When to start teaching basic commands?

[Oliver]

We'll be picking up our 8 week old pup in a few weeks- We can't wait! Most of the puppy training books I've been reading suggest not even trying to teach basic commands (sit, come, stay, down, etc.) until 14 weeks. Instead, they stress the importance of solely teaching the puppy their name and working on potty training. I've noticed lots of doodles learning commands like sit, etc. before they're 14 weeks old though! I'm guessing it just depends on the pup...anyone have any experience with this? How old was your pup when you got him/her and when did you start teaching basic commands...and when was your pup successful with these commands?

[23ght0c2zk1tt]

We picked Chapin up at 9 weeks, and he is now at the 24 week point. We concentrated on name and potty training for the first three weeks, and then started with sit, well actually "sit pretty"! So, a little early than your guidelines, but he learned it pretty quickly.

Other than that, we're only starting now to really teach him any other commands. Bad puppy parents, but he's just too much fun!

[Sandy]

I started Toby on "sit" at about 9 weeks, because I wanted him to sit to get his leash on, and to wait for his food patiently. After that I started with "take it nice" for a treat, and then "sit, stay". Stay is a work in progress. :) He's definitely smart enough for what I've asked of him! We are now working on "please don't nip us", and "please stop jumping up".....kidding, of course, sort of, but we really are working on the nipping and jumping. It's just hard. Puppy classes in two weeks - can't wait!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Hi Meredith,
Congrats on the expected pup. Very, very exciting!!!
Samantha came to us at 12 weeks old and is now 9 months old (where did the weeks go?!?!) We didn't do formal training sessions until she started puppy kindergarten when she was 15 weeks old. We did teach her her everyday commands with hugs and kisses and treats. We started with potty training - tho we made a mistake in her "spot" because we changed it later on and we knew we were going to and she still goes to the 1st spot - her name and the commands that we use in everyday life such as: drop it (Samantha loved sticks), sit, walk nicely as opposed to heel (which means something totally different in formal training classes), down and wait. We also worked everyday on brushing her without her chewing on the brush, holding her paws so we could give her a peticure, brushing her teeth, checking her ears. All these things we did with cookies but again a mistake (too fattening) when we should have been using her kibble. All of the everyday stuff can be done when the situation occurs and I suggest you do so when you really need a "drop it" ygou may have a chance.
Also - I always keep kibble and treats in every pocket - you just never know when you will need it.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Meredith,
I forgot a very important point which I just learned last week in school and wished I had known before
When Samantha does exactly the perfect command I give her a big YES each YES gets a cookie or two or three. I am saving the YES for the exact perfect performance and GOOD JOB for you tried but didn't quite get it 100% kind of stuff.
Adrianne

[Paula]

We've had our pup for almost 3 weeks. She is 9 weeks old. She can sit, down and we are working on come. She does know her name and potty training is going really well. We mostly use her kibble for treats. I followed the method outlined by Ian Dunbar for the above commands and it was truly effortless. She is also learning to shake because she just naturally puts her paw up! I agree with Adrianne. Start with the potty spot right away. We messed that up too!

[Carole (*Koda*Monty*Bindi)]

Gaston Cramer will be 7 weeks old tomorrow. He's been in our home a week now. We didn't expect much from him as we got him so young but decided to give it a try anyway. He knows "come" beautifully. We say the command "come" and clap and crouch down low to the ground. When he reaches us we say *in a really high pitched silly voice* "Good Gaston Cramer". (Only using his name when the task is completed). Its worked great for us and going back and forth between two people can really tire out a little puppy! (helpful hint when you might need a break!LOL)

Gaston came to us paper trained. That being said, we only use the paper in his pen area at night and he's only not "told us" he needed to go out a couple of times so he really doesn't use it. During the day I take him out immediately upon waking up, 20 minutes after he eats and immediately after a play session. That pretty much averages out to once an hour during the day light hours. We just scoop him up, take him out back, tell him it's potty time and leave him to do his business. Once he's done his task we praise him up and down and go directly back inside the house. This works for us so he realizes that (for now) when he goes outside it means only one thing and doesn't confuse it with play time.

That all having been said I must be honest and tell you that the only time I leave him unattended is when he's asleep in his crate. All other times, life comes to a halt and its all about Gaston and potty training! LOL So far he's got us trained great! LOL

Gaston Cramer does start "formal" training Dec.10th. As I think I mentioned to you Meredith, GC is being trained to be a therapy dog as part of our daughter's senior exit project. His "training" really started at 1 week old when the breeder began the super puppy program with him. We're taking it one day at a time but introducing new things/commands to him whenever possible regardless if he "gets it" or not. It can't hurt! LOL

Gathering up everyone's experiences is a great way to form a game plan that'll be unique to you and your new pup :).

[Ali]

I picked Lola up when she was about 7 1/2 weeks old. she knew sit for treat by the second day. You can start basic commands right away, especially sit, down, potty training, no bite, come, and the puppies name. Just do it with positive training, lots of treats. Her food became treats. Anything can be a treat, it all depends on how enthusiastic you are.

[sandy b]

We picked Max up at 8 wks and immediately started some basics - sit, outside, potty. We always give him treats - pieces of his food, carrots but all very small pieces. We made a small fenced area in our backyard as a potty area and every time we take him out and he starts to potty we say over and over potty, potty, potty. He is actually starting to potty on command, not always, he's almost 13 wks old. I also bought a poochie bell and we make him ring it whenever going outside.Whenever he rings it on his own we always take him out. Sometimes he goes, sometimes not but we really try to be consistent.
He started formal training at 10 wks. We opted for in home mainly because we couldn't find a class for him until he would be 16 wks and I wanted to start sooner. We're using the clicker method and I really like it. Woops, gotta go, Max is hungry!!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I started sit and wait for food immediately, not expecting perfection. Then come. Every night for weeks my puppies only got their dinner when they came to me, A little for a short distance and agreat big handful for a long distance working up to having to find me for the remainder of their dinner. Both of my dogs are very enthusiastic about "come". I got this tip from my trainer who thought I was crazy to wait to teach come when it is so easy and fun to do it this way. It takes two people: someone to have the food and the leash and someone to lead the dog away so he can come. I think while you are waiting for that magic time when they have had all their shots and it is safe to leave home and backyard is the perfect time to train sit wait down leave it etc. I would definitely not wait for 14 weeks.

[2hl9mp3c2fuam]

I would say the sooner the better - not that my doodles do much but sit!! They are VERY stubborn with me - especially my female......

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Every minute you spend with your puppy/adult dog is time you teach. Not always with "formal" lessons but I am sure that most parents are like me - even with the commands she knows when she does them right there are verbal praises, hugs and kisses, and treats. Isn't that what training is all about? Learning the new and keeping the old done right?

[Scott Chalkley]

Doodles are very, very smart! They can learn commands within minutes especially with positive reinforcement such as treats. We started our pups on basic commands at 8 weeks and now at 10 weeks old they all know their names, come, and sit. We even have them on film doing synchronized sitting as a group. It's really cute! I haven't uploaded it yet but will soon. Anyway, from the information I have read about puppy development from 8-12 weeks old is the perfect time to start training basic commands. It's also a perfect time to start training them on what rules you want them to obey such as no jumping up on people.