Wow, I have my work cut out! We went to visit Oliver today. He's now seven weeks old and a little bundle of energy and wriggles. His personality is really coming out and he's inquisitive and bright which should help his training - if I can keep him still long enough! I'm sure the doggy treats will help and he does love play time so that will be a great reward. Wills had a lot more confidence with Oliver today and said he liked him jumping up at him (something we need to train out if he's going to make the grade as an
assist dog! My biggest challenge is going to be the fact that, right now, William and Oliver are two little boys who just want to play. Playing together will be great in helping them to bond but it will have to be something done in reward for a little bit of work too. I recently had a very interesting and important conversation with someone about training Oliver through young puppy stage and the central thing for him and William to succeed as a partnership is that Oliver has to be closest to William, there needs to be a special bond and he has to take the commands from him. The closeness I can see already. Oliver certainly responded well to Wills today, especially when he sang to him (with a bug stuck on his nose - singing and silly faces, two big ticks on the socialisation list). I can see I'm going to have to be creative in finding ways to engage the boys in training together, although I know the reward of having Oliver do what he is asking and be able to give him treats will be reward enough for William and I hope seeing his little master so pleased with him will be reward enough for Oliver. The story wouldn't be so interesting if both of them were completely docile and complacent. What I have here are two little bundles of wriggles, both of them intelligent enough and tuned together enough to succeed very well with the training but both of them spirited and playful enough to mean there will be some tough times ahead. It will certainly make this story more entertaining. I can't wait to get Oliver home and get started.
Wow, I have my work cut out! We went to visit Oliver today. He's now seven weeks old and a little bundle of energy and wriggles. His personality is really coming out and he's inquisitive and bright which should help his training - if I can keep him still long enough! I'm sure the doggy treats will help and he does love play time so that will be a great reward. Wills had a lot more confidence with Oliver today and said he liked him jumping up at him (something we need to train out if he's going to make the grade as an
assist dog! My biggest challenge is going to be the fact that, right now, William and Oliver are two little boys who just want to play. Playing together will be great in helping them to bond but it will have to be something done in reward for a little bit of work too. I recently had a very interesting and important conversation with someone about training Oliver through young puppy stage and the central thing for him and William to succeed as a partnership is that Oliver has to be closest to William, there needs to be a special bond and he has to take the commands from him. The closeness I can see already. Oliver certainly responded well to Wills today, especially when he sang to him (with a bug stuck on his nose - singing and silly faces, two big ticks on the socialisation list). I can see I'm going to have to be creative in finding ways to engage the boys in training together, although I know the reward of having Oliver do what he is asking and be able to give him treats will be reward enough for William and I hope seeing his little master so pleased with him will be reward enough for Oliver. The story wouldn't be so interesting if both of them were completely docile and complacent. What I have here are two little bundles of wriggles, both of them intelligent enough and tuned together enough to succeed very well with the training but both of them spirited and playful enough to mean there will be some tough times ahead. It will certainly make this story more entertaining. I can't wait to get Oliver home and get started.
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