A few days ago I introduced you to Alice. Today I want to talk a little about what her training is actually going to look like — because it’s pretty different from what I’ve done before.
If you’ve been through Performance Puppy ABCs over at the Agility Challenge, you know that course puts a strong emphasis on teaching behaviors. And it’s a good course! But my thinking has evolved a lot since then, and with Alice I’m taking a different approach from the start.
These days, I’m much less interested in rushing to behaviors, and much more interested in building what I think of as the TOOLS — the foundation that behaviors will eventually be built on. Things like:
- Verbal markers — conditioned reinforcers and punishers (good, yes, search, get it, strike…). Different markers for different situations, different reinforcers. Getting these solid early makes everything else easier later.
- Play, motivation, and engagement — developing a genuine desire to work with me, not just a dog that performs when food is present.
- Equipment habituation — harness, crate, ex pen, leash, place bed. And later, any other tools I might want to use. She’ll wear them long before they ever mean anything, so they’re just a normal part of life.
- Behavioral baselines — figuring out her thresholds, her food drive, her play drive, and how all of that shifts in different environments. This is what actually informs a training plan.
- Recalls, potty training, life skills.
- And what I’ll loosely call “socialization” — though that word doesn’t really capture what I mean. My goal isn’t a super social dog. My goal is a dog that’s neutral to other people and dogs, and can stay focused on her work regardless of the environment.
It’s a slower build on the surface, but it sets up everything that comes after so much better. I’m excited to show you what this looks like in practice with Alice.
It’s all going up in the Alice in Wonderland — Puppy Development Blog. If you’re already a member, you’ve got access to the whole thing.
If you’re NOT a member, I’ve set up a free 3-month preview so you can follow along for a while, by clicking HERE.
Puppy training is the most fun training, and I’m excited to start a puppy off a bit differently than I have in the past. Don’t miss out on following along!
Yours,
Daisy
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