Can you really train an 8 week old puppy?
One of the most frequently asked training questions I hear is: "can you really train an 8 week old puppy"?
The answer is a resounding yes! In fact I have been training puppies - hundreds of them for the past 30 years. I specialize in all aspects of training, safe and rewarding exposure to the environment, to people, other dogs - everything a puppy should experience before the end of the critical period which closes its window around the 14-16 week mark. Did you know that? Did you know that technically a puppy should have quite a lot of (safe and responsible) exposure before the age of 4 months of age and if it doesn't there is a huge chance that it will eventually become reactive?
We live in a society where we have way more reactive dogs in our communities than ever before. I can't be the only one to connect the dots - quite a lot of professionals will recommend or even demand that your puppy never leaves your home for months until they are fully vaccinated. I even had one owner tell me that a veterinarian told her to keep her puppy at home for a year before taking it out and another told her to not even allow the puppy on the grass in their own back yard!
By recommending this practice, we now have dogs that cannot peacefully exist in our community without being reactive to other dogs, people, bicycles, children and much more.
All of this 'exposure' (which is a way better word than 'socialization' which is what most people call it), can take time and a lot of care and knowledge to do it the right way. Have people been doing it for years without the help of a trainer? Of course, but our world has changed. Our dogs have changed.
So if you are looking for your puppy to get off to the right start in life and at the same time they get all this wonderful exposure and training, then drop me a line and lets get started. When you consider EVERY step a puppy takes in its new life is a teachable moment you can truly grasp how important doing the right thing can be.
There is way more information on this website - so please, take your time, read all my notes and based on your new found knowledge you can now make an informed decision for the future of your new puppy!
Look forward to hearing from you...
Sue Chipperton
Training is a Team Sport.
I am the coach, not the quarterback.
That’s your job.
I can write the plays.
I can lead the practices, and have you run drills.
I can set you up to win.
But on game day, if my players don’t show up, forget the plays, or fail to use them, the team will likely lose badly.
Training sessions are nothing more than the practice field.
Every day life is the real game.
Practice prepares...the real world is where it really matters.
I cannot train your dog for you.
I can train him for me.
I can teach him how I will respond to certain situation and events.
I can build reliable responses in those circumstances.
But in the end, it will be up to you to convince him, the choices that work with me, also work with you.
I can help you with that part too.
But I can’t do it for you.
Quote by Chad Mackin Dog Trainer
