The First Critical
Period: Days 1-21 |
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| 1. |
2. |
3. |
4. |
5. |
6. |
7. |
| Pups Whelped Yesterday |
The purpose of “Puppy Imprinting” must be
fully understood before attempting to program any puppy until
you are familiar with Clarence Pfaffenberger's book, “The New
Knowledge of Dog Behavior”
Begin the Bio-Sensor
Method (day three through sixteen)
*See EEG. Dock tails |
Wink reflex a sign of healthy pups • Do not allow drafts
or chill |
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| 8. |
9. |
10. |
11. |
12. |
13. |
14. |
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|
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Ear canals begin to open
(No interpretation) |
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| |
Eyes begin to open during
this period
(No focus/consciousness or awareness of things seen) |
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|
| 15. |
16. |
17. |
18. |
19. |
20. |
21. |
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The seventeenth through forty-fifth day are very crucial,
the most important days in a dog's life. Use patience.
Can begin to eat gruel.
*END BIO-SENSOR PROGRAM
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Conscious Life
& Learning Begin |
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Konrad Lorenz, Ethologist; wrote
in 1935 about imprinting and the importance to later development.
Stating that the difference between imprinting and conditioning was
that imprinting took place early on in life (first sixteen weeks)
and anything after that stage was conditioning.
During the socialization period, two things can occur. Insufficient
socialization will affect psychological and emotional development
and create behavior issues, temperament problems as fearfulness, undesirable
aggression, sexual inadequacy and bonding issues. Over-mothering too
will stifle sufficient exposure to situations and environment that
will developmentally affect maturation. |
The Second Critical
Period: Days 22-49 |
|
| 22. |
23. |
24. |
25. |
26. |
27. |
28. |
| |
 Puppies first week of conscious life. Need Mother more
than ever this week. They should not be disturbed in any way. (Continue
touch conditioning) A traumatic experience during this time could
have lifelong effect. Puppies intended for compulsive retrievers must
be weaned by day 28, absolutely!
Wean Pups
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|
| 29. |
30. |
31. |
32. |
33. |
34. |
35. |
| Begin sound conditioning with 4-6 loud bangs daily.
Loud noises while they eat, sleep & play. Not while they watch
you. Use pans, cans, whips, tapes, do not omit sounds. Play tapes
from violent videos with gunshots, screaming etc. Use tapes from areas
where dogs may be used. Sound conditioning takes place during days
28 through 42. Dam should not be in visual or auditory range. |
|
|
| 36. |
37. |
38. |
39. |
40. |
41. |
42. |
Follow response should be in isolated area,
away from distractions.
Continue sound conditioning / reinforce follow response. |
|
Test for residue of sound startle
Last Day! |
|
| 43. |
44. |
45. |
46. |
47. |
48. |
49. |
| Play retrieve, sack work (protection dogs). Man-Dog
socialization (Never later) Location and isolation through last critical
period. (crate/airline kennel) offers den type condition. Security.
Begin Short car trips, feed after. Reinforce follow response. |
First swim in tub / pool
Puppy Aptitude Test (PAT) |
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Days 29-49 Canine Socialization
with littermates. Socialization with human society, has ability to
recognize people.
Day 49 (P.A.T.) Puppy
Aptitude Test, scientific approach for understanding the behavioral
tendencies of an individual puppy. Day 49 puppies should leave littermates.
If not possible definitely before twelfth week. Seventh week is optimal
for strong handler attachment, people oriented, not pack oriented
as in dog.
Follow Response. Should begin
by walking backwards as puppy approaches, say “Here”
in association with pups forward motion and praise quietly while turning
and guiding on left. When pup is in correct position (right font leg
paralleled with your left) for heel use (associate) command for “heel”
and praise quietly in modulated voice. A pat on your left hip is similar
to clicker training, associating position, pat sound and praise. |
The Third Critical
Period: Days 50-84 |
|
| 50. |
51. |
52. |
53. |
54. |
55. |
56. |
Man-Dog/Dog-Dog Socialization…..Location/Isolation
Conditioning. Play retrieve. Sack work (protection wk.) Practice show
stance & gait. Night work all areas. Start using flat strap adjustable.
Pfaffenberger Obedience system. Walk on all different surfaces, metal
grass etc.
Test for residue of sound startle
|
| 57. |
58. |
59. |
60. |
61. |
62. |
63. |
House break (Puppy bladder not developed until 12 wks
of age) Continue night work, different lighting. Practice habitual
obed. W/flat collar. Play retrieve, sack work, show gait & stance.
Man-Dog/Dog-Dog Socialization. Location & Isolation Conditioning
Sound Test
Night work
Swim
|
| 64. |
65. |
66. |
67. |
68. |
69. |
70. |
Continue as Previous Week
Night work. Show practice & gait
Habitual Obedience, traffic, crowds, industrial areas different surfaces.
