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Posts Tagged ‘papillon dog training’

Some dog owners seem to derive fun from teasing Papillon puppies. Of course the definition of teasing is so broad, and this leads us to the point that teasing and roughhousing as a whole is either positive or negative, formative or otherwise.

Believe it or not, positive teasing exists, and from a papillon training point of view, it can be a lot of fun for both owner and dog. Teasing can even build a puppy’s confidence by gradually making predictable the weird things that people do. Non-stop teasing, together with the malicious type, are different; they are no-nos beyond doubt.

The positive teasing alluded to here include momentarily restraining the dog, hiding the toys or treats of the pup, making funny faces or dances in front of it, but promptly following it up with a consistent praise for the dog plus a reward or a treat. The dog’s eventual confidence will generally arise from its acceptance of your unexpected actions as reinforced by the praising and the reward. Obvious in all this is that there are proper moments for being unpredictable, and that there ought to be moments too for being the clear-headed and assertive alpha pack

Puppies need to prepare to take in a good amount of teasing now and then. For example, without the preparation, whats a dog to do when chased by a child screaming with outstretched arms? Besides, dogs in general understand and participate in chases on the condition that they are aware it is not harmful to them.

Based on what we know in Papillon Training, how can it be known if a particular afternoon of teasing is already overboard? After a few bouts of dog hugs, or of the monster-walk chasing, try standing a good distance from the dog while asking it to come over for a treat. If the dog approaches with all signs indicating a good-natured reaction (head held high, tail wagging), then the dog has taken the game well. If its otherwise, then the dog approaches with wariness, if not fear, as shown by the licking of lips, the lowered head and tail, then the lying down or rolling over when you asked for him to sit.

What’s to be done now? To repair the damage, get the dog to come to you by reinforcing its approach primarily through treats. Note that the deceptive thing about teasing is that it can grow harmful or beneficial, which is why it makes sense checking always, say every fifteen minutes, that your puppy is having a good time.

Before we end, it is also important to be able to know how to control the dogs in the thick of friendly play. Here is one test to know if you still have control of the dogs. At any time, you only need one or two command in order to get your dog to stop playing and lie down calmly. But if the dog is still a whirlwind in spite of all your arms flailing, then there is too much rough play, and papillon training needs to step in.

A squirrel dog’s adolescence years is a rocky period of learning—or worse, unlearning—that can significantly affect the dog’s adult years. Not heeding your pap’s need for education can lead to an ill-mannered, fearful and hyperactive dog. Check out the following papillon training notes how to take good care of your dog’s socialization needs.

Socialization often turns rocky during a dog’s adolescent period, and most of the time its because of the timing of the dog’s maturing. Puppy classes recede into the past, and most owners are settling into a familiar set of daily procedures for the dog by the time it is five or six months old. At home or at the park, day in and day out, the dog interacts and plays with generally the same familiar set of faces. As a result, the “teener” dog eventually ends up intolerant of all save a small inner band of friends since way back.

If your adolescent papillon does not get out and interact with a healthy amount of unfamiliar faces on a regular basis, the dog’s socialization so far might suffer. If at five months the dog was very sociable, by eight months the dog is chock-full of defensive and low self-esteem behavior. What used to be one of the friendliest dogs in the block is now skittish around house guests, or barks, snaps and lunges with hackles. All this papillon training information show the importance of not just being content with puppy socialization, but following it up with the socialization of your adolescent dog.

More on the socialization of your papillon with other dogs, this time. Everybody needs to know the basic idea that teaching a dog to have good relations with all dogs is more of wishful thinking than reality. The first big idea is that even wolves or jackals in the wild are not used to being chummy and welcoming towards strangers, while we human trainers sometimes expect too much in handling the dogs. Indeed, the next idea to consider is that a dog dog breed may never actually have very tight friendships with each and every dog down the street. Lastly, no dog can seem to live without having quarrels or arguments. If there is a dog that avoids and shuns confrontations, then it is the rarity.

A dog midway between puppyhood and adulthood is in a socialization dilemma, as we have said, but in the following case owners are once more the responsible role players. Small dogs may get affected by the fear for their safety of their owners, so their meeting big dogs is curtailed. In the same way, owners of large dogs are similarly concerned that their working breeds may hurt significantly smaller playmates. To end, this indeed is the critical vicious cycle that papillon training need to work on promptly: how to deal with dogs that get less socialization due to (sometimes legitimate) safety concerns, in order to cut down on future behavior issues that arise from even lesser socialization?

Papillons are an affectionate and dedicated breed of toy spaniels, and their intelligence makes them ideal for training. The distinct physical features of the dog breed are their plumed tails that arch on the back, and the appealing butterfly ears that are either erect or drooping, and prominent white nosebands.

