Small piece of advice needed please, nothing major.

We're bringing our Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy home in 2.5 weeks (hurray!).  He's going to arrive to a house with two adults, one two year old child and two middle-aged cats.....

My mother in law has just emailed to ask if my daughter would like to stay with her for a few days in the next couple of weeks, which is lovely - a break from the trials of potty training (I know, I know, I'll just be swapping it for toilet training)!  My dilema is, should I arrange for Mia to stay with MIL before the puppy arrives, or, would it be a good idea for her to be away when the puppy arrives so he can spend some time settling into the house and getting used to being away from his mum and litter, before meeting the small tornado that is my daughter?

I'm not sure if this is the fair thing to do, or if it would be even scarier for him to settle down thinking this is it and then have a new person arrive on the scene - may be this would unsettle him again?

There probably isn't a right or wrong answer to this, but if anyone has any advice or experience of this I'd be very grateful to hear it.  Many thanks in advance.....

I think it would be a great idea for your daughter to stay with your mother in law while you pick the puppy up and for the first few days after that.  That way you can establish some kind of routine, just you and the dog, and begin toilet training before your daughter comes along.

Have you got a crate for the dog?  This would be a must for me.

Here is a link about crate training: http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/crate-train.pdf

Also, do you have a trainer lined up?  Have you been to watch classes?  Have a look at : www.puppyschool.co.uk or www.apdt.co.uk for trainers in your area.

Thanks Onetwothree.... I'll phone MIL later today to get everything in place.

I haven't got a crate (yet) but it's on the list of things to do before Earl arrives!  Does anyone have recommendations for a particular make, or are they all much the same?  (Had dogs before, but never used a crate).

I've seen a few adverts for puppy socialisation classes in our local vets, so I'm going to call to see if I can go and watch a session.  However, I'd particularly like to follow Jan Fennels method of training so I'm hoping to find a class where they follow her methods too.  Unfortunately Puppyschool don't have any classes near me, but I'll check out the other link you sent - thanks.

However, I'd particularly like to follow Jan Fennels method of training so I'm hoping to find a class where they follow her methods too.

Can I ask why you want to use the JF type training ? I doubt you will find a club that uses her"ideas/theories"etc

Of course.

When I began my search for an RR puppy, I spoke to the breed societies and various breeders.  Jan Fennells name kept cropping up.  I'd never heard of her so got some of her books from the library.  I found her approach to dog training very interesting and it seemed to be quite a simple, effective and above all, natural way of training a dog.  To understand better I then borrowed her DVD (to see the process 'in action' so to speak).

Since then I've seen a few programmes on TV where some of the training principles are those that JF uses and again, they have been effective.

I'm going to follow the JF method when I bring Earl home.  When I visit the puppy socialisation classes and obedience classes I will be looking for something that can compliment the JF method (as I guessed there would not be any actual JF classes) and not be so different that I would confuse Earl.

Hope that answers your question.

I unfortunately had a friend who used JF to cure their dog-didn't last long & he was still PTS due to his behaviour

JF is very out of date & assumes wrongly that dogs try to"dominate"himans as norm & that dogs see humans as part of their pack. They don't & they know humans are not dogs

Motivational training IMHO works much better & is more enjoyable for both handler & dog

I never got an answer from her about Guide dogs "dominating"their owners because they go through dogs etc in front of the owner, she incorrectly believes  in that the Alphas lead wolf packs when hunting & in all movements of the packs  as studies of truly wild wolf packs have revealed. She also believes that dominant pack members eat first, when in fact in dog & wolf packs the weakest members-ie puppies are always fed first the total opposite to her theories & as the human dog relationship is much more akin to a puppy & it's mother than Alpha & omega pack members-dogs should eat first Just two of many incorrect parts of the "Amichien" bonding theory

TV programs & DVDs of these "celeb"trainers never show their failures. They are very very selective

You will not find many if any Amichien/dominance driven dog clubs

Thanks for the information Moonmaiden, I do appreciate it.

It's tough to decide what's right or wrong, which is why I want to go and see some puppy classes as I will definitely take Earl along to something.  I'm still going to give the JF method a try at home, but will be honest enough to stop if it looks like I mad a bad choice.

Which is your choice

My other issue with her is that she uses chokers on her GSDs !!! she never answered that query either

Sorry but the Jan Fennell method of dog training is considered to be at best outdated and useless and at worst cruel to the dog.

Jan Fennell's method revolves around perceiving the dog to be part of the human "pack".  By most of today's renowned behaviourists this is widely considered utter rubbish. 

Take for example:

Going through a door before the owner.

Jan Fennell would say this shows dominance of the dog over the owner.  Rubbish!  It just shows that there's something on the other side of the door which the dog wants. 

