As much as we enjoy helping dogs with behavior issues of all kinds, we’re thrilled when the opportunity to get a puppy started right presents itself.
Neptune’s owner wanted an intelligent and athletic partner to join him in his outdoorsy life as an avid hiker and camper. Like many working from home and juggling school and work responsibilities, he also wanted a companion and family pet.
Many novice owners, as well as experienced ones, want a meaningful bond with their dog but aren’t too sure how to cultivate that bond. My client and his family initially thought raising a dog meant focusing on obedience training and teaching Neptune commands. With time, however, they’ve come to appreciate the difference between raising dogs to have a certain attitude versus training dogs to know obedience commands. When dogs are raised to be sound, strong, and spirited, obedience comes naturally.
My clients have also come to appreciate Neptune’s energy, his motivation to work, and endless desire to play. A little intimidated at first and unsure how to handle this bundle of energy, they’re now skilled at constructively channeling Neptune’s drives, engaging their pup in ways that build his drive and self- esteem, tire him out, and make him think of his owners as the most wonderful humans around.
The family’s understanding of the importance of channeling these perfectly natural drives is one of the reasons they’re able to enjoy their puppy as much as they have. He is challenged correctly, managed thoughtfully, and related to in a healthy way. He is allowed to be a pup and is not being asked to be a grown-up before his time. Because of that, we can only look forward with certainty at the sound, strong, and spirited adult he will one day become.
Watch a video of Neptune here!
