My grandfather had "farm collies" and shepherd mixes that snapped to his every word and efficiently hunted everything he took a notion to, day or night. His was a very firm rule that we never played with them, he was spare with his own kind words or touch in dealing with them, and they were never allowed closer to the house than the porch steps. Those dogs adored him and clearly craved his approval.

No question, whatsoever, he'd cringe at how I spoil my pups with attention and affection. But I bet he'd like the way they work.

Ain't no One True Path of dog training.

 

I wasnt that strict with Brandy as a pup, but she knew early on what the expectations were. There was a time for work and a time for play. I kept the training really short as a young pup, and let her just be a pup. She always slept outside, and does to this day. I think if you saw her around me you would think we were pretty bonded.

 

I just thought I would bring up the topic on bonding with your pup. I have read articles on one hand that say no indiscriminate petting and all business even with an 8 week old pup,

That pup is going to live a long time, and for 95% of his life, will live under rigid control and guidance. Give him a lot of love, fun, and exposure now. Worry about the strict stuff later. How would you have liked it if your parents had never let you have a child hood?

 

Enjoy your puppy, rub his little fat belly and give him attention, you just took the little fellow from his moma and siblings and he misses the security of the puppy pile he slept in. When they are older you dont want to over-use praise to the point on every completed command so that it means nothing, but geez how can you resist picking up and petting a little retreiver pup!

 

I think bonding and giving attention is vital to a puppy. The whole thing is you can bond and spoil BUT yet train and be the boss. BE CONSISTENT in your training and you will be rewarded. I think what happens to some guys is as they bond with their dogs they forget they are the boss and let off of the training and then the dog owns them. Mother natures rule is either you are the boss of your dog ( and it will love you all the same) or it will become the boss of you! :beer:

 

I got set up...had an hour and a half drive home. My friend that gave me my last pup said if I held him in my lap the whole time and stared into his eyes, by the time we got home we would be bonded. Well 15 minutes into the drive home...me driving...pup started drooling real bad. He would look up at me and I would stare right into his eyes with a big smile. 30 minutes into the drive I had a wet lap from all the drool...I kept staring and smiling. 45 minutes into the drive and all heck broke loose. All over me and into the door pockets...he would look up at me...and I would stare into his eyes and smile. By the time I got home, I opened the door of the truck, set him out on the ground, flipped a few leftovers off of my pants...and he walked up to me and wanted to be picked up. He was my shadow ever since. The new pup...his daughter... gets the stair too. She and I are pals. She's going to be a great dog. But do you want to know when you really have bonded? Well here it is...

When you go to catch up on your reading and they come and curl up in your drawers...you know they have bonded! :yes:

 

"Let a child be a child when they are a child, otherwise they will be a child when they grow up"

On the other hand ,I don't let a puppy get away with going potty in the house from day one, because I don't want them going potty in the house when he is grown. I don't allow biting, jumping, begging at the table, barking, chewing my wifes shoes, getting in the garbage etc. etc. etc., as a puppy because I do want them to do it as an adult. But petting, playing and spending time together.....well that.... I plan to do everyday of his life!!!! :thumbsup:

 

"Let a child be a child when they are a child, otherwise they will be a child when they grow up"

Who the heck said that? Most responsible adults I know were brought up within a framework of responsibilty.

 

"Let a child be a child when they are a child, otherwise they will be a child when they grow up"

On the other hand ,I don't let a puppy get away with going potty in the house from day one, because I don't want them going potty in the house when he is grown. I don't allow biting, jumping, begging at the table, barking, chewing my wifes shoes, getting in the garbage etc. etc. etc., as a puppy because I do want them to do it as an adult. But petting, playing and spending time together.....well that.... I plan to do everyday of his life!!!! :thumbsup:

I never have those issues. I think my dog is happier outside, there is a lot for her to see, hear, and smell during the day while I am at work. We spend a lot of time together, its just 98% of the time its outdoors.

 

"Let a child be a child when they are a child, otherwise they will be a child when they grow up"

Who the heck said that? Most responsible adults I know were brought up within a framework of responsibilty.

Old saying Rick like: "All work and no play ,makes Jack a dull boy" , "Jack of all trades , Master of none", "Spare the rod, spoil the child", "Too much of a good thing..." etc.
It does not mean a child (or puppy) should not have responsibility or structure, it simply means a child (or puppy) needs to be allowed to "play" and enjoy being a kid! If not they often seek that lost childhood as an adult. My point was ,..... puppies (less than 6 months) like children (less than 5 years) should not have super strict training, more teaching done as fun games, lots of love and attention introducing boundries and rules to form a well rounded adult. One that knows he is loved, cared for, and also knows who the boss is! Balance!!

Tomkat: to each his own ,I prefer to have my own dogs in the house with me, but I work from home so I don't have the issue of leaving a dog all day. plus I use my own dogs in training clients dogs, ex: honoring, socializing.

 

No thats cool. to each their own, my dog was not a good house dog, but does great outdoors. I agree that pups have to be pups...with some training mixed in. I had my dog doing water retrieves at 3 months old, and she loved it. It was all fun.

I think you can teach a dog a lot by walking them on a lead every day. As a pup, Brandy was terrible on a leash. As a 80 lb adult, she is a dream to walk. She learned that lesson early on, thru kind but firm consistent repatative lessons...heel, sit, whoa.

I think I am really benefiting from those early lessons now; she recognizes me as pack leader and wants to please me. I spend a lot of time working with her, she enjoys the attention and having a job to do.

 

TomKat , I agree completely with your statement on a dog being happy and enjoying the fact that they have a job to do. It keeps them for becomeing board lazy hard heads. I find most "problem" dogs turn out to be dogs that are ignored and don't get worked very often. :thumbsup:

 

I agree. There is a lot more owning a dog than feeing it and petting it.