Iʼm in the financial district hustling to an appointment when I spot, across the street, a large bundle of black fluff weaving back and forth at the end of a lovely loose leash. Itʼs a Newfie pup! Like a kid (and not a seasoned trainer), I race across traffic to throw myself at this bear-cub of a dog, like heʼs Johnny Depp. Heʼs Horatio, and heʼs 10 weeks old. The pup doesnʼ t seem phased at all by the mass of people, busses, and cars rushing past us. I compliment the dad on how well socialized the pup is.
“Yes, heʼs with me at work all day with other dogs and a pig,” he beams. Pause. “Did you say Pig?
Here, downtown?” “Yup!” he answers as Horatio, bored, begins to pull toward another fan who is rushing toward him. This is why I love San Francisco as a place to have a dog. More and more dogs are allowed at work and home, and more folks are doing their homework about the importance of early puppy socialization. Paradoxically, this is why I hate San Francisco as a place to have a dog. The city is stressful enough for us humans, never mind puppies.
There is more urgency than ever to help a puppy adjust to a life in this ever-booming metropolis. Adding to the pressure of socialization are all the other key tasks of puppyhood, some that arenʼt on the popular top 10 lists you find in books or on YouTube. But if not dealt with early, some behaviors could result in problems down the road. Use the following suggestions to build a successful relationship with your puppy.
Alone-time training: Pups need to be comfortable and relaxed, not just out in the world, but when home alone— especially in multi-unit buildings where a howling puppy could turn your neighbors against you. So proper alone-time training can be a tool in preventing separation anxiety.
Resource guarding prevention: Puppies must learn to relinquish anything they treasure such as food, treats, toys, chews, sleeping areas, and laps.
Handling: Puppies must be fine with being handled all over so when vets examine them, groomers bathe and clip them, toddlers grab them, or anyone invades their personal space, they are relaxed and tolerant.
Loose-leash walking: Puppies must learn to walk nicely on leash on sidewalks filled with other dogs, people, strollers, skateboards, etc.
Bite inhibition: Youngsters must also learn to control their jaw pressure so that if they do bite at some point, they will not cause damage.
Crate training: This will help puppies learn to pee in designated spots and hold it in between. They need to chew only whatʼs theirs and ignore what isnʼt (cigarette butts, chicken bones, and general urban street trash).
Enrichment: Puppies need lots of activity for their growing brains and bodies, such as play with other pups to learn playskills, puzzle toys for problem-solving, and games and training for mental stimulation and bonding with you. Adding these things into your pupʼs life makes all the other tasks easier—and takes a lot of the pressure off new puppy parents.
Not all puppies are as well adjusted as young Horatio. Consider Lulu, a 12-week-old small, wired-hair girl with ears all askew and the most soulful brown eyes. She was recently adopted and spent much of her precious socialization period in a shelter. She was freezing on the sidewalk and tried to pull back inside her building on a very busy street in the Mission. She was beginning to bark at sudden noises and back away when someone well meaning wanted to pet her. Her mom, who wants to do all the right things, was very worried.
Lulu is now a student at SF Puppy Prep Dayschool. She also goes to puppy kindergarten classes with her mom and has attended about 10 puppy socials. As a result, she is so much more confident, approaches people, and sits for treats. She also loves to bring shy pups out of their shell during playtime, and she walks on quiet streets on leash with a bounce in her step.
Lulu has become one of her teacherʼs pets. The teacher taught Lulu to do a “spin” and to jump into her arms with an “up” cue, which allows Lulu to feel safe when she is picked up. The other day, Luluʼs mom shared that she asked Lulu to do a “ spin” while a bus drove by, and Lulu happily spun around and was rewarded with a nugget of freeze-dried liver and a happy, proud mom. What a difference. Itʼs amazing what a little schooling and training can do.
Aishe Berger, MSW, CTC, CPDT-KA, is the owner and director or training for SF Puppy Prep, a San Francisco-based training school for puppies that specializes in the social, developmental, and early- learning needs of young puppies. Berger is a graduate of Jean Donaldson’s SF/SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers. SFPuppyPrep.com.
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