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PUPPYSCHOOLINSTRUCTOR’SCOURSE
UNIT5:COORDINATEPUPPYACTIVITIESANDWORKINGWITHPROBLEMPUPPIES
Objective This unit is aimed at providing information on all aspects of socialisation and exposure for young
puppies as well as providing suggestions for socialisation and exposure activities, and the applications of those activities, to ensure a the sessions are successful and safety for all puppies and their owners.
Learningoutcomes
After you have completed this unit you will be able to: • Set up different enrichment activities for puppies • Coordinate and run puppy socialisation and exposure activities • Know how to best deal with problem puppies in your class
Areastobecovered
Common Problem Behaviours
§ The differences between o Socialisation o Exposure o Experiences
§ Setting up of activities for each § Problem puppies in your class
o Rough and bullying puppies o Shy and fearful puppies
Knowledge checklist A knowledge check which will enable the learner to self assess their learning and understanding of the unit contents which may include setting of tasks, reporting writing or quizzes.
PUPPYSCHOOLINSTRUCTOR’SCOURSEUNIT5:COORDINATEPUPPYACTIVITIES
Socialisation,ExposureandExperiencesThere are 4 main types of activities that must be included in a puppy preschool course; they aresocialisation,exposure,experiencesandbasictrainingactivities. Eachhasaspecificfunctiontowardsthedevelopmentofapuppyandeachmustbeplannedandexecutedcarefullyandsafely.
Socialisation‘Providinganindividualwiththeskillsandhabitsnecessaryforparticipatingwithinhisorherownsocietyorkind’Socialisationisinteractionwithotherdogsinordertolearntheintegrationandparticipatoryskillstowardsdogs.
Socialisationideas
OffleadplaytimeTakeintoconsideration:• Sizeandlayoutofarea• Numberofpuppies• Sizeandtemperamentsofpuppies• Safety,safety,safety• Playtimeisfun,butmustbecontrolledandMUSThavealearningslant.• Onlypart,notall,ofthepuppyschoolcurriculumshouldbededicatedtopuppyplaytime.Haveaplaypenhandyasyoumayneedit!
Rulesforoffleadplay:• Forsafetyandcontrolwerecommendonly2puppiesoffleadatatime!• Ifyouhavealargersizedarea,thenyoucanletallow4,butmustmaintaincontrol• Pairuppuppiesbasedonsize,temperamentandplayingstyles• Gentle,largerpuppiescanplaywithsmallerpuppies• Keepboisterousawayfromshy/fearfulpuppies• Createplaypausesevery30-40secondsorsoifnotoccurringnaturally• Usedistracterslikesqueakytoys,whistles,Kongs,ballsetctointerruptplayorgetpuppy’s
attentionawayfromanother• Allowplayfor1–2minsthenputbackonleadandallowanotherlotofpuppies• ThosenotplayingshouldbeengagingineithertrainingorotheractivitylikeMotivational
playwiththeirowners.
Playtimewithdistracters/interrupters• Focustowardsotherpuppiescanbeminimisedwiththeuseofdistractors/interrupterssuchas:• Poolofballs• Recallexercises• Playtimewithowners• ToyslikeKongsoranyotherfooddispensingitems• Obedienceexercises
PUPPYSCHOOLINSTRUCTOR’SCOURSE
PoolandBallsorotherobstacles• Clamshell children’s pools filled with plastic, coloured balls or empty water bottles makes an
excellentdistracterduringplaytime.• Allowonly2puppiesoff leadatatimeandplaceimmediatelyintoeachpool. Dropinhandfulof
dry treats so that the puppies become interesting in foraging around the balls to find the foodtreats
• Teachingpuppies touse theirnoses to searchand find items isoneof thebest formsofmentalstimulationyoucanprovideadogwith.
• Continuetodroptreatsintothepoolsasthepuppiesforagearound.• Keepthesessionshort,callpuppiesbacktotheirownersandchooseanother2puppies.• Dependingonspace,youcanalsouseagilitytunnels,differentsurfaces(rough,smoothandwonky)
andyoucanevenintroducesmallobstacles,hollowedboxesorpuppysee-sawsetctotheequation.Thiswillenticeownerstointeractwiththeirpuppiesbymeansofluring/enticingpuppiesoverandthroughtheobstacles.
RecallexercisesDependingonthesizeofthearea,youcanuseanobedienceexercisesuchasaRecall(comewhencalled) as an interrupter during playtime. This is a great way of teaching puppies to recall toownersforahighreward…butthebestrewardofallistogobacktoplayingwiththeotherpuppies.
