According to a 2024 study, nearly 90% of dog owners train their four-legged friends. Join them by providing yours with the proper Houston puppy training.
Try not to put it off, either. The longer you wait, the more challenging it will be to produce lasting results.
Understand when to start training a puppy before welcoming one into your house. This will ensure you’re prepared to begin doing it soon after bringing them home.
So, when is the best age to train your pup? Keep reading to find out.
When To Start Training a Puppy
There has always been much debate over how soon dog owners should start to train puppies. For a long time, veterinarians and trainers agreed that owners should wait until dogs received all the necessary vaccines and boosters to begin teaching them.
However, many owners have discovered that taking this approach might backfire. By the time puppies have all their vaccines and boosters, they have often started developing bad behavioral habits that are difficult to break.
Because of this, most vets and trainers now sing a different tune when owners ask them when to start training a puppy. Rather than recommending that they wait until puppies have their vaccines and boosters, they push for owners to train puppies when they’re just seven or eight weeks old.
Puppies are at an impressionable age when they’re between seven and eight weeks old. This makes it an ideal socialization period for them since they will be more receptive to your training efforts than they might be just a few weeks later.
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior warns that owners who miss this window might struggle to reverse the behavioral issues their puppies may develop during this time. Puppies who aren’t socialized early on sometimes endure lifelong battles with:
- Phobias
- Anxiety
- Aggression
Puppies aren’t necessarily prepared to learn even basic obedience commands when they’re yet to turn two months old. Still, you shouldn’t let this stop you from training a puppy. If nothing else, it will introduce them to new settings and situations that will make them less fearful moving forward.
Why Training a Dog Early On Is Important
“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is a cliché you’ve likely heard a time or two throughout your life. Contrary to popular belief, you can teach an old dog new tricks! But this age-old idiom highlights how much harder you will have to work to train an older pup as opposed to a newer one.
However, an “old dog” isn’t the only type that’s difficult to train. Any dog that has become set in their ways will present challenges if you try to teach them new tricks they haven’t learned before.
This helps explain why knowing when to start training a puppy and, more importantly, following through on it is essential. The sooner you begin working with a new dog on their behavior, the easier it will be for you and your new friend.
Even though you might not have the chance to teach a young pup many tricks, pushing to train them before they reach the two-month mark will set them up for long-term success.
How To Train a Puppy Effectively
Recognizing when to start training a puppy is only half the battle. You could argue that it accounts for a tiny percentage of the battle you will go through when beginning the process.
Generally speaking, you should first work on teaching a pup to go potty outside from the second they first set foot in your home. Do this by taking these steps:
- Take a pup outside early and often, especially right after they wake up, eat, or finish playing.
- Come up with a phrase — something as simple as “go potty” will work — that you use when you’re taking them outside and when they go potty while you’re out there.
- Provide them with positive reinforcement when they go potty, and try not to get too upset if and when they have accidents in your house.
From there, you should also begin to train your dog in other ways. Examples include:
- Crate training: Make their crate as comfortable as possible and encourage them to spend more time in it gradually.
- Leash training: Get them used to walking next to you on a leash and gently redirect them as necessary.
- Basic command training: Use simple commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come” and other verbal cues and hand signals to deliver direction.
No matter which route you choose, training consistency is crucial. Practice patience, and gradual progress should occur.
Who To Trust To Help You Train a Puppy in Houston
Trying to train a dog is hard work. Some breeds are more stubborn and will take longer to train adequately.
If you don’t have the time — or patience! — to train your pup, seek professional services from a company like Peace Love Dogs in Houston. Make sure you choose a trainer with plenty of experience and a genuine love for puppies and helping them improve their behavior.
A trainer will explain when to start training a puppy based on your pup’s circumstances. They will also implement tried-and-true techniques, enabling your dog to demonstrate steady progress in the coming weeks and months.
Do You Need Assistance With Puppy Training in Houston, TX? Give Us a Call Today
Now that you know when to start training a puppy, think about whether you want to try doing it on your own or rely on a professional to assist you. If you settle on the latter, Peace Love Dogs is here to help.
Our Houston-based trainers will help your new dog acclimate to the world. We will also provide tips to use at home and help you avoid making critical puppy training mistakes.
Are you ready to go? Call us at (346) 639-3629 (new customers) or (713) 467-1177 (existing customers) today to schedule your first session with our passionate trainers.
