What is the best age to train a dog?
When Is It Too Late to Train a Dog?
Even experts have difficulty agreeing that while most puppy trainers say that training should be delayed until 6 months (where a dog will still be young enough to learn but have lost much of its puppy rambunctiousness) some other experts, especially those that use hunting dogs, say the sooner the better. In this article, we aim to help you understand better when is it too late to train a dog.
Well, when it comes to the bare basics, it is never too late to train a dog. A dog can learn simple commands such as “Sit”, “Stay” or “Run” no matter how long they are as long as the owner is patient. However, for complex commands and things that go against their instincts. Such as retrieving pieces a hunter has killed without eating them or running after live prey, the cut-off age is about one year. Dogs that have reached adulthood without training might be too old to learn commands that go against their instincts.
What is the Best Age for Training a Dog?
When it comes to determining what age is best for dog training, it’s best to first consider the amount of time you are willing to invest in your dog’s training. If your dog is young for example a puppy them it will be harder to train because of the short attention span they have because of their age. Even though they might have a short attention span you can still take the time to teach them basic commands like sit, down, and stay. Which will benefit them when they start to age and learn new commands. When you lay a good foundation it will make training them at an older age a lot easier. You can start to teach them these basic commands as young as 7 to 8 weeks age or you can go the formal route and begin at 6 months of age. When it comes to training in adulthood it might require more persistence and time as well. In adulthood, some commands might be harder for you to teach them because of their age.
Is It Ever Too Late to Start Training a Dog?
It is never too late to start training your dog where there is an older dog or a young one. If the dog is older then they might already know some of the basic commands which will then make it easier for you to train them. Unlike puppies, you might have to start from scratch and it might be more time-consuming as well. There are different factors to consider like the breed, where the dog was acquired, and just the dog’s personality as well. That’s why it’s important to understand and choose what best will suit you. Doing this can avoid a lot of problems and most especially stress because then you will have an understanding of what it’s going to take to train the dog. You will also know where to start as far as the training. Most older dogs are easier to train than puppies because of the foundational training and wisdom they already have.
What Are the 7 Basic Dog Commands?
Dog obedience is probably one of the most important subjects anybody can learn about epically if you are looking to train your dog. You also would not need that much time to train your dog when you put in a good amount of effort daily. You can start with just these basic commands sit, down, stay, come, heel, off, and no. These 7 commands are some of the most important because of the frequency that they are used. There the basic foundation for a good well-trained dog that will behave and follow your lead. When teaching your dog these commands make sure to reward them for their effort, this will encourage them. Make sure to use their name with the command to avoid confusing your dog and try to keep your words short. Remember that dogs get distracted easily, so try to keep the training session short and keep everything positive for them.
Can a Dog Be Untrainable?
Having an untrainable dog can be quite frustrating especially if you are not sure what to do. When dealing with this type of dog it’s always best to stay as calm as possible and try your best to understand them. Most of the time an untrainable dog is a result of using training methods that maybe don’t fit your dog. That’s why it’s important to understand the type of dog you are dealing with first before any training begins. Never get angry or frustrated at your dog it will only complicate things. Having negative feelings can affect a dog’s behavior and mood. Remember that the way you treat your dog will determine how well they will listen and respond to you.
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What’s the Right Age to Start Puppy Training
Puppies are always learning from their environment and while socialising with other dogs and pups. One way to make sure your puppy training results are good is by reinforcing good behaviour. This creates a strong foundation that will set the tone for their adulthood. Having your pup socialise and giving them basic training helps them grow into confident adult dogs.
Training your pup starts with the week you bring them home, typically 8 weeks of age. At this age they are able to quickly grasp the commands to sit, stand, stay and come. The moment you bring your puppy home you essentially start house training. Puppies learn from birth and if you are a good dog parent you will try and prioritise socialising your pup. Young pups have short attention spans, which means you need to spend extra time and have more patience while training. Because of their short attention spans, pups can only be trained in simple and basic tricks. Formal dog training however should no be delayed till 6 months of age. When a pup is young they tend to pick up on a lot of behaviours that they will have as an adult, therefore making this period the best opportunity for teaching them to behave. However behaviours learnt by themselves during the puppy stage will have to be rectified.
Here are a few tips to make sure your pup enjoys his training sessions:
1. Short Sessions
Since the pooch is very young and has a short attention span, starting from 5 minutes in the first week of training, you can slowly increase the amount of time you spend training your puppy. If your pup is really young make sure the sessions do not exceed 15 minutes per day as this will tire the poor pup out. Always make sure you end your sessions on a positive note with some puppy treats !
2. Stay Consistent
It is important to have consistency to train your puppy. Using the same words and hand signals while teaching during each session will help your puppy grasp the basic cues faster. If you use different or even similar cues your pup will not understand which would result in an unsuccessful training session.
It is important to reinforce the desired behaviours with consistency. For example if your pup is at the door and barkes, make sure you reward his good behaviour i.e notifying you that he needs to go out in the way he was trained.
It is important to be consistent in your approach to cues and training. Use the same word and/or hand signal when you teach your puppy basic cues such as sit, stay, and come.
It is also important to reinforce desired behaviours consistently, even when it’s not convenient. So if your puppy is at the door needing to go outside to go to the bathroom, stop what you are doing, let them out, and reward them for going to the bathroom outside. You may also reward them with a few dog treats for puppies .
3. Practice in Different Environments
Training your pup at home is vastly different from training at the beach or park. Since your puppy is always used to being trained at home and using the cues at home they would take some time to adjust their attention and understanding of the surroundings which is essential. The variety of sounds and smells definitely affect their judgement. Changing environments helps your pup gain confidence in different scenarios. Please keep in mind that your puppy should not be socialising during the training sessions.
4. Patience
It is really important to have a lot of patience when training your pup. They are like young children and will make mistakes and may not always understand what you are saying. All pups are different and learn at different speeds. Maintaining a consistent routine may help in making your pup feel secure and ready to learn.
5. Positive Reinforcement
There are many methods available when it comes to training your pup. However it is best recommended to train your pup using positive reinforcements. And what better way to reward your young one during training than with Dogsee Chews’ puppy training treats . Training treats for puppies help as they encourage them. The use of harsh punishments like choking devices or shock collars are abusive in nature and may even harm the puppy physically and cause long-term disabilities in your pup. It may also trigger forms of fear and anxiety for your dog as an adult.
To apply this we at Dogsee Chew highly recommend Mini-sized dog training treats that would definitely have your pup look forward to his puppy training sessions. Some puppies may even find puppy chew sticks or bars as a fitting reward after a tiring training session. Make sure that you express a job well done to your pup by giving the best treats for your puppies. Make sure the treats you give your pups are the perfect size so that you can avoid any choking hazard or indigestion issues
Conclusion
Training your dog from a very young age is essential as it helps them get accustomed to different types of commands and environments. Your dog may be able to pick up different behaviours from other dogs while socialising. Keep in mind that the training sessions are also a time when you can rectify any unwanted or ill behaviour you may have seen your pup display. We believe that the most important role of a training session with your pup is the ability to form a bond and have fun.
