June 01, 2024
My 10 week old Labradoodle is doing really well with engagement, when can I start luring and shaping behaviors like sit and down?
Full Question:
My puppy is 10 weeks old and is already engaging really well, even in new places and with small distractions. I plan to continue socializing him by going to new places and doing engagement, with progressively more difficult distractions. He's an Australian labradoodle and obviously doesn't focus as intently as the high drive malinois I've seen but I imagine it continually improves with practice.I'm wondering when I should start luring and shaping behaviors like sit, down, look, etc and in what order. What might the next 2-5 months look like, assuming great engagement is already in place?
Cindy's Answer:
socialization, engagement and relationship building never really stop for the life of the dog if you think about it. As they mature you add more new experiences and distractions which add to your bond and working relationship.
There is no reason to not lure or shape behaviors if you are comfortable doing so. Which order you do them depends on what's important to you. I use look, sit and down a lot in my adult dogs' everyday lives. There is no timeline or recipe since it's very dog dependant, they're all quite different. Just be sure you're not being predictable or boring or turning engagement and training into a drill that becomes a chore for a puppy or young dog. Have fun and keep sessions short and unpredictable. Novelty and movement are two things that dogs love.
There is no reason to not lure or shape behaviors if you are comfortable doing so. Which order you do them depends on what's important to you. I use look, sit and down a lot in my adult dogs' everyday lives. There is no timeline or recipe since it's very dog dependant, they're all quite different. Just be sure you're not being predictable or boring or turning engagement and training into a drill that becomes a chore for a puppy or young dog. Have fun and keep sessions short and unpredictable. Novelty and movement are two things that dogs love.
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