Just had our first visit with a trainer

by Hella-Buggin' Mon Apr 21 2014, 02:50

We just had a reputable trainer come by the house to give us some pointers and make sure my kids (7 year olds) are on the correct path to raising a well trained civilized Staffy. She gave us some great pointers on how to reduce confusion and train through small successes. One thing that she said, which makes sense I guess, is that we should try and limit the amount of "Hugs" our kids give the puppy. She said that dogs don't really like it and that she's tolerating now because she's small and that it's building a negative association with the kids. I always assumed the opposite.

What do you guys think about this advice?

by **Rachel33** Mon Apr 21 2014, 08:59

Sounds like great advice to me Smile

we're wired up very different to dogs.. Us interacting is like an orang utan interacting with a wolf! Primates interact very much with touch, feel and hugs. Dogs do of course enjoy affection, but I've never seen a dog "enjoy" being cuddled in the sense of arms wrapped around and squeezed in tight. Of course they do enjoy affection; scratches under the chin, snuggling in on laps, resting their head on you etc. But I would agree that they only tolerate our affection on regards to hugs, picking up etc.