Howtoexecute:• Allpuppiesmustremainonleadandaresplitintogroupsaccordingtotemperamentandsize• Instructortogivealltherulesofplaytotheownersbeforecommencing:• Puppiesnowallowedtoplayandinvestigateeachotherforshortbursts• Arecall (cometoowner) followedbya funmotivationalgameegtugtobeusedto interrupt
theplayandfocusthepup’sattentionbackontheownerforashortwhile.• Afterabriefplaysessionwithowner,pupscanbeallowedbacktoplaywiththegroup• Constantinterruptersensurethatplaydoesnotbecomeover-excitableand/ortoorough.• Itkeepsagoodbalanceofinterestbetweentheownerandtheotherpuppiesandcanassistso
thatthepuppydoesnotplacethehighervaluesolelyonbeingwiththeotherpuppies.
Rulesü Bulliesgetpromptlyremoved immediatelywithoutanynegotiation. Timeoutfor5orso
seconds.Thishappenseachtime.ü FearfulpuppiesshouldNEVERbeforcedtomingleifitdoesn’twantto.Ownertostandto
the outer and allow puppy to watch. Reward puppy only for showing interest andinquisitiveness
ü Watchleadsdonotgettangledü Notensiononleads…tensiononleadscreateaggressionü Noliftingpuppieswiththeleads–canbeseenasthreateningbehaviourtoothers
PUPPYSCHOOLINSTRUCTOR’SCOURSE
MeetnGreetsAllowingpuppiestobrieflymeetandplayisveryimportant.MeetnGreetsareagreatwaytoallowcontrolledmeetingandsafeinteraction.Howtoexecute….
• Splitthepuppiesupinto2groupsandlineeachgroupatoppositeendsfacingeachother• Puppiesshouldbeheldinacontrolledsitinfrontofthehandler.Eghandingholdingonto
puppyandnotallowingthemattheendofthelead• Eachhandlermustwaituntiltheirpuppyiscalmandsittingthentheycanaskeachotherif
theirpuppiesareokaytomeet• Handlers calmly release the puppies where they can have some time playing and
interactingtogether• Afterafewseconds(say15to20secs),handlersrecallthepuppiesaway• Exerciseisrepeatedandyoucanevenswapthepuppiesaroundsothattheygettomeet
andplaywithotherpuppies.Rulesü Bulliesgetpromptlyremoved immediatelywithoutanynegotiation. Timeoutfor5orso
seconds.Thishappenseachtime.ü FearfulpuppiesshouldNEVERbeforcedtomingleifitdoesn’twantto.Ownertostandto
the outer and allow puppy to watch. Reward puppy only for showing interest andinquisitiveness
ü Watchleadsdonotgettangledü Notensiononleads…tensiononleadscreateaggressionü Noliftingpuppieswiththeleads–canbeseenasthreateningbehaviourtoothers
Motivationalplay• Puppyplacesahighervalueonplayingwiththeirowners,ratherthanfocussingonwhateveris
goingonaroundthem• Greattechniqueforpuppiestoconditiontheeventofthunderstormstomeanagreatgameis
coming• Ensurepuppiesarekeptoccupiedbythetuggameandownersmakeitreallyfun• Tugisateamsportandpuppiesloveit• Channelshighpredatorydriveintotuggame,givesthedriveanoutlet• Use Motivational Play and other games to make the item or sound you are exposing the
puppiestoinconsequentialtothem.• It’sinthebackgroundandthereforenothingtoworryabout!
