Episode 4
New skills for Piper
Posted by Elizabeth Murphy
Welcome back to Piper’s Puppy Pen!
In your last official training update, we told you that Piper had passed her first training milestone, which is her Puppy One Star Award. This means that she has learnt her basic cues like 'sit', 'down' and 'wait', and she has also demonstrated that she can play nicely with other puppies and people.
What a clever pup. Well done, Piper!
Piper is now working towards her second training milestone and has been introduced to impulse control, i.e. learning to think before she acts. Young puppies are naturally excitable and keen to explore, but it’s important that Piper understands that her immediate impulses might not always be the correct thing to do.
The best way to practise this skill is with food! Through positive reinforcement, Piper is learning that she will be rewarded if she can resist the tasty treats placed in front of her.
