At What Age Do You Start Training?

[JulesP]

My club doesn't do paddock bashing so that isn't the problem. I am actually wanting to go the opposite way to most of you and understand were Serkat is coming from. I normally get the pup home and start training. This pup, I am enjoying watching her dig holes, lol. Have never not followed a program though and don't want to end up with a feral! I might just be burnt out from puppies too! I teach puppies (4-6 months old) and have just put 2 dogs in a row through our clubs program. Feel the need to do something different.

[RallyValley]

What is paddock bashing? :nahnah:

[JulesP]

What is paddock bashing? :nahnah:

Lots of formal heeling.

[RallyValley]

What is paddock bashing? :nahnah:

Lots of formal heeling.

Ok, well they once tried to make me do that at an agility class (that I no longer go to) Needless to say I pulled Toby right out and went and did some "fun" stuff.

Although at an obidience class how much is too much? I already know in my mind no matter what the class says Lincoln will only be doing tiny periods of training interspersed with pats/affection/play (if I can find a way to play with him that does not involve tug or squeaky toys).

[Nic oh lah]

We got Chase at 10wks and he'd already learnt sit, drop and come and he's pretty good with those. We're going to start having training sessions asap with lots of play. Our obediance club is paddock bashing style but we're going to be doing things a bit differently and rather than an hour long class 8-9 we'll be doing one on one Training with Sophie 7.30 - 8, rest Soph and class training with Chase 8-8.30 - Class training wth Sophie 8.30-9. I think an hour is a long time for a dog especially when they're young, and our club isn't going to worry about us doing our own training. I look at those group training sessions as more of a beginners thing for people that just want a basically obediant dog, not to necessarily build drive and work towards trialling which is what we're wanting to do.

[huski]

I think the paddock bashing club training is really geared towards pet people. I don't know any triallers who would do a full class with their dog.

I start training from day one, it doesn't have to be formal obedience immediately but you can start laying good foundations. I did basic training with Daisy from eight weeks but I didn't know anything about formal obedience back then so what and how I train will be different with the next pup.

[JulesP]

One of my complaints with my club is that if you want to go into the trial rings then you have to pass basic obedience first (24 weeks) and you have to be in or pass the advanced class. Whilst they don't paddock bash, the structure if very formal.

[Vickie]

I'm a fan of letting them grow up a bit before any serious training starts...I will always do lots of play with a pup, which some may consider as training I guess. I really think many dogs need a chance to grow up.

At 6 months all Shine had was a lie down & a solid recall. LOL, I don't think she even knew how to sit. She didn't see sheep till 12 months & didn't start agility training until she was nearly 2. She just wasn't ready, physically nor mentally for any serious training. I took her everywhere with me & we played some games, but no training. At nearly 4 years now, I couldn't be happier with her. Once we did start training, she picked things up more quickly and her behaviours are more solid than dogs I have trained younger. She is my constant shadow & I feel that the bond I have with her is better than with any other dog I have owned. I have only just started to push her in agility over the last 6 months & she is responding beautifully & really hitting peak performance.

I guess each dog is different, Trim was physically & mentally mature much earlier, so we started earlier (but not a lot). I am so glad I waited with Shine as it is really starting to pay off.

Edited April 21, 2010 by Vickie

[Bubitty]

I started training when Bitty was 9 weeks. All the usual sit, stay, come, spin, paw, drop. I think at 10 weeks we started on "focus" with the clicker and getting her to balance food on her arms.

At about 15 weeks I tried "shame" with the clicker and from then on I just tried to teach any trick that I found amusing while referring to a website which goes through these "Levels" of training that Aiden posted.

At about 4 months she learnt to hold things in her mouth and now she can run out to pick up stuff for me at quite a long distance.

I am contemplating taking her to our obedience club for a few sessions to see if she likes it but I've been told that its not that useful and not to bother. I don't trial or compete so its all about finding new and wacky things to challenge her with.

