Best Retriever puppy imprinting virtual packet

Puppy Imprinting Program

TRANSITIONING HOME - TIPS, TRICKS, & NEED TO KNOWS 

TRAINING EQUIPMENT

• Slip leash
• Treats (bil jac- found at Walmart in the freezer section)
• Kuranda Bed - used for place command

TEAM MENTALITY

 If your puppy stays focused on what you want, everything else will fall into place

• Attentive leash walking - remaining attentive to handler and not allowing tension on the leash.
• Eye contact 

TERMS TO APPLY

• Good - keep doing what you are doing
• No - change your behavior
• Quiet - use when barking/whining in crate or demanding attention 
• Off - no jumping on people or things
• Free - release word from commands

REWARDS

Puppies are all unique in how they respond to rewards! They have love languages just like people! We evaluated your puppy and determined his or her main love language(s). Use these to reward your puppy for positive behaviors when you get home! These may change as they get older. Timing in rewarding behavior is very important! 

• Treats - common for all puppies 
• Praise - understand your dog’s temperament and choose a good tone and energy level when praising 
• Petting - avoid belly rubs in “down” command
• Quality time 
• Retrieving/Toys - typically seen in older dogs

DISRESPECT

Disrespectful behaviors have not been tolerated in this program. Your puppy knows right from wrong on behaviors listed below. Correct timing with leash and verbal corrections are necessary to continue preventing disrespectful behaviors! However, remember to have balance and reward your puppy when they are offering respectful behaviors! 

• Jumping - reward when four feet on the floor
• Biting 
• Barking
• Leash pulling and biting - it is your puppy’s job to remain attentive to you when walking 
• Snatching treats - keep fist closed when treating until your puppy offers respectful behavior 
• Pawing - we recommend waiting to teach “shake” until later 
• Body checking 

AVOIDANCES

While avoidance behaviors can be seen in puppies, they are more commonly observed in older dogs. Keep an eye out for the avoidances listed below - ignoring is the most common for puppies. If they happen each time you give your puppy a command, it is an avoidance behavior! It is important to prevent them from becoming a habit. Ensure any command you give is obeyed. 

• Ignoring - most common for puppies 
• Peeing 
• Sniffing
• Scratching
• Leaning

COMMANDS

The following obedience commands are taught  command until being released, and they are not corrected for breaking a command (formal training is part of the Basic Obedience and Gundog Training programs). However, your puppy does have clarity in understanding these commands. It is now up to you to be consistent and hold high expectations! 

• Recall
• Here - recall all the way into heel swing
• Heel - be on handler’s left side 
• Sit 
• Down 
• Place - simplest command to extend at home for up to 1 hour at a time 

KEYS TO KEEPING THE TRAINING IN PLACE

Timing, consistency, and balance are the three most important keys to success in the transition home with your puppy! 

Timing 

• Rewards or corrections must be within 1.3 seconds.
• Dogs see in picture form rather than video form like humans. You must reward or correct their behavior as it is taking place. 

Consistency

• Follow through if you give a command. Be aware of the environment that you are in. If it is overstimulating for your puppy, then do not give a command unless you ensure they obey it.
• Keeping a long lead on your puppy when you get home gives you a way to correct for disrespectful and avoidance behaviors. 

Balance 

• It is important that your puppy receives both rewards and discipline from you. 
• If you find that you are constantly correcting and disciplining your puppy when you first get home, make sure that you find some scenarios to also offer one of the rewards - even if it is as simple as just sitting respectfully near you!  

DAILY ROUTINE

The most important thing your puppy has learned is respect and how to be a team player. 

Key to lifelong success is consistently reminding them of how to stay respectful. This is 24 hours a day.

In addition to respect, 10-15 minutes per day conditioning the commands that they learned while they were here is recommended. This is especially important in the first few days you are home so they do not revert back to their old behaviors. 

RESOURCES FOR HOME

We recommend that you use everything learned in this go home session to work with your puppy. Their behavior is environmental and relational! It is important that they realize your newly learned expectations. 

Your trainer is the BEST resource! Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions whether it is as soon as you get home or down the road. 

Listen to the podcast from Sporting Dog Talk that features Kristin Best for tips on dog behavior! Ask us for the link if you are interested! 

BEST RETRIEVERS TRAINING PROGRAMS

If you are interested in further training, please check out our other programs online and reach out to the office at (512) 409-8222 or info@bestretrievers.com to book! Please book in advance as we do have a waitlist for some of our programs! 

• Puppy Imprinting Program  (12-16 weeks old)
• Basic Obedience (6 months old)
• Gundog Training (6 months old)
• Advanced Gundog Training 
• Board & Train / Gundog Tune Up