By Fran Jewell
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. This is true for both socialization and learning life skills and nice manners. What you expose a puppy to at this age will last its lifetime, especially learning how to respect you as a leader. That also goes for things we don’t like, including jumping on people and biting. It is critical to make no jumping and no biting clear to your puppy during this time.
Right now I am working on teaching Kalidor to accept the everyday important things in life. He needs to learn that restraint is not a bad thing. If he has to have medical care, he needs to be able to accept being restrained; if he doesn’t, then the visit becomes very unhappy and scary for him. At this time, I am teaching him to be held by me in a “puppy hug.” I hold him close, and firmly. When he wiggles and tries to get down, I hold just a little firmer so he cannot get down. When he relaxes, I relax and pet him, love him and then let him down. I want him to know that relaxing means lots of love and good things.
Once Kalidor accepts some loving restraint, I start touching him everywhere; in his ears, his paws and between his toes, his tail, even inside his mouth. When he accepts it nicely, I give him lots of special food. I often like to give him cream cheese off my finger when he does this well. It’s very helpful to have someone else to help. My helper can give him cream cheese from a squeeze tube or off their finger, while I do the touching. Then, I graduate to trimming his nails with a nail Dremel. My favorite is a Dremel grinder because I can get the job done very quickly and don’t risk cutting the quick of the nail as easily as clippers. All this time, Kalidor is getting this incredibly special cream cheese treat! Nail trimming now becomes something he looks forward to.
When I start nail trimming at this young age, I have NEVER had any of my puppies resist or fear having their nails trimmed. What a relief! And, none of my puppies has ever feared being restrained for medical attention.
Fran Jewell is an IAABC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, NADOI Certified Instructor and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC in Sun Valley. For more information, visit positivepuppy.com or call 208-578-1565.