Puppyhood
Online Puppy Training With Julie Forbes
PUPPYHOOD WITH JULIE FORBES
This two-hour video series will lead you through the critically important puppy-raising fundamentals; to give you greater joy and less stress. Like Julie Forbes’ private sessions, Puppyhood with Julie Forbes is a combination of discussion and demonstration. When you watch this series, our intention is that you feel as though Julie is in the room with you, coaching you and your puppy.
”At first I was sure I wanted an in-person session with Sensitive Dog, but that wasn't an option in pandemic times. After watching the Puppyhood video series, I was very glad we'd started there. The videos are simple and clear and short -- which means we can watch them as a family, which means raising our puppy isn't all on me. The tips are easy to practice right away. And easy to watch again later (seeing where we're already slipping up).
Tracy C.
I obsessively research everything, so I had read a book on raising puppies, but it was too much information at once. In the videos you get to hear the tone of voice Julie uses for correction, watch her body language, see how a pen is set up. I'd also watched hours of more advanced training videos: useful but complicated, too long to review again for a refresher, and way too much for my husband and daughter. The Puppyhood course turned out to be just what we needed.
I did have some specific questions (transitioning our pup from potty pads to the back yard, excessive whining if I wasn't around), so we added a phone call. Julie's advice was spot on. Thanks to Sensitive Dog for setting us up for success with our new pup!
The eight sections in this video series are:
House Training
Let’s get straight to it and start house-training your puppy! Sometimes house training is straightforward, and sometimes house training is a nonlinear process, with ups and downs, and twists and turns. Regardless of your individual puppy’s house training process, this puppy house training section teaches you how to communicate constructively with your pup whenever they choose right or wrong, to teach them to go potty where you want them to.
Crate Training
No two puppies are the same. While one puppy might have no problem getting cozy in their crate, another might not even be able to get in one without feeling stressed. This section explains fundamental crate training methods and also discusses how to adjust crate training to your pup’s unique personality and needs.
Chewing and Mouthing
As humans, we use our hands to do everything. Your puppy, on the other hand, uses their mouth the way you do your hands. Your pup’s need to chew on everything they can find is a normal one, and this section helps you teach them to chew on their toys and treats rather than your hands, slippers, or that one leg of your kitchen table. The Chewing and Mouthing section explains how to communicate with your pup to not chew on things you don’t want them to, and how to constructively redirect them to their chew sticks and toys. Teaching your puppy what they may put in their mouth, and what they may not, is part of the process of raising a puppy, and this section will equip you to do so with clarity and confidence.
Socialization
Dogs and people are very similar socially. You probably socialize either way more or way less than many of your friends; your puppy may want to meet every dog on the block, while plenty of others just want their own space. Additionally, dogs, like humans, tend to prefer to socialize with individuals with whom there is an established relationship. Rather than meeting strangers every time we socialize, we tend to gather with friends/family/coworkers, etc. This puppy socialization training section helps you become more intentional about socialization, while also teaching you to adjust to your pup as an individual.
Feeding
It’s time for some guidelines on your puppy’s food and feeding. This section discusses how to structure meal times, as well as the fact that all dog foods are not created equally.
Leash Training
Introducing a leash to your puppy is a big step for both of you to take, so it’s important that you do it properly to avoid leash challenges down the road! Leashes are often a huge part of dogs’ lives, and setting expectations of leash behavior at a young age is a huge opportunity. This section covers the main reasons to be mindful of the associations you create between your pup and their leash to help them feel more comfortable wearing it, as well as how to use the leash as a communication tool, rather than something that just attaches your dog to you.
Basic Skills
Teaching your puppy basic skills makes it easier to communicate with them, but it also helps you understand how they think and learn. This section takes you through the process of teaching your puppy: sit, down, recall (coming when called), leave it (for things that are off-limits), and off (how to greet without jumping up). As you begin to teach your puppy the basic skills in this section, you’ll learn how to engage their brain in a way that teaches them how to truly think, as well as feel calmer from the satisfaction of meaningful mental stimulation and connection through training and relationships.
Puppies and Kids
The last section in this puppy training curriculum is about interactions between children and dogs. It discusses some challenges children can introduce to a puppy’s behavior since they share the same youthful energy and recommended ways for kids to constructively interact with their puppies, to help set everyone up for success This section is for kids to watch with an adult, so that everyone feels encouraged to set guidelines on how kids behave with their new four-legged family member.
Who is Julie Forbes?
Julie Forbes is a nationally recognized dog training expert and holistic dog behaviorist. For more than twenty years, Julie has helped people successfully and confidently raise their puppies into well-adjusted adult dogs. She is the founder of Sensitive Dog, and the creator and host of The Dog Show with Julie Forbes.
