Food On Floor

Reminders:   Zoos are fun for people, but not appropriate for CCI puppies.  If you are going to a zoo, please leave the CCI puppy at home.  There is no need to expose the puppy to zoo animals.   CCI instructors have seen and been told stories of puppies reacting fearfully to the sight or sounds of certain zoo animals.  It is not worth exposing the puppy to something that has no relevance in everyday life that has the potential to leave a lasting fear, and possibly reinforce inappropriate behaviors. 

Puppy Training Challenge:   Can the CCI puppy walk over food and maintain focus on the handler?  Does the CCI puppy get distracted by toys?

Puppy Raising Tip:  "Food, Food, everywhere, and not a drop to eat"

CCI puppies should be able to be calm and focused around food and toys.  CCI puppies should never grab for or be distracted by something enticing on the ground.  CCI puppies should learn that food and toys can be in their environment and that they can still maintain control and focus on the handler.

Please watch the video of a young puppy being reinforced for appropriate behavior while in a distracting environment. 

This puppy raiser is still using food to reinforce attention and to maintain control.  At first lots of food is necessary to reinforce appropriate behavior.  As the puppy learns and begins to understand to leave objects on the food alone, the puppy raiser can begin to wean off treats.  Once the puppy understands not to eat off the floor correction is then implemented. 

The expectation for an assistance dogs is that they understand that toys and food on the floor are not a reason to be distracted.  Food and toys can be in the dog's environment and they can maintain attention on their handler.

Remember the command "leave" is no longer a CCI command.  If a puppy is doing something in appropriate, like snatching a treat off the floor, you simply say "NO" and correct.   If the puppy you are raising continues to be distracted by toys, dogs, and food, please contact CCI.

Happy Training,

Suzanne Sliclen
Puppy Program Manager

Easter 2012

Reminder: Chocolate is toxic to dogs. Please make sure all Easter baskets are out of reach of any roaming CCI puppy.

IPOD, IPHONE, Smart Phone users: During Advanced Training, puppy raisers are updated monthly on the progress of the dog. This report is emailed using a PDF file. For many who have an iPhone, iPod, iPad, or other smart phone- many of these devices have an option to open the file directly from the email. Unfortunately, trying to view a writable document only lets the user view the original form (blank). Downloading an application that allows PDF files to be viewed will be necessary.

If you are having difficulty opening a PDF document on your smart phone, there are applications that are available to download like "PDF Reader Lite" made by "Kdan Mobile Software LTD" or "Dropbox" (these apps are FREE).  These applications will allow you to be able to easily view emailed PDF writable files on your smart phone or other device.

Puppy Training Challenge: Have fun this Easter with an Easter egg hunt. As you collect your eggs, each time you stop, have the puppy sit. The puppy must remain sitting, without sniffing you or offering to shake, each time you bend down to pick up the Easter egg.

You might be surprised that when you are at eye level with the dog they may want to break position.  Regardless of what position you are in, the CCI puppy must learn to remain in position without soliciting attention.

CCI Puppy Raising Tip:  "Good Ol Play"

Playing with the CCI puppy should be fun and simple.  Playing fetch with a CCI puppy doesn't need to be made complicated with commands.  Playing simply entails telling the dog release, letting the dog run after the toy,  and then the dog returning the item to your hand.   Commands like fetch are not important.  CCI does not want the command "get" to be used.  "Get" is an Advanced Training command that has specific rules.  Puppy raiser should avoid this word. 

Some CCI puppies are not natural retrievers or they don't have much stamina.  This is okay.  However, trying to teach a play retrieve is highly encouraged.  Please only use dog toys.

The rules:

1. No commands are necessary other than the command "release."
2. Throw the ball and encourage the puppy to return to you.
3. Have the puppy deliver the toy to your hand.
4. If the puppy drops the toy, encourage the puppy to pick it up.  (example: where's your toy.)
5. If the puppy repeatedly drops the toy, the game ends. 
6. Regardless of how a puppy raiser plays with the puppy, the interaction should be started and ended by the handler. 
7. In all CCI training, the handler makes the rules, not the puppy. 

Problem Solving:

• Puppies that play keep away should be put on leash.
• A leash and treats can be used to reinforce and teach the puppy to come to the handler.
• Puppy raisers should use treats or another toy to reward the puppy for releasing the toy to the handler's hand.   Treats should be weaned away once the puppy understands any behaviors that are taught.
• For puppies that are new to this game or have limited retrieving instinct, puppy raisers should throw the toy a short distance. 
• Play sessions should be short with puppies that don't have much stamina.  Play time can be increased slowly.

View the video below for how playing ball with the CCI puppy should look.

Following these simple guidelines to playing with the CCI puppy will limit the amount of behavioral issues that have the potential to develop.  Playing doesn't have to be complicated, but as with everything, there must be rules.  If the CCI puppy is having difficulty returning or releasing the item to you, please contact CCI. 

Happy Training,

Suzanne Sliclen
Puppy Program Manager