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A Must Know Secret for Puppy Owners – Puppy Training – Garrettsville

Black Labrador - Puppy Training - Garrettsville

Written by Ohio Dog Trainer (Middlefield)

Puppy Training - Middlefield Ohio - Articles

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May 16, 2018

Four Legged Scholars LLC – Puppy Training – Garrettsville and Surrounding Areas

Many people are not aware of this important secret. It will change you and your puppy’s entire life. Without knowing this secret you could have added stress in your life than you actually want or need.

So what is this secret? Puppies have a socialization window that closes between 3 to 4 months of age. This means that if you puppy isn’t introduced to multiple situations, people and dogs during this time period, your puppy many develop fears or aggression problems.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior agrees.

Of course your puppy can be change through puppy training. Garrettsville owners need to realize it is not a lost cause. However, prevent is much easier.

When you get a puppy from a breeder you want to make sure that your puppy is no less than 8 weeks of age. If your puppy is taken away from his litter mates when he is younger than 6 weeks he may have communication issues with other dogs.

It is crucial to have sibling time to learn how to properly communicate and read dog body language.

It is also best to get your puppy from a breeder that is already working on socialization. A breeder that keeps the puppies in an enclosed room, crate, ex-pen, outdoor kennel, etc. is not ideal.

Your puppy needs to be exposed to everyday life circumstances and unusual circumstances in a positive fashion. Puppy Culture explains this very well.

If he is not then he many perceive certain things as danger that are actually safe. This can include: certain types of people, dogs, environments, locations, objects, etc.

Have you heard of puppy that is scared of men? He may not have been around men before he was 4 months of age. This is actually more likely than being abused by a man.

Right now, we are working with a client that has a Labrador puppy that is 5 months of age, named Bella. She is scared of new people in any environment.

Her breeder didn’t adequately socialize her and the owners received her at the end of her socialization period at 4 months. Of course, I know a ton about puppy training, Garrettsville will benefit because Bella will learn to like people over time.

I personally have a heart of gold, and I am happy to help out Bella. I know all will work out. I do want others to know and Bella’s owners to know that this problem can be prevented through a little socialization before 4 months of age.

Here is a video of Bella so that you can see a puppy that feels tons of fear. Watch how her behavior shifts as we do more puppy training. Garrettsville is where Bella lives.

Do the following and make sure the associations are positive before your puppy is 4 months of age for proper socialization.

1.) Have your puppy meet numerous people. Skinny people, heftier people, young kids, babies, older seniors, people of different skin colors, males, females.

Having a puppy party at your house with tons of people is good for this as long as it is positive for your puppy.

2.) Take your puppy to numerous locations. Do NOT keep your puppy indoors because he is not fully vaccinated.

Instead consciously avoid off-leash dog parks and places where there is a large amount of dog diseases. Walking your dog around your neighborhood, into stores, to the vet, etc. These areas will be pretty safe disease-wise.

3.) Acclimate your puppy to different surfaces such as: rocks, dirt, glass, grass, pavement, grates, hardwood floors, linoleum, carpet, etc.

4.) Take your puppy on / through numerous obstacles like stairs, tunnels, bridges, etc. A playground is a great place for this.

You can enjoy socialization without doing puppy training. Garrettsville has numerous playgrounds.

5.) Get your puppy acclimated to many objects that he is likely to see in his lifetime: tents, camp fires, bikes, wheelchairs, skateboards, crutches, skis, etc.

6.) Introduce your puppy to known dogs. I recommend staying away from unknown dogs and have your puppy only play with friendly adult dogs or other friendly puppies.

If for some reason you are struggling with socialization call us and we can help you with puppy training. Garrettsville and surrounding areas is where we serve. We can do sessions inside your home and in public environments to help with socialization.

Johanna Teresi, Garrettsville Puppy Trainer, Four Legged Scholars LLC, Puppy Training, Garrettsville

