Mannerly Puppy Curriculum (from 7-8 weeks thru 16 weeks)

 

From Puppy to Young Dog -
Laying in an obedience foundation via these games/exercises

The Pre-Puppy Conversation

1.     Decide why you want a puppy, how much time you have daily to invest into a puppy’s life, what are your expectations of a puppy, and what are your expectations as the puppy grows into a teenaged dog, then an adult dog?

2.     Contact Roxanne and sign up for her “Yes, it’s time for a puppy, but how do I choose?” program. This will solidify what breed, what breeder, what gender of puppy, how far are you willing to travel to get puppy, how much are you willing to pay, and which puppy within that litter is the right puppy (Volhard Puppy Aptitude Testing).

Setting up the household for the new puppy

1.     How to set up the house i.e. kennel, exercise pens, collar, check cords, learning strings, etc.

2.     What books to read, what conversations to have with the family, who will do what with the puppy and when

3.     What is the feeding, sleeping and training regime from 8 weeks to 10 weeks?

4.     What vet? What shots, etc.

5.     What are the boundaries of the puppy? Where will it eliminate regularly?

6.     Are there other dogs in the family – how will the new puppy be treated?

7.     What is the puppy’s name? How to use its name fairly in the home.

8.     How will puppy be transported in car?

Training Puppy from 8 weeks to 10 weeks

1.     “Place in the Kennel” command

2.     Collar

3.     The Learning String

4.     “Go Potty”

5.     “Touch”

6.     Boundaries (or how not to lose your mind with a new puppy)

7.     Puppy Play Retrieve

8.     Toy box

9.     Simple, but important puppy games

10.Introducing bird wings (for hunting breeds)

11.Check cord for puppy when outside

12.The Quiet Time exercise

13.“Sit”

14. Puppy Recall

15. Teaching puppy to be in kennel at night

16. Vet trip

17. Feeding times (what, when, how, etc.)

18. Keeping puppy away from other dog and dog places until 10 weeks old.

Training Puppy from 10 weeks to 12 weeks

1.     Introducing puppy to the outside world on ck cord

2.     Introducing puppy to other people

3.     Introducing puppy to other dogs

4.     “Step” introduced

5.     “Place” introduced

6.     Sit emphasized as foundational exercise for all other exercises

7.     “Stand” introduced

8.     “Move” backward introduced

9.     “Wait” introduced

10.Recall on ck cord emphasized

11.Boundaries expanded or shrunk depending on learning of puppy

12.Puppy playtime with other puppies

13.Puppy retrieve continues introducing new items, “Give” is taught

14.More bird exposure for hunting breeds

15.Single marked retrieves introduced

16.“Socialization as a Form of Training” list of 43+ things to do, 5 times in 5 different places with 5 different levels of distractions introduced.

Training Puppy from 12 weeks to 14 weeks

1.     Running with a pack on ck cord, exercise distance and time extended

2.     Puppy learns to observe classes, field training, other dogs being worked, etc.

3.     Sit and Stand now standard, used often in everyday applications

4.     Breed ring Stacked Stand taught as foundation for future obedience training

5.     “Down” introduced

6.     “Heel” introduced

7.     “Place” formally taught

8.     “Wait” taught in multiple applications using same mechanics as Stay

9.     Whistle Recall on ck cord introduced

10.Puppy playtime with other puppies

11.Boundaries using backtie and blankets as targets

12.“Socialization as a Form of Training” list continues (can take a year to complete)

13.Double marked retrieves introduced

14. New items introduced for puppy to play retrieve – leather, metal, cloth, etc.

Training Puppy from 14 weeks to 16 weeks

1.     Pack running with ck cord greatly expanded

2.     Whistle Recall on ck cord formalized

3.     Sit, Stand, Down, Place greatly expanded

4.     “Sit/Stay” taught on Place Board

5.      Puppy continues to learn by observing other dogs working.

6.     Puppy playtime with other puppies

7.     Hand signal for a marked retrieve introduced.

8.     Whistle Sit introduced

9.“Move” backwards taught at a higher level of learning

10. “Socialization as Training” list continues (can take a year to complete)

11. Directionals (for field, trialing, and everyday life) introduced

Training Puppy from 16 weeks to 20+ weeks

Depending on the dog itself, its progress, development, maturity, and the owners’ diligence in following the Puppy Program, determines when the formal obedience training begins.  The Novice Course can begin as early as 16 weeks.

A puppy and its owner, trained following the above program, will be ready at 16 weeks to the Novice Course.  The benefit to starting at 16 weeks, versus starting at 24 weeks or older, is foundationally, all the obedience elements have been ‘roughed – in’ and imprinted into the dog’s memory banks. These puppy exercises, played as games, become the foundation for formal obedience – making it 100% easier on dog AND owner to succeed as solid obedience training begins.  It is FAR easier to start a well-balanced and well educated young dog, at 4-6 months old, through the Novice program, than wait until the young dog starts its teenage years at 6 months or older.

Start at 8 weeks and follow this puppy training.  If you do, you will be delighted with your puppy and the adult dog it becomes.

Roxanne Lee