PUPPYSCHOOLINSTRUCTOR’SCOURSE
Exposure‘Theactofsubjecting,oraninstanceofbeingsubjectedto,anactionoraninfluence.’Exposure is to introducenewandnovel items, situationsor items to thedogso that itbecomes familiarwiththem.Thereare3waystoexposepuppiestovariousitems:
1. Mildflooding2. Gradualintroductionwhilstdistracted3. Inconsequentialandinthebackground
MildFlooding• Mild flooding requires the item to be presented to the puppies so that they can see it and
investigateitiftheywish.• Theitemdoesnotgoawayandthereforethepuppiesmustlearntocopewithit’spresence• Floodingshouldnotbedonewithitemsthatsuddenlymoveormakeloudnoises• Okaytousewiththingslikenewfurniture,astationaryitemofanysort
Gradualintroductionwhilstdistracted1. In this occasionwe place the item away from the puppies so they can see it/hear it from a
distanceonly2. Goodideatodistractpuppieswithanactivityortoyetc3. Graduallybringtheitemclosertothegroup,preferablytotheoutsideofthegroupfirst.4. Allowpuppiestoadjusttotheitembehindthem,thenagaingraduallybringtheitemintothe
group.Turnoffanymotorsatthisstageifanypuppyisshowingsomesignsoffear.5. Allowpuppiestoinvestigatetheitem.Placefoodaroundorontheitemifsafetodoso(watch
forhotmotorsetc)
Inconsequentialandinthebackground• Idealifyouhavealargeareatoworkwith• Puppywon’tnecessarilyengagewiththeitem• Startwithownersengaginginagamewiththeirpuppies.MotivationalPlay(tug)isagoodone,
ifno,thenjustplayingisokay• Itemsmovedaroundandthroughthepuppiesastheirattentioniskeptawayfromtheitems.• Keepanymotoriseditemsatadistanceinitially,especiallyifturnedon• Puppiesarekeptdistractedbytheirownersorplayingwithotherpuppies• Youcanthenlayallitemsdownforpuppiestoinvestigateifyouwantbutnotnecessary
PUPPYSCHOOLINSTRUCTOR’SCOURSE
Experiences‘Activeparticipationineventsoractivities,leadingtoaccumulationofknowledgeorskill”Experienceisallowingthedogtoparticipateinvariousnegotiatingandproblemsolvingactivitiestoaidinknowledgeandskilldevelopment.Experiencesalsoaidsinconfidencebuildingandtrainability.Differenttypesofexperiencesyoucansetup
• Walkingondifferentsurfaceso Purchasesomeplanksofwoodandcover themwithdifferentsurfaces to includecarpet,
rubber,non-slippaintandanyvariationofsurfaceyoucanfind
• Negotiatinganobstaclecourseo Small size agility equipment is excellent. Can include steps, ramps, small jumps, tunnels,
sandpits,unsteadysurfaces
• Poolofballso Findingthefoodandhavingtheplasticballsaroundtheirpaws
• Crates
o Encouragepuppiestogointoacrate.Explainthebenefitsofcratetraininganduseafunactivitytoencouragelearning.
• Heights
o Use ramps or other elevated areas and encourage the pup towalk up (must be safe ofcourse)
• Tactile(touch)
o Puppiesshouldbeusedtotouchandbodyexaminations.Setupamockvetvisitcompletedwithstethoscope,and/orencourageownerstoexamineandtouchtheirownpuppies.
Snuffleareas:Snuffleareasaresetupareasthatcontainaheapofinterestingandinteractiveitemsforpuppiestosmell,investigateandplaywith.Researchshowsthatdogsthatareallowedtoinvestigatetheenvironmenttendtocalmdowneasier.Snuffleareasarealsogreatforcreatingamilddistractionforthepuppyanddecreasethehighlevelsofarousalassociatedwithenteringthepuppytrainingarea.WehighlyrecommendedsettingupaSnuffleareaaroundthemainpuppyclassareaandalsosomeitemsaroundtheentrance.Dependingonwhereyourunyourclasses,theseareascanbebothinsideandoutsidethetrainingarea.Awakenthepup’ssensorycapacityandinvestigativenaturebyprovidingthingslike:
• Snufflemats• Puppypuzzlegames(afewNinaOttossonpuzzlesscatteredaroundtheplace,closetoentrance)• Itemswithscent(toys,shoes,emptybottles,clothing,Kongtoys,anythingwithasmell)• Playpens(withanyoftheaboveinside)forshyorfearfulpuppies• Poolofballs(moreonthislater)• Differentsurfacesandlittleobstacles• Playsoundsinthebackground
PUPPYSCHOOLINSTRUCTOR’SCOURSEThosethathaveusedthisapproachreportthatpuppiesaremuchcalmerwhentheyenterthetrainingarea,pulling/straining to get to theotherpuppy is reducedandevenpuppies thatwere a little reactivewerenoticedtobecalmer.
Encourage owners to download a sounds and noises app that can be used at home to help desensitise the puppies to various sounds
Sound Proof Puppy Training Or
Soundscary www.dogstrust.org.uk
PUPPYSCHOOLINSTRUCTOR’SCOURSE
ManagingProblemPuppiesAnypuppypreschoolclasswillalwayshaveoneormorepuppiesthatmayexhibitproblematicbehavioursorevenbehaviouralproblemsinyourclass.A‘problem’puppyisonethatshowsanyofthefollowingbehaviours:• “Overthetop”playingexample:veryrough,almostfranticplay• Growly,barkingand/oraggression• Predatorybehaviours• ExtremelyshyandfearfulThisiswhenyouwillneedtoadjustyourcurriculumtoensurethesafetyofallyourclassparticipantsatalltimes.Earlyandcorrectinterventioniscrucialtohelpthispuppylearnwhatisacceptableandwhatisnot,afterallthisisnodifferenttopre-schoolforahumanchild.