Sound Test
Night work
Swim
|
| 71. |
72. |
73. |
74. |
75. |
76. |
77. |
Continue as Previous Week
Night work. Show practice & gait
Habitual Obedience, traffic, crowds, industrial areas different surfaces.
Sound Test
Night work
Swim
|
| 78. |
79. |
80. |
81. |
82. |
83. |
84. |
Continue as Previous Week
Include Bite-Inhibition (see below)
Fear Imprint Stage 8-10 weeks. Mishandling (strong
first impressions) at this stage can create lasting behavioral problems
that can even become pathological.
Week #8 Collect twelve articles for future tracking
training. All twelve articles should be familiar to pup. Four blocks
pf wood, leather, metal, glass and one special toy.
Week #12 This week you must decide whether or not
you want your puppy to under go Bite Inhibition conditioning. This
is normally done between 12-16 weeks as follows. The puppy must
have free periods with one or more puppies of the same age and size.
When they attack each other they learn to soften or inhibit their
bites. This is not intended for dogs to be used in protection work.
Dogs intended for this purpose should be hard biters and be kept
separated during this period. Stick and sack work are very important
at this time. These types of dogs can be difficult to live with
and you must decide at this time if this is what you want! Not intended
for the novice!!
Supervised socialization, love + security, supervised play with
children, new images for security. Alpha (leadership) pack leader
established. This means “Leadership NOT Dominance”. Allow puppy
to be all they are genetically predisposed to be; build positive
image through direction and many positive experiences: develop learning
through association/direction and many positive experiences. Develop
learning through association and passive inhibition. Absolutely
NO COMPULSION!!! Most important is to have FUN with your new puppy
don’t underestimate, teach puppy how to learn, have patience. Then
allow this puppy to mature emotionally before rigorous training.
Your puppy’s attitude will be indicative of yours. Use your imagination
and offer enrichment, take them to child free play grounds, use
obstacles for fun, create games, go to dog classes frequently for
the socialization and direction. Allow rest times as necessary.
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The Fourth Critical
Period: Days 85-112 |
|
| 85. |
86. |
87. |
88. |
89. |
90. |
91. |
Continue bite inhibition if applicable. Puppy should
be working off lead if following program. Longer isolation periods.
Socialization and location conditioning. Continue night work around
shadows. Work near & around crowds. Retrieve-sack work–gait
& stance. Twelve through sixteen weeks begin introduction to tracking,
this is optimum period for training.
|
| 92. |
93. |
94. |
95. |
96. |
97. |
98. |
Bite inhibition (Do not omit/unless you are skilled
in handling protection dogs) Socialization, man/dog & dog/dog.
Do not stop as they may become de-socialized. Continue as previous
week, constantly reinforcing and building positive experiences. Train
through association with love & patience. Build confidence! Last
three weeks, be consistent in all areas....
|
| 99. |
100. |
101. |
102. |
103. |
104. |
105. |
Keep tracking...Continue as previous week, be consistent,
don’t let up!!
Your efforts are showing if you’ve been consistent in your efforts
& patience. Build confidence through positive experiences. Teach through
association + passive inhibition. This is the formation of a foundation
establishing patterns. For the rest of your companions life. Be consistent,
positive, motivational and learn patience.
|
| 106. |
107. |
108. |
109. |
110. |
111. |
112. |
Keep tracking...Mind still being influenced, continue
positive Reinforcement. Very capable of adopting positive or negative
attitude towards learning & training. Now fully developed only Needs
positive experience. Train through association + passive Inhibition.
Review all parts of program/test all responses / Expose to variety
of new experiences (enrichment/confidence building).
Teething begins be sensitive to swollen gums/low grade temperature
and stress. |
Celebrate “Love”
Attention Discipline Socialization |
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POSTSCRIPT: If you have not followed your program, you can expect to begin months, even years of remedial or corrective training.
If you have conditioned your puppy according to your selected program, you can go forward into any type of training, advanced obedience, guide or service dog, hunting, herding, guarding, Schutzhund sport, or if you just want a companion that is steady and fearless yet reliable amongst men, women, children. Or in crowds, storms, under gunfire and with other dogs you will now have that basis and foundation to continue building upon.
8-10 weeks: Fear imprint stage. Strong first impressions at this stage can create lasting behavioral problems. Not the best time to send a puppy to a new home.
Seventh week best time.
12 weeks: Begin tracking—bite inhibition.
12-14 weeks: Sexual aggression.
22 weeks: Dog brain develops to full maturity.
22-28 weeks: Territorial and group protectiveness.
36-56 weeks: Functional, needs meaningful role (job like function)
Enjoy your companion, continue to have fun & remember to create enrichment in their life.
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