age to start training a dog...when can they really understand?

Answer 1

Some breeders start working with pups as young as three weeks.

In my own experience I have worked with pups as young as 4 weeks.

They aren't competition perfect by any means, and I wouldn't expect them to be at that age. But with the right motivation, and lots of praise, they can comprehend some of the basics.

Answer 2

I start training the pups that I raise at 3 days with ENS
http://www.breedingbetterdogs.com/achiever.html

But I assume you mean after you bring a puppy home.
Fear memory develops between 11 & 12 weeks, and anything you can introduce a dog to before that like water or gunfire (loud noises) will eliminate a lot of problems.
When you first get the pup home it's only motivation is food, so take advantage of that and cookie train. Every thing should be kept on a fun bases because the pup lacks the cognitive skills to properly understand a correction.
At about 6 months the dog will demonstrate a new found sense of independence and self awareness. This indicates that the pup has developed "other" motivations and the cognitive skills necessary to fully understand training. Formal training can begin at this time.

Answer 3

Dogs are especially receptive to training while under four months old. When you can start differs between breeds; however four-eight weeks are median ages at which very basic training can begin.

Good luck. I strongly suggest a training class reccomended by your vet. That way you know it is humane, friendly, *and* effective! Classes are excellent; they give structure and rescources that a book can't. However, as a supplement to the class, try the "New Complete Dog Training Manual" by Bruce Fogle. I havn't read a great many training books but this one seems good.

Good luck with your little dog... patience, love, and perseverance will see you to a great bond with your companion!

Answer 4

You need to get some books or videos on motivational puppy training! Or find a trainer.

Training starts the day you bring puppy home.

What all a puppy can learn is dependent upon its age...just as a human baby. Both have short attention spans, limited ability to hold their urine or bowels, limited understanding of words...etc But both are constantly exploring, investigating and always learning!

Firstly: potty training, coming to you when called, encouraging puppy to follow you, laying on the floor and playing with toys. Use little treats as rewards. no bite, no growl IMMEDIATELY!

What you work on is showing your puppy what your world is, the rules of the house...sshowing what the pup is TO DO rather than waiting until a problem develops and focusing on what the puppy IS NOT to do.

Every week or so, you try adding to his knowledge...how to sit, down......

later getting used to a collar, a leash (which is no problem if you have trained your puppy to come and follow you.....)

Note: whether you actively "train" the puppy or not, he is going to learn. However, by NOT training the puppy he is quite apt to learn what you do not want him to!!!

That is why I tell students "By not training your dog, you are inadvertantly training the dog to do whatever he pleases"...

Answer 5

Training should start as soon as you get the pup so they understand who the pack leader is. It is unrealistic to expect perfection by any means in the 1st few months but learning is a building block and consistency is the key:>) Always use positive reinforcement~praise the good things the pup does and redirect the bad things. Keep the training sessions short~5-10 minutes~and you end them before the pup gets too bored or tired to continue.

Answer 6

If the dog is old enough to be away from the litter, then it is certainly old enough to start training (many breeders actually start some sort of training before then even). Even when you aren't actively teaching them, they are always learning *something* so you might as well start working on basic training and focus right from the beginning. Dogs are like little kids in this respect. You wouldn't expect a toddler to behave or have manners on the same level as a grade-schooler, teenager, or adult...but good parents still try to show/teach them how to behave appropriately (saying please and thank you, for example) for the social setting.

Answer 7

you can start training dog at a young age, about 2 to 3 months old

Answer 8

Dogs are really smart and learn at any time during their life. It is a lot easier to train them when you first get them so they know what is expected (rules/boundaries) but any age they can learn with persistent/repetitive/positive training. It is important to be very patient with dogs, not strict, but show them that you are the boss and run the household, not the dogs themselves. A good show I have watched is "The Dog Whisperer". The trainer "Cesar Milan" is very good with dealing with problems and correcting them, in a positive, realistic situations. Having a dog as a companion is very rewarding for both the owner and the dog. Good luck!

Answer 9

As soon as you get the dog- check out this site

www.gentleleader.com and get the Ultimate Puppy Tool Kit. It is a great source of information and it has a chart/poster in it that tells you about the stages of learning a dog goes through as it is growing up. Good Luck!

Answer 10

Basically, you gotta start right off the bat, and let them know whose boss. Get them used to the leash, leave the leash on them a couple of hours a day, so they can get used to it. Don't be afraid to punish them when they pee in the house. Just stick their nose in the pee, or poopy, to let them know they were in the wrong, then don't give them any affection for a couple of hours. If you give them affection right after you punish them, it confuses them. Also, let them know it's o.k. for you to be around their food bowel. The one thing you don't want is an angry pup when you get near their foodsies. Act like you're eating the food, let the dog see it, then give the pup his/her food. The leader of the pack always eats first.
Tone of voice, and presentation is important. Make sure you are firm, and do not back down from them. They are just like kids. Anyways, good luck.