| What pups learn early stays with them forever, good or bad. My understanding is that the first 16 weeks is the best time to teach basics and socialize with other pups/people/situations within safety. I know that the breeder if it is a good breeder does a lot of these things, exposure to human handling to new sounds/sights/cats/children/crate training/using a doggie door and many many things one takes for granted until you get a pup that was taught nothing during that age or older. Formal training as far as commands may be a bit soon yet but basics like sit, down, walking with you instead of ahead of you, sitting at doors when opened until you go through, sitting before being fed, not to jump up, are all simple things that can be taught informally as each opportunity presents itself. Its also a great time to teach the concept of a clicker sound meaning good. Don't stress the pup out they do have short attention spans at this age but they are also very eager to please, there are tons of chances every day to teach the basics if you just take advantage of them. Personally every dog I have ever had that was over 16 weeks has had to work against a learning curve because they were not taught basic things. I have no problem with getting an older pup, I would just prefer one that has had the same socialization and training of basics that it would in a home setting. Good breeders start soon after whelping with early neurological stimulation and continue with age appropriate socialization/training for how ever long the pup is there.
Last edited by Dobemom2b; 10-11-2007 at 09:24 AM..
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