsh corrections. To minimize the risk to your pup make sure that they have LOTS and lots of playtime with puppies their own age.
Puppy classes are a great place to have your pup play with other puppies.
A good puppy class will be filled with ONLY other puppies of a similar age. Puppy play-time will cushion your pup's bank of experiences. Puppy-to-puppy play will likely be appropriate and fun and pad your pup from associating play with bad things (older, un-playful dogs). Lots of puppy-play will help your puppy associate an eventual correction with their actions or the other dog's body language.
When playing with older dogs, a correction is likely.
The older dog should have EXCELLENT play-skills and give LOTS of warnings to the puppy. When the older dog has finally had it and corrects the pup it should be a fast and timely correction. The puppy will likely yelp and it will be over. The older dog should not pin the puppy or keep fighting. There should be NO harm and the pup should shake it off quickly and be back to his/her bouncy self.
A PUPPIES ERROR IN JUDGEMENT
Meet the dogs...
The FOCUSED, OLDER DOG is played by K-9 ANGUS, FEMA Certified Search & Rescue Dog, CA Task Force 3
see videos of Angus @ work -CLICK HERE
The PLAYFUL & OVERENTHUSIASTIC PUPPY is played by JUPITER, 4 month old, male beagle
Opening Act: A polite invitation to play.
Act -II: Stop ignoring me. Don't you want to play?
Act -III: You can't resist me; I'm right here!
Act -IV: Knock it off pup!
Act V: Pleeeese, play with me.
Final Act: Too-bad, puppy; I warned you.
Second Show: Hey, who are you?
STOP NAGGING YOUR DOG!
Teaching/Learning is a Three-Part Equation
I. The way you let the dog know something is expected.
II. Whatever the dog decides to do (based on instincts, learning, motivation)
III. The consequences that are connected to the actions.
Part-I THE CLUES
Usually people focus on the first part -humans love to give verbal instructions (commands). This part of the equation is really the LEAST IMPORTANT PART of teaching an animal to DO SOMETHING. Furthermore it is the LAST part I worry about when training a new dog or teaching a dog that a new situation requires a previously known behavior.
Part-II THE OPTIONS
Dogs that are trained with force/aversion often get stressed out during the second part of the equation. Stress is NOT conducive to relationships or learning. In Aversive training the risks for getting answer wrong can be high and/or the motivation to give an alternate answer to great to avoid putting the dog in a double bind (I really need to pee, but if I do I might get punished).
In contrast dogs trained systematically with rewards are encouraged to try stuff and praised & rewarded at first for: Good-Attempts, Better-Answers, Correct Responses. The consequences for mistakes are "bummers" they don't get access and/or loose a reward, but they are never given aversive treatments for failing.
Part-III CONSEQUENCES ARE CRITICAL!!!!
This is **THE MOST** important part of training any lasting behaviors. Sadly most people never think about it, they just keep repeating commands to their dog. Consequences are where it is at.
Whenever I ask something of a dog, I already know in my mind three questions.
1) what will I give them if they do it right
2) What will they loose if they give the wrong answer
3) How will I know they don't know they don't know the answer and need a hint for training to stay fun and successful.
YOUR HOMEWORK...
Teach your dog to offer good options & give consequences.
For the next 3 weeks, whenever you are going to leave with your dog through a door... Leash your dog and get your stuff. Put your hand on the door knob, but don't open it. SAY NOTHING!!!!
Week-1: Wait. Do & Say nothing. Ignore your dog. As soon as your dog sits, Say "AWESOME!" and open the door. Let the door do through the door however they want as long as they are on-leash and safe.
How long does it take before your dog sits as soon as you are at the door?
Week-2: Do everything from above. As soon as your dog sits, open the door SLOWLY!!! If your dog's butt pops up, close the door. Again, SAY NOTHING. If your dog re-sits, open the door slowly. If the butt-pops up, close the door. Repeat. If you get the door open 6" and your dog's butt is still on the ground... Say, AWESOME! and open the door allowing your dog Out!
Week-3: Everything from above, but go for door open 12"... Door open 18"... Door open 6" & 30 seconds... Door open 12" and 30 seconds... Door open all the way, 5 seconds... Door open all the way, 30 seconds.
NEVER SAY A THING! Just close the door (preventing access to outside/walks/play) if the dog's butt moves from a sit BEFORE your can say AWESOME!
There's almost 400 Pounds of dog in my house right now!
This would be OK if I had two Neapolitan Mastiffs that were sleeping like rugs.
BUT, I have a 1000 sq. ft. California Cottage and, one German Shepherd under the age of 10 months, 1 Border Collie just over a year, a Hound Mix, an AussieX, a Chow/PitX and a 6mo Pittie, plus one very old, slow moving Schnauzer.
Keeping play tame, furniture standing, and knees from being blown out is NOT OPTIONAL! ...BUT it is simple.
When a new dog is thrown into the mix they get a quick lesson on home-manners. The rules are as simple. There are 3 obedience phrases and 2 consequences. I NEVER yell any of these. I never threaten (everything has a consequence). I am always right.
Commands:
Yellow Warning Light: "__dog's name__, Cool-it."
Red Light: "Too-bad."
Green Light: "Thank You."
Consequences:
Errors earn a dog a 10-15 second time-out in a crate, bathroom, or tied to leash.
Compliance earns the dogs Praise & Freedom, maybe a toy tossed to them, perhaps a cookie.
THE RULES:
- Bump into Kelley, get an automatic time-out: "Too-bad."
- Bump into grandma (schnauzer), get an automatic time-out: "Too-bad."
- Bump into furniture, get an automatic time-out: "Too-bad."
- Get TOO LOUD, get a warning.
- Head the warning, and become quiet, get a green light to keep playing.
- Ignore warning, get a time-out: "Too-bad."
- Play with anything but a dog toy, get an automatic time-out: "Too-bad."
- Go in the no-dog-zone, get an automatic time-out: "Too-bad."
BONUS: "PLAY BREAK"
