They interact freely with each other, adult Miniatures and other kinds of adults and puppies. When a puppy plays a little too hard a gentle fly swatter is applied out of nowhere to the rump – ?What happened? Where?d dat come from?? If the surprising distraction doesn?t work the first time it is repeated once or twice till it does work before a rare time out has to be used. The pup is picked up and loved! One of the first rules a Miniature learns is not to go through a door without permission. The well traveled Miniature needs to learn not to go through any door without permission taught by the adoptive parent for safety and computability. Miniatures start learning these kinds of lessons easily at about twelve weeks of age.
Treats can be any other brand of dog food not usually used and is very economical such as Purina dog food balls which are great to teach the puppies to catch treats in their mouth at about four months. An experienced Miniature can snag a thrown treat out of the air with its mouth like a first baseman snagging a fast ball.
Catching treats tossed to each Miniature is done in order and establishes mutual respect, trust and competition and fun like an old western ?OK everybody, drinks on the house!? Each adult Miniature keeps getting a treat tossed to it until it catches one before moving to the next while the others are free to scramble for the missed treats. But, they?re sharply criticized for trying to intercept the others? catch. Around four months the kept puppies are praised for their first catch and their training continues at a higher level with their new mental and coordination ability. The best store bought toys are the durable squeaking dumb bell rubber bone. Others seem to tear up quickly except for rope and hoof. Empty plastic bottles
and tubs are great toys with new ones daily to chew and smash without seeing frustration on the master?s face. They love to carry empty gallon jugs by the handle.
Potty Training
The paper training begins very early when paper is put in their kennel carrier home at three weeks where they are raised from birth. So they are pretty much paper potty trained when they leave on the airplane and the carrier they travel in seems like their bedroom at home. They need a minimum size 2 x 3 crate when they arrive.
Miniatures train fast! While they are paper potty trained when they leave, the new owner has to be potty trained too and the crate helps! The puppy can get confused as to where the potty paper is in a new place or how to get back to the other end of the house to find it. They prefer to out in the grass but taking away the training paper too soon is like taking a baby?s diaper too soon?they can have an accident when you don?t notice they need to go. It is very important to praise correct potty behavior at every opportunity praise orally, with gestures and treats...?they love it!
Importance of Training and Socializing
TAKE THE MINIATURE PUP EVERYWHERE WHILE THEY ARE GROWING UP!
Then they will automatically be trained and socialized. So, when they are a little older they will mind correctly and do their job of being your obedient protective companion in every imaginable setting without a leash.
People who get Miniatures are just ecstatic about them and feel they ?have completed their family.?
They seem to get along with everything and everyone, even sleeping with the family cat. Of course, you have to socialize and train them. So later when you want to take your Miniature with you as a pal they will know what they need to do to carry their own weight without being a burden?just like a well behaved eight-year old who doesn?t talk.
Miniatures, once trained, are then a buddy who will go along, sit where you tell them to sit, and do what you tell them to do when you tell them to do it, all while sticking with you, not running off and coming when you call. One of the first obedient things they learn in family style raising is they can?t go through doors until they are told or called and this is important.
