kcmetric
Well-Known Member
If they want to learn why not let them? Chaplin adored and still does learning and clicker training. If I left a clicker out on the table he'd start jumping around and picking it up in front of me til I got out the treats.
Just because they're learning doesn't mean they can't be puppies. He still went to the park and had play dates. He still annoyed his big brother, Baby, endlessly by tugging on his tail and ears. He still rolled around and ate things and enjoyed every quality of life he could.
You wouldn't keep a puppy from socializing so that he knows how to interact appropriately when an adult and not be reactive would you? Same concept. That is definitely learning, it's learning social skills. Learning is learning all around. It's not hindering his puppyhood, it's simply a growth process. Frankly I would've considered myself oppressive if I ignored his desire to learn.
Even if he didn't go nuts for the clicker, training tricks from early on improves problem solving abilities and the ability to learn quickly as an adult -- but he certainly didn't miss out on being a puppy under my watch![Wink ;) ;)](/members/forums/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/wink.png)
And again, Chaplin has done puppy specific agility where they do not raise bars and it is done at a slow pace on soft turf. You think I could've gotten him to do it if he didn't get a kick out of running willy-nilly? He's a high-energy sporting dog and he needs mental stimulation and change ups in his schedule.
I trained my puppy and I did not deprive him of a puppy-hood.
Just because they're learning doesn't mean they can't be puppies. He still went to the park and had play dates. He still annoyed his big brother, Baby, endlessly by tugging on his tail and ears. He still rolled around and ate things and enjoyed every quality of life he could.
You wouldn't keep a puppy from socializing so that he knows how to interact appropriately when an adult and not be reactive would you? Same concept. That is definitely learning, it's learning social skills. Learning is learning all around. It's not hindering his puppyhood, it's simply a growth process. Frankly I would've considered myself oppressive if I ignored his desire to learn.
Even if he didn't go nuts for the clicker, training tricks from early on improves problem solving abilities and the ability to learn quickly as an adult -- but he certainly didn't miss out on being a puppy under my watch
![Wink ;) ;)](/members/forums/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/wink.png)
And again, Chaplin has done puppy specific agility where they do not raise bars and it is done at a slow pace on soft turf. You think I could've gotten him to do it if he didn't get a kick out of running willy-nilly? He's a high-energy sporting dog and he needs mental stimulation and change ups in his schedule.
I trained my puppy and I did not deprive him of a puppy-hood.