When to start classes?

[Stephanie]

How soon did you start classes? Around what age would be right? I've been told that you should wait until they aren't puppies anymore.

[Adina P]

Start ASAP if you can find a class for pups. They can start to learn basic training and manners as soon as they come home, but puppy classes are mostly for socialization in a safe environment and from what I've heard VERY helpful. We didn't have puppy classes where I live when my pup got home, but he at least had my hubby's other two dogs to learn from and we had people over a lot so he could get to know lots of people. 8-12 weeks is a critical socialization period where pups learn a TON of social skills and accepting new things (if they are presented in a non-threatening way). The only thing to be careful of is not exposing your pup to places where other unknown dogs may roam so your pup doesn't contract the horribly disease Parvovirus. Talk to your vet about recent parvo outbreaks and do NOT go to any parks with puppy.

[Stephanie]

Ok great! I wasn't sure if starting him at nine weeks would be too early. It was between that or twelve weeks. My vet recommneded waiting until he was 12 weeks and after his second vaccination, but the trainer said it's best to start as soon as possible. She said a week after his first vaccination would be the earliest he could start.

[Kim]

My Vet also told me to wait until the 2nd set of shots, which I did and I don't think we missed out on anything by waiting the extra 3 weeks.

[Leslie du Mont]

So, for example, puppy classes at Petsmart might be a good way to start the socialization at 9 weeks or so *without* the fear of Parvo? (Nervous and protective new Mom here.)

[Kim]

My Vet suggested NOT going to any big franchise chains. I know a lot of people do go there, but I did take his advice and went to a small local training class.

Basically my Vet said that because anyone can take their animals to Petsmart and they don't check for shot records at the door. But if you go somewhere specifically for training, you know the other dogs in the building have had their shots.

[Stephanie]

I was told as long as all the dogs are vaccinated it should be fine. Toka will be starting at 10 weeks with one vaccination. But then again, I hear the opposite of this.

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

Funny~ I have seen just the opposite to be true. We start training at 10 weeks and there are usually 30 to 50 dogs in class. Our pups could care less about the other dogs.

[Linda Karell]

I started Chervil in a small training class with a "positive methods" trainer at 10 weeks--after one set of shots, but before the next. The puppies were prescreened for basic vaccinations, so I wasn't worried about that. She did marvelously, but mostly it was good for me (to begin learning that I am ALWAYS teaching her something by my responses to her, and I'd better get aware of what those things were!) and provided fabulous early-puppy socialization for her. It's also a good place to make friends and get your puppies together during the week for additional puppy play. She's now in her second puppy class (same trainer) and she's just the happiest puppy when she's in class. And at five months, she has all the basics (ok, not so good on recall yet--the world is just so distracting!) and people constantly tell me what a wonderful mellow puppy she is. They don't realize the work that has gone into that. . . . Anyway, good luck with the new one!

[Kate and Maci]

I started Maci in a puppy obedience class as soon as she fully vaccinated. We did our training at our local Petco (and I have to totally disagree with the post below). Our Petco requires proof of vaccinations and the girl who taught the class was phenominal. She actually had a dog that worked 9/11 as a therapy dog. What I did before I started though was I went and asked if I could watch a class before I enrolled Maci because I wanted to be sure I liked their method of training and if they say no, I would steer clear. Kind of like picking out day care for your child. Socialization is a very important thing when they are pups. Good luck and keep us posted.

[Kim]

I didn't mean that they don't ask for proof of vaccination for class - I meant at the door. Anyone can bring their dog in to Petco / Petsmart with them, they have signs at the door stating that your dog should be vaccinated, but they don't check dogs records at the door. That was the opinion of my Vet. I have heard a lot of good things from other people about bringing their dogs to training there.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Samantha started Puppy Kindergarten at 14 weeks. She only came to live with us 2 weeks before that or I would have started her earlier. She was the oldest and biggest in the class. She learned the basic commands but it was more that I learned how to teach her. We worked on them religiously everyday.
The best thing that I learned during that class was to socialize her to what we see and hear on a daily basis - trains, bikes, skateboards, uses, fire engines, ambulances, kids walking home from school, the sound of construction and things like that. I even introduced her to police officers and anyone who wears a uniform. Now there is really nothing - excpet wind - that spooks her.
Good luck
Adrianne

[Lynne B]

Try to find an APDT or CPDT certified trainer that is conducting puppy classes, if you can't find one online in your town, check the pets section of craigslist, most of the certified trainers here advertise when they are starting a class. I got beck in a very basic puppy class after his 2nd shots, that was only a 4 week class- he is now in the 2nd phase of puppy class which is 7 weeks long, he's doing great and has learned a ton of stuff. Petsmart and Petco can have good trainers, but according to my vet- most of them are salespeople who take a short class in training dogs and aren't actually trainers at all.