[Tilly]

We started training basically from day 2. It was basic stuff like toileting ... giving him "go toilet" just as he was about to go and then "good toilet" when he was going. He was taught his name. Sit and drop were more of a lure with treats and hand signal ... and then the words was added a bit later. He quickly learnt to sit before he was fed and then we taught him his food words. Teaching walking on a leash didn't come until he was fully vacinated but we did practice in the house with luring for food - so he understood the walking side and position.

He was doing brilliantly until he hit 6-7 months and the teething started ... and then he turned feral ;)

About 80 percent of the time he is great but then he has these feral moments when I just want to walk away from him. If you give him an inch then he will take it a mile ...

He is just such a high energy, high drive dog that you need to get in before the distraction otherwise you are playing catch-up.

Edited April 22, 2010 by Tilly

[wuffles]

This thread is really interesting for me, keep the replies coming!

We have a nearly-5-month-old who we've had since she was 12 weeks old. She just loves training. As soon as I put the treats bag on, she's right beside me and doesn't take her eyes off me. She will chase a ball and play with toys, and enjoys playing with other dogs, but she seems equally if not more happy when training.

Does anyone think that I could do more harm than good doing some of the more "formal" obedience with her at this age? I've been doing short heeling patterns around the yard which she appears to enjoy and is doing reliably. We've also started obedience classes, although they are only very basic and still "fun" at this stage. I do all kinds of stuff with her, sits, downs, stays, recall, as well as tricks.

Do you think a pup that exhibits such a desire to work will stop enjoying herself if I put too much work into her at this age?

[JulesP]

If you keep it fun and light and avoid drilling then your dog will be fine Wuffles.

I am certainly not getting any indication from my pup that she doesn't want to be training. The biggest problem I am having with the dogs at the moment is the total hysterics at training time. They all want to go first! Trying to get one dog out to the training area at a time is a nightmare!

[Ptolomy]

If you keep it fun and light and avoid drilling then your dog will be fine Wuffles.

I am certainly not getting any indication from my pup that she doesn't want to be training. The biggest problem I am having with the dogs at the moment is the total hysterics at training time. They all want to go first! Trying to get one dog out to the training area at a time is a nightmare!

I find if you have multiple dogs you have to train the youngest one first - if you make them wait - then they get just so over the top that it becomes very ugly ;) and yep like you said JulesP, every turn is their turn!

[ness]

;) and thats always the way while they are the youngest Ptolomy . Kenz still thinks at 2 is always HER turn .

I don't think if the dog shows a strong desire to work and as long as you treat it all as a game that you will have an issue wuffles.

[pie]

I'm a fan of letting them grow up a bit before any serious training starts...I will always do lots of play with a pup, which some may consider as training I guess. I really think many dogs need a chance to grow up.

At 6 months all Shine had was a lie down & a solid recall. LOL, I don't think she even knew how to sit. She didn't see sheep till 12 months & didn't start agility training until she was nearly 2. She just wasn't ready, physically nor mentally for any serious training. I took her everywhere with me & we played some games, but no training. At nearly 4 years now, I couldn't be happier with her. Once we did start training, she picked things up more quickly and her behaviours are more solid than dogs I have trained younger. She is my constant shadow & I feel that the bond I have with her is better than with any other dog I have owned. I have only just started to push her in agility over the last 6 months & she is responding beautifully & really hitting peak performance.

I guess each dog is different, Trim was physically & mentally mature much earlier, so we started earlier (but not a lot). I am so glad I waited with Shine as it is really starting to pay off.

Good post Vickie, I agree with this.

I had Kyzer early into obedience classes then Agility (which was a lot funner for him) he was my first dog so I didn't have much of a clue, we learned together (although he picked up things faster than I did ;) )

With Trixie I had all these plans to start her on basic stuff straight away because I had more of an idea of the end goal (for agility anyway) but let's just say she wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed so I just let her be a puppy, we only really played games with a bit of basic stuff thrown in like stays and sits and drops and she has only recently (9 months old now) started to think about things more so I have started teaching her some basic jumping grids which she is picking up quickly.

