| Formal obedience training - puppy training in a class | | | | biggest reasons to purchase a pup from a |
| situation - can start anywhere from 9 to 12 weeks | | | | knowledgeable and reputable breeder. |
| of age. Most schools like to see the pup receive a | | | | Learning comprises many factors:o Socialization - |
| series of 2 vaccinations given before starting in a | | | | positive exposure to many different people, animals, |
| class - for the pup's protection, as well as the | | | | environments, surfaces, situations, sounds, etc, and |
| protection of all other pups in the class. A Bordatella | | | | teaching the pup how to best react to new thingso |
| (a type of kennel cough) vaccination and negative | | | | Innate personality - there is a set type of personality |
| stool sample also need to be done beforehand. | | | | all animals and people are born with.o Environment - |
| TRAINING of your puppy - the stuff you teach | | | | an enriched environment will provide positive |
| them at home - should start the DAY you bring your | | | | experiences and socialization.o In-home work with |
| puppy home! This does not mean training needs to | | | | potty training, crate training, leash & collar |
| be intensive right away. Training at this stage should | | | | training, teaching appropriate stuff to chew on, your |
| be done in many little lessons, in short spans of time | | | | household routine, words, basic home manners.o |
| (5-10 minutes per session). Then it goes on from | | | | Training classes outside the home - where you teach |
| there! | | | | your puppy the essentials of obedience commands, |
| Puppies and dogs learn from the instant they are | | | | manners, and ability to do everything with the |
| born. At first their world is small and their learning | | | | distraction of other people and dogs.o Serendipity - |
| comes from their mother, other littermates, and the | | | | what the up learns on his own - a huge part of early |
| whelping box (their environment). By the time they | | | | learning! |
| are weaned and sent on their way to new homes, | | | | As you are reading this article, YOU are learning, but |
| they have learned a vast amount of things - all from | | | | so is your dog! What is your dog doing righ this |
| their mom, their littermates, and from any | | | | moment? One big thing pups learn is that when your |
| environmental influences they had. | | | | are busy or distracted, they are free to make their |
| Hopefully, if the pup comes from a reputable breeder | | | | own decisions, good OR bad! |
| (or from a mixed-breed home with understanding | | | | At what age should training start? The answer is |
| about raising puppies), they have had a good | | | | "RIGHT AWAY! |
| foundation set for future learning. This is one of the | | | | |