Training
We began our training program over 12 years ago when we first met a family looking for a dog that would be past the puppy age and understand some basic obedience and leash walking. We never thought doing such a small gesture for a family in need would turn out to be something many other families were looking for.
Our training practice begins early with our pups using the Von Folconers way getting the pups adjusted to new sounds and responding to people. The Rule of 7s goes a long way to prepping the pups for the world ahead and helping them adapt to what is before them which is crucial to the early stages of training. The real learning begins at 7 weeks with leash introduction and crate training.
Crate training is a vital tool in helping young pups control their bladder and work through their separation anxiety. This is very important for our Vizsla Puppies. Leash training at a young age begins with letting the pups feel the weight of the leash and just follow us around with it. To encourage the pups to walk on the correct side and keep walking, we use treats often of pieces of kibbles and chicken. After a few days we begin to hold the leash and guide the pups.
Obedience begins with coming to a whistle. Pups are taught a whistle, kiss, or a snap is a sound that means food. Pavlov proved a correlation between action and reaction and we prepare our pups to learn such a vital command when they first start eating food. We use the combined whistle and name to call a pup with “Come” and reward with a yummy treat once the pup has reached us.
Most of the basics Sit, Down, and Stay are learned over the first 2 weeks. We utilize the pups natural behaviors and instincts to teach them each position. We go one step further with our trained pups by teaching them fun tricks to make training more versatile and enjoyable. These tricks are a mixture of High 5, Sit Up, Dance, Roll Over, and Crawl. Not all pups master all the tricks but we do incorporate them in the training practice. It becomes a routine one that we teach each family that is adding a trained dog to their home.
Over the years our training program has grown to include Started Level, Fully Trained, and Young Adults. We send each Trained Golden Retriever and Vizsla home with a cheat sheet that covers the commands and hand signals, a training DVD, and if purchased at the Fully trained level or higher a free training collar.
Started pups are like kindergartners. They practice multiple times a day. They have learned the basics but still need help to do things correctly. They have started potty training and can hold it for usually up to 45 min in the house, are crate trained, walk on leash, sit, high 5, sit up, dance, roll over, lay down, crawl, stay and learn fetch. However, as a puppy they have short attention spans. They are still working on stay, come, retch, potty training and proper leash etiquette and they understand what needs to be done to get a treat. Like a kindergartner who knows their ABC’s but still need help, they know not to color on the table but they still might.
Fully trained are like 10 year olds. They understand wrong, their commands, how to play well with others, but can still lose focus so they still need a leash. These dogs walk on leash, are crate trained, potty trained up to 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours, understand their commands with hand signals, and have learned fetch. Different pricing on these are based on ability and age.
Young Adults are potty trained, and work off leash in addition to everything above. Pricing depends on level, type of training, whether they are altered, and have had their elbows and hips evaluated. Most of our Young Adults will have passed their AKC Canine Good Citizenship test.
Disclaimer: Puppies, are not programmable and do not all reach the exact same level. Like Children some pups will have harder times in certain areas and it is impossible to fully guarantee perfect training with every pup. Continuing success at home has as much to do with the new family as our training so it is important for you to be prepared to keep practicing with the tools given. Golden Meadows does guarantee that they will have worked hundreds of hours with each puppy and will do everything possible to prepare your puppy and you. Golden Meadows will provide training instructions, DVD videos and a lifetime of support so you can continue training and socializing your pup.