Reminder: Have you been sending in the puppy's progress report? If you have missed a couple of months, please get those in as soon as possible. However, don't do a report and just change the date. (smile) The staff can figure that out pretty fast.
Puppy Training Challenge: Have some fun in the sun! With the sprinkler on, practice commands. The droplets that hit you and the puppy should not deter the puppy from doing commands. Come rain, snow, sleet, a mud puddle, damp grass the puppy must learn to do commands. No excuses!
Puppy Raising Tip: "Summertime, and the living is easy!"
Coming from the crazy cold winter we all had, summer is a breath of fresh air. Here are some tips and reminders to get you through these hot humid days!
- Remember Canine Companions socialization guide regarding to age of puppy and appropriate outings. Puppies 5 months and under should not be going into business like restaurants, grocery stores, retail stops, etc. If the four month old puppy goes to work with you, and you have to run to the grocery store, leave the puppy at home that day. Plan your trips accordingly.
- Hot cars can kill. Never leave any age puppy in a vehicle unattended during hot weather.
- Hot pavement hurts. Walk the puppy on the grass.
- County and state fairs should be avoided, especially the midway. Attending 4H animal shows is an okay activity.
- 4H families and those attending day long horse shows, either leave the puppy at home or make sure you have a place to take the puppy for breaks. Remember the puppy should always be supervised and handled by the puppy raisers family only. Please do not pass the puppy off to strangers.
- Not all Canine Companions puppies know how to swim. In reality most of them are not natural water dogs even though they are Labradors and Goldens. You may need to teach the puppy how to swim.
- Please do not take the puppy to community pools.
- Please do not take the puppy to the last day of community pools when they open the pool up for dogs.
- For those that have pools, make sure you teach the puppy how to exit the pool.
- Also never leave a puppy unattended around a pool at anytime of the year.
- Canine Companion puppies should not ride in the bed of pick up trucks or convertibles.
- Practice basic water safety if you are boating with the puppy. Remember dogs don't always make good decisions. The handler is the voice of reason.
Summer training ideas:
- Like the challenge practice commands while the sprinkler is on.
- Put the Canine Companion puppy in a down and play ball with your pet dog. Teach the puppy patience and control while others are playing.
- Take a walk in your neighborhood and expose the puppy to: lawn mowers and other lawn maintenance tools, people weeding, kids playing, people on ladders. Expose the puppy to the world.
- exposing the puppy to machinery does not mean the puppy is right up on the equipment, but in the general vicinity of the activity.
- Go to a park and observe a soccer game, kids playing on a playground.
- Climb the play ground equipment with the puppy. Please no slides.
- Go to a skate park and watch the skaters and bikers doing tricks.
- Watch people play tennis. Is the puppy more focused on the ball or on you?
- Have fun and stay hydrated.
Fall will quickly be upon us. Take the wonderful weather to get outside and enjoy training and socializing the puppy. Be safe and keep yourself and the puppy cool.
Happy Training,
Suzanne Sliclen
Puppy Program Manager
