When To Start Training
From the moment your puppy and/or dog enters your life , consistency is key . Deciding what your puppy is allowed to do and the boundaries for what isn’t acceptable is of the utmost importance . A good example of this would be bringing home your 10 week old Mastiff puppy and allowing her to jump up for attention because she’s little and cute. Keeping in mind that this puppy will top the scales between 150-200 lbs …..suddenly this once cute behavior is no longer cute and quite frankly it hurts . Now ,had you banned this behavior from the start , it wouldn’t have become an issue and you’re now stuck correcting the issue. As a trainer I can tell you, it’s trying . Preventing bad behaviors is easier than retraining correct behaviors .
Boundaries and consistency are equally as important in dogs as they are in children . Equally as important is making sure EVERYONE involved in the dogs life is on the same page ….rules can’t differ from one person to the next. Lay out a game plan from day one with the family involved and stick to it.
Training classes , whether group or private, can help get everyone on the same page . Some trainer will only work with one handler , some want the whole family present if possible. I’m in the second group….I prefer everyone present , particularly children . Now the big question is when do you start training ….That’s going to vary based on who you talk to . I personally used to be big on as long as they’ve had their shots , you’re good to go . My opinion on that has changed some over the years . I still stand firmly by starting withing a week of bringing your puppy home getting them started on training . Start with a private in home lessons to allow your puppy to learn from the start and to get your family on the same page , not to mention to allow your puppy to get a better grasp on commands before being thrown into a classroom situation with multiple other dogs and people (This can be overwhelming and rough on any puppy ) . Now on the the other end of the discussion is a lot of vets are saying to wait till the shots are completed( for small breeds that can be all the way up to 6 months based on their weight) …..I love the idea behind this for safety reasons BUT you miss a crucial time where puppies need socialization and exposure . Private lessons, diseases and whatnot aren’t an issue but groups, can be a bit more of a risk . So there is risks with both aspects of the debate, obviously . So now, which way do you go ? I personally started ALL of my pups from day 1 …..literally if memory serves me right and haven’t had an issue . However times have changed and my youngest dog is going on 6 years old …..nowadays we have people not even vaccinating their children . So in my opinion , be selective of where you choose to train at…. use a reputable trainer who asks for copies of vaccination records and flea meds , unfortunately avoid the allure of the big box pet store classes : not for lack of ability on their part , most are great ( I got my start in one) BUT the only vaccinations checked are those going into grooming or training. Meaning people can bring in un-vaccinated , flea infested, disease ridden dogs ALL coming in contact with the same floor as your brand new puppy . Most puppy shots are completed about 4 months old , so the easiest option is to start off with in home private lessons and move up to group classes when your pups ready . If your trainer has a same age, vaccination and flea checked play group to offer in the meantime , join it to get in that super important socialization .
Puppies are like sponges and absorb so much in their first few weeks home…..it is important to start them ASAP into some form of training to get them and yourself off on the right track . Regardless of what you decide on , its ultimately your choice with what you feel most comfortable with. The only mistake is to skip over training and socialization . So the answer is …. It is never really too early nor too late to start training. However in my opinion and I believe I can speak for most trainers across the board, sooner is better.
HAPPY TRAINING!!
