what age to start training?

Hi to all of you!
I have Trudie, a nearly 3 month old Blenheim girl, that is very smart and has a wonderful will to please. I am wondering at what age you would suggest starting to work with her on "sit", etc... I know I don't want to start pushing her at too young of an age, but I don't want to let it go either.... Suggestions?
Thanks, Veesha

I start training the day they come home. Dogs are learning every minute of the day they aren't sleeping so you may as well teach them what you would like them to learn. I'd get a good book about positive training methods. Personally I love clicker training and shaping. Keep training sessions short (no more than five minutes at that age - 1-2 is probably even better) and have several sessions a day. I would feed a good part of my pup's daily food as reward.

We started right away with "not yours/drop it" (by swapping toys or a treat for something that wasn't hers that she had), and she's now got "sit" and how to take treats politely (most of the time, haha) under her belt, and is learning "stand". She also knows that "again?" means drop the ball if you want it thrown again. It really did only take 1-2 minutes a day, sometimes twice a day. "Again" only took 5 minutes, lol. She's 18 weeks today, and we also brought her home at 12 weeks. Next week she gets her last shots, so we will start socializing her with other dogs more. My parents' dachshund has been helping with that for now .

I believe positive training should start as soon as they come home! I got my little guy at 3 months. He is now 5 months and knows Come, Sit, Stand, Down, Stay, Heel, Shake, Go Around, Drop it, Get it, Take it, Speak & Kennel up almost flawlessly. There are about 5 other commands we are working on that he is pretty good at. He is also potty trained. (He is out with me almost 24/7 unless i have to go shopping. Then he is kenneled for an hour or two.) I only train him about 5-8 minutes twice a day (sometimes less). I don't force him to work. I just use LOTS of praise and occasional treats. Its like he "knows" when I'm about work with him because he will start following me around and he gets excited. I truly believe he loves it. I have only had him not be interested in training a couple of times and I just skip the session. I also take him out in public 3 or 4 times to socialize with new people and pets.
Also I will use commands I want him to learn in every day life if I see him doing something I want him to do. (For example: When he would be playing and drop his toy I would use the command "Drop it" even if it wasn't a training session.)
I posted a video a couple weeks ago of him doing his basics. It is crazy how much he has advanced just since the video.
http://www.cavaliertalk.com/forums/showthread.php?35454-Flash-working-on-his-training
If you are worried about pushing too hard just start slow. (1 or 2 minutes) If you pup looks unhappy then you might be pushing too hard. Always keep training sessions positive and happy! Never ever punish especially during training!
Best of luck!

Agree with others that training starts the moment you bring your pup home. Only thing I would add is have pup sit before letting her or him at feeding dish. With both our dogs, I say sit, stay and then say free dog when they can eat. Our trainer said not to use okay since that is used so often. You can use any other phrase to release them.

Heather R

I think it was at 5 weeks old I started to teach sit. I got to spend a lot of time with Dylan before he came home. But shhhh, don't tell his breeder! He came from a show home where the command "sit" is banished!

We started with Murphy as soon as he came home. We started with his name, sit and lie down, he pick them up really fast, he was like a little sponge at that age

Once he had both his jags he started puppy class, which he loved.

Puppies can start training from as young as a few weeks old, they are constantly learning & it's fun for them if you make it a game! I would also HIGHLY recommend puppy socialisation classes as these help the puppy to interact with other dogs or all ages & sizes & people too best of luck

Right away! Plus: you can download this FREE copy of Ian Dunbar's well known puppy training book and care manual HERE.

If you use it as your guide you will end up with a fantastically trained puppy and have answrs to just abut any care or training questions that might come up.