Shall i send my 4 month old puppy for training??

[trihok]

Hello everybody, i have jus bought a 4 month old CKC spaniel, her name is angel. she is our first puppy so we dun not how to train her. do ur thk shall i send her to kindergarden class?? she dun even toilet train... please help...

[carrie]

The best way to train your puppy is for you both to go to training class together. You will both learn together and it will be much more enjoyable for you to know what the dog has learned and how to put it into practice.

[SheltieLover234]

Yes send her now the sooner the better.Because when I got my Border Collie from the Shelter he had no trainning yet.But I train with him at home and after all the holidays I`ll be taking him to classes at the Shelter he`s kinda jumpy but we still love him.

[trihok]

Do u think is to late to send her for training class at abt 6 month old??

Originally posted by SheltieLover234:
Yes send her now the sooner the better.Because when I got my Border Collie from the Shelter he had no trainning yet.But I train with him at home and after all the holidays I`ll be taking him to classes at the Shelter he`s kinda jumpy but we still love him.

[RachelJ]

Remember that "training" is an ongoing process. It's starts when you get up in the morning and ends when you go to bed at night. The next day, it starts all over again. Essentially training is communicating with your dog, helping her understand what you want her to do and what she is not allowed to do. You need to be consistent and exercise patience. Praise instead of punish. Please avail yourself of the many dog training books that are available. If you have a library, start there. Otherwise, go to a bookstore and find one that is easy to understand and follow. There is much to learn, but it is fun and will make life with your dog much more enjoyable.

[lhg0962]

I agree with everyone. Start training as soon as possible, and if you can't get into a class before she is six months old, start now by reading all you can. Perhaps your training facility could give you some material to study and utilize prior to your coming to class. I absolutely love Cocker Spaniels (don't know what a CKC Spaniel is)and hope you have as good an experience as I did with my Kaycee. She was the gentlest little dog I could have ever hoped for.
Good luck and let us know how Angel is doing.

[This message has been edited by lhg0962 (edited December 27, 2000).]

[Karen]

A CKC Spaniel is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - quite different from cockers, but sweet dogs nonetheless. See Amanda, Bussy, Jasper and Otto for fine CKC's that have been Dog of the Day! http://PetoftheDay.com/search/search...gs&mr=25&pr=ON

[carrie]

The earlier the better, but six months or ten years old does not mean the dog can not be trained. I would say again though, go to training together, don't send the dog on it's own. This method has it's merits, but only when you have a great relationship with the trainer and you have very good knowledge of dog psychology and training and are confident that you know how to carry on the process - as said before it is an ongoing thing - and don't we all know it takes a second to undo a month and half of training?! Please go to a puppy class with the dog and both start to learn - you will never regret it, I promise!

[trihok]

Thanks everybody 8 ) i will borrow some books from the library and start teaching Angel for simple command before i send her to obedience class at 2 month later. 8 )

[b10OML]

I have just read your comments like "the earlier the better" and "starts when you get up in the morning and ends when you go to bed at night"

Hey c'mon you guys - you're supposed to be dog lovers.

Personally I think it's OK to socialize your dog fairly regular as a puppy. And for sure, you can try a few simple commands. But please take it easy with the little feller 'till he's at least 6 months if not more.

Good luck.

[carrie]

I have to say that most four month old pet puppies would have been through an awful lot of socialising and basic training.
I do agree that too many people put too much pressure on too young dogs to be "trained".
What I think people here are suggesting, not knowing the pups experience to date, is to socialise and go to puppy class - not have the dog do agility, protection or mountain rescue training!
It's a really good point though that basic training is not the same as the dog obeying every command given in an instant. (And, to put your mind at rest, a point I have pushed with puppy owners else where on this board!)
I'm afraid to say that trying a few commands is not the way to go - again, I agree that you should work to the pups character and you shouldn't push a young dog - but to try out and fail is also teaching the dog - to disregard you! Once you have started to teach something you must persist. The main two problems with this are that people think the dog understands the command way, way before it does and that too stressful commands are taught to too young dogs.
I know what you are saying and, in general, I agree. But there are rules that dogs need to learn, gently but firmly, like house training, being calm around people and not barking at everyone you meet on the street. By letting things go, letting the pup settle in before tackling these things - on some issues - you are making problems for the future.
Nice to see more and more people from the UK getting here! Hello and welcome!

[Margrete]

Our puppy Molly started learning things at 7 weeks after we took her to the Vet for her first check-up. We'd always waited longer to teach our other dogs but this Vet said that puppies were like little sponges and would learn anything if you praised them enough and made it fun. We used tiny little treats and by the time Molly was three and a half months old she already knew to come when called, sit , and was working on down. We took her to puppy class so she could meet other dogs and learn to socialize - she was the smallest and very scared of the other puppies so we enrolled her in another puppy class after that and now she is working on staying and heeling and she isn't afraid of other dogs anymore and likes to play with them. The biggest thing is the joy of seeing her learn and how much she loves it - don't send your Angel anywhere - go with her and work together and you will never regret it!! Molly is just six months old now and we can't believe how much she has learned!! Enjoy your Angel.

[RachelJ]

My point to this first time puppy owner was simply that in order for a puppy to learn how to adjust to life with us, there are many things it must be taught outside of things that are addressed in formal dog training classes. As Carrie mentioned housebreaking, being calm around people, not barking at everyone and to that we can add learning its name, not to chew and destroy household objects, to understand basic words like no, good girl, sit, come. A four month old puppy is going to "learn" regardless, so we need to help her learn to live with us in a manner that will help her become a suitable companion, instead of one of the millions of dogs who are soon discarded because they are "too much trouble".

[bubbles]

(smile)yes send your dog for training it would allso be a lot easyer, then train yourself

[trihok]

Hello! everyone, Happy new year...

thanks for everyone concern... ya..now angel is with me abt 2 week time and she know how to sit and lye down whenever we ask her to do so and the best thing is she is around 30% paper/toilet train.. 8 )

will send angel to singapore kennel club for puppy kindergarden class on the next intake which is Feb'01.

best wishes. 8 )