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Jessica Weinman
Jessica Weinman
15:28 12 Nov 24
Johanna transformed the behavior of my two large dogs. She not only helped them, but help me become a better dog mom and trainer for them. The improvement of the dogs was immense and it’s easier to handle them together now. I can’t thank her enough for the work she put in with them and me.
Jodie Lawless
Jodie Lawless
23:10 20 Aug 24
Johanna of Four Legged Scholars is exceptional. Johanna is very knowledgeable about dogs and their behaviors. I appreciate Johanna and her training of our MiniPoodle pup and us! Johanna taught us alot with patience , kindness, fun, and work! I would recommend Johanna and " Four Legged Scholars LLC" to anyone that needs help training their dogs or puppies.
Danielle Hope
Danielle Hope
13:48 26 Jul 24
After the loss of our blue heeler. We adopted a young 2 year old blue heeler that didn’t have any training. When we 1st got him he was going to the bathroom in the house, playing with humans like we were pups (strong and bitty), waking up everyday at 4am, jumped on everyone entering the house, pulling/ jumping while walking, playing tug with leash, chasing cars, grabbing food off the counter and barking at us while eating our food.We contacted Johanna with all of this being so overwhelming for our family.Johanna was so much support through all the struggles and was a life saver teaching us how to how to train our young herding dog. She was friendly and understood everything going on through zoom classes. She worked around our schedule. The zoom classes were very beneficial for learning.Thank you so much Johanna for all the support and creating peace in our home 🏠 🐕 ❤️
Cindy Sheehan
Cindy Sheehan
18:57 06 Sep 23
Johanna was very thorough and offered many good suggestions and examples to train for or correct various behaviors. I liked that her training methods were very positive and based on science - and that they really worked. Our dog absolutely LOVES her!
Kathleen Clyde
Kathleen Clyde
00:10 05 Sep 23
Johanna is a really special trainer. We signed our rescue dog Scout up for training because she almost ran away chasing deer in our neighborhood. Scout also pulled really hard on the leash and I was afraid someone might fall when walking her.Johanna helped us fix all that and more. Scout is a boxer hound mix, so her smell/chase instinct is really strong. Using all positive reinforcement, we were able to train her to go "easy" on our walks and not pull the leash. Scout also comes when we call her, even facing tough distractions like other dogs or food. We can now walk her off leash on trails and be confident she'll stay near or next to us and not run off chasing something. She also learned other commands like sit/stay, go get it, and lay on your bed.We humans were trained too! We learned what harness and leashes to use, which treats were best, when to treat her, how to get her interested in training, how to progress through a more complex command, and more. Johanna really knows both animal and human psychology, and working with her was such a fulfilling and rewarding experience — well worth the investment. Scout loved her and we did too. We cannot recommend her strongly enough!
Kit Blair
Kit Blair
18:01 05 Jul 23
When our newly adopted dog started showing ‘stranger danger’ and other anxiety related behaviors, our veterinarian recommended that we contact Johanna Teresi at Four Legged Scholars. Johanna reviewed the issues we were seeing and developed a training plan. We were able to do the working sessions with her using live Zoom and videos of our ‘homework’. Johanna also has a significant file of relevant training videos that she shared to help reinforce the training modification techniques. We are following the training plan and continue to see incremental improvements in our dog’s behavior. We have also been able to apply what we learned to other issues such as separation anxiety and leash walking. We are more confident going forward with a happier dog! Kudos to Johanna and The Four Legged Scholars program.
D Kintop
D Kintop
18:40 08 Nov 24
I highly recommend the personal training sessions! Johanna's approach is to teach YOU how to train your dog using positive reinforcement and she will break down all of the finer details that can really boost the effectiveness of your training sessions with your dog. All of the goals are tailored to you and your dogs needs. You will see improvements in your dogs behavior and more importantly you will feel an improved sense of connection with your dog. Can't reccomend four legged scholars enough!
Bradley Woodrum
Bradley Woodrum
18:38 15 Aug 24
Johanna was amazing to work with! This was my first time working with a trainer for my new puppy and she made it fun to learn alongside my dog. It was a very pleasant experience!!
Cyndi Istre
Cyndi Istre
14:34 20 Apr 24
Johanna has been a God send inhelping us learn not only the basic ways of dog training but in how we as humans contribute to our pups behaviors. Biting, jumping and potty training were our biggest challenges and accomplishments. Johanna provided us with the training and informational tools to be successful. She also provided guidance in changing our behavior and reactions to achieve the positive results we were looking for.
Christina Fleck
Christina Fleck
18:11 15 Mar 24
Johanna has been super helpful and knowledgeable in helping me train our puppy. We went over several techniques including practicing not pulling while on the leash. Our puppy is very responsive to the training tools Johanna has taught my children and me. She’s a wonderful person and a terrific trainer! Highly recommend!
Caleb Edwards
Caleb Edwards
19:11 20 Dec 23
