Large dogs need early training
Article Source: edmondsun.com
Article by: Kathy Toppins
EDMOND — In the past few weeks, cute puppy faces have nuzzled visitors through kennel doors at the Edmond Animal Shelter. All the puppies that have been available will grow into big dogs. Two of the puppies, possibly Anatolian Shepherd and Great Pyrenees mixes, are now in foster care and may be seen by appointment. They may eventually weigh 100 to 125 pounds.
Shelter employees take time to educate visitors interested in adopting the puppies about their breed traits and need for training. Anyone who adopts a puppy, especially one that will grow into a large, herding dog, will need to begin obedience training right away.
“A cute face will get a puppy a home. Training will allow the puppy to keep its home,” said Lynn Cherry, a German Shepherd owner and co-founder of Paws for Life Inc.
Early training is especially important for puppies that are growing quickly.
“You need to start training when the puppy is 6 weeks old,” Cherry said. “Puppies at 6 weeks can learn ‘sit’ and ‘down.’ If you haven’t started training by 3 or 4 months, you’re behind. You can pick up and maneuver a large-breed dog for only about four months. By the time a dog is a year old, he’ll be at his full weight,” Cherry said.
Training is easy. “It’s really just repetition with a dog. If you spend 15 minutes a day training your dog, you can have a great dog,” Cherry said. “There’s nothing harsh or mean about asking a dog to listen and mind. We all have to do that. It’s not fun to have a dog that jumps on you, your friends and your furniture. It is fun to have a best friend dog you can take anywhere because he’s obedient and trained.”
Cherry recommends connecting with other owners of large-breed dogs.
“Dog people are wonderful people,” Cherry said. “They will help new dog owners get off to a good start and advance in their training.”
She also stressed the importance of exercising dogs.
“A 30-minute brisk walk every day is good for the person and good for the dog,” Cherry said. “Knowing my dogs need a walk encourages me to get up every morning and get some exercise with them.”
Cherry assures puppy owners that if they spend time with their puppies, take their puppies to obedience classes and do the homework, they’ll have a good dog by age 2.
“Good behavior kind of clicks when a dog is 2. The dog settles down, and some of the puppy problems stop. If you can make it until the dog is 2, you’ll have a good dog for the rest of his life.”
Tags: dog training