Below follows some basic points for papillon training:

Respect Training

As in all dog breeds, an owner that fails to assert authority over the Papillon sooner or later has the dog asserting authority over him or her. So its either the owner in authority, or the dog takes over! Training the dog in “nothing in life is free” starts from the very day the puppy or dog enters the home for the first time. Of course, fear is not the goal, but only plain and simple respect. So scruffing the dog (which is done by some who believe in closely copying the hierarchy behavior of dogs in the wild) and common methods of corporal punishment are more detrimental than helpful to the dog’s growth. What matters above all is to reward the puppy’s positive behavior than to spend time and effort checking the negative behavior. In the long run, the dog will want to keep coming whatever makes you happy and positive.

House Breaking

Small breeds like the Papillon will only have full organ development when they reach eight months, so this indicates papillon owners need to prepare for housebreaking as one of their top dog concerns. Patience, consistency and plenty of treats within reach are keys to training the dog. Meanwhile, training pads are a big help when preparing the dog to eventually pee and poo outdoors. Crate training is also a favorite idea.

Socialization

Socializing a dog has got to be one of the must-do areas of training. The side effect of a Papillon that is without training is a high strung and very shy dog wary or downright hostile of people it perceives to be a threat. The best remedy is of course regular exposure of the dog to crowded places. Socializing your dog with other pets in the home is also important. A downside to Papillons is that they can be dog-aggressive, so it is important to monitor initial interactions as the papillon training continues.

With regard to temperament, one often-cited Papillon concern would be the slight inclination towards timidity. When it comes to training, this tendency may make housetraining an uphill battle, though not necessarily an uncertain one. Unless countered early, the Papillon’s behavior will spiral into marking spots of the house as their personal territory. What makes it more complex is that the dog is not a kennel dog; it will therefore need some careful and well-planned housebreaking. But far from being a symptom of what is coming, housebreaking the Papillon is actually only one of the very few major items in papillon training.

Those familiar with the Papillon will agree that it is an intelligent dog with an activity level that is manageable. What needs to be done is that the Papillon is socialized in the first months of its life, or else what results is that the timidity of the dog snowballs into the dog being visibly uncomfortable in the company of children, cats and strangers.

Papillon owners are currently split over whether the dog is susceptible to a “big dog” attitude. Some owners say that the dog is capable of aggression towards larger dogs, as well as a guarding stance over their owners, competing even with other pets in the house. On the other hand, others think the dog breed is more respectful that most people think. The pracitcal truth is actually that a growing papillon can develop a personality that has time to swing towards extreme aggression or extreme timidity. But the bottom line is still proper training and socialization, of course.

Sometimes a lap dog and sometimes not, the Papillon insists on regular scratching behind the ears, petting and cuddling. The breed is also known for glossing over even the tiniest strange sound, and will answer it with a flurry of barking. In general, the breed is not hostile, and its barking fit is not meant to be aggressive, but the dog’s way of highlighting its surpirse or the arrival of company.

The breed currently is popular for its obedience and for being a favorite in obedience trials. They also do well as trick performers. They approach new things with a mind open to wonder, and keenly regarding new events with amusement.

Despite their appreciation for attention and for activities that keep them on the move, these dogs are far from being prone to hyperactivity. In fact, Papillons would not mind being watch dog, a role that puts pressure on the dog’s alertness and patience. Indeed, with papillon training, this is one very versatile dog breed.

Now that you are set on taking your Papillon to a dog show, the best tips for being in form can be found and gathered in clubs, dog show veterans and other Papillon trainers. Of course, nothing can possibly be better than an experienced show dog owner whom you can befriend and count on as a guide of sorts and a source of a true wealth of information. But while such a picture may not come anymore, the following list will give you an idea how judges generally find the winning show dog from among the bunch of Papillons, and why papillon training may be what you need to get that winning edge.

Before anything else, its important to be aware that among the things beyond the control of anybody is the dog’s genetics. Usually matters of genetics are at the root of why the judge may reward, penalize or disqualify.

One trait that can incur disqualification that is furthermore linked to genetics is when the participating Papillon is fully white, or on the other hand, lacking any white. Judges prefer symmetrical patterns, which echo the ideal of the butterfly-like appearance. A height of more than twelve inches is also subject to disqualification, since a delicate appearance is a must among champion show Papillons. A highly desirable combination of characteristics would be a height of between eight and eleven inches and roughly symmetrical coloring.

Up next is a show Papillon’s posture. The stomach needs to be held in, the back straight with the tail arching over the back with the plume flowing to either the right side or the left side of the body. The head is to be held high, and while some recommend that the ears ought to move “like butterfly wings,” ears “held erect” is sufficient.

With regard to the dog’s built, the weight is in proportion to height and it is not stocky. The body must be slightly longer than the height at withers. The dog needs to move with lively action. One trait that will be penalized without a doubt is laziness or any sign of stiffness. The movement is an interesting aspect of the show since this is the one area where papillon training can help the most.

To end, a last note on grooming. There is no way to overemphasize the importance of the thorough grooming before the show date of the dog. And this is still aside from the regular bathing and brushing appointments of the dog. The pre-show grooming includes the daily routine plus nail clipping, hair trimming and shampooing and conditioning of the dog.