Working with Johanna was an absolute pleasure and my crazy Corgi Skye enjoyed it very much as well. Johanna was extremely diligent and patient with her and myself throughout our learning process. She explained the concepts very well and broke them down into simple to understand steps, which was super impactful for me. It’s a lot of information to learn at once but taking it a step at a time truly helps comprehension. She has helped us get Skye on track to being a calmer and more welcoming household dog and also helped us find better ways to get Skye’s energy out when she needs to. If you need assistance or advice on training or just being better connected with your pets, I would highly recommend Johanna!
Rosemary Krupar
Rosemary Krupar
18:04 01 Dec 23
Johanna's positive training system has not only helped our dog but has also helped us to be better pet owners. By learning our dog's body language and applying our own calm demeanor and positive reinforcement, we can help her maintain her own level of calmness during what used to be stressful situations for her. The knowledge and the tools we have gained with Johanna have brought about a more peaceful and pleasant relationship with our dog, Ginny. We highly recommend Johanna for your dog training needs.
Kathleen Clyde
Kathleen Clyde
17:25 22 Sep 23
Johanna is a really special trainer. We signed our rescue dog Scout up for training because she almost ran away chasing deer in our neighborhood. Scout also pulled really hard on the leash and I was afraid someone might fall when walking her.Johanna helped us fix all that and more. Scout is a boxer hound mix, so her smell/chase instinct is really strong. Using all positive reinforcement, we were able to train her to go "easy" on our walks and not pull the leash. Scout also comes when we call her, even facing tough distractions like other dogs or food. We can now walk her off leash on trails and be confident she'll stay near or next to us and not run off chasing something. She also learned other commands like sit/stay, go get it, and lay on your bed.We humans were trained too! We learned what harness and leashes to use, which treats were best, when to treat her, how to get her interested in training, how to progress through a more complex command, and more. Johanna really knows both animal and human psychology, and working with her was such a fulfilling and rewarding experience — well worth the investment. Scout loved her and we did too. We cannot recommend her strongly enough!
Christi LaPrairie
Christi LaPrairie
17:58 16 Sep 21
I felt pressured to pay prior to services.
Donna Shaffer
Donna Shaffer
19:51 04 Sep 18
Our dog, Bella, was skittish around new people. She would bark and growl. Our veterinarian recommended training. We contacted Johanna from Ohio4LeggedScholars. Johanna taught us counter conditioning and commands paired with treats. Bella has responded well to the training. She has become more comfortable with new people and new situations. We learned to watch Bella's body language to know when she is feeling confident and comfortable.Thank you Johanna!
rachel downey
rachel downey
19:32 23 Aug 18
I love them. Before they came, my dog max, didnt know how to sit for anything, he kept pulling on the leash when we went for walks on our road, and he kept not waiting when we tried to take him out. He would bolt out. Now he sits a waits for the leash to get it on him. Hes such a great listener now.
Stacey Brazie
Stacey Brazie
00:23 26 Jul 18
We were ready to rip our hair out when I found Johanna online. I contacted her and discussed our problems with our 1 year old Lab Laney. She was jumping on us, afraid of people, barked at everyone/everything that walked by, walked horribly on a leash, and barged at the door when someone was there. Johanna immediately reassured me that she could help! She taught us the different signs that our dog gives us. She also taught us about counter conditioning. She gave us the tools we need to change Laney’s behavior. It is not an overnight fix. You need to be able to work with your pup until it sinks in. Laney has made much improvement in all areas! We are grateful to have found Johanna!!!
David McCoy
David McCoy
02:49 21 Jun 18
Four Legged Scholars provided our family with the expertise and guidance needed to train our new puppy Drew. Trainer Johanna Teresi was the perfect person to help us. Johanna's calm demeanor, excellent knowledge and organized approach allayed any fears that we had about dog training. Drew responded well to her weekly training visits and our ongoing daily training routines. My family wholeheartedly recommends Four Legged Scholars and Johanna Teresi as fantastic and caring solutions when one considers the best method to train your dog.Dave McCoy Ravenna, Ohio
Karen A
Karen A
20:25 10 Jun 18
I contacted Johanna when Cooper was almost 6 months old. He had major issues with jumping on people and constantly barking at other dogs. I was impressed with her persistence and patience when training. She probably spent as much time training me as we spent training Cooper. Classes are over for now and Cooper has met all but one of the goals that we set for him. Johanna has given me the tools and techniques to continue to train him, and I am confident that he/we will someday be able to walk in the park without his barking at every dog he meets. Taking the class has and will continue to benefit my relationship with Cooper for years to come. Thank you Johanna.
Sandy Bailey
Sandy Bailey
00:19 12 Mar 18
