In the USA alone, almost 70 million households provide a loving home to their furriest family member—a beloved dog. And most of these dogs joined their new family when they were bouncing, utterly adorable, tiny puppies.
Of course, at that young age, a puppy can do no wrong in the eyes of its new family. However, working with a puppy trainer in Rancho Cordova is essential to ensure you have a well-rounded family dog.
You know you should start that education early, but when to start dog training exactly? Read on to find out!
Age Matters
As the introduction mentions, start training while a puppy is young. This could mean everything from working with your puppy at home to taking puppy classes in Sacramento.
While house training is likely the first thing your puppy will learn, there are some other essential habits they need to master early on. These include socialization and bite inhibition.
Lack of socialization and biting are among the leading reasons some puppies end up back at the shelter or rehomed.
The crucial period of development for a puppy ends around 12 weeks. Your puppy is learning a lot about the world at this time and is forming its personality and behaviors.
So long as you have your puppy on an appropriate vaccination and vet checkup schedule and train them safely (more on that below), this is the right age for dog training in socialization.
Bite inhibition needs to be taught at this time, too. This ensures the puppy understands when and how it’s appropriate to use their mouth.
Invest in Puppy Training Classes in Sacramento
While you can train your puppy at home by following online advice or books, there’s a lot of value in attending classes. Your puppy gets the opportunity to learn from other puppies in the course, you can ask questions of a professional trainer, and you can connect with other puppy parents in your area.
Plus, your puppy will learn several essential skills (outside of socialization and bit inhibition), including:
- Basic handling
- Obedience and good manners
- Basic commands—“sit,” “down,” “come,” “leave it”
- The beginnings of leash walking
Look for a patient, calm trainer that uses positive reinforcement over more aggressive methods.
Puppy Training Safety Tips
If you’re considering enrolling your pooch in puppy training in Rancho Cordova, make sure you’re adhering to a few safety considerations first. While puppies need to socialize and learn basic commands at a young age, this must be balanced against risks to their health and well-being.
Some vital safety considerations include:
- Keeping up to date with vaccine requirements
- Keeping your floors clean—check the floors of the training center, too
- Don’t let your puppy walk into a classroom
- Watch where they go to the toilet
Ask your trainer for advice if you’re unsure how to keep your puppy safe while educating them. They’re the experts, after all!
Know When to Start Dog Training Before You Get a Puppy
When to start dog training is one of the first steps you should learn about when considering bringing a puppy into your family. This is because there is a small window of opportunity to train your puppy to ensure they grow into healthy, happy adult dogs.
Fidelis K9 Training in Sacramento is committed to delivering quality, affordable, obtainable puppy and dog training. We focus on building confidence in both owners and their dogs.
Learn more about our training services today.
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