What age to Start Puppy Training
This is a commong question that we are asked. When people ask us this question, they are usually referring to coming along to a puppy class, but there is so much to training your puppy that needs to start before you get to a puppy class.
I always used to say, start on day 1 of puppy arriving home. Recent experience with a new pup has led me to say you start training on day 2. Pup does need some time to explore and get used to it’s new environment before you start establishing a consistent routine.
That’s not to say you can’t get started with some toilet training and definitely teaching pup to settle in a crate.
From day 2 the toilet training should become a serious training intent alongside establishing a good routine. I know puppy is cute and you want to do your best, but a very common mistake I see, is people not setting a routine and feeling they must give their puppy constant attention.
Young pups need to sleep! Don’t feel bad about your pup spending time in their crate while you go about your business. Give pup time to settle, sleep and to learn to be alone.
Pups, like dogs of any age, learn by patterns and habits. If you allow the wrong behaviour in the early days at home, because you feel you should be easy going in the first few days, remember, you will then have to break those habits and teach new ones. Much better for you and pup to learn the right habits straight away.
Starting puppy classes is something you should consider as early as possible, once vaccinations are done. Vets seem to have different answers about when it’s safe to start puppy class training, so it’s important to seek the guidance from your vet. You can find out about our puppy class training here or if you prefer an online training so you can do this in your own time, you can find an online programme here.
From a training aspect, if pup is vaccinated in accordance with your vet’s advice, then it’s never too early to start training in the big outside world.
The sooner you start the better. Far better to teach new habits from the beginning, rather than having to change them later.
If your puppy seems to be calm, well-behaved and not straying away from you when you are out, you may feel that you don’t need to do puppy training. Please do. When your pup becomes more confident you will wish you had put the training in place.
Teach your puppy the good behaviour you want from them. Teach your puppy when you give a command, you need them to respond. FIDO, COME, has to mean just that for safety, control and good management of your pup.
It’s never too late and apart from day 1 at home, it’s never too early. Get stuck in today.
When you sign up for puppy classes you get instant access to some starter training, a copy of our full puppy eBook and an invite to our online, live Q & A session. All of these resources are available if you do our in person, face to face puppy training, or our online programme.
