You’ve just picked up your new pup, brought him home, and set up his little playpen. You’re watching it roll across the padding you have to protect your carpet and bite your fingers. But, now you are wondering when the training should start and how intense it should be. Most dog owners start training at the wrong time. Some can start too early when a puppy isn’t ready to hold in the urine or sit and stay. Others wait too long and are faced with a stubborn and messy adolescent dog. So, I want to go over the when and how of early obedience training for him.
break the house
Housebreaking should not begin until your dog is around 10 weeks old. Ideally though, you shouldn’t even pick up a dog from a breeder or kennel until he’s at least 8 weeks old. The reason is that it is important to have the mother and littermates with them for the first few weeks.
A dog will learn many basics of his social position in those formative weeks, and if you don’t give it to him, he could develop biting tendencies or have aggression problems. Also, you need to socialize your dog a lot with people and other dogs as he gets older.
Never, at any time, should a dog have interactions with other dogs or people before it is 15 months of age. As for training, try to do it between 10 and 12 weeks, when the dog has acclimatized to your home and has the physical ability to hold it.
To facilitate faster training, begin crate training your puppy as soon as you bring him home. This will ensure that they understand how to hold their urine for more than a few seconds.
Basic Obedience
Basic obedience training can occur between 3 and 6 months of age. This can be done at home or in a class and should include basics like sit, stay, lie down, roll over, or anything else you want your dog to know. The basics are all very simple and with the right approach can be taught in a few days.
By teaching youngsters, you’re not only teaching your dog to understand the role you play as pack leader, but you’re also putting those tricks in the back of their heads as specific actions to remember at all times.
FutureTraining
Once basic obedience training is complete, you will have plenty of time to train your dog in other ways. Most of the time, those basics are enough, and because leash training should be done between 3 and 6 months of age, I don’t specifically recommend any other training regimen.
However, if you do decide to train your pup new tricks, make sure he’s old enough to handle the physical stress. A dog must be fully grown before you make it jump, run, or dive. The stress on a puppy’s body can be immense and is thought to contribute to dysplasia.
A puppy is a big responsibility. They need lots of attention, stern authority, and a chance to bond with their owner. Early training can make them anxious and fearful. Too late can make them aggressive and bossy.
So make sure you get a pup at the right age, train him at just the right time, and stay consistent as he ages. Those first few weeks can be tough, but the extra work you put in will go a long way when your dog reaches maturity and follows your every command.