Johanna Teresi with Four Legged Scholars helped my husband and I so much with our Chocolate Lab, Autumn. It has been years since we have had a puppy and forgot how much work they can be. Our major concern was how excited Autumn would get when we would get company or our grandchildren would come over. Autumn would jump on everyone. The little kids would get knocked down. My husband and I finally said, we're calling for help and called Four Legged Scholars and spoke with Johanna. Johanna was able to see what we were doing wrong and how we were causing more stress for Autumn by being stressed ourselves and within a few sessions we could see a hug change in Autumn's behavior. Johanna showed us how to react to Autumn"s jumping on our guest. We let all our guest know how to respond if Autumn tried to jump on them and they were all great about helping with the training. We providing a video to Johanna that my grandson took while having a birthday celebration with a house full of people. Johanna was able to look at our video and see that her techniques were working and she could see the improvement in Autumn the next time she came to our door. Autumn's behavior is so much better and we are not afraid for guest to come over or be embarrassed at Autumn"s behavior anymore. The leash training was also extremely helpful. Autumn was constantly biting at her leash and actually had bitten them to the point of breaking her leashes. I was amazed at how the clicker training works, but it was great.Thank you Johanna!
Portage Rescue
Portage Rescue
16:39 24 May 17
Johanna has been volunteering her time at the County Dog Warden for several months. I love her positive methods. She is very patient with the dogs even when they are acting hyper. Johanna explains everything to me and takes notes so I know what she has done with each dog. I strongly recommend her progressive and positive methods. She has helped me learn so much.
Jamie Flanders
Jamie Flanders
19:34 17 May 17
Johanna was a mentor for me when I was first starting out as a dog trainer. I took my very first puppy class through her with my very first puppy. Johanna is unfailingly kind, not only to the dogs that she works with but the people as well, which is a great trait for a dog trainer to have. Many trainers can work with dogs but have very poor people skills but if you want to make a difference for the dog you have to be able to reach the person. Johanna helped shaped me into the trainer I am today and with her initial guidance my puppy turned into a great companion and muse.
Robyn Jones
Robyn Jones
01:26 13 May 17
Johanna Teresi with Four Legged Scholars is an incredible trainer. She constantly goes above and beyond the expectations of her clients. I watched her train her own dog in the kindest of ways. She thinks so easily from the perspective of the dog, and is always making sure that the dogs needs are being met as well as the owners needs (both emotional and the training goals). Her classes move smoothly as she is very knowledgeable about all things positive reinforcement. She uses the clicker training and it works magically. She really knows her stuff and uses those skills fantastically. She is the only trainer I'd let help me train my dog.
Ruth Weisman
Ruth Weisman
20:22 12 May 17
I had the opportunity to observe Johanna's work for about two years. She is committed to ethical training through humane practices and tuning herself and her clients to their dog's behaviors and needs. In her own home she focused on addressing even the comfort level of her dog as her family grew, making sure that he felt safe with an over excited toddler as well as successful training to lessen his barking at the door. I highly recommend Johanna for both basic dog training and specific needs. She'll tailor the training to suit your pet and your family.
Angie Kieffer
Angie Kieffer
16:05 11 May 17
I met Johanna about 8 years ago, and I was a full-time parent. I had four kids and four animals. One of my dogs needed training. I see my animals as equals, so I was looking for a positive way to connect with my dog that didn’t involve alpha rolls. One of my dogs, Karma, was very skittish.I had Johanna come to my home. She taught me that my feelings of anxiety were being projected on my dog. I learned to shift and let go of my thoughts and emotions especially around fear and anxiety. I was then able to be more present and focused with Karma. She was able to release her anxiety. Karma has gained more confidence around people, places, dogs, grooming, and other animals such as horses and cows. Johanna taught me how to allow Karma to have her own experience and to not project my own life experiences and thoughts onto my dog.Working with Johanna was a rewarding opportunity. I would recommend Johanna to anyone looking for a successful option to positive reinforcement training with their dog.
Susan Steinwand
Susan Steinwand
17:28 10 May 17
I volunteered with Johanna for about one year, attending and assisting in her group courses. Having met numerous dog trainers using varying training techniques, I can say with confidence that Johanna truly cares about her clients, both human and canine, and will work together to ensure a happy, understanding relationship between pet and owner. She teaches with positive methods that help owners understand how to effectively and kindly communicate with their dog, which results in better training outcomes. One thing that makes her training unique is that she not only focuses on how to modify the dog's behavior, but also helps owners understand how their actions can affect the dog's behavior, and how changing them can help the dog to learn more quickly.I have been using Johanna's training methods with my own dog, Aspen, and in the short time we have had her, she has already learned so much and we have clear, mutual understanding of each other. Whenever I have difficulty with training a behavior, or get frustrated, I think back to Johanna's words and am able to re-approach the situation and get better results.I highly recommend Four Legged Scholars for anyone seeking help training their dog. Johanna creates an open, fun, and accepting environment where owners can learn how to have a loving relationship with their well-behaved dog.
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