Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

How old should a puppy be for training?

Dog training shouldn’t wait until you’re having behavior problems. If you get a new puppy, start from the beginning with professional training to give both you and your puppy the tools you need for a healthy relationship. Dog training is as much about teaching the owner how to interact with their new dog as it is about the dog learning to behave. Puppy training can start as early as eight weeks old. Trainers who offer puppy training programs may works specifically with dogs between the ages of 8 and 18 weeks old. Trainers can teach owners about potty training and how to deal with accidents, working with separation anxiety, and training your pooch out of destructive behaviors like chewing, biting and demand barking. Puppies will start to learn to walk on-leash and other basic skills.

In addition to behavior training, socializing your puppy is an important part of dog training. Socializing your dog means they become comfortable and confident in a variety of settings and have a great foundation for becoming a well-adjusted adult dog. After your puppy has had the proper vaccinations, you can start to introduce it to a variety of different dogs and people in safe settings.

Which dog training method is best?

The best type of dog training for both you and your dog depends on the outcomes you hope to achieve. If you want your dog to learn agility training, go to someone who specializes in those techniques. Regardless of whether you want your dog to learn basic behavior or competitive-level tricks, the majority of dog training is actually about training the owner how to communicate with their dog. Most professional dog trainers agree that a model of training based on positive reinforcement breeds a happy, healthy, well-adjusted dog. The alternative to positive reinforcement training is using force or aggression techniques like physical punishment or shock-collar training to get the dog to do (or not do) a behavior. While the dog may learn how to behavior as you direct, it is also learning to communicate with force and aggression, and will in turn use those behaviors on other dogs (or people) that are smaller or weaker than it is. Before signing up with a dog trainer, meet with the trainer and ask for references. Watch the trainer interact with your dog, and make sure they treat your dog with patience and firm kindness. Ask them questions about their training methods:

What type of training methods do you use?
What is your background and training, and how did you become a dog trainer?
How long do you expect that we will work together before we achieve the results I’m after?

How long does it take to train a puppy?

Dog training depends on the dog and how much homework the dog owner is willing to put in. Puppy training is similar to dog training in that the onus of the work depends on the owner learning new ways to interact with their dog. For a quick crash course, you can opt for a single, two hour smart-start puppy training consultation to teach you the ins and outs of being a new dog parent. You can learn how to manage potty training and what to do if the puppy experiences separation anxiety. As long as you’re willing to work on dog training a little bit each day, your puppy will quickly learn these new behaviors. If you’re not confident about training your puppy yourself, you can enroll in a 6- to 8-week puppy training course, with weekly lessons touching on everything from bite control to obedience. Puppies usually need to be at least three months old for group training classes. If you want more intensive one-on-one work, you can opt for private lessons. Some behavior problems can be resolved in one session if the dog owner learns and can implement new skills. In the case of more serious issues, 3 to 10 private sessions can typically correct challenges.

Veronica Z.

Verified review

Raquel was great she knows a lot about dog training was very helpful are dog Oreo is a different dog know last night after she left I used the skills that she trained us on with Oreo and it work. I called a couple of other dog trainers but after reading her reviews I decided to go with Raquel and I am happy that I did she is wonderful.

Shari G.

We have our first puppy and we were struggling with many dog training issues (integration with two adult cats, potty training, biting, barking - the works!) and Karen was a great partner in helping us communicate better with our puppy and achieve great results. She is knowledgeable, passionate, and eager to make a difference.

Marine P.

DeeCee is awesome!! She truly is a dog lover and committed to her work. I needed help training my rescue dog to become a service dog and she did a wonderful job teaching us all the tips and tricks. She's very passionate about her work, which translates into great results when training your dog. She's very flexible and willing to help in any way she can. I highly recommend her. Thanks DeeCee!

Pax P.

