Information on Dog, Cat, and Bird Behavior from Companion Animal Solutions
Carly Davis, CPDT
A while ago, I wrote a blog titled Questions to Ask Before Adopting a Dog or Puppy about the adoption process, and things to consider when you’re trying to find the right dog for your home. At the time, I was searching for a dog, which I have finally found. From the time I got the go ahead from my landlord to the day I was sure the right pup had found me was about 8 months. And it was quite the process.
Greta Kaplan, CPDT, CDBC
I teach puppy classes. It’s a weird category, and people have different expectations from a class called “puppy class” or “puppy kindergarten.” If you take my flyball class, you expect to be taught how to do flyball and help teach your dog to do flyball. If you take a class in competition obedience, you know you’ll be learning, among other things, how to teach your dog to heel, front, finish, sit, stand, down and stay. What is puppy class for? Doesn’t your puppy already know how to be a puppy?
Yes – in fact, for many, that’s the problem! They want help in teaching their puppy to be clean in the house, not bite them with that mouthful of needles, and not play tug with their pants leg. Also, it would be nice if the pupper didn’t scream when put in his crate. But at the same time, puppy owners’ last class was often a more traditional obedience class, and perhaps without thinking about it, they expect to do some sits, downs, stays, and heeling. [Read more...]