Kalidor has been going new places almost every day and meeting someone new every day. Socialization is so important, especially for a German Shepherd. This CONTROLLED socialization must occur very young, and hopefully before a puppy reaches 16 weeks of age. It should be with people and other friendly, adult dogs. All of these interactions happen on a loose leash. There is a critical imprinting period up to that 16 week marker.
Kalidor has learned his basic manners. He has not jumped on anyone since day two. I will not pet him or give him any reward for jumping up, EVER. He sits politely to go in or out a door including his crate. He has also stopped running through my legs. He almost tripped me many times the first 3 days. Imagine what would have happened had I allowed that behavior and he weighed 65 pounds! He would have knocked me over! I stopped the running between my legs by just gently squeezing my legs together so he couldn’t pass through.
Kalidor has been home almost a week. We have worked on house training by using a marker method and food to let him know that going outside is what I want. He has also learned that sitting by the door is how I open it. Now, when he has to go, he immediately goes and sits by the door! The other part of this is that Kalidor is not allowed to run free through the house unless I am just watching him or playing with him. When he is in the house, he is on a leash next to my chair whether I am watching TV or working on my computer.
Yup, that sweet, adorable, well mannered puppy you read about a few months ago is now smack dab in the middle of his “teenage terror!” This is the precocious age between 6 and 12 months old and Kalidor is now 8 months old! It’s the age when he is testing the rules and wonders if he really has to do what I tell him to do, and when he is exploring more of his world with the “grown up” confidence he has now developed!
So many people have asked me about Kalidor after having followed my articles about what I did with him week by week as a puppy. I was so elated that my series won an award with the Idaho Press Club last spring! He is just over a year old now and I thought an update might be interesting to those that still ask me about him. He has grown up to be a very handsome young man with a flowing, shiny long black coat. Many people don’t really know what breed he is, although in general, long coat German Shepherds, and especially long coat black German Shepherds are being found in more places.
“YELP!” Limp, Limp! Across the yard I see Kalidor limping after I hear that unordinary sound as my other dogs play gleefully in the backyard. A trip to the vet reveals he has a broken toe which translates to me four to six weeks of quiet and leash walking! I think to myself, “This is an 8 month old puppy full of himself, energy, and summer coming which is time for lots of hikes and outdoor learning!” I’ve been through sick dogs many times – knee surgeries, spays, neuters, gastropexy’s, torsion, broken leg, extraordinary complex surgeries that include a urinary tube, heart disease, to name a few conditions that have blessed my household over the years. All of them required keeping that precious doggie QUIET, regardless of their age. It is especially difficult for an energetic teenage puppy – Kalidor!
In the past 20 year, dog training has taken a dramatic change of direction. Much of it is definitely for the better! We once used very a militaristic approach to dog training. Most of training told the dog what NOT to do and letting him guess what he SHOULD be doing. Dogs worked out of fear of punishment instead of joy of reward. Now, the dog-training pendulum has shifted from all negative/punishment to only positive reinforcement. The change has been phenomenal. So many dogs are much happier.
I am from the world of competition dogs that also contribute to the community. For many years, all my dogs were involved in Search and Rescue, Pet Therapy, but also AKC, UKC and SV conformation, obedience, agility, sheep herding, and tracking. I felt that I owed it to my dogs to do something with them because of their talents. Not that I wish to toot my own horn here, but somewhere along the line I starting feeling like this was something I HAD to do!
A dog jumping on people is probably one of the easiest things to stop, unless you wait too long. It is a huge problem in my book because it is dangerous. Yes, dangerous. If someone has a hidden disability such as being on blood thinners, having balance issues, or is afraid of dogs, any dog large or small can hurt someone badly. If your jumping dog does hurt someone, you are the responsible party. Jumping is not friendly, it is not attention seeking, it is not cute as some might think.
More and more our American society is pushing anthropomorphism on our pets. It feels good to use a pretty harness because it is much more “humane” or we buy luxury beds for our pets that cost hundreds of dollars (then our dog chooses to sleep on the floor). Our pups have elevated car seats so they can see out the window. We even see costumes for every holiday on the planet. Dogs are pretty good sports, really, to put up with our fanaticism! Because they are good sports, we humans tend to think it’s alright.
AFTER AN EXTENDED MEDICAL LEAVE, I WILL BE RETURNING TO WORK MARCH 1st!