John was awesome with training me and my dog. John took the time to get to know our needs and current situation and also helped us with dog socialization. John is very knowledgable and offered great expert advice. He also helped us with introduction to a dog park and helped me to understand the things to look for when introducting my dog into a new environment such as a dog park. I would highly recommend John to all my friends family and anyone else. He definitely helped with positive reinforcement.

Sophie M.

Denise is amazing! From the moment we first met, we knew we made the a great choice for our pups. We have two dogs, one is 5 and the other is 9 months. Denise is really hands on in her approach to dog training and we learned so much from our time with her. We are much more confident in teaching our dogs how to behave and they are much happier with the new rules we have set in place. Thanks Denise!!

David P.

Here was our situation: We had a 4 year old male husky. We rescued an 8 year old male German shepherd. The two did not get along. The German shepherd had a lot of fear aggression from a lack of socialization and past abuse and would try to bite the husky. We started looking for a trainer and we found Duane. On day one, Duane helped us socialize the shelters a little by taking him in the backyard with the husky. We saw progress even by the end of the lesson. We paid for 3 lessons with Duane, and after the third he offered to come help us a fourth time, for which he did not charge us. As a result of Duane's guidance and training, the shepherd has been able to socialize with other dogs at our local dog park, and now we are able to have the two dogs inside the house together. If you're looking for affordable, quality dog training, give Duane a call. You won't be disappointed. Thanks, Duane!

Bonnie A.

Stefanie has trained 4 of my dogs over more than 10 years and I cannot sing her praises enough! She has true compassion for all animals and has rescued and found homes for countless number of dogs. She has a real gift of "talking" to the dogs -- she can read their personalities and they bond with her. She is experienced, professional, strict but kind and understands all breeds -- purebreds and mixed. She assesses the situation, background, needs, etc. of the owner/s as well as the dog and adjusts her training method accordingly. Above and beyond her dog training skills, Stefanie is a warm, principled, caring person. I consider her a friend as much as my dogs' trainer.

Phyllis G.

Steve Welch of K9 Dog Training came to visit us and spent a great deal of time detailing his program and how it works. Steve and his associate, Wendy, were friendly, kind and considerate. As a result we let Babe, are Boston Terrier, and deeply loved little girl go with them to Training. We know she is happy and safe and in caring hands. I feel certain she'll return with some good lessons learned.

Michael A.

Angela came to the house to help us with our new puppy training! From the minute she came in, we knew she was the perfect trainer! Our dog responded so well to her. Every single time she comes to the house, she is punctual, professional, super friendly, and great at what she does! You will not be disappointed. She is a dog whisperer!

Roger O.

Vince, Matt and Olivia are absolutely the best! I've had other training, but Epic truly defines the art of proper dog training with amazing results. They have been training my German Shepard for a few weeks and the results have been unbelievable. Sasha absolutely loves Matt! Thank you! Roger, Tustin Ca

Karen G.

We are house sitting a dog for 6 weeks, and we needed immediate training as the dog had not been previously trained. Allison came over, helped me immensely, and we are on the road to good behavior! Allison will be available as our needs arise, but I highly recommend her for her knowledge, patience and guidance.

Carolyn G.

Dave was such a great help to us in training our dog (or us, really)! He really took the time to explain the process and work with Sadie to overcome her fearful reaction to other dogs. She's made great progress & we look forward to more training sessions in the future. Highly recommended! Oh, and Sadie absolutely LOVES HIM.

Sa C.

Ron is the best dog trainer ever! His love for dogs shows in his gentle, calm, and effective training techniques. He trains dog owners just as much as their dogs, and he has successful results. Under Ron's tutelage, my shelter pit bull blossomed from a fearful, anxiety-filled dog into a dog with confidence and self-esteem. She has really come a long way, in large part thanks to Ron and his teachings. Ron is also the least expensive dog trainer I have encountered. His rates are reasonable, for such high-quality training.

Sally B.

We are very excited to get going on training our dog with Dave. He came to our house on Saturday, and spent over an hour discussing our dogs needs, and Dave's philosophy on training. (Free consultation) We were very impressed, and feel that he will be a great fit for our family.

