It's all about balance, moderation, and planning!

So this is a conversation that I often have with students who have new puppies. How do you know when you are doing too much with young dogs? How do you balance this with the stress of 'getting the training done'? Or maybe the thrill of your young dog learning new stuff!

Flori is learning to sit on a platform.

Here's things to consider: 

• Is what you are doing going to add to your puppy's physical development, or possibly hinder their physical development? Exercise is important, but too much (or the wrong kind) can cause harm. 
• Are you balancing their physical, and mental wellbeing? 
• Are you prioritizing life skills, and being a great pet dog? 
• Is what you are training neccessary right now? 
• Is what you are training appropriate for your pup's age? 

Flori exploring a local walking spot

I tend to not be too specific week to week what I want to train with my young dog's. Instead I focus on what is needed over that week, and what is available in terms of socialization opportunities. I use list's of skills that I would like to cover that I can look at if I need idea's of things to work on. I have larger goals over approximately 6 month periods, for example in the first 6 months I would like Flori to have learnt basic reinforcement strategies and clear communication with me, be consistent in toilet training, be able to walk in a lead and harness, be happy to have nails done and vaccinations/vet checks, and have been exposed (in a positive manner) to a crapload of socialization experiences.

Some socialization during a sports tournament at school

I prioritize teaching skills in the following order: 

1. Base life skills (toilet training, happy crating, being ok in the car, on lead, interacting appropriately with the other dog's in the house etc.)
2. Emotional and mental wellbeing (enrichment, sniffing, decompression walks)
3. Learning how to cope in this crazy human world (socialization)
4. Learning how to speak the language of learning and training with me (reinforcement strategies) 
5. Cooperative care work (handling, grooming, nails, veterinary related work)
6. Base performance sports skills (recalls, station training, agility foundation work like wrapping a cone, scent work, basic obedience)

I feel like if Flori can be happy with this, nothing will faze her! 

You might have noticed a couple of things above. Firstly the sports specific skills are last. That's because really they are of the least importance to the overall wellbeing of my dog's. I do sports because I like them, and I hope that my puppy's will also love them. But you know what, they might not. In that case, I'll find something else we can do together. Its also last because once you have some of the other skills (reinforcement strategies in particular)  the sports specific skills are easy to teach! You might also notice that although I'm primarily an agility competitor, I try to teach a wide range of different sports skills. 

So relax, have fun, make sure your pup can deal with life, and don't stress too much about what you have, or have not taught!