[Gene]

This is a good thing as he is highly food driven and will make training easier. At this age I would not be training him in the technical sense of the word. At this stage I want the dog focused on me, I want him to feel he needs to be close to me. All the “training” I would do now is luring and shaping. I am not asking the puppy for anything. I don’t ask for a down but when I lure him into a down “Good Down” “Good Boy” and move on. It is basically a play time.

If you scroll down the lesson category to puppies in the lesson section 26 vids will pop up. I would watch first, Luring with Robert and Duane, Puppy Engagement with Nello and The First Things to do with your Dog with Rodert and Duane and go on from there.

[Pamela]

Thank you for the information. I have been bouncing around watching various videos and wondered about where to go first, so this is helpful.

Yes, he is food motivated and should make shaping and luring easier.

One problem is the speed at which he eats when I am not trying to shape or lure him with food.

[Ed]

Why is eating fast an issue? If it is kibble I would add a good amount of water to it, just to make sure there is enough lubrication as it goes down. BTW, more water softer poop, which is not a bad thing I think… though it needs to be a little pasty at least so that he gets his anal glands naturally expressed.

[Pamela]

I guess may be eating fast isn’t an issue. Just didn’t want him to get sick from it.

[Lynn]

Hi Pamela,

We used a slow feeder dish for our mal…( she is just over 2yrs)…but she ate it so fast, she would come over and look at us after she finished (2-3 mins) “did you feed me?….where’s my food?”….lol

We bought a toy from Amazon callled Bob a Lot…..it works fantastic!….very durable….it has a top you unscrew and load the kibble in….there is an adjustable opening…to make it easier or harder…then there is another opening on the bottom side to dispense the kibble ( another adjusting opening)…the dog has to push with their nose, or with paws…it wobbles around and kibble is randomly dispensed….it now takes her 15-20 mins to finish her meal (about a cup and a half of kibble)…she loves it!!….makes a dog work for the food, plus they can only hoover up the one or two pieces that come out…lol….lots of videos on Amazon from people that have one….you can see how it looks…..

Just thought I would pass along the info if you are interested…😀

Lynn

[Pamela]

Lynn, thank you for your reply and suggestion. I have found a kibble dispenser and am trying it on him. It keeps him occupied, lol.

Thank you again.