Erin E.

Maureen was very responsive to texts/calls/emails. She made sure to address the individual needs of my family/pet. She packed in so much information into just one session and provided us with some unexpected extras. We have already seen an improvement in our puppy's behavior after one session. I love her positive approach to modifying behavior. She was also super patient with us (first time dog parents). We had some very basic questions but she spent extra time with us to make sure we were set before she left. Will definitely use her again and refer friends in need of doggy help.

Mariah T.

Amazing! David was amazing with my dog. I had a dog who had several issues on top of not having any obedience. We tried other trainers before him and they couldn't help him. We finally found David and he did a wonderful job. He got our dog to stop lunging, barking, tearing up our things, helped us build a bond, and taught him obedience commands. I am very grateful for everything he's done.

Sherridan R.

Jessie is knowledgeable and reliable about walking dogs. She has some training experience. My dog is very leash reactive and I'm not totally comfortable letting him go with someone without my supervision. Jessie was willing to let me do that. For now, I've postponed dog walking, but not because of Walk'n Wag'n. They seem to be a reliable and professional company. I would recommend them.

Carole W.

I met DANIELE LARGO outside my bank about a year and a half ago. She had such a beautiful, uplifting energy about her. I thought she was so beautiful and happy, and I just wanted to get to know her. She has such an inviting demeanor; we just started talking. Somehow we ended up talking about dogs. She is a remarkable person and dog whisperer extraordinaire. We have three cute little white rescue dogs and have been putting up with a lot of mischief from them. We'd call one and he/she would turn and walk the other way; plus, two different dogs each thought they were the alpha! We had toileting problems, too much unwanted barking, they were impossible to walk, you get the picture. We love them so much - Jack, J.J. and Kate. We're planning to move sometime soon, and for so long I'd been thinking about what to do about our doggie situation. I knew I needed to do something - SOON. Sweet Daniele had been keeping in touch with me during the gap since meeting, but momentarily I had forgotten about Danielle's special talent. Surprise, she called me the next day! Since we started working with Daniele things have really changed around here. We see the changes as each day goes by. Joe and I have worked with the dogs in all the ways she has taught us and it has really paid off. Yes, people need to get engaged in the learning process along with their pets. We have learned so much about understanding dog behavior, an essential part of having a great relationship with your precious baby. Danielle is so in-tune with our dogs and the ways we all relate together, that she understands what's going on with all of us. They each have different issues and they all love Daniele. They are anxious to please her, and now they focus with us much better also. Each one has really stepped up and they are falling into line as a cohesive family unit. We already have less barking, less toileting problems, less jealousy, and more obedience. Our home is happier and calmer thanks to this special lady. We highly recommend her for anyone having problems with their animals, or, if they just want to have a better trained dog, or other issues. Daniele has also helped our doggies, and Joe and I to better health with the Protandim she carries. What a difference! She has so many great ideas that have helped us accomplish our goals, for our doggies and ourselves. We couldn't be happier that we engaged Daniele to help us. Call Daniele, she's worth more than you can imagine...you won't be sorry! With Gratitude, Carole and Joe Wike

Lauren M.

Carissa was my trainer and she is the absolute best! She was super professional and friendly which I really appreciated. She was able to really train my dog Zuke when I was the most frustrated with his progress. He has had a complete turn around since Carissa has been working with him and I am truly grateful to her for it. She took the time to give me tips and tricks on how to handle him on the leash, his former biting problem and helped with his whining and barking. My next dog I will definitely be calling her directly I can't imagine anyone else helping me or working with my pups!!!

SIAMAK S.

All aspects of Paw by Paw is amazing. Ayeumi is so kind, patient and understanding of the dogs that she is training. She got our dog as a baby and then he went back 8 months later and a 100 lbs heavier. Her training of both the dog and owner is superb as well as her assistance when needed. I would recommend her absolutely and proudly.

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