Puppy Training | 8 Weeks of Progress | Portuguese Water Dog

[@mikemcguire3676]

We had a Portie for 15 years, and he had to be put down recently. We're getting another one very soon. I want to commend you on your strong leadership and clear training for Stella. PWD are not easy dogs to own, but if you train them with a firm hand, and provide clear pack hierarchy placement, they are brilliant dogs. Congratulations on raising a happy and well adjusted Portie.

[@dog-blog]

So sorry my friend!

[@fprintf]

Stella is doing an awesome job, and you are too!

[@porties-and-pedals]

Thank you! She's been such a great first puppy

[@dog-blog]

Great job with her!!!

[@seancarpenter4759]

Great job with her.

[@ZiloBalo]

Love love love it! What awesome dogs and she's no exception :) great job

[@porties-and-pedals]

Thank you!

[@kpopcornsuss1081]

Stella is so cute 🥺♥️

[@romanabramov1079]

You are doing great

[@caitlintaylor7321]

You two are doing an amazing job. I have been researching what dog to get. I think PWD is the one! Have you taken a dog obedience class or are you just that great at training? You are a pro!

[@porties-and-pedals]

Thank you Caitlin! We have actually never had a dog, let alone pet before we got Stella. We did enroll her in puppy kindergarten, where she attended six, 1 hour sessions with us and five other dog families. Apart from that, 98% of her training has been at home with us. We learned a lot in the classes and from other KZbin guides online. Consistency is key. Remember, every interaction with your dog can be a training experience. PWD's are a lot of work, but as with most things, you get out of it what you put into it. They are phenomenal animals. Good luck with your dog search!

[@caitlintaylor7321]

@@porties-and-pedals thanks for replying! I'm definitely trying my best to research online and in my lil city. PWD seem to check off all the wants & needs for our family. My two boys 7 & 4 have been asking for a dog for a year now so I have been learning as much as I can about dogs since then :) She is a beautiful dog. I'm excited for more videos to come!

[@kenozyz9389]

Ahhhh I want a PWD!

[@vc983]

What did you do to train so well? Did you use a system a package from a trainer?

[@porties-and-pedals]

We mostly watched lots of different KZbin videos and had a training plan in place before we even took ownership of Stella. We also enrolled in a local puppy kindergarten class. This video was after she finished her first session. The class was 1 hour 1x a week. In addition she got about 30 minutes of active training per day over the first 16 weeks we had her. She also got lots of passive training too. After that we toned down the training to about 2x a week. Consistency during both active and passive training is key. Every interaction with your dog is an opportunity to teach good or bad behavior. I need to make another video showing how brilliant she is today. We stopped doing active regular active training with her at about the 8 month mark. Now we just train her to correct behaviors or sometimes teach new tricks and commands.

[@Justouttheredancing]

I have been researching Portie’s and was a bit worried about their high energy. But Stella is doing amazingly well. You guys are brilliant at training her. Have you got any tips for starting out? Did you read anything in particular?

[@porties-and-pedals]

Thank you Leila! Stella is actually our first ever pet/dog/puppy. She is simply amazing. Don't get me wrong, Stella is a very high energy dog. We try to walk her 2-4 miles each day and make sure she always has a toy or treat nearby. Even with that she does do some crazy zoomies in the house a few times a day.....I'll post that video soon :) Training is also a great mental stimulation that she absolutely loves, and it helps keep her energy levels down. To prep for training I did a ton of youtube research, however almost everything I learned on my own was covered in a puppy training course we signed up for. Honestly I would highly recommend a puppy kindergarten/training class nearby. You're already going to be paying thousands for a reputably bred PWD, spending $2-300 is a great investment, and will end up saving you research time. We paid $225 for 8x 1 hour sessions. If there is something in particular you'd like to see I can make a video for it!

[@Justouttheredancing]

@@porties-and-pedals thanks Jon. Nothing particular to see but I am looking forward to seeing more videos of Stellas progress. Thanks for the tips on training classes; I totally agree they are money well spent. I’ll keep watch for new videos. Enjoy your bundle of fun!

[@williamrodriguez4072]

@@porties-and-pedals thank you

[@monsoongurl]

Hey Jon, can you please share which training method are you using with Stella, we will get our PWD in 3 weeks, want to be prepared. :)

[@porties-and-pedals]

Hi Shivoham, We use positive reinforcement training through the use of a "clicker". There are tons of videos on KZbin that outline this, but I could make one if you're interested. For "punishment" we'll use a short time out, but she has to misbehave for this to happen. However, I would strongly recommend a multiweek long in person training course, like a puppy kindergarten. A reputable bred PWD is going to cost thousands of dollars, so a few hundred on a local in person training program is well worth the money. I can say nearly everything I learned through independent study was covered during the in person classes. Congrats and good luck on your new pup!

[@monsoongurl]

@@porties-and-pedals Thank you for explaining clearly, that was helpful. Is this result of 2 months of inhome training? its absolutely amazing. i havent seen an obedient pup like Stella. would really be nice if u could make clicker training and time out video.

[@porties-and-pedals]

@@monsoongurl yes this is a result of 8 weeks of in person training, along with 4x 1hr puppy kindergarten classes. They're smart pups and love to learn! I'll add a clicker training video to my list.

[@monsoongurl]

@@porties-and-pedals sure thing, thanx once again

[@orteot448]

Where can I get one

[@porties-and-pedals]

Look up a reputable PWD breeder in your area. We found ours after joining a PWD facebook group. I'd recommend finding a preservation breeder if possible. Also be prepared to spend $2800+ for a puppy. Ours was $3250

[@cripnuggets]

Is her coat the wavy or the curly?

[@porties-and-pedals]

She's a curly :)

[@fuexiong88]

My dog is dumb

[@mikemcguire3676]

No it's not. Porties are just wicked smart.