Thursday, 10 August 2017

A few more helpful hints.

 Just a couple of ideas that may work for you.
If you are having a problem with sunburn on your silky's coat or any other long coated breed, you can move the parting from the centre, a few centimeters either to the left or right, that way when show day comes, you can part it back down the centre line and the sunburned coat will disappear underneath.

Training a new puppy, or raising a home born litter,  hold the puppy a  lot and touch face, inside of mouth, around the gums,  top of head and ears along with feet, nails, tail and the underside as much as possible.   No use waiting until they are at training classes or their first baby puppy exhibit.  It will be a long struggle to get the puppy used to being handled with ease by a judge or for veterinary care.  
The first time I took my silky to the vet. for a check up and shots, he stood in a perfect show stand on the table for the full exam and shots.   The vet was amazed.  She had never seen such a well behaved dog.   He was used to being handled from the day he was born and handled a lot when he came to me at 10 weeks.  

You cannot successfully train a dog without eye contact.   That should be encouraged as soon as the eyes open or as soon as you are in possession of the puppy.   To do that try to get the pups attention with a toy, ball or treat.   Let them smell or mouth it, then move it slowly away toward your own eyes, until they follow the item all the way from them to you.  Then once the puppy locks eyes with you, give them the treat or toy.  NEVER reward a puppy until they do what you are asking them to do.   May take a few times, but they soon figure out how to get what they want, which is the treat.   Only ever feed them that treat when training.  Once you have eye contact with your puppy, that places you in control.   All dogs need a leader for their health and well-being.   Always be training.  Such as don't just throw the ball and wander off.   Stay and call, "bring it" and when they do give them a treat.   Gradually, you will be able to fore-go the treat for a "good dog" and a pat.

When out for a walk, let the puppy sniff and wander on a loose lead.   At the end of the walk pull the collar up under the chin and straighten the lead where the puppy has to walk with the head in a high position, and finish up the walk.   Stop and get the puppy's attention (eye contact) and "stay".
Then give the treat.

The next few Blogs,  I will fill in the "about me" section and post a few pictures from the "good old days".  Also some of my background experience in dog training, showing, grooming etc.

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