GETTING A NEW PUPPY IS EASY. But what about potty training the puppy? How do you socialize her safely? Get her to drop things when you ask? Walk nicely on leash? Getting a new puppy is easy, but what comes next can be incredibly overwhelming. We believe that the absolute best investment you can make for your new puppy is in early puppy training (we’re talking as early as 8 weeks of age!), and here’s why. 1. YOUR NEW PUPPY’S PRIMARY SOCIALIZATION WINDOW ENDS AT 16 WEEKS. If for no other reason, invest in puppy training because there’s a time limit on your pup’s socialization and early learning abilities. During this period, your puppy is like a little sponge, absorbing every bit of the world around him. It’s extremely important that he has positive experiences, learns that humans are safe and reliable, and has a consistent routine, structure, and clear boundaries. You do not want to wait until all vaccines are completed prior to beginning training; later is too late . Succe...

One of the most common questions we get asked is: “How soon should I start training with my puppy?” The answer is always…now. Yesterday, really. Whether you’re working with a professional or training on your own, training should begin the day you bring your new dog or puppy home. CONSIDER THIS: 1) PUPPIES HAVE A PRIMARY SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT WINDOW THAT CLOSES AROUND 16 WEEKS OF AGE. Before then, they need to be exposed to all of the people, animals, objects, and environments that they will need to be comfortable with long-term.Put simply, later is too late.Take advantage of your puppy’s most formative weeks by making interactions safe and fun; the goal is for your pup to come away from each interaction feeling good. 2) MANY NEWLY ADOPTED DOGS (AND CERTAINLY NEW PUPPIES) HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE STRANGE EXPECTATIONS WE HAVE IN OUR DOMESTIC HUMAN WORLD. Don’t chew that. Don’t eat this. Don’t go there. It’s our job to help set fair rules and expectations from day one, and stick to the...