Consider this:
1) Puppies have a primary social development window that closes around 16 weeks of age.
2) Many newly adopted dogs (and certainly new puppies) have no knowledge of the strange expectations we have in our domestic human world.
3) Training shouldn't be scary or painful for your dog.
No dog training should be so unpleasant that it requires your pup to be of a certain age to get started.
While good puppy (and adult dog) training involves setting firm rules and boundaries, punishment should never be painful or frightening. This can lead to the development of additional unwanted behaviors, including fear or aggression.
The vast majority of "bad" behavior we see in our practice involves a dog that either doesn't know what's expected of him, or doesn't yet have the impulse control to do it.
Teach your dog the correct behavior, practice until your dog is fluent in multiple situations, rinse, repeat, and enjoy the results.
4) Your dog's adolescence can be a reflection of their early learning.
Adolescence is a tough age that isn't talked about enough.
If you wait until 6-8 months of age to begin training, chances are your cute little puppy will ave turned into a bull in a china shop.
Adolescent dogs can be impulsive, poor listeners, and downright annoying.
But if you put real work into the first several months of your pup's life, you can actually mitigate many of the issues that come with adolescence.
We teach our puppy clients impulse control and early learning skills that carry them through adolescence and beyond – and that's an investment worth making in your pup!
I am currently fostering a 5 1/2 mo old puppy with Angels. He had a 4 week puppy obedience class with the family that adopted him and now needs an adolescent class with us (he was returned because of family dynamics). Would love info on classes and costs.