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Dog’s Eye View: ‘Sirius’ puppy training

Sandra Kruczek/For Steamboat Today
Dog's Eye View: Sandra Kruczek
Courtesy Photo

I read a fascinating article in the Feb. 12 issue of the Craig Daily Press written by Professor Jimmy Westlake, who teaches astronomy and physics at Colorado Mountain College, Alpine Campus. The article is titled, “Behold the Dog Star.” Of course, the “dog” part of the title caught my attention, but there’s more to it than that.

It was in the early 1980s that I changed my thought process about and implementation of teaching dog training classes. A big part of that was due to a man named Ian Dunbar, a British veterinarian and canine behaviorist who seriously addressed early puppy training.

I had previously become aware of the study by way of a book “Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog,” by J.P. Scott and J.L. Fuller. These men outlined the timeframe we now commonly refer to as the critical or sensitive period of socialization for puppies — between four and 12 weeks of age. The first social bonds are with the mother dog and litter mates, but puppies of this age also need to form bonds with people, other animals and learn about novel objects and environments.



The concept of employing early puppy education had been put forth by other canine specialists. Clarence Pfaffenberger, in his book, “The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior,” wrote about the relationship between delayed socialization and trainability in guide dogs for the blind.

Milo and Margaret Pearsall described “Kindergarten Puppy Training” in the 1970s.



Dunbar took his own work to a new level by addressing the science of positive reinforcement, including better social interaction with families. Though his family friendly puppy classes were designed for companion dogs, he redefined and revolutionized pet dog training.

Dunbar named his program “Sirius Puppy Training,” a lovely play on words. His well-reasoned plan puts into practice puppy training using food treats as a reward for the best behavior. Carefully teaching children how to safely interact with puppies is also an essential part of his program.

“Dogstardaily.com” is another of Dunbar’s contributions to dog owners. It’s a free website with news, blogs and articles about dog behavior. The website includes videos on a variety of topics that frequently arise when raising a puppy or adult dog.

“Sirius” has become a beacon to the world that has forever changed the way much of the companion dog, working and service dog owning world begins training. It’s clear that, whether in a class or on your own, as a dog breeder, owner or shelter volunteer, making the best use of this knowledge has such a profound effect on future dog behavior, it’s almost a crime to let is pass without heed.

Sandra Kruczek is a certified professional dog trainer at Total Teamwork Training, LLC, with more than 30 years of experience.


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