Why does this matter?  Well, Jan Fennell's solution would involve eating in front of your dog before you put the food bowl down.  Maybe an alpha roll or two.  Whereas, if we forget about this rubbish, any half way decent trainer today's method would involve changing the motivation - the handler should have a better reward with them than the dog.  The handler should work on being consistent in training methods.  The handler should find what best motivates the dog. 

I commend you for having researched so much before getting your puppy, because not many people do.  However, I would strongly advise you to read a bit more now - firstly this link:  http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2004/Debunking.pdf

And secondly, an excellent book called "The Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson (available from Amazon).

A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing and now you've started down the road, you have to go a bit further down it to see the truth...

Thanks Onetwothree, I will definitely read the article and see if I can get hold of a copy of the book from our library.

As I said to Moonmaiden, I am not too proud to admit if I am wrong; so if it looks like I am making a bad decision I will definitely (and quickly) hold my hands up and correct it.

Congrats on the new pup - exciting times all round! But please do take note of the comments made about Jan Fennell's methods. Firstly because they have been well and truly debunked and secondly because the easiest way to make a busy life with a new pup even more complicated is to get into all the nonsense that accompanies them.

Why do training methods have to be so difficult? There is soooo much choice out there now, its hard for anyone new to training to know whats best. or old to training for that matter..........What do you think of the kC approved trainers that are springing up around the country? They insist on check collars (the ones that have a bit of chain and bit of collar) I, personally, hate any sort of check, but at the end of the day its the hands that use them that causes the injuries, not the thing themselves. what are the views on them? for basic training purposes, and why can't things such as halties, harnesses, simlpe collar etc be used?

Minny, if you can, get yourself a copy of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Positive Dog Training by Pamela Dennison, as well as the Culture Clash.  Both on Amazon.  These will tell you everything you need to raise pup to be a lovely dog - with no need for "dominance", it really has no place in a pet dog's life - heck, dominance in the sense so many people use it doesn't even occur in dogs - it's wolf thing, dogs behave differently.

The Idiot's Guide is the best of the two IMO - Culture Clash does explain the problems with "dominance", but Idiot's Guide gives a really good, thorough explanation of positive methods as well as training important things such as the recall.

Good luck with pup, I'm insanely jealous and puppy-broody :D

Personally, I think Culture Clash far better than The Idiots Guide...

By the way, it also has lots of advice on training recalls in the training section at the back!

Hi Minny Minsk,
I've owned RRs for over fifteen years, and had my first RR litter 11 years ago. Jane Fennels methods sound outdated, to me. With a RR, your best bet if you want a nice and well functioning adult dog, is love, a good sense of humor, patience and a few, but easily understandable, rules. A RR is usually very interested in everyone in the family being content and in a good mood. It will do it's best to help in this, as soon as it understands what's expected of it. If you work on establishing a good contact between you and Earl, always being positive, loving and sometimes firm in enforcing the rules you've decided on, I'm sure he will grow into a lovely companion. I don't know anything about J F's methods, other than what I've read on CD. But if I remember right, they include throwing noisy things at dogs, scaring them into behaving the way you want. Please, if this is her method, don't use it on your RR pup. You will not acomplish what you think, only make an intelligent pup mistrust you, and/or something else he thinks is responsible for the unplesaant experience.
If your mother in law can take care of your child for the first few days, I think that would be great. Routines are quickly established in a calm environment, I don't think introducing your child a few days later will be a problem at all. And don't forget, a RR pup grows fast in body, but much slower in mind. It will not understand the need to be careful with your child, it might push her/him over, nip unintentionally hard, and generally be a bit frightening at first. Always monitor their time together carfully, they will both be of an age where they can't be expected get on on their own.
Good luck, looking forward to hearing all about Earl and his development :-)
Karen

Hi Karen,

Thanks very much for all of your advice, it is really appreciated.

I last had an RR pup when I was 5 and my brother was 3, I remember him constantly hanging off the bottom of my dress or my brothers trouser leg!  Never trying to hurt, just  determined to play with us!  He was a fantastic dog and I still miss him even though it's been 17 odd years since we lost him :(

As far as I've seen, the JF method does not involve throwing things at dogs, I would never consider doing that.  However, reading the obvious dislike of her training methods on this site have begun to sow the seeds of doubt, so you'll be glad to hear I've ordered my copy of JD's Culture Clash and will read it with an open mind to it being a better method of training.  Thanks to all (Onetwothree, Moonmaiden and others) who have recommended I re-consider my decision; once I've read the book I'll definitely get back to you!

Look out all, no doubt I'll be here again soon with a ton more questions for you all :)