The best time to begin training your new puppy is the moment he joins your family. This is one of the benefits of having me come to your home for training. Most veterinarians suggest pups should not interact in public until puppy shots are complete (around four months). Valuable training time will be lost. It is extremely important to use this time to create a puppy who will be a well-mannered happy adult.
Positive Training for Puppies
Whenever possible, I use motivational methods, food or toys, when working with all dogs. This method is especially important with puppies. This will create a dog that will want to please. Consistency and patience is the key to success regardless of the dog’s age. At all ages, training should set the dog up for success. This is why I do not recommend group training. Asking your dog to focus on learning with the excitement of other dogs and people is setting you both up for failure.
Often puppy classes consist of puppies playing with each other. When a room full of puppies are allowed to run free it will often involve biting, bullying, jumping and other unruly conduct. Puppies should be socialized. However, this does not mean that they are jumping on or sniffing other people and dogs. It simply means they can be around other dogs, people and other enticing stimuli while remaining focused and well behaved.
Typical puppy behaviors addressed are: crate training, coming when called, sit, down, biting, walking on leash without pulling, chewing, jumping on people, going to places, and of course housebreaking. Usually, these behaviors can be instilled or extinguished easily at this impressionable time.
