Perfect guide dogs must not be too coddled by their mothers, says a new study.
Guide dogs are specially trained to perform certain tasks such as acting as guides for the blind, or working with the military or assisting with illness or injury recuperation in humans. Such dogs are generally chosen according to their breeding instincts and affability with adults and children. The guide dog training begins as soon as puppies show signs of independence.
New Study Reveals Guide Dogs Training at Five Weeks
Five weeks old puppies begin their perfect guide dog training by being exposed to challenges. These challenges are designed to increase their mental comprehension. It also helps them develop their physical abilities to overcome challenges later on.
A new study, conducted at the University of Pennsylvania showed canine mothers who were overly attention and overly indulgent hindered puppies’ guide dog training. Puppies with doting mothers found it harder to meet the challenges of their training programs. The training program was assisted by The Seeing Eye Organization which provides the blind with perfectly trained guide dogs.
Advancing Cognitive Skills in Puppies
Dairy farmers know coddling cows makes them grow too comfortable and decreases the milk production. Puppies that enter guide dog training programs need exposure to a minimal amount of discomfort. This helps them develop natural instincts for survival and self-protection.
Perfect guide gods trained for the blind participate in a controlled environment tests and training. All puppies have individual temperaments, and therefore, not all those involved in the study completed their training due to conflicting personalities with the program’s needs.
Puppies that were not too coddled reportedly completed their training program successfully. As part of this, they were exposed to unexpected situations to assess their ability to rely on their structured training for direction. Obedience to training and trainers also develops with canine aging. The overall results of the university’s testing showed puppies must not be too coddled.
“These puppies were with their mom for only five weeks and it’s having an effect on their success two years later. It seems that puppies need to learn how to deal with small challenges at this early age and, if they don’t, it hurts them later,” states Emily Bray, the study lead.
Study results were released in a paper in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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