Puppy Training - They're never too young!

New puppies are blank slates, just soaking up everything around them.  The first 10 weeks of a dog's life make the greatest impact on his development of any other time, and it's SO important to make sure pups are started right. 

First, mom is instrumental in teaching puppies manners and good citizenship.  She will teach puppies how to bite gently, and that getting a mild correction is not the end of the world.  However, at some point mom will move out of the picture and it's up to the two-leggeds to take on the task of teaching puppies.  

Our foster pups will be 7 weeks old tomorrow.  Besides learning valuable, life-altering lessons from mommy, they are also beginning their basic obedience training.  For puppies this age, learning should be through play with the goal of teaching your dog to understand what commands mean.  In that respect it is not "obedience" persay, but helping them to figure out what it is you're asking.  Making the training positive, fun, and rewarding is KEY to teaching your puppy.  

When these pups go to their foster and/or forever homes, we are including free obedience classes so that they can continue their education.  But here they are, 1 day shy of their 7 week birthday, already doing "sit", "down" and some basic "heel".  Think of what they will know in another handful of weeks!