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  1. #1
    House Broken Itstangy's Avatar
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    Is there a training window?

    Is there a time frame where training is most effective? For example from 2 months old - 6 months, and then after that it gets harder to train them?

  2. #2
    Senior Dog windycanyon's Avatar
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    Definitely the earlier you can start, the better. They are sponges at 8 wks plus the socialization is very important thru ~16 wks. It's harder to undo bad habits than to start good ones right from the beginning.
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  4. #3
    Senior Dog
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    Definitely good to start early, because every interaction with you is training them ... sometimes inadvertently, but they will do something and your reaction or lack thereof tells them something, so better to channel it in the desired direction early so as not to get bad habits.

    That said, it’s not like they all of a sudden at a certain age become incapable of learning new things - they don’t by any means. Training is a life-long process in our house, and our dogs compete in Obedience up until age 10 or 11 usually. They do go through a period of adolescence though, during which they may be more rebellious and less receptive to training than either before or after.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

    Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009

    And remembering:

    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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  6. #4
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    it's easier to train a behaviour VS retrain/stop one. so it's not harder to train an "older" dog but if you are also having to "extinguish" one behaviour or replace it with another then it's more work. so addressing things before they start is easier but a dog can learn at any time.

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  8. #5
    Senior Dog Jeff's Avatar
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    Start day one. Just the basics. but start the more you get them used to training the more you learn to communicate to them and they with you the easier it will be later. This also I think preps their brain for learning. However is there a time limit on training like you can't teach an old dog new trick. Nope. they learn like us humans all the rest of their lives and it should be something you do as well. Labs are very intelligent dogs. You can look though some of my old posts but my boy helps me around the house, he picks up his toys, he helps with laundry, he does canine musical freestyle, he does agility, dock diving, wilderness search and rescue, rally, obedience. He is an artist too as he paint pictures. He is my workout partner as he gets up on an exercise ball and works out with me. Most of the time people may say labs are underfoot, but they really just want to be with you and they are more than willing to learn things to be helpful. Just teach them you will be surprised what they can do.

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  10. #6
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Not having had a puppy in years, we home older dogs, I can tell you that labs are generally anxious to please. I took Melody, at 10 years old, to a basic obedience class (mainly for me since I hadn't trained a dog in years) and she aced the class. Also, all joined our family having been basically kennel dogs and house trained within a matter of days. It may take a little longer with older dogs, but it can be done with positive reinforcement and making each session fun.
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  12. #7
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    First, despite the fact I've had Labs for over 30 years, I'm a complete moron when it comes to training Labs. To make a long story short, when I had Bruce and was training him, I completely discounted Sophie and her abilities. All the things I saw as negatives with her were completely wrong when I brought her to training where there were professionals who had way, way more experience than me. Sophie is 4. I started formal Rally and Obedience training with her when Bruce passed away in December. She had made AMAZING progress in a very short period of time.

    All I can say is find a professsional trainer and classes from day 1. It will make a huge difference.

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  14. #8
    Senior Dog Abulafia's Avatar
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    We started socialization as soon as Hoku came home (at 7.5 weeks); she started her first class a week later. She has been in classes since then (is about 8 months now). Start early, and take it seriously. Best for the dog, and for you.
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    barry581 (02-03-2016)

 



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