The Golden Rules of Positive Puppy Training. Jean Cuvelier

an environment with limited stimuli, he cannot achieve much.

      Environmental Influence

      A dog’s brain is not completely developed at birth. It is made up of a set of poorly organized neurons. Stimuli from the environment cause the brain to organize itself into a network of functional neurons. The more numerous and positive the stimuli are, the more numerous and stable the connections (synapses) between neurons will be.

      This cerebral plasticity allows the puppy to escape genetic determinism, as many personality traits are only expressed in the presence of certain environmental factors. Thus, two dogs with the same genotype may, depending on their individual histories, have two different personalities.

      Training is essential for the puppy to stabilize neural connections among the set of possible connections provided by their genetic makeup.

       Genes are nothing more than a promise whose fulfillment depends on the environment.

      The Brain-Development Timeline of a Puppy

      When a dog becomes an adult, learning deficits are difficult, if not impossible, to overcome.

       At birth, a puppy is like a rough diamond whose eventual quality depends on his environment, and his owner is somewhat like a jeweler, helping the puppy fulfill his potential.

      VARYING ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

      Maternal Relationship

      In his mother’s womb, a puppy feels his mother’s stress through hormones (e.g., cortisol, adrenaline). These hormones affect the brain’s development and maturation and increase the puppy’s sensitivity to subsequent environmental stimuli.

      After the mother gives birth, an invisible bond is created between her and the puppies. The mother becomes a secure base from which the puppies can go out and explore the world. A calm, well-socialized mother will encourage her puppies to explore and give them self-confidence. Conversely, an anxious, poorly socialized mother will limit her puppies’ exploration and increase their fear of the outside world.

       An adult dog’s emotional Stability is largely influenced by the maternal environment in which the puppy lived.

      The saying “like mother, like puppy” holds true; therefore, it is important to meet the mother before adopting a puppy. A well-socialized mother, who is cared for properly by her breeder, has every chance of having well-adjusted puppies.

       THE VET’S ADVICE

      It is through contact with their mother that puppies learn to live in society with their fellow dogs, other animals, and humans. The recommended age for letting puppies go to their new homes is eight weeks, and you can even request that your puppy stay a few more weeks with his mother and siblings to further his initial training, especially if the environment in which they live is similar to your puppy’s future environment.

      Feeding

      The brain’s development and proper function requires a supply of various nutrients, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA: omega-3 fatty acid), an essential component of neuronal membranes. Increasing the mother’s DHA intake during gestation and lactation improves her puppies’ learning ability. In contrast, DHA deficiency affects the functioning of a puppy’s brain, resulting in a decrease in learning ability (e.g., attention and memory disorders) and a disruption in exploratory behavior.

       THE VET’S ADVICE

      During gestation, puppies ingest amniotic fluid in which certain food substances—in particular, aromatic substances such as herbs and flavorings—from their mother’s diet are found. These same substances are also found in the mother’s milk. Thus, depending on their mother’s diet, puppies acquire certain food preferences.

      Social Relationships

      At birth, a dog does not know that he is a dog. Identity construction, i.e., the way in which a dog defines and recognizes himself, develops in the initial weeks of his life, when he is in constant contact with his mother and littermates. If a young puppy is abandoned by his mother and is adopted by a cat, he will consider himself a cat; the same is applicable if he is adopted by humans. Therefore, some dogs prefer humans and refuse any contact with other dogs.

      Experiences

      From the third week of life, a puppy becomes sensitive to the stimuli of his environment and becomes curious; this is the socialization period. Each new experience generates fairly strong emotions. When the puppy feels overwhelmed, he seeks comfort from his mother. Thus, to successfully adapt to their future living environments, puppies must be immersed in a stimulating environment during their initial weeks, surrounded by the reassuring affection of a well-adjusted mother and, once adopted, by that of their owners, who will encourage them in their discovery of the world.

      Training

      The manner in which a puppy is trained will shape his perception of the world. Coercive training based on punishment will lead to distrust of humans, whereas positive training, which is based on encouragement and rewards, will establish a bond of trust between the puppy and his owner; it will facilitate the achievement of the puppy’s full potential. This is the essence of positive training!

      The Brain Is a Sponge

      A puppy’s brain is constantly active; it absorbs everything. Spontaneous activity formed by past experiences influences a puppy’s behavior and perception of the world. If subjected to several negative emotions, a puppy will have difficulty feeling positive emotions, and vice versa. Thus, a puppy can become either a shy and timid adult or one who is happy and open to the world and to others. The earlier the negative emotions start, the greater the damage.

The Breed Does Not Hake the Dog

       A dog’s personality is not determined by outward appearance, and love at first sight never lasts. More important than the breed is the close relationship that you will build with your dog and the positive training that you will give him, which will make him a well-adjusted, happy, obedient, and loving companion. However, a dog’s skill set and physical makeup should correspond with his future tasks and environment. The following breed classifications are those of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the “world canine organization.”

      THE DIFFERENT BREEDS AND THEIR SKILLS

      All dog breeds were initially selected by humans to assist them in different tasks: big game hunting, pest control, game spotting, guarding, pulling, herding, companionship, etc. Thus, they were classified into groups according to their skills and physical makeup. Although dogs no longer work as much today, they do retain certain abilities that they happily demonstrate if given the chance.