When do puppies go to obedience school

As a result, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, animal behaviorists and many trainers now recommend that puppies who do not have health problems begin classes as early as weeks. Puppies should receive a minimum of one set of vaccines at least 7 days prior to the first class and a first deworming. They should be kept up to date on all vaccines throughout the class. For more see the complete Position Statement on Puppy Socialization. While there may be some breeders and trainers who disagree, the current thinking in the medical and behavioral world is that the benefits of attending classes early outweigh any possible health risks.

In AKC S. Here are all the answers to your question, "What can I expect when training my dog? Usually, obedience courses take place one hour a week over a six-week period. According to the American Kennel Club AKC , classes are typically divided between puppy classes, for dogs under five months of age, and adult or advanced classes, for dogs five months and older. Puppy classes may focus on skills like socialization with people and other dogs, potty training, the proper way to greet people without jumping on them, and learning how to walk on a leash, in addition to basic commands like sit, come, and leave it.

For older dogs, obedience classes may focus more on good manners and learning the household rules. In addition to learning the commands sit, come, and leave it, more advanced commands include stay, lie down, and heel while walking on a leash. Obedience training offers a number of benefits for you and your pooch. For one thing, your pup will learn to behave in a manner that's pleasing to you and other family members.

Obedience training from a young age can help prevent him from picking up annoying habits, such as jumping on people or inappropriate barking or chewing. Learning good manners can help to curb similar habits in older dogs, says the AKC.

More importantly, learning to come when called and to stay or drop an object on command are skills that could help prevent harm or injury to your dog. Of course, your dog isn't alone in his training. As you work with him to teach him these skills, if done properly, you'll strengthen and reinforce the bond of trust and companionship. Not only that but attending obedience classes is a great way to meet other dog parents, providing you with opportunities to swap crazy dog parenting stories and make new human friends.

The effectiveness of obedience training depends on a number of factors. Your pet's breed and temperament play a part in how well he'll take to the training, and how quickly.

For example, a strong-willed or a hyperactive dog will require more time, effort and patience than one that's more laid back and eager to please. Age might also play a role. If your puppy is too easily distracted, for example, it might be necessary to try again when he's older and calmer. The number one factor in how effective obedience training will be, however, is you.

For obedience classes to work, you need to go beyond the one-hour-a-week class and practice regularly with your dog at home.

It's also important that the entire family is on board and everyone is consistent with the rules. If Mom says the couch is off limits, for example, it needs to be off limits at all times. By the time they are weeks old and have completed their vaccinations, puppies are ready for real puppy training classes. So, what should you look for in a class?

Personal recommendations are always valuable. An experienced instructor is a must, and you should check their approach — positive approaches that reward good behaviour are preferable to traditional rigid or punishment-based regimes. Look for a ratio of around one trainer to six puppies, avoid chaotic or over-crowded groups and avoid anywhere where dogs are treated harshly or put on choke chains.

Your puppy class instructor will lead you through key elements of puppy training, from encountering obstacles to giving commands and encouraging good behaviour. Other classmates at a puppy class are an invaluable teaching resource in themselves — your puppy will learn a lot from being around the other dogs and people, and they will be more understanding than most of the odd snap or widdle from your young pet. However, puppy class is all about showing you how to train your dog — the learning really takes place outside of class and you need to be consistent and committed to get results.

Just going to class each week is not enough, you need to apply what you learn all day, every day. Your teacher will show you how to motivate your pet to learn, using a system of rewards.

For example, when your pup does something right you might praise them, call them to you and give them a stroke and a treat. The dog learns to associate the desired behaviour with something positive. The whole family should follow a consistent set of rules, for example how to respond to the puppy jumping up, mouthing, chewing, barking, begging or play biting. Knowing how to handle these situations will make caring for the puppy more pleasurable — typically, you should interrupt the behaviour and distract with something else then praise the dog for showing a desirable behaviour.

If you have older dogs in your home whose training is a little rusty, this might be a good time to brush up — the older pet will also love having time with you away from the newcomer. There are plenty of classes for bringing older dogs into line so consider one of these before or after getting your puppy.

The age when a dog reaches maturity varies; the teenage phase usually starts around six months and completes around 18 months or two years. You need to continue with your training but adopt measures where necessary to keep your dog under control, such as using a leash if your dog has been refusing to return to you.

During this time it is advisable to avoid situations that can stress your dog out, as they want to do the dog equivalent of mooching around like a teenager. Keep socialisation slow and steady and avoid very busy areas. Give your dog lots of attention and keep rewarding your pet for showing positive behaviours.

At this age, dogs often really enjoy their chew toys — the act of chewing is calming for the dog and helps to settle any discomfort due to a developing jaw. Check your insurance before this point - as well as taking out dog insurance , you should see if your home insurance covers damage caused by pets. Use Positive Reinforcement There are many different methods of training your puppy that you might have heard about or even seen in person with a dog trainer.

Keep Training Sessions Short When training a basic cue, keep the sessions short, about 5 minutes each, and try to average a total of 15 minutes per day.

Practice in Different Environments Taking a puppy to a new environment like a park or the beach and asking for a cue is vastly different than training at your house. Be Patient Puppies are growing and learning, just like young children. Basic Puppy Training Timeline So when do you teach your dog the different cues?

Use a treat to position your dog into a sitting position. Once sitting, give your puppy the treat and some praise. Leash Training You can start leash training indoors at this age. General Handling Get your puppy used to being touched. Featured Image: iStock. Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? Yes No. Share this article.

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