So I think it really does depend on the dog, some of them are sharp as soon as they are born, others need a bit of time to sharpen up

And yes she is another who always thinks it's her turn

[JulesP]

If you keep it fun and light and avoid drilling then your dog will be fine Wuffles.

I am certainly not getting any indication from my pup that she doesn't want to be training. The biggest problem I am having with the dogs at the moment is the total hysterics at training time. They all want to go first! Trying to get one dog out to the training area at a time is a nightmare!

I find if you have multiple dogs you have to train the youngest one first - if you make them wait - then they get just so over the top that it becomes very ugly ;) and yep like you said JulesP, every turn is their turn!

Once I get the required dog out the rest are really good. It is getting the dog out the gate that it a nightmare. I've basically got 3 BC all scratching at the gate, jumping up and down! Total chaos. Nice to see the enthusiasm though. I often end up with all 3 out and then have to convince 2 to go back and wait.

[Agility Dogs]

If you keep it fun and light and avoid drilling then your dog will be fine Wuffles.

I am certainly not getting any indication from my pup that she doesn't want to be training. The biggest problem I am having with the dogs at the moment is the total hysterics at training time. They all want to go first! Trying to get one dog out to the training area at a time is a nightmare!

I find if you have multiple dogs you have to train the youngest one first - if you make them wait - then they get just so over the top that it becomes very ugly ;) and yep like you said JulesP, every turn is their turn!

Once I get the required dog out the rest are really good. It is getting the dog out the gate that it a nightmare. I've basically got 3 BC all scratching at the gate, jumping up and down! Total chaos. Nice to see the enthusiasm though. I often end up with all 3 out and then have to convince 2 to go back and wait.

I used to have the same problem until the two of them totally embarassed me at a herding weekend. When one came out of the crate the other squealed the house down and visa versa. At that point I decided it was not going ot happen any more.

Now we train with either a mat for them to wait patiently on or an open crate for them to wait in while the other is having their turn. It took a bit of work at first, but is now soooooooo much easier than having to contend with a tantrum.

As for what age - my next puppy will start PLAYING at 8 or 12 weeks (depending on the breeder) when s/he comes home. The focus will be on focus on me and drivey behaviour/arousal (with self control). Crate games will be a big part of this.

Once they are good with all of that (ie: recall at high speed from whatever they are doing and crate trained) we will move onto other things like heaps of shaping, stays, basic handling and so on and so on. Jump heights and equipment won't go up at all until at least 12 months of age and then won't be consistently at full height until 18 months of age.

Hopefully they will be ready for the trial ring by the time they are two.

Whatever the case it will ALL be about FUN with self control. I will remove a lot of the rules that my current two had to endure to make sure that drive is always rewarded and calm is not so highly prized unless it is appropriate.

[pie]

I used to have the same problem until the two of them totally embarassed me at a herding weekend. When one came out of the crate the other squealed the house down and visa versa. At that point I decided it was not going ot happen any more.

Now we train with either a mat for them to wait patiently on or an open crate for them to wait in while the other is having their turn. It took a bit of work at first, but is now soooooooo much easier than having to contend with a tantrum.

Please tell me how you did this! I have a crate screamer and ignoring her doesn't make a difference!

[RubyStar]

Yes, please do share AD, I have the queen of the "it's my turn to train and it's my turn NOW!" tantrums, Millie!! Ruby is such a good girl, if I'm training at home she knows she has to go back inside the door for Millie's turn, or gets back in the car at club (all with a bit of a sad look on her face mind you!) but Millie, tantrums galore ;)

[Tiggy]

If you keep it fun and light and avoid drilling then your dog will be fine Wuffles.

I am certainly not getting any indication from my pup that she doesn't want to be training. The biggest problem I am having with the dogs at the moment is the total hysterics at training time. They all want to go first! Trying to get one dog out to the training area at a time is a nightmare!

I find if you have multiple dogs you have to train the youngest one first - if you make them wait - then they get just so over the top that it becomes very ugly and yep like you said JulesP, every turn is their turn!

Banjo is the baby of my dogs and yes he wants to go first .