Training At An Early Age 

Here at my dog training Atlanta company, Peachtree Dog Training, I offer several types of programs for my dog friends. I’ve always had puppy training, which is catered more to owners wanting to learn the very core basics of raising a young dog. It generally covers house breaking, basic commands, instilling good manners, teaching proper leash behavior, and overall setting them up for a schedule and regimen of consistency and success. With my more advanced training, I have basic obedience, behavioral modification, and aggression rehabilitation that many dog owners call about. It covers all of the puppy stuff, but will also work toward sharpening recall and focus, while also shaping behaviors into something more appropriate and productive. I’ve also more recently installed my Practical Pet Protocol, which are group obedience classes taught in a variety of veterinary clinics and doggy daycares; plus, I also introduced the Cribs and Canines training program, which is for expecting parents that want to ready their dogs for the arrival of a new baby.

For any of these programs, any dog is a candidate. There are no breed or size restrictions when it comes to my training. With age, sometimes I categorize a puppy to be four months or younger, and enroll them in puppy training. However, if a puppy owner doesn’t just want the simple basics, but instead wants to take it a step further so their puppy is ready to be a sharp, well-behaved adult dog, then that is ALWAYS option for my clients.

When you training a dog at an early age, you are helping them learn the right things before they have the opportunity to learn the wrong things. When I get a client that has a dog that has ruled the house or neighborhood for an extended period of time (weeks, months, even several years!), it is then my job to introduce an alternative to their bad behaviors. For a dog that has had his way for awhile, this can be quite the shock. I always tell clients with dogs like this that initially, the dog is going to be quite confused, as we are essentially turning his world completely upside down! But, this does not mean that the dog is doomed to be confused or that the training will cause the dog severe, permanent anxiety. As long as owners are consistent with the training protocol and always aim to make training a positive, fun, and rewarding experience for the dogs, then the dogs will be grow from it and learn to enjoy being a good dog!

We should always try to help our dogs out when they are young, but of course we must apply common sense as well. Puppies that are born must have the time with their mothers and littermates, to learn to eat, walk, and other very basic instincts. Once they reach eight weeks, that is when it is deemed appropriate for a puppy to then move onto a new home (though they may also grow older in the same pack and home). After they are brought to a new home with a new owner/leader, become acclimated to their new environment and people, then things can get started pretty quickly with training.

Of course, while I promote the idea of training at an early age, this is not to discredit the learning abilities of an aged dog. Older dogs, even those reaching senior citizen status, can still go through behavior modification and learn how to be a more obedient dog. While maybe physical or mental disabilities can limit a dog’s training, age does not. But starting early can make things easier on the dog, plus owners can take care of it then, and then not have to worry so much as the dog matures more and more.

For any questions or if you’re ready to sign your dog up for any of my training programs, give me a call at 800-649-7297.