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When puppies annoy the bitch she will use eye contact and
facial expression first. The youngster will carry on the
unwanted behaviour then the mother will give out a low
growl which will increase in volume with a show of teeth.
If this is not enough to produce the desired result the
bitch will to all intense and purposes fly in at the
youngster. This is not a full blown attack, far from it, it
is dress rehearsal for the pup, conditioning him for life
later on. No contact is made although from the resulting
noise mainly from the puppy, one could be excused for
thinking that the litter had been reduced to one pup.
It is interesting to note that the bitch will immediately
console the puppy and start to lick it all over...and this
behaviour is observed every time the youngster steps out of
line.
From this we can learn that the puppy has been taught by
the bitch the correction and reward. Correction...Growl
(our voice NO)...the moment the behaviour stops the lick
(we simply stroke the pups head). Now what we are doing is
copying the mother. This way the puppy is never fearful of
us.
In my humble it is cruel to punish a dog for anything after
the act. In other words if you come home and find a mess,
destruction etc. then ignore this. The puppy or indeed the
dog will never understand he has done wrong. To come home
and shout will make any dog put his tail between his legs
and cower or shy away. Many owners will say "You see...he
knows he has done wrong". He does not know anything other
than the human has arrived back at the den and is
aggressive.
Commitment, Firmness, but kindness.
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