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Praise Your Puppy for Great Results
From a wonderful dog trainer:
"My training tip is more of a strategy. Hunt for a breeder who adores their dogs and brings up the litter inside their home. Bring home your puppy at about eight to twelve weeks of age. Then LOVE that dog. Lavish your puppy with unconditional love. Hug, kiss, pat, play, walk and tell them all the time what a Good Dog they are, especially when they are not eating your valuable antiques and expensive shoes or peeing on your favorite Persian carpet. Use positive reinforcement and limit the negative to the occasional hairy eyeball. Never ever scream at or hit your puppy. When they go to the bathroom in the woods rather than in the living room, act like they have just won the Academy Award. Ralphie and Greta each took about a year to become totally civilized. Audrey took over two years, but I was patient and it paid off, although there were moments when I wanted to give up in disgust. No one could ask for a more loving and devoted dog than Audrey, whom I adore. I am a third generation Afghan Hound person. I had Karli as a child and Ralphie in college who lived to be fourteen and survived me having five children. I now have Greta Garbo, seven, and Audrey Hepburn, five. For many years people have been amazed by my dogs. “They’re so friendly, polite and not like Afghans at all” is the typical backhanded but well-intentioned observation."
"My training tip is more of a strategy. Hunt for a breeder who adores their dogs and brings up the litter inside their home. Bring home your puppy at about eight to twelve weeks of age. Then LOVE that dog. Lavish your puppy with unconditional love. Hug, kiss, pat, play, walk and tell them all the time what a Good Dog they are, especially when they are not eating your valuable antiques and expensive shoes or peeing on your favorite Persian carpet. Use positive reinforcement and limit the negative to the occasional hairy eyeball. Never ever scream at or hit your puppy. When they go to the bathroom in the woods rather than in the living room, act like they have just won the Academy Award. Ralphie and Greta each took about a year to become totally civilized. Audrey took over two years, but I was patient and it paid off, although there were moments when I wanted to give up in disgust. No one could ask for a more loving and devoted dog than Audrey, whom I adore. I am a third generation Afghan Hound person. I had Karli as a child and Ralphie in college who lived to be fourteen and survived me having five children. I now have Greta Garbo, seven, and Audrey Hepburn, five. For many years people have been amazed by my dogs. “They’re so friendly, polite and not like Afghans at all” is the typical backhanded but well-intentioned observation."
