when is he old enough?

    • Gold Top Dog

    when is he old enough?

    i was wondering when do puppies become old enough to go to puppy classes Boomer cant go yet because he hasnt had his parvo or rabies shots yet but i was just wondering

    • Gold Top Dog

    The sooner the better.  Some don't even wait until the shots are done.  Check with the class you want to enroll with to see what they think. 

    • Gold Top Dog

    well i wont have the money for puppy classes till the week after next because i have to pay my insurence first which sadly is top of my list for money so i can get two and from work. but we have started the basic's such as the no no sound heh and potty training as well as crate training as well as a little bit of sitting but he still has silly puppy in him not quite to the hey i want to please and can i have that treat hes just now figuring out i eat the best treats lol

    • Gold Top Dog

    I had my aussie in puppy class at 10 wks old. He already had his first set of shots and getting him that early socialization was super important to me. 

    • Gold Top Dog

    yeah see Boomer just turned 8 weeks old the day we got him. Im going to get him in classes as soon as possible i figure when we have mastered potty training almost 90% of the time that i should have the money then to get him in to class i agree socializing him is very importent sadly only socialization he will get is through puppy class and when i walk him due to most of the people here in town dont put much effort in to there dogs. sadly are closest dog park is membership only and no ones ever there. im hoping along with going to puppy class we will meet some people to socialize with hehe although the first day we got him while in petco getting his crate we met a german shepherd she was sweet and wanted to play with him so much, she was much older though past puppyhood but he seems like he wants to be friendly with every dog even daisy who is old and grumpy and doesnt even want him closer then a foot. she puts up with him though and only gets growly at him or nips at him when hes right in her face.

    • Gold Top Dog

     You shouldn't take a pup to the dog park anyway. Pups go through fear stages and any negative experience during a fear stage can impact them for life. So you want to keep socialization super positive and in a controlled environment - like a puppy class.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Around here, you typically need shot documentation that almost always has puppies about 12 weeks old...A few are at 10 but not many. 

    You can socialize (depending on the weather) by using regular strip shopping malls.  Go for short periods of time and work on loose lead walking and greeting a person here and there.  There are lots of new sights and sounds which is just as much socialization as people and other pets are.  Look for locations that have odd, or noisey (make sure you are far enough away it is interesting not scarey) or have unusual surfaces (large gravel, sand, ramps, stairs) which can also be used for exposure.

    Depending on the time of day, socialize on a sidewalk while kids are outside at recess.  Go to college campuses at class changes. 

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    well on that note heres an update! he learned to sit this morning by hand signal and hes learning the look at me command but the big news is sense yesterday he has been going out side and going potty with out a problem im so happy even this morning i ignored his call at 3am and he just settled back down and slept till 6am when he whined again and i got up because it was past breakfast for him and still he didnt potty in his crate im so happy... maybe ill post new pictures today

    • Gold Top Dog

    Sounds like you're making good progress.  Try these lessons till you get to class: www.clickerlessons.com  They're free, and pretty well explained.  One thing you can do is to go to the post office on a Sat. A.M. when everyone is getting their mail - you'll have a gazillion people wanting to pet him.  Be careful that no one reaches over him or stares, etc. at this age (fear stage 9 weeks, give or take).  People should be encouraged to pet him under the chin or on the sides.  Have him meet new dogs every day, in controlled circumstances.  Safe, quiet older (vaccinated) dogs are your best bet till you get to puppy class.  Then, he can do the rough and tumble play with his agemates.