How To Pick A Trainer Dog
- Go out and meet a litter of puppies in person, along with the dog parents, the owners, and to get the feel of the environment in which the puppies are being raised.
- Between 8 and 10 weeks old is an ideal age.
- Look for confidence in a puppy.
- Research your breeds.
- Preferable size is 60-80lbs. when full grown, although any size is fine.
- Always raise your trainer dog, preferably don't rescue a trainer dog*
When raising a trainer dog, socialisation is key. It is the most important thing to raising a good trainer dog. Socialisation with humans, dogs, children, with anyone willing to meet them. Taking a dog out to socialise at a dog park, a beach, or on walks, helps them become desensitised to loud noises and odd smells.
Always be vigilant with your dog, it is imperative for your soon-to-be trainer dog to not get attacked, or to encounter too many negative experiences that could lead to traumatisation, or hesitance to meet new people or critters. Always back your dog up when they react appropriately to another dog's negative behaviour (for example, growling at a dog that's nipping at your trainer dog's face), to encourage nonviolent correction.
Signs Your Dog Is Saying "Back Off" To Another Dog
- Giving a side-eye/glare (for example, turning the head while maintaining eye contact).
- Licking their lips repeatedly; this is your dog's way of saying, "I don't want to fight."
- Low growls. These are warnings that usually preempt a physical response.
- Steady posture, tail up, and stillness are indicators of a reaction about to happen (whether playful or aggressive).
- BE AWARE THAT CONTEXT IS ESSENTIAL WHEN WITNESSING THESE KINDS OF INTERACTIONS. You are not just reading your dog's body language, you are reading the body language of every other dog that could potentially interact with yours.
Remember: As with anything, you need patience to get the results you desire.
In the next few posts, I will begin introducing my own trainer dogs!
*Some dogs are simply born with the right combination of confidence and temperament. Therefore, even some rescue dogs may have the potential to be trainer dogs.