Ask Us: Q & A
How long should I wait before I start training my new puppy?
It’s a myth that you should wait any length of time before training your new family member. You can start training your puppy as soon as they come home! But don’t think of training just as sit, down, stay, come and leash walking. Training is also: house training, crate-training, learning the house schedule and learning the rules both inside and outside the house.
The early weeks should mostly be for getting out to new locations, seeing lots of different sites and experiencing most of the things your adult dog will experience in their day to day lives. Focus on exposure versus interaction. Up until sixteen weeks, puppies are essentially sponge-like in their learning.
For starting group classes, most facilities wait for your second round of vaccinations. You can certainly start training at home before heading to your first class. It will make things a lot easier if your dog already has a bit of focus, sit or mat work before being asked for those behaviours in a potentially exciting place.
