How to train your lockdown puppy
Dog trainer Steve Mann joined 5 Live’s Adrian Chiles – who has just become the owner of a puppy for the first time – to answer some listeners' questions around new dog ownership.
Should I buy a puppy from a breeder?
Adrian Chiles decided to get a puppy from a reputable breeder instead of getting a rescue dog because, as a brand new dog owner, he was worried a rescue pup would have issues he wasn’t capable of managing.
Steve says he will “always have rescue dogs, but hopefully I’ve got the skills and the knowledge and experience to be able to help those dogs".
“My view is there’s too many dogs in rescues, but each to their own," he said. "I’m never going to be a one-man band that’s going to stop people wanting puppies. Anyone with a dog that comes to my doorstep, I’m all in to help them have the best life they can share with that dog to promote good responsible ownership, whether it’s a puppy, a rescue or even a cat.”
He said he worries the boom in dog ownership during the pandemic will lead to an increase in dogs going being given away to rescue homes in the future.
“I train as a behaviourist to help with that tsunami of dogs and there’s potentially a bit of doom and gloom down the road, but there’s potentially an amazing experience for more families and people than ever to understand and appreciate the joy and benefit that a dog can bring to their life.”
How do I stop my dog leaving?
Jane in Welling has an 18-month old miniature dachshund that continually barks at other people and dogs. Jane says her pup continually follows others and only returns to her when ready.
Steve says, like humans, dogs only do things when it’s in their interests.
"We all only come back when we’re ready!
“I wouldn’t look at it as a following people and dogs problem, I’d look at it as a recall problem – so go out in the garden and start practicing recall with the dog.
“There’s a million videos on YouTube, I’ve got some on there as well, and many methods to teach recall.
“If it’s in the dog’s interest to hang out with you, it’ll hang out with you – if the grass is greener on the other side then we would all go looking. Work on it as recall and positively reinforce when the dachshund checks in.”
Should I stop them fighting?
One listener contacted the show to say their Labrador pup is fighting their five-year-old pug. They wanted to know if they should intervene when the dogs play fight. Should they referee or should they not allow it?
Steve says you never want a dog to be put under pressure by another dog.
"So if one dog’s life is being made a misery, of course you need to intervene," he said.
He recommends the owners quickly become experts in canine body language to be able to determine if the fighting is play or aggression.
“First rule of any situation is control and manage the situation, so don’t let the unwanted behaviour occur.
“Secondly, try to build up a positive association – so when one dog is with the other, make good things happen and give them something else to do instead of scrapping, so a chew or a stuffed food toy – no dog in its right sense is going to walk away from food in order to get on another dog’s nerves.
“A dog like a pug, talk about body language – they’ve got a sticky out chest, a screwed up face and no little tail to show they’re friendly. It’s like me or you walking into a pub and saying: ‘Come on, who wants it!’ It’s difficult, but body language is where it’s at.”
Is adopting a Romanian stray dog a good idea?
Adrian says he’s seen a lot of people who have adopted street dogs from Romania or Cyprus and wants to know how hard it is to train those dogs.
Steve says it is difficult.
"People are adopting these dogs from the kindness of their own heart and it’s an altruistic thing to do.
“Sometimes they go on to live happily ever after and sometimes they’ve bitten off more than they can chew – the owner, not the dog!
“But professional support from organisations like the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers, they’re professionals who can do remote consultations and can support these people.
“I would beg these owners to look for professional help sooner rather than later.”
