Puppy Training

“When can I start training my puppy?”

This is one of the most common questions I hear, and there are still lots of misconceptions out there about this issue. Forgive me for yelling, but YOU SHOULD START TRAINING YOUR PUPPY THE DAY YOU GET HIM!!! Or sooner… some of my clients even do a session prior to bringing puppy home so they’re fully prepared and ready to rock and roll when puppy shows up! Many people, even some pet professionals, believe that puppies can’t start formal training until they’re 4-6 months old. Decades ago, puppies didn’t begin training until they were 6 months old, due to the fact that most training at that time was done with very forceful, compulsive training methods that were too harsh for young puppies. Today’s modern techniques that focus on shaping behaviors at a slower pace through the use of praise, play and food rewards allow training to begin early and to be a positive experience for both puppy and owner.

Building good habits is easier and more fun than breaking bad habits, so, with puppies and with all dogs, the sooner the better when it comes to starting a good, consistent training program.

But don’t worry, all is not lost – even if you’ve had your puppy for a day, a week, a month or even 13 years! It’s never too late to start training, but why not save yourself some frustration by starting early?

“What’s the difference between puppy training and dog training?”

Well, not everyone will agree with me on this one, but, frankly, I think there’s not too much difference between the two. I believe that ALL dogs should be started off with simple exercises that don’t involve force, and that training exercises can become more challenging based on the dog’s temperament and progress. Training programs of this type are as well suited to young puppies as they are to more mature dogs.

Your trainer’s level of experience working with dogs of all ages comes into play here, as do the methods your trainer uses. Less experienced trainers may have difficulty judging how quickly your puppy’s training should progress and trainers who use exclusively correction-based methods are probably not the best choice for young puppies.

Some training schools offer puppy socialization classes that teach the first stages of obedience commands, then have you return when the dog is older to continue with a more advanced training program. While there’s nothing wrong with these kinds of programs, I prefer to jump right in right away and give your puppy all the training he’ll ever need.

“But my puppy’s so adorable! Can’t I just spoil him while he’s little, then start the more serious stuff later?”

Well, you CAN take that approach, but I suspect you’ll regret it. Many of the things that are so adorable about your puppy now can turn ugly fast… you might just find yourself with a big, bossy dog who rules the roost.

When your puppy is little and fluffy and adorable, it’s cute when he puts his paws up on your legs and wants you to pet him. Not so cute when he gets older and his paws hit you in the chest when he wants attention.

It’s kind of funny to see a puppy pick up a sock and race around the house a million miles an hour, but it’s not so funny when you realize that the reason your adult dog now drives you crazy playing “keep away” with your socks, wallet, cell phone or whatever else he can get his mouth on is because you laughed and made a game out of it when he was a puppy.

And there are two areas of training in particular that will be much more problematic if started later in your dog’s life: housebreaking and socialization. Seeing to it that your dog knows that going potty in the house isn’t an option is much easier if he hasn’t already developed a habit of having accidents inside. Socialization (exposing your dog to people, places, things and sounds) is crucial to prevent your dog from developing fears, and the time of life during which the dog is most receptive to socialization is when he’s 7-12 weeks old. Playing catch-up later isn’t easy, so socialize your puppy from the beginning.

“What can my puppy learn in a puppy training program?”

My programs teach structure and rules to your puppy through obedience training and also focus on teaching you how to develop good communication and a good relationship with your dog.

Your puppy can learn the basic commands: heel, sit, down, stay, come and place (going to his bed on command). My puppy programs also cover housebreaking and behavior problems, including teaching the dog not to be destructive (chewing, digging, scratching doors, etc.), teaching him not to jump up or bite people, teaching him the difference between appropriate and inappropriate barking, teaching him furniture rules and teaching him not to go through doors or gates without permission.

Tricks are also fun for puppies (and for owners who like to show off!), so once your puppy knows the basics, we can teach tricks. This is optional, but FUN! Your dog can learn to shake hands, give a high five, wave bye-bye, roll over, sit pretty or even learn to jump through a hoop!

We can also cover things like car behavior, bathing your dog, cutting his toenails and cleaning his ears, introducing your new puppy to existing dog (or cat or baby!), or anything else you need help with.