Puppy Rearing Tips

These tips are for the puppy ACD or young ACD and their new owners. These are tips I try to remember and put into practice. Training and being the leader is hard to do when you are tired and have no time. Take care of yourself physically and emotionally first. If the dog is taking care of you, guess who is in charge? Observe your relationship with your ACD to find out what behavior you are rewarding especially if you do not like the behavior you are getting during training.

ACDs tend to be dominant because they are very intelligent, clever, brave, and resourceful which means they are good at getting their way. They are also watching you and working out their relationship with you. Way before their brains have matured and they have adult control of their actions, they are struggling to be "pack leader." Be smarter than your ACD.

You must act like a leader. Being alpha does not always mean doing an alpha role. It means that you are the leader, the most fun, in control, and the smartest. Make your dog earn privileges. Keep some favorite toys that only you control access to. Petting, playing, eating, and snuggling. He should sit or down or stand pretty to get attention. Putting your puppy on its back and gently holding until it submits is a good way to establish yourself. There are simple ways to show your dog that you are in charge that will make training sessions fun rather than a battle.

You can play games with a puppy or young dog that make training fun for an intelligent, creative and easily bored ACD. When your dog is in another room, call your dog. If he comes, explode with lots of fun rewards. Roll on floor. Give treats. Throw the ball and do whatever excites your dog with pleasure. If you dog does not come, then show them you had something really great and then completely ignore the dog. An ACD will understand that they missed out. Hide and seek and other "come" games do not make a rock solid return. The games build the foundation and reinforce that paying attention to you is important.

Don't call your dog to punish them. (unintentional negative association) Don't call your dog to do something they hate, like nail clipping. Yes, you have the right to clip their nails, flea spray or whatever. Just do something else and then, while they are there, clip. Never chase your dog yelling "come." Teach "come" when you are in control of ACD.

Games: You will teach your ACD who is the smartest, fastest and strongest by the way you play games. Make sure you win and that the games are played with you in control, not your dog. One of my ACDs loves to be chased. So I decide when and where I will play chase. I use a play voice and say, "I'm going to get that puppy" (not come) and exaggerated clapping. While he is still enjoying the game, I stop playing. I tell him he is a good boy and do something else. The other ACD enjoys tug-of-war. Fortunately, this one is under 40 lbs so I am stronger. I control the tug-of-war toy, the time and the place.

Peggy Jennings