When to Start Dog Obedience Training?

by Jennifer Wiley

Overview

When it comes to training a puppy, it is never too early and never too late to start. The earlier the better, of course, but you really can teach an old dog new tricks, so never give up. The right training will provide your dog with a better life, and you will have a friend you can count on.
Puppy's Arrival

As soon as the puppy comes into your home, training must begin. The best time to begin training is when puppies are 3 months old. However, if your puppy does not join your family until it is a little older, that is fine as it can still be trained. The first things that will need to be worked on would be the house rules, which should include where the puppy can and cannot eliminate. Basic commands such as sit, stay and come are essential to ensuring that the human has control.

Positive Reinforcement Only

Never hit or scold your dog for not following the commands or for not learning them fast enough. Praise him or give him a treat when he does right, and he will associate the commands with the tasty treats and the love he is showered with. Soon the puppy will be looking for every opportunity to show off his skills.
Practice Patience

Your dog can sense your emotions. When people become upset, angry or anxious, the dog will notice that, and it will affect training. When the human is upset, the dog is upset. When the human feels as though training is hopeless, the dog will experience the same kind of emotions, which will delay the training's progress.
Train on Schedule

Training should be done daily but for short periods of time because a puppy has a short attention span. When training sessions are too long, the puppy will lose interest and begin to resent training. The training should only last about 10 minutes, but you can train up to three times a day. Practice the commands once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once in the evening.
Training is a Lifetime Commitment

After a dog is fully trained, it is important to refresh the dog's memory every so often. Go over all of the commands and tricks that have been taught so that the dog remembers them; otherwise, all of the training will have been for nothing.