Starting from scratch (How I trained Salvador to be the semi-well behaved dog that he is today)

Sometimes one revels so much in the joys of having a new puppy that training and behavior takes a back seat - this is only natural as few people can resist a clumsy little fluff ball a.k.a. puppy. I was one of you when I first laid eyes on Salvador!

It is very tricky focusing on the task at hand i.e raising a well behaved dog, when confronted with this face...

But a little crash course on the temperament and behavioral traits of the breed brought me back to earth (this wake up call came in the shape of one of those Breed books you can get in the pet/animal section of most bookshops).

Salvador is now 18 months old and I recon he is a pretty well behaved young man, save for the occasional arrogance towards dogs twice his size and/weight at the weekly market (we are in the process of remedying this behavior with the help of Cesar Millan as inspiration - you may choose your own mentor). I compiled a little list of tips that I picked up from rearing Salvador for any of you new moms and dads.

Potty training

It is really not as difficult as it has been made out to be. Salvador almost always needed the loo after a sleep and after a meal so I took him to the same grassy spot every time. Do this every time, without fail and you've won 2/3rds of the battle. Sometimes mistakes happen and then I would just clean the area very thoroughly - scattering some bicarb on the spot after helps to remove the smell, as the smell is the thing that will most likely lure another attempt.

Bonding

I got Salvador a few days before I had to go back to work after Christmas holidays, but I was lucky enough to be able to take him to work with me. I think this did wonders for our relationship and he got to bond with other dogs, children and the car from the very beginning. We were literally never apart for the first two months of me bringing him home. Unfortunately I had to go overseas for work when he was about 3months old, but my neighbors, and owners of his very best friend, Henry looked after him so this was not a train smash.

Exercise

Weekend forest walks

Salvador is an extremely active dog and we are fortunate enough to be living on a farm (not for much longer though...) so we go on at least one walk a day. I try to go once in the morning and once after work and on weekends we work in a proper 30mins to an hour of walking. I'm also teaching him fetch at the moment. This is a great game for all dogs, but especially Spaniels since they are retrievers and therefor you are appealing to their breed characteristics. This game is also great for tiring them out. Salvador also LOVES water and I take him swimming in the nearby dam or in the neighbor's pool as often as possible. This is an amazing tiring out tactic and great for the joints! I will have to get more creative with excising once we move to the city...

Chew toys

If you would like to keep your couches and shoes intact, your best friend is the chew toy! When ever I go to the shops I take a little detour into the pet shop to stock up on hide, hooves etc. I find that Salvador would much rather chew one of those stinky little numbers than my shoes and trust me, this really works as Salvador has NEVER chewed a shoe in his life!

Couches are for hiding in and NOT for chewing!

The lead

I had a collar around his neck from a very early age so he could get used to the idea and whenever we went anywhere he had a lead on so he learnt very quickly. Be patient and gentle with this and if possible use a friend's experienced dog to lead the way.

Have fun with your new puppy and remember to stick by your rules - always!