Your New Puppy

AKC PARENT BREED CLUB FOR THE ENTLEBUCHER MOUNTAIN DOG

Your New Puppy

1. Buy a crate for short term confinement which will aid in housetraining and be a safe place when the pup
cannot be supervised.

2.   Provide a space for long-term confinement which will contain a comfortable bed or crate, water bowl, plenty of
      chew toys filled with kibble or treats and a doggie toilet. This could be a laundry or utility room, a portion of the
     kitchen, or an area contained within an X-pen or other gated off area.

3. Purchase a martingale collar (Premier has a good one) and a leash (leather or nylon) Retractable leashes are
not recommended until dogs learn not to pull.

4.   Locate a training center that uses positive reinforcement methods, including clicker training. Sit in on some
      classes, puppy and advanced before signing up. Puppy classes should include time for socialization and
      advanced classes should have well-behaved happy dogs.

5. Locate a pet store that sells high-quality premium dog foods. Learn how to read ingredient labels so you buy
the best for the health of your puppy.

6. Socialization should begin immediately and is of the greatest importance

a. Puppy class will teach bite inhibition and introduce the pup to lots of different breeds.

b. Invite all your friends to meet the puppy which will help train it and teach it to take food gently. Have plenty of yummy treats available.

c. Carry the puppy into large pet stores to meet lots of different people of all ages and sizes.

d. Introduce the puppy to your children's friends and invite neighborhood children over.

e. Take the puppy with you to meet lots of people. Drink your coffee outdoors at Starbucks.

Thyme in the flowers

7. Read Ian Dunbar's After You Get Your Puppy for great advice on housetraining, socialization, handling and
gentling your puppy and bite inhibition.

8.   Purchase a minimum of 6 chew toys to stuff with kibble & healthy treats. (Kong products, biscuit balls/cubes,
      sterilized long bones) Don't buy the puppy a food bowl until it is well-socialized, well-trained, and has
      impeccable household manners. Instead, in the morning measure out the daily ration and feed throughout the
      day in the chew toys or hand fed during training and socialization.

Training Tips

Entlebucher puppies playing tug

1. Enroll your puppy in Puppy Classes at 10 wks of age

2. Teach your puppy that his name means wonderful
things will happen.

a. Begin by saying his name and giving a treat. Name-Treat.(which should be yummy meat-such as chicken, beef liver or heart cooked and cut into pea sized pieces) Repeat 10 times a session with many sessions in a day.

b. When he is in the same room with you but not looking, say his name only once. If he turns to look or comes to you, say Yes and offer a treat. If he doesn't turn to look at you or come, go back to step 1.

c. When step 2 is mastered and the puppy is coming to you every time he hears his name, call the pup's name when he is in another room. He should come running to you. If not, go back to step 2. Only call his name once.

d. Remember never to use your dog's name for things he does not like, such as toe nail clipping, baths or grooming, medications, etc. Instead, go and get him.

e. Do use his name for things he does like (coming for dinner, going for a walk, playing game of fetch, a ride in the car).

3.   Learn how to teach your pup to sit by luring (taught in puppy class) and practice often every day. He must
      always sit first before being petted, getting his chew bones or toys, going outside, being fed his meals or
      anything else he wants. If he doesn't sit….he doesn't get it. It should become a default behavior so that every
      time you walk up to the puppy or he comes up to you, he will sit.

4.   Jumping up on you---don't reward it. NEVER touch him, talk to him, make eye contact or acknowledge his
      existence in any way if he jumps on you. Look or turn away and turn to stone. Only, when he sits will he be
      rewarded. YES, good puppy, food reward and treats.

5.   Pulling on the leash---never reward a puppy for pulling on the leash by walking forward. If you feel tension
      on the leash, make like a tree and wait for the puppy to turn toward you, say YES and offer a food reward
      and wait for the puppy to come to you to get it. Reward often for keeping a loose leash. You can also back
      up which will bring the puppy around to face you or turn and walk in the opposite direction and reward when
      the pup catches up. All three methods will teach the puppy that he cannot continue to go in the direction that
      he wants if he pulls on the leash.

Words of Wisdom

1. NEVER leave a puppy unsupervised. If you are
     busy doing other things, put the puppy in his
     crate, his area for long-term confinement or tie
     him to you to keep him close.

2.  Pups become destructive when they are bored or
     lack supervision so provide plenty of chew toys
     and educational toys to keep him busy and
     entertained

3. Providing stuffed chew toys or bones teaches
the pup what is okay to chew on, how to settle
down and prevents barking.

4.  A word about Alpha Roll-overs---DON'T DO IT!! It will scare the puppy and undermine his trust and respect
     for you. If the puppy struggles violently when you try to hold it, take its collar in one hand and hold the p
     puppy firmly against your abdomen with your other hand on its tummy and paws facing away from you.
     Stroke the ears and occipital bones on the head with the fingers of the one hand and stroke the tummy with
     the fingertips of the other. Talk soothingly to the pup. As soon as the pup calms down, praise him an
     release him after a few seconds. If you have trouble getting the pup to calm down and enjoy being hugged
     after a day or two of practice. Get help from a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT) This is a Red Flag and you
     need help.

Contributed by Teri Beeman when Training Chair of NEMDA