UnderstandplayingstylesNotallpuppiesplayinthesamemannerwithdifferentbreedshavingdifferentstylesofplayingwhichmayclash.Someexamplesof‘breedspecific’playingstylesmaybe:
• Labradors–usuallyverybouncyand‘inyourface’whenplaying• Workingdogs–maystalk,chaseand‘roundup’otherpuppies• Bullbreeds–mayplayrough(lotsofhip/shouldersandmouthing)• PoodlesandMaltese–maybealittleneuroticduringplay–lotsofrollingaroundandchasing
Roughplayingstylesofsomepuppies:Somebreeds (Bullbreeds,Labradors)andalso individualpersonality typesmaynaturallyplayveryroughcomparedtootherbreedsorindividuals.Mis-matchedplayingstylescancauseinjuriesandfearissuestootherpuppiesduetotraumaifcareisnottaken tomatch themcorrectly. The roughplayingpuppies shouldonlyplaywithotherpuppiesof sameplaying style, but ideally theplay among thesepuppies should includean interrupter item suchasballs,toysand/orobedienceexercises.
BullyingoraggressivepuppiesThere are a number of reasons why some puppies can bully other puppies or even become aggressivetowardsthem.Someofthereasonsmaybe:• Roughplaywithotherolderdogsathomeoratthepark–pupmimicsolderdog’sactionsandplaying
style• Badexperiencewithotherdogs• Genetics• Breedrelated• Puppyhasneverbeendisciplinedforthistypeofplaybymother,littermatesorotherdogs• Puppydoesnot taketodisciplinewell ifbeingreprimandedbyanotherdog– thiscansometimesbe
duetobeingtakenawayfromlittertooearly• Puppylearnedthatbullyingworks
PUPPYSCHOOLINSTRUCTOR’SCOURSE
Managingbullyingoraggressivepuppiesinclass:Keepingallpuppiessafeinyourclassisparamount,thereforeagoodpuppyinstructorwillunderstandtheneedforpropermanagementofpuppiesthatarebulliesoraggressive.• Keepextremelyaggressivepuppiesonlead
o Forthesafetyofalloftheotherpuppies,keepthesepuppiesontheleadandgivetheownerssomeotherexercisestokeepthepupsdistracted.
• Givethepuppyachance
o Givetheproblempuppytheopportunityof learningcorrectplaybyallowing it toplaywitharelaxed/confidenttypeofpuppyandonlyifsafetodoso!
When a pup’s behaviour becomes unacceptable it must be removed from the play immediately andwithoutnegotiation. It’sadvisabletosetandadvisetherulesclearlytotheownersbeforeyouallowthepupstoplay.Thefollowingbehavioursshouldnotbetolerated:
• Standingoveranotherpuppy• Eyeballing(coldstare)• Humping• Growling• Bitinghard
Once removed thepupcaneitherbeplaced inaplaypenor returned toowner toallow to calmdown.Oncepuphascalmeddown,youcanreinstateintotheplaybutwatchintentlyforrecurringbehaviour.Thisprocesswillneedtoberepeatedanumberoftimesforthepuptobecomeawareoftheconsequencesofhisroughplay.Puppiesthatareeithertooroughinplay,aggressiveorhavebeenremovedfromthegroupastimeoutcanbekeptbusybyanyofthefollowingmeans:
o Kongsorfooddispensingtoyso Obedienceexerciseso Snuffleareas
Useanadultdog!Thebestdogtrainersareotherdogssoifpossibleusingwelltrainedandwellsocialisedadultdoginyourclasscangreatlyassistwithproblempups.Ifyouareusinganadultdoginyourclassit’simperativetoonlyallow1puptointeractwiththeadultdogatatimesoyoudon’toverwhelmtheadultdog.Mostadultdogsareverygoodatteachingobnoxiouspuppiessomemannersbutonlyusesafe,welltrainedandsocialisedadultdogsthathaveagoodtrackrecordwithpuppies.Ifindoubt,donotuse!For extremely aggressive puppies,we highly recommend the owner seeks the assistance of a reputabletrainerasap!
