Okay so dog training question. What are your recommendations for the basics a dog needs to know in a pet-only home? We have two doodles* and no interest in showing or anything, just having polite and well-mannered family dogs that can go places without causing problems.
Our older one has passed his manners class and the younger one (still a puppy) is scheduled for the same manners class, but that just teaches basics of sit, down, and come, with a little bit of leash handling that was very focused on collars when we prefer to use harnesses to protect their necks. We're also working on socializing them carefully in dog-friendly public places when it's not Horrifically cold out. What else should we be doing to make our dogs good canine citizens? Is there a checklist?
*(I know these crosses are often looked down on among trainers which is why I am asking on anon) (I promise I did my research and they are both the products of long lines of crosses between parents with vetted coats and personalities and fully health tested elbows knees eyes hips) (the breeder's dogs are often used in local service dog programs)
Honestly? Just a recall and even that I'm wobbly on how necessary it is.
Everything else can be channeled through careful socialisation, well timed rewards, redirections and management. This builds up good habits, prevent the bad and bam you have a good pet dog.
Like I love training, I adore it. But there are plenty of dogs out there who are fine happy and enriched without our formal standardised training and there are plenty of ways to meet their needs without fixating on training and to handle situations without drilling training sessions.
For puppy and pet dog stuff I like ClickStart Dog training. A lot of their focus is on happy pet dogs although they do service dog work too:
What is Socialisation?When you get ready to bring a new puppy into your home you will likely come across the term “socialisation”, but what
I have no issues with doodles. I think the majority are lovely perfectly fine dogs and the issues people have with them are present in any other breed combined with a fundamental misunderstanding of how crossbreeding even works.