Getting Ready for Your Puppy: Before It Arrives
I was eleven years old, and no doubt wearing my 1990’s side ponytail up in a scrunchie, running around in a swishy tracksuit. My dreams of bringing home a dog were becoming a reality. While it would not be my dream dog (a Leonberger), it would be a dog. We had just come home from a month in Alaska where my dad filled in for a missionary doctor. On our way home from the secluded, small mission town, we visited a sled dog ranch, and it was settled; an Alaskan Malamute.
At six weeks we arrived at the responsible breeder's home, to pick out our little girl, and then, two weeks later, we brought her home. For several nights after, we drifted off to sleep to the mournful howling of a forlorn baby Malamute, who, by the evident ringing in our ears, was not as “mute” as the dog book promised. I lay in bed imagining myself deep in the Alaskan wilderness.
By morning, our eardrums, or what was left of them, succumbed to yet another alarming sound. My more timid younger sister was given the gift of a jar of coins, which she would frantically shake, any time our rapidly growing puppy came near her. But our ears were not the only sense to suffer. Our home was soon filled with the smell of a sour apple spray that was doused on every piece of wooden furniture that had already been gnawed.
All of these memories flooded back to me this past February when, at the Westminster Dog Show, the Alaskan Malamute paraded around Madison Square Garden it was announced, “A beautiful family dog, for those up for the challenge”. Shaping a Leonberger is not like shaping an Alaskan Malamute, and their challenges will be different. A Leonberger comes with a temperament that loves everyone, and can be as laid back and chill as you can imagine. But with their sheer size, expecting good manners from day one can be one of the most important gifts you can give to not only your dog, but to your family members (especially the small ones!!! Leos might not realize how big their paws truly are!), and to all the other random people you will pass on your way that will be asking to hug your “Bear”.
We want you to enjoy as much of life with these amazing companions.
So how to create a puppy with good manners? One of the best puppy programs I have ever followed (and I’ve trained multiple Leonbergers with this program), is The Perfect Puppy Course by Will Atherton. If you are like me, and you need a day-by-day program to follow, this is totally it. Honestly, there is so much good material to watch BEFORE you bring your puppy home I would recommend starting on this course any time. I love the approach taken in this course where YOU are trained, as your mindset is shaped to be the kind leader under which your puppy will thrive.
I love this synopsis taken from the website, “Take the stress out of training your puppy with this step-by-step guide covering the entire first year of your puppy's life! Avoid mistakes and ensure a happy, calm and well behaved dog that you can enjoy life with!” The Perfect Puppy Course. Update: I reached out to the academy, and they were kind enough to make us a discount code for 30% off the course: LIONSVIEW . You can also find the discount code applied to the link below.
https://checkout.teachable.com/secure/1233315/checkout/order_byghmmd3?coupon_code=LIONSVIEW
We are so excited to be a part of this journey ahead, and we want to help every step along the way…and we believe you can get there without shaking a jar of coins, or imagining yourself in an Alaskan wilderness.
Serving you always “that your joy may be full”.