When should I start training my puppy?
Aug.06, 2009 in
Dog Training
asked:
I have a male golden labrador. He is 9-10 weeks old.
I just want to know when shall I start training him? He’s too young right now.
I have a male golden labrador. He is 9-10 weeks old.
I just want to know when shall I start training him? He’s too young right now.
But simple things like housebreaking, not chewing up wrong things etc. What is the best age?
And one more thing, shall I neuter him? What are the pros and cons? What is the best age to neuter him if I do choose to do so?
August 8th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
He isn’t too young to start training him. Check with the vet on when is the best age to have him neutered. There is no reason not to get him neutered, and it will keep him from mating and producing puppies with every female in heat he encounters.
August 10th, 2009 at 7:05 am
A puppy is never too young to train! Training should start the moment he walks through the door into your house. Yes, you can start housebreaking him and training him to not chew things. Also, you can start with basic obedience commands like Sit and Down. You will be surprised at how fast a dog, even a young puppy can learn these commands. My Golden Retriever learned sit on the first day she was home.
ADD: Also, yes you should get him neutered. The pros: he won’t run off and impregnate a female, which would cost money and would only contribute to the dog overpopulation problem, he will behave more calmly, reduce the chance of a lot of future health issues, and it’s likely he will not lift his leg to *** if you do it early enough, also this way he won’t mark. The cons: there are none!
A good age to neuter is 6 months old, this way you can prevent him from marking his territory (which is annoying cause he will stop to *** at every single tree and mailbox when you’re on a walk), and you may even be able to get him to squat to ***.
Oh and also, 10 weeks is also the perfect age to start leash training!
August 12th, 2009 at 3:12 am
sooner you start the faster he’ll stop pissing in your house,give him chew toys so he doesnt need your shoes
contributing to the Pet overpopulation would not be a good thing?
they usually spay and neuter at 4/5 months
August 15th, 2009 at 4:39 am
He is not too young. There is no such thing as too young when it comes to training. As long as you are consistent he should pick up on anything you train him to do. I had my terrier puppy trained to sit and heel in a few hours at 8 weeks. Neutering is always a good idea. It improves the health and temperament of the dog. Most vets suggest doing it around 6 months. If not fixed male dogs may be harder to train, attempt to hump, dominate and mark. Good luck with your new family member.
August 16th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
He is NOT too young. You need to start NOW. He is the perfect age. We started training our puppy when we got him at 8 weeks. One of the first things he learned, in 2 days, is to stay in his crate (door open) while we are at the table eating. He was also trained to him to sit when we first got him. He sits while waiting for his food, his treats, and for us to toss a toy to fetch. Those things were taught right away.
We also started potty training immediately. And not chewing on things (which is natural because they are teething). I’ll include potty training advice and chewing advice below.
Neutering is probably a good idea, and around 4 months is the earliest. You will have less behavioral problems if you have him neutered and you really don’t want him getting another dog pregnant.
Here is my training advice.
Chewing Biting
Here is what we did. First we have a ton of toys, stuffies, teethers, chew toys, that our puppy could bite and chew. We got most of them from yard sales….you can get baby toys for about 25 cents each. Every time our puppy would bite or chew on something he wasn’t supposed to we would firmly tell him no and then redirect him to one of his toys that he can bite and chew. And you must be consistent and patient. It’s a lot like potty training. When your puppy pottys it’s not bad, but you just have to show him where it’s acceptable to go. Same with biting or chewing. It’s natural but you have to train them what is acceptable to bite or chew.
If he bites while playing with you and redirecting him doesn’t help, then just walk away and quit playing. Eventually he’ll get the idea that if he wants to play with you she can’t bite.
But be consistent and patient with any training you do and you should be successful. Good luck
Potty Training 101
Set a timer to remind you to take your puppy out every 30 minutes. Take him to the spot you want him to potty and wait patiently until he does. Once he seems to be doing good with that, then set the timer for 45 minutes, and so on and so on. Work at getting it to 2 hours and up. Always take him to his potty spot. If he poops in the wrong place (house, or where ever) pick up the **** and put it where you want him to go and show him nicely so he will get the idea.
Also, take him out every time he wakes up, about 15-30 minutes after eating, and after hard play.
Never tell him NO when he potties in the wrong place because you will confuse him. He will think that the act of going potty is bad, not where he is going potty. And never stick his nose in it. You don’t want to scare him or make him angry with you.
Use positive reinforcement EVERY TIME. Tell him something like good potty when he gets it right.
Remember, he is a baby. Be patient and consistent. It takes a while to develop bladder control, but give him time and it will happen.
Good reading would be Training Your Puppy magazine type book by the editors of Dog Fancy magazine, and House-Training also by the editors of Dog Fancy.
Good luck
August 20th, 2009 at 6:04 am
Now is the perfect time to begin training! He’s off milk and on solid food, you can begin…just remember to be as encouraging and enthusiastic as possible.
For the most part, you will not need to neuter your dog until he is at least 6 months old. Neutering will reduce the risk of cancer and make you and your dogs life just that little more easy. Male dogs will do just about anything to get to a female in season.
And if that means a couple of hard nips–then so be it.
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Training starts the day you get him, simple, clear, consistent, positive training, teach sit, come, collar and lead training, toilet training, crate training and this is the perfect age as they are like little sponges.
Neutering around 6 months before he matures and hormones kick in, much better for his health and well being, then he is not anxiously marking everything to protect his territory from other males and informing every female he is there and instead is a loving loyal companion dog for you and you are the centre of his universe.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:56 am
yes, the earlier you train, the faster and more adaptable the puppy is and he will get used of the house rules asap.
please do not wait, since young, you must teach him your rules and what need to be done and what does not.
by the age of 6 mths, you can neuter him and he be more tame and more manageable due the vanishing raging hormones. Also, you immediately lower his cancer risk by 50%.
Cons–having neuter at 6 mths might risk having urinary incontinence,
August 29th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
He NOT too young to learn house trainning-NOT too young to start learning not to chew and NOT to young to start obedience trainning and socialisation. If you DO NOT start now, then you’ll have Behavioural problems. the earlier you start, the better!
August 30th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
It is never too early to start training your dog. Start with simple commands. Get some of his favorite treats, tiny pieces. Say come Sam (or what ever his name is), and when he comes, say good boy and give him a treat.
Then get him to sit, Say sit Sam, and push his hiney to the ground. Give him a little treat and say good boy while he’s sitting. Do each one over and over until he gets it on his own. Then start with the next command, like stay, until he gets it.
It may take several tries, but the earlier he learns the more well behaved he’ll be and you’ll bond with each other. Always praise him when he’s done good. When he does something you don’t like, say no Sam and turn your back to him, he’ll catch on pretty quickly.