PlaySchool

Here's my challenge; can my new human Mum really raise me as 'the perfect dog"? I believe she can if she listens to a bloke called Cesar Millan!

My natural Mum, Winnie, never coddled me nor did she let me push the boundaries of the rules she had set.  If I did, I got a whack from my litter mates.

In fact, when I leave my natural Mum at the age of 10-12 weeks, I will be at the same developmental age of a 2 year of human baby.  So, I'll be looking to my new human Mum to continue the brilliant work that Winnie did in the whelping box.

Follow my progress here:

25th July 2012


ARTICLE 1: Dealing With Separation Anxiety

It's important you humans understand us doggies and what makes us tick.  Here's an extract from Cesar's book  "How to riase the perfect dog" on the topic:

Dogs are programmed to want to follow the pack, and try to reunite the pack when separated.   If they can't follow the pack, they'll call them back with their voice.   

Much of the time they succeed in bringing people back this way.  What's more, they bring them back feeling sorry for the puppy/dog and guilty about leaving.   

Often the people they bring back also bring them treats.  So the message they get is" They're not here to stop my anxiety, they are here to reward my anxiety.

If they don't succeed in bringing us back, it's a logical next step to try and dig themselves out from behind walls if they can't find any other way.

Cesar recommends that firstly to hide out of sight a short distance away.

Mum did this with me and yes, whine and cry I did.  She didn't let me get to the point of screaming before she reappeared from her hiding place and immediately addressed my behaviour with Cesar's famous 'tssst' and calm assertive body language.   She also made a clicking sound which I know means I have to sit.

Cesar makes a good point here:

Even though your puppy/dog might sit, check his energy since he still might be in an alert state. Many people make the mistake of thinking yawning means a dog is tired/relaxed, but puppies especially yawn if they are anxious or frustrated by a situation they can't figure out.  If this happens, stay in sight of your puppy/dog until he goes into the relaxed state you want.

Mum waited a little longer cos I was still a bit anxious.   I moved away and then Mum moved out of my sight again and I started pacing and darting away cos my survival programming tells me that I need to be part of the pack again.

We repeated this exercise again.  It takes much patience on both sides and it's something we are going to work on today and the next few days.

Mum is learning to meditate and is now playing some relaxing chill out music for us both to help develop our calm energies