Dog Training: New Dog, Old Dog

Right now, I'm training a new dog alongside an old dog I trained years ago. The owners are friends, but this is also business, and they get the same level of service as any student. And homework...

The first issue when getting a new dog is getting the right dog. After another of their dogs died of old age recently, we started this discussion. Since I knew that dog, knew the other dog they had, and knew them, I could give good advice. They started looking for a match, and eventually found a good prospect, paid for the dog, and had it transported to the Phoenix area.

I was there within 2 hours after the pup arrived. My first concern was that the dog had a low stress introduction to the new family, and that he did his first potty in the yard instead of the home. I then spent the afternoon with them, helping introduce him to the resident older dog.

The next day, I returned, spent more time there, and before I left, I wrote up a list of observations and training goals. Top priorities were getting the dog to bond to the family, getting the resident older dog to accept him, getting him house trained, and setting a training schedule.

The resident dog didn't like him at first. He is super friendly with dogs, but she wasn't having any of it. She wasn't the type to attack, but she bared her teeth and snapped at him a few times. We got to work on their relationship right off the bat. On the other hand, he had not been heavily socialized with strangers, so he was very tentative in meeting other people (he accepted the new family immediately). So, we implemented a plan for guests. That has worked out well.

We then began my Basic Obedience I program, plus a Tune Up for the older dog. He came as a "blank slate": a good dog, just didn't really know anything. Didn't know how to walk on a leash, any commands, how to get into a car, and so on. The good thing, he is a very adaptable and gentle dog, so he is moving along quite well with the lessons. He now loads up into the SUV perfectly. He is good in his crate. He now is fine on a leash without balking. He has a beginning understanding of Sit, Down, Heel and Come. We are also working on a number of other skills, such as Drop It, and laying a foundation for swim lessons this coming summer.

We are also beginning the Tune Up for the older dog. She has gotten rusty on her commands, and she needs to obey alongside him, as well. She knows a lot, but her response rates aren't up to my standards, so we are going to fix that. You have to keep a dog tuned up over the years, and if you don't regularly practice the obedience, it can get sluggish. That needs fixing now. She is now accepting of the new dog, but they are not yet playing together. No more snarls, no more avoidance, but I'm waiting for the day they start to play. We will get there.

New dogs added to old dogs is a project. Do it thoughtfully, and it is lots of fun. This dog has added new life to their home, and was a good decision. They are retired, and it isn't good to not have new challenges in your life. This dog is going easily because they involved me from the start, and they have trained with me before. We will do Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Obedience with him, and he will be quite the dog in a year. He is stunning to look at (a totally white Standard Poodle), carries himself well, social, confident, mild mannered, and playful. When we combine that with proper training, he is going to be like "power steering"... easy. Very easy to look at and live with.