Happy Thanksgiving

Reminder:  I will be out of the office  starting Wednesday, November 21, 2012 and will be returning to the office on Monday, November 26, 2012.   CCI will be closed Thanksgiving day and Friday, November 23 in observance of the holiday.  For medical emergencies please consult your local veterinarian. 

Puppy Training Challenge:  Remember CCI puppies should not eat off of the floor.  Now I'm not asking you to drop your turkey dinner on the floor.  However, it might be a good idea to teach and practice leaving food on the floor alone before an actual holiday.

For young puppies teach the puppy that you are better than distractions (food, other people and children, small animals, etc.).  When practicing control around food, practice with a higher value treat than what is on the floor.  When the puppy goes for the food, say no then redirect the puppy to you using the food.   Before the puppy moves towards the food, reward for having self control.  Again you are a higher value reward than whats on the floor.  Praise the puppy for focusing on you and ignoring distractions. 

Once the puppy understands, don't be afraid to correct.  CCI puppies should never snag food off the floor.  If they do pick something up, it is our job as a good handler to go in after it.  Yes you might get a little slimed. 

Puppy Raising Tip:   Happy Thanksgiving

In this season of Thanksgiving it is only appropriate to tell our puppy raisers why CCI instructor are thankful.  CCI instructors are thankful for:

• Puppy raisers that teach heel and side with minimal cues.
• Puppies that know heel and side.
• Progress reports that are emailed or mailed on a monthly basis.
• Puppies that accept handling and grooming.
• Puppies that accept the Gentle Leader or cape.
• Puppy raisers that teach a reliable recall and don't let the puppy play keep away.
• Puppy raisers that don't keep beds in the puppy's crate.
• Puppy raisers that don't take CCI puppies to dog parks and doggie daycare.  
• Puppies that walk nicely on leash, that accept being crated, and have exceptional house manners.
• Everyone is thankful for a puppy with no gas or diarrhea.  I am most thankful for not picking up the phone and discussing chronic diarrhea.
• Puppy raisers that teach a puppy to be responsive to verbal commands.
• Puppies that have great eye contact.
• Puppy raisers that continually attend obedience classes.
• Puppy raisers that follow CCI guidelines and policies.

First and foremost CCI staff are thankful for volunteers that take time out of their busy lives to take in a puppy for over a year.  CCI's mission could not be completed without the assistance of such dedicated volunteers.  Thanks you.

Happy Training,

Suzanne Sliclen
Puppy Program manager