When should I start puppy school?

[Justin]

Hiya.  

Belle will be 11 weeks next week.  I know its prob a little soon, but when should I look into puppy classes?  And at what age should she be potty trained?

thanks

[David and Franklin]

I got my little Franklin into a puppy socialization / intro to obedience class at 12 weeks. Puppies need lots of social interaction to burn off energy and develop in a healthy way. Up until the day you brought Belle home, she was with her litter mates all day. She is a baby, and all training should focus on the positive. A class can get you started down the right path. Franklin sleeps in a crate and potty training thus began immediately. Emember though, she is a baby. Patience, consistency and kindness will result in a loving companion for the rest of her life.

[Susan & Randy's Kate]

She is really cute. Our vet didn't want our pup around other dogs until after all her shots kicked in. You can still have her sit while being petted. Stay off the furniture or at least ask to come up. Our puggle sits and waits until we let him up and only on one chair. Kate, the labradoodle, isn't allowed on furniture. We had to break our granddog from getting on furniture because of her bad back. By asking permission it helps if you go to someone else house who doesn't allow dogs on their furniture. Another good skill is sit and wait to eat. I always started potty training when I brought them home. Find a good place outside for them to go. With Kate we used pads (which she would pee on and poop nearby). but within a week she went outside. The power of having other dogs in the house is that they help with training too. Even the older dogs watch and learn new skills. Have fun. Sometimes they learn fast, sometimes regress, test their boundaries but boy do they love.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

IMHO it is not too soon now for a safe class where they thoroughly clean and check vaccination records. Plus you may like to invite over friendly, healthy older dogs now (both my vet and breeder encouraged that). Has he had 2/3 shots?

But you will see all sorts of parvo risk vs. socialization risk articles and opinions on this site. It seems pretty controversial. Parvo is awful and can scare you from anything!

When I made my decision, I did my research and based it on our local parvo rate at the time, info about my puppy kindergarten classes, and weighed it against "waiting" to socialize my dog. What I found really encouraged socialization early despite the parvo risk. And, I've met a lot of dogs since who have issues because they waited. Good luck!

[Chris & Abby]

I started Abby in puppy classes at 13 weeks. I researched the trainer & program and felt pretty comfortable I was doing the right thing. Up until then, Abby had not been around any other dogs and not many people since we never took her out of the yard. The class was so beneficial for socializing her. We didn't learn much, training wise, as I'd already taught her all the basic commands. Overall, it was the right decision for Abby.

I bought Poochie Bells for her and she learned very quickly that they got her out the door to potty! She was completely housebroken at about 17 weeks. We have an old Bedlington who helped train the puppy too.

[Kathryn Clark]

I was eager to start our Dewey off early at 11 weeks since he was really shy around dogs. It backfired on us though since all of the dogs ready to play were 16 weeks and HUGE so he was completely overwhelmed and we had to keep him outside of the playpen during playtime. He just sat there watching all of the other dogs play. Sometime we'd try to bring another dog in but he ended up just being too young for the crowd. It's worth asking before signing up for the class what the age range is. A few weeks later, Dewey is much more confident around dogs now that he's a bit older at 15 weeks. Good luck!

[Susan & Randy's Kate]

When I was about 8 our first black cocker got distemper shortly after bringing her home from a family breeder.  My mom kept her in the bathroom and would jump into the tub when she had a fit.  I haven't heard of anyone having a dog with it since.  I did have a friend who had a pup that got Parvo.  She lost him and the tragic thing is that it stays in the soil.  She was afraid to even get a fully vaccinated pup after that.  Guess I would check with the your vet and see how old the pups are but training begins the minute you pick them up.  

Kate grabs our pants leg and it is like a cute two year old kid that you try not to laugh but discipline them.  I try to think what kind of behavior I want when they are full grown.  Even when other dogs visit I make them sit before I pet them and keep them off the furniture.  The funny thing is when you are gone - they cheat.

[Paige and Leo]

How cute! Leo is 6 months old now. He was 11 weeks old when he went to a puppy socialization play class. And 12 weeks when training class started. He went to puppy school 1 and now he is in pet 3 class. He loves it. I did pick a high rated place with trainers I felt were good fit for me and Leo and a clean place. House training takes time but it will come. I used bells by door to help. The whole outside to potty clicked with him about at 17 18 weeks.

[Minga & Malu & Costa]

As long as they are current on the parvo boosters, a puppy class will be fine. Usually around the 12-13 weeks. Still do not take them to the dog park or any other place strange dogs who may not be vaccinated have been.

Age at being potty trained varies wildly from dog to dog. Obviously you start right away, but depending on the schedule for the dog it's hard to say when they will be 100% potty trained. My older has never had an accident since he was 11 weeks, the youngest is 13 weeks and has had one accident in the last week and a half, so we are still working on it, going out about once every hour while awake, straight away after naps, right before bed and after waking in the morning and after all meals.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Puppy classes should start only after all vaccinations have been completed. A good trainer/class, will ask for verification for Rabies. Potty training....rule of thumb is 30 days gone without an accident. LOL...can't tell you how many times we " reset the count"! Puppies usually train by 5-6 months. Anyone who tells you they trained their pup by 10 weeks is only fooling themselves ( and you). It just means they were really good getting them out constantly.

[Stephanie and Ragley]

LOL just when you think you're about to reach that 30 day mark...oh, puppyhood haha happened many times to us as well

I still laugh whenever people write that their 12 week old puppy is "already fully potty trained" 

Ragley was about 4 months old when we did our first class, but I had been doing daily training with her since the day she came home. 

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Exactly, Steph! Enzo probably started around the same time. I had been working with her since day 1 and they immediately moved us to the next class. We were actually there for the socialization, so she had a blast.
Um, yeah...my pup was completely house broken trained at 8 weeks! :p

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Yes- we were there for the socialization as well ( I had a bit of a wimp on my hands lol). Ragley had a blast and when we arrived later on for the basic obedience class, I think she was a little confused as to why there was no playitme at the beginning and end of class hahah

Ragley came home at 8 weeks so it technically wasn't until she was 8 2/7 weeks old that she was house trained ;)