We want our dogs to trust us. Building the trust means being kind, consistent, gentle, and considering how the dogs will perceive our behavior. Our first choices in building the relationship included creating a schedule, but also being responsive to puppy needs.
We created a potty, train, play, feed, chew, and sleep schedule.
Puppies and dogs tend to need to potty after sleep, play, eating, drinking–basically after any activity. Puppies need more frequent potty breaks. We knew the dogs were yearlings or just shy of a year. Our schedule started with 5 am potty and yard run. We wanted them to work off some of the energy and stress so they could focus. Training starts with something new and then practice of the familiar. Sometimes we look for a behavior to praise and reward–kind of a name it and claim it strategy. They didn’t play at first. We would provide treats and run the dogs between us to get them to focus. The puppies got to cool down and rest while we made breakfast.
We feed two meals a day. Their time out alone may have caused food scarcity issues. Letting them know that food comes regularly feels like a calming choice. We feed them separately in crates. While they have no food aggression, I don’t want them to develop it. In a multi-dog household, I prefer feeding the dogs in separate locations. We do not free feed. We do feed a homemade diet.
After breakfast, another round of potty, play, and training happens. They have boundless energy. All yard time is supervised for these two. These dogs are powerful and get bored without interaction. We do not want them to find their own entertainment or to make their own rules.
Some chew time is supervised, but we have found a few toys that are safe for them to have when we are not around. They settle into chewing or licking frozen peanut butter out of a kong toy, and finally take a little nap. When we can (COVID meant we could), we do another training, play and potty at lunch. We do another between 4-6. Dinner is at 7, and another round of play, train, potty. We also take them out one more time before we go to bed for just a brief walk. This protects our sleep, too.
Now, the schedule doesn’t always work. We had five weeks of the babies waking us 3 times a night. A couple of months later we had two weeks of twice a night. They chirp and we come. We discussed who was the pet, but my husband and I believe they wanted to know if we would come. I think they are building trust by changing the schedule, too. We just got up with them and took them on a quick leash walk and put them back to bed. Soft voices, gentle touch, low light, and a resettle. Rose sometimes screams in her sleep. When I come to get her, she is still sleeping. I am hoping that lessens in time. She has wet herself during the night terror-ish episodes. We just speak softly, take her out, clean it up, and move on.
I need schedule to feel calm. I want Gabe and Rose to have calm, so a reliable schedule was born. We also respond to requests for time, potty, chew with the people. Flexibility communicates relationship, too.
Paw Prints on My Heart and on My Pants 