Training for Manners

Growing puppies require larger spaces. On Monday evening I changed their bedroom to accommodate 5 individual crates and gave them more space. The night went really well when everyone found a place to sleep until 9am the following morning.

Growing spaces....

Their current weights are:

	Birth Wt	At 8 wks	% of Gain
Milo	272	2403	783.5%
Nalu	193	1480	666.8%
Chika	253	1946	669.2%
Amiga	224	1766	688.4%
Ahi	271	2111	679.0%

The boys are certainly topping the charts... but I'm pleased to see that Nalu continues to have the same rate of gain as the others. I suspect that Milo, Chika and Ahi will all mature about 10" to 10 1/2" at the shoulder. Amiga should mature between 9 1/4" to 9 1/2", while Nalu about 8 3/4" to 9" at the shoulder. They will all be within standard.

I have mentioned in several different places in my blogs and website, as well as to everyone we talk 'Havanese' to, the breed are treat hounds!! They literally will do anything for a 'high end' treat and are such smart little dogs that it only takes a few times to figure out the game.

I prefer to start with a holistic biscuit cut into VERY tiny pieces when it's time to train. The video that I've posted is the VERY FIRST TIME the pups are getting this special treat and they must demonstrate manners before getting it. You'll notice I don't ask the puppies to sit. I have an expectation that WHEN they sit, they will get a treat. I slipped up only once.

It started off with the pups absolutely mauling me to get to the new item, but before long they quickly learned what the expectation was to receive the reward. Watch and see!!

Then I went for more treats and we shot another clip. See the change in the puppies in just a very few minutes....

In the second clip Chika had a hard time trying to stay off of me but the instant she came off my leg she was rewarded. Watching her siblings getting more than her certainly was incentive! She was much better in the first clip. Nalu probably got the most as she was so smart in staying behind the pack and quietly waiting. Patience is rewarded!!

Using our new found manners, we managed a group picture for their 8 week photo. What darling puppies!!

From Left to Right: Chika, Nalu, Milo, Amiga and Ahi

 Then all the puppies raced back to the kitchen where I had gone two times before to cut their treat up. Sitting at the base of the cupboard they felt they deserved  to 'play' some more. Milo even barked to encourage me to get back to the kitchen and bring more treats.  I'll start working with them individually in the evenings as we teach them some simple manners. I wonder if I can use this method to teach them not to shred their new piddle pads....sigh*

Such an intelligent breed is best taught with positive reinforcement! By far, this is the most important thing families, owned by their Havanese, can remember!!