PUPPYSCHOOLINSTRUCTOR’SCOURSE
Fearful/shypuppiesWhetherduetogenetics,badbreedingandnerves,badexperienceorineffectivehandlingbytheowners,thesefearful/shypuppiesarethetickingtimebombsofyourclass.A fearful puppy can very quickly turn into an aggression puppy if cornered or pushed to far. Fearaggressionisalmostalwayscreatedwhensituationswiththesepuppiesarenotmanagedwellbythepuppyschoolinstructorandcanbethe‘makeorbreak’forthatpuppy,sometimesforthetermofitslife.Fearfulpuppies:
• Willavoidinteractionwithotherpuppiesandsometimespeopleaswell• Willnotinstigateinteractionwithotherpuppiesorpeople• Usuallyalwaysremainclosetotheirownersevenwhenofflead• Willnotshowanyinvestigativebehaviours• Maynottakefoodtreats,makingteachingofobedienceverydifficult• Shownointerestinplayingwithtoysoritems• Mayhideunderchairsortablesduringpuppyplaytimeorifotherpuppiescomeupclose• Maygrowlifitfeelscornered/trapped
Howtohandleafearfulpuppy?Youmusttakeimmediateactionstohelpbuildthepuppy’sconfidenceby:• Onlyallowingonegentlepuppytobeoffleadatthesametime,ORforseverefear,allowthepuppyoff
theleadbyhimself.Allotherpuppiestoremainrestrainedonleads.• Donotallowpuppytohideunderchairsortablesasthiscausesmoreissues.Encouragethepuppyto
stayout• Keepotherpuppiesawayfromthefearfulpuppy• Useaplaypentokeepthispuppyinduringplaytimesessions• Reward any inquisitive behaviours like “sniffing the air” or reaching forward to investigate another
puppy.Thisisacrucialsteptoconfidencebuilding!A fearful puppy requires loads of very controlled exposure and careful interaction beyond a puppypreschool,thereforedoencourageownerstocontinuewiththeexposureandtrainingafterpuppyschoolends.Alsorecommendtheownersseekaqualifiedtrainerorbehaviouristtoassistwiththis.SetupsnuffleareaandencourageinvestigationEncouragingandallowing investigationisagreatwayof increasingafearfulpup’sconfidencelevelanditalsoopensupthepup’smindtoinquisitivenessandlearningwhichareallveryhelpfultobuildconfidence.Foranyfearfulorshypup,thefollowingscenarioshouldbesetupjustbeforetheendoftheclasswhenalloftheotherpuppiesaretiredandaremucheasilyrelaxedandcontrolledbytheirowners.
Soleinvestigationusingsnufflearea
• Setupthesnuffleareaasdiscussedearlierinthemiddleoftheroom• Allotherownersmusthavetheirpuppiesonleadandinacontrolledhold,nolungingforward• When all other pups are safely under control, allow the fearful pup off lead on its own to
investigatethesnuffleareaifitwantsto• Iffearfulpupgoesupforasniffofanotherpuppy,thisshouldbeencouragedandtheotherpuppy
mustbeheldsecurelyatthistimesothefearfulpuppycancomeawayquicklyifitwantsto• Thisonlyworksifallotherpuppiesareundertightestofcontrol• Allowthefearfulpuppytoinvestigateforafewminutesthenbacktotheowner
Repeatthisscenarioeachweekbutmustbedonepriortoendoftheclass
PUPPYSCHOOLINSTRUCTOR’SCOURSE
Ifapuppybecomesfrightenedbyanythingintheclass,orifanotherpuppyhastrampledthepup,pleaseinstructtheownerstodothefollowing:
1. FirstlySTAYCALM!!2. Pickupthepuppyandcheckforwounds3. Ifpuppyiscrying,ownercancontinuetocalmlyholdandgentlymassagethepuppyuntil itcalms
down.T/touchormassageisagreatwayforhelpingpupcalmdown4. Thereshouldbenopanicactionfromanyone• Instructormusttakeimmediatecontroloftheclassbyaskingthatallpuppiesareputbackonlead
andhaveotherownersworkonanobedienceexercisewiththeirpups• Oncethefrightenedpuppyhascalmeddown,ownermustputitbackdownagain• Ifpossible,trytohavethepuppyinteractwithacalmpuppyimmediately,butdon’tpushiteither
Thefirst,andverynaturalreactionofanypuppyownerwhosepuppyhasjustbeenfrightenedistopickitupandconsoleit.Thereisnothingwrongwiththisasit’sthemammalianway…andwearemammalsafterall.Themostimportantaspecthereisthetypeofconsolingthatisundertakenandit’srecommendedthata calm approach, alongwith gentle and reassuring touch or hold is the best approach in this situation,whichassistsincalmingbothpuppyandowneratthesametime.WerecommendlearningtheTellingtonTouch(T-Touch)techniquewhich isgreatforrelaxingdogsand isinstrumentalinassistingstressedoranxiousdog.Websiteis:www.ttouchaustralia.com.au