04/23/2019
Handling and Grooming Practice
Practice handling your puppy daily and invite others to participate. Open her mouth, handle her ears, fiddle between her toes, tug her tail, and give her tight hugs. Also begin getting her used to grooming (brushing her coat, brushing her teeth, trimming her nails) by making it fun with treats and praise. Start out with a mini-version of the sort of grooming you will be doing when she is older, and give her lots of praise for cooperating. Start getting her used to having your fingers in her mouth, and to tooth brushing, by rubbing her gums. Introduce her to having her coat brushed, and feed her supper in the bathtub in preparation for baths.
Off-leash Following
Go to a safe new place, far from traffic, for a walk with your puppy on a long lead. If your puppy has not been fully vaccinated yet, choose an area that is not frequented by unknown dogs.
Encourage her to stay close to you by talking to her or clapping your hands, but if she heads off, just walk away from her (do not follow her, unless she is in danger).
We want her to learn to stay in your general vicinity while exploring the environment. Try hiding behind a tree when she is not looking, and when she thinks she has lost you, let her panic for a minute before letting her know where you are. She will learn that you are easy to lose, and she will want to keep a close eye on you! This is a great bonding exercise if done while your puppy is still young. https://www.audible.com/pd/B01HGT8LUS/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWU-BK-ACX0-062056&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_062056_pd_us