First Things I’m Teaching My Puppy
Sit? Down? Stay? Heel? Nope.
Her name (of course).
“Get your TOY” (If you don’t want a puppy biting your hands, toes, clothes, furniture, other dogs, everything in reach . . . what do you want them to put their teeth on?
“Bring it!” (Because every self-respecting border collie plays fetch and it’s a really good way to burn puppy energy.)
Go into your crate without me throwing food in there first. (Sure, they’ll fall for the lure a few times, but they’re not stupid.)
Pitching a fit doesn’t work to get you anything. Being quiet does. (Frustration tolerance. And “it’s not all about you”.
I won’t pry things out of your mouth (unless it’s an emergency) so you don’t have to guard things from me.
People are awesome, dogs are great, the world is fun . . . but I will protect you if something is scary.