Puppy Package (First Phase)
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book on development
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Crate
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When to take outside
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Chew toy
House Training - Another behavioral tendency that appears to rely heavily on an imprinting-like processes is house training. There appears to be a narrow window of opportunity between 7 - 9 weeks of age for introducing house training most efficiently. Puppies starting during this time tend to do much better and have far fewer accidents than puppies whose training is postponed until later. During this period, puppies develop location and substrate preferences away from thier nesting area. Proper house training relies on directing innately programmed tendencies and patterns of behavior into appropriate outlets. If a puppy acquires a preference for eliminating indoors on the carpet or even on papers in the kitchen, it will be more difficult to redirect this activity outside later. A good practice on arriving home with a new puppy is to take the puppy first thing to an outdoor area reserved for elimination; the experience will leave a lasting and beneficial impression on the puppy.
Retrieve / Fetch / Bring - Importance of
Incidentally, the single most reliable indicator of a puppy's general temperament and potential as a companion or working dog is revealed by the puppy's willingness to retrieve. Many "gifted" puppies perform this activity without any previous training and on the first or second try. In my experience, such puppies, all other things being equal, usually develop into excellent companions and working dogs. As an evaluator at Biosensor (U>S> Army Superdog Program), I found that the most reliable predictor among young puppies (8 to 10 weeks) for success as military dog prospects was an avidity for ball play and vigorous interest in rag play.
If puppies are prevented from engaging in ball play until after week 14 or so, they may not show a significant interest or willingness to engage in activity later on. Although many such dogs can be eventually trained to retrieve, the process is impeded by a lack of early exposure and experience.l Scott and Fuller (1965). 9 weeks of age...
socialization
Crate Training - Benefits of Confinement
Second Phase - negative reinforcement - aversive - intro to frisbee, other sports
Obedience - Aversive - Off Leash Training - Hard core play - frisbee - agility