What can a seven (7) week old puppy learn?
What can a seven (7) week old puppy learn is a question I received from one of my dog training websites.
See the puppy training video about half way down the page.
I got this question from a reader who wanted to know “What to train a dog at 7 weeks.” I am guessing they want to know what a puppy can learn when it is only seven weeks old. This is a great question because it’s during the formative early weeks that training has the biggest effect on future behavior. Most of the important social skills for living with humans are acquired during the early weeks.
The skills we can start teaching our puppies at seven weeks include socialization and potty training (house breaking.) It’s particularly important that potty training is done correctly at an early age to prevent housebreaking problems later in life.
Other life skills a young puppy can learn are not to jump on people, proper play behavior, not to bite hard, and to come when called. I also like to begin very gentle leash conditioning sometime also called leash breaking. I generally don’t like using the word breaking for dog training, but it does have a long tradition in animal training.
In Home Puppy Training
With a Corgi Pup
A young Puppy can Learn All of The Foundation Training Needed For Good Adult Behavior.
Foundational training develops the fundamental core life skills needed for good adult behavior.
This type of puppy training can also start at 6 weeks and older.
Foundation behaviors for dog training include,
- Teaching the puppy its name
- “Good” as a conditioned reward.
- Handling exercises to get and keep the puppy comfortable with being touched.
- Sit and Down.
- Bed
- Place, Kennel, or Crate.
- Stationary Heel.
- Get” for getting a toy.
- Drop.
- Release – use this instead of OK.
Some behaviors that were mentioned earlier include the
- “Off” command
- Bite inhibition.
- Coming when called.
- Leash conditioning.
Essentially, we can start training for all of the behaviors we want in the adult dog. While we can work on all the basic commands, puppy training sessions should be much shorter for puppies than for adult dogs.
Even if you plan on using more forceful training methods when the dog gets older, puppy training should be done primarily using positive reinforcement.
With a well thought out training plan even more advanced skills can be started at a very young age.
When I used to have German Shepherd puppies I would try to start them in the beginning phase of tracking at around eight (8) weeks old.
I believe I will start teaching behaviors needed on a movie or Television set to the next pup I get.
Group training classes do have some advantages for socialization. However, a 7 or 8 week old puppy has not had the required vaccinations to be in a group class. Most of the important life skills are best taught with an in home puppy training program.
Call today and get started on puppy training program designed for you and you pup 714-827-4058