New World Barbado da Terceira Kennel

Obedience v. Behavior

Behavior refers to a dog’s natural tendencies and how he or she reacts to different stimuli and environments. Obedience, on the other hand, is about a dog performing specific actions when asked. For example, a dog’s natural inclination to bark at strangers is a behavior, while teaching it to sit on command is an obedience exercise.

A dog’s first four months set the tone for their emotional well-being for life. That’s why behavior matters more than just obedience early on. What happens when they’re puppies shapes their health and how they act forever. After four months, that window for meeting new things and people starts quickly closing.

This is an important time for puppies to bond with their owners, learn how to act, and get comfortable around people and other animals. As you’ve heard, socialization is important for Barbado da Terceira puppies. Dealing with behavior early, through socialization, can stop problems later. 

Socialization is crucial for Barbado da Terceira puppies during a critical developmental period. This early exposure helps them bond with owners, learn appropriate behaviors, and become comfortable around people and other animals. Addressing behavioral issues through socialization can prevent future problems.

For instance, negative attention, even yelling, can worsen undesirable behaviors like jumping or barking. Given the BDT’s natural wariness of strangers, consider this scenario: if your puppy barks at a stranger and you yell, the puppy will not only fear the stranger but also associate the stranger’s presence with being yelled at. This increases their fear, as they now have two sources of anxiety.

Conversely, imagine the positive transformation if a puppy receives a treat when a stranger appears. The puppy might begin to associate strangers with positive experiences, thinking, “Wow, I love strangers because every time I look at a stranger without barking, I get a treat.”

Instead, try ignoring bad behavior and quickly get the dog out of the situation. It’s also key to reward good behavior now, as it helps your dog understand what’s okay. Some big things to look at during this time are how your puppy acts with people and other animals, how they react to being handled, and their overall personality.

You must follow The 97 Ways to Create Great Puppies (below) from the time you get your dog until you finish the lessons. Also, it’s always important for the dog to experience new things throughout its life.

There are also excerpts from newsletters in this section that you may find helpful.

Of course, you can call me at any time to ask questions. You can also study online through the Grisha Stewart Academy.  (But please go to the Barbado da Terceira- USA website, or the New World Barbado da Terceira website and sign up this way – the club receives 10% of the proceeds from your class.)        

strong herding drive

The Barbado da Terceira (BDT) is a strong herding breed. They need patience, training, socialization, and regular exercise to stay well-behaved. Without a job to do, they can get frustrated and behave in ways that may not be acceptable. It’s important to exercise them regularly, both physically and mentally, to keep them healthy. As puppies, they show a strong herding instinct by trying to herd people and may nip at ankles. This behavior is more common and persistent in herding breeds.

smart and loyal

The Barbado da Terceira has been bred for centuries to think for him/herself to solve problems. They need to be able to read the movements of livestock and anticipate their next move in order to effectively herd them. Notice the many cocked heads on the photos page. This is a sign that they are great problem solvers.

Herding dogs are also highly motivated to please their owners. They are eager to learn and work, and they thrive on praise and attention. This makes them easy to train, and it also helps them to develop a strong bond with their owners.

protective

BDTs are cattle herders and not guard dogs, but they will protect their families. Their excellent vision and hearing are due to their herding instinct, which requires them to be aware of their surroundings and potential predators. For this reason, they will bark when they hear strange noises or see strangers coming onto their property.

Neighbors in close quarters, such as in apartment buildings, may not appreciate the breed’s protective instincts. Their barking may cause neighbor complaints when the dogs alert their families to noises from neighbors walking on another floor or passing by the door. In apartments that are well insulated, the dogs will do fine.

sensitive and needs positive reinforcement

The Barbado da Terceira is a sensitive dog that can become anxious or frightened if punished harshly, which can lead to long-term behavioral issues. E-collars are out! They are easy to train and respond to positive reinforcement.

shouldn’t be sent to training camp

New owners who consider sending their puppies to overnight training centers should be aware of the potential long-term consequences. While the training may correct unwanted behaviors in the short term, there is no guarantee that the puppy will not be traumatized, leading to more undesirable behaviors in the long term. This is true even of training centers that come with the best recommendations and that promise to only use positive reinforcement. Puppies are not all the same, and your trainer will not be familiar with the needs of your BDT puppy, regardless of his assertions of familiarity with all dogs. The new puppy must bond with its owners; sending him/her away may lead to depression and feelings of abandonment and will most likely break bonds that have already been formed. There is no replacement for consistent and loving training by its human in the first moments that a new puppy is brought home.