Best time to start Dog Training

The best time to start dog training is at around 7 weeks.

There is a sensitive period of development in which socialisation and habituation MUST take place to ensure that your dog does not become maladjusted. Your dog will perceive anything that they are exposed to, after this sensitive period, as a POTENTIAL THREAT.

This is the most important socialisation period in a dog’s life.

Between +-3 weeks and 16 weeks of age, puppies bond to other animals and to people, and learn what things, people, and environments are safe. They also start understanding what the signals and cues of others mean.

Some Vets recommend that you start dog school only after your puppy has had all 3 first inoculations, but by the time your puppy has had their 3rd shot they’ll have plenty of behavioural issues and unacceptable habits.

We accept that by their 2nd vaccination most puppies are covered and weigh the urgency of starting with training against this fact.

Your dog learns every day, and the longer he/ she continues with the unacceptable behaviour the more difficult it will be to sort out, and the greater the chances are that they will continue doing it.

Our recommendation is to start Puppy School as close to 7 weeks old as possible (this is after their 2nd vaccination), and only start socialisation at dog parks, friends and family with well-socialised dogs (where your dog can socialise off-leash), once your puppy has had all 3 first inoculations (and deworming).

Socialisation must also be done right, and under supervision in the beginning. To get the best of it, learn more about dog language. This helps you to intervene in time to prevent an uncomfortable situation between dogs, leading to injury.