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.

Megan C.

Verified review

I worked with Nico and he was extremely effective and knowledgeable about addressing aggressive behavior in my dog, Buddy. Nico's approach was easy to follow, and was applicable to the circumstances. He provided me with tools to establish good behavior habits with Buddy, and I saw vast improvements within just a couple of sessions. The service price was a very reasonable option for my family. Before working with Nico, I was strongly considering re-homing my dog, however, since completing the training sessions I now feel equipped to perpetuate the good behavior and feel that Buddy is a happier dog as a result!

Jeannie W.

Steve is a very knowledgeable dog trainer. His method of dog training is so easy to learn and has proven excellent results raising my puppy. Highly recommend him for any dog behavior problems!

Lynn M.

It is very difficult leaving my dog and cat when going away, but knowing that Pam is taking care of them relieves me of any anxiety I might have. She is reliable, trustworthy and is a true lover of animals. I know they are in excellent hands and recommend highly Pam for any of your pet needs.

Steven G.

My family and myself gained a lot of information on training our dog. We feel that we now have the building blocks to keep up with his training and we believe he will improve with time. Thanks Lisa we really enjoyed training with you

Alison M.

My two dogs attended Adult Manners I class with Marion O'Neil. Marion did give us many tips on how to help our dogs follow direction. They have both made strides in their behavior. We are pleased that we attended Molasses Creek Dog Training.

Jennifer B.

My husband and I are so happy that we have discovered Steve Broadwell from Diamonds In The Woof to help us with our dog, Winston. Steve has been a life-saver and we are so pleased working with him. He is professional, highly knowledgeable, and has not only helped our dog, but has helped us, too. Our dog is a handful and we're still a work in progress, but Winston has really come a long way, all thanks to Steve. We not only feel as though we have hired the best dog-trainer in the area (we have!), but we have also made a friend who truly loves and cares about our dog.

Dominique H.

Heather is very competent. My very large dog was an obnoxious jumper and had to be locked up every time anyone came into the house. She almost knocked some of my friends to the floor with her jumping!! Now I am able to control her and she no longer jumps up on people. Finally I have a dog with good manners! Heather stressed how important it was for me to be motivated to participate in the training of my dog, so I did my homework faithfully in between sessions, and was incredibly consistent, which really paid off. Heather is an excellent trainer and if you're really ready to work along with her you'll have a well mannered and happy dog.

Jennifer C.

I had an amazing experience with Buck’s Dog Training! Both of my dogs came back after 2 weeks and were so very obedient and well mannered. I highly recommend her services to anyone and everyone.

Michael A.

We are extremely pleased that we selected Emma. She is a wonderful person and absolutely knows what to do. Our puppy was born to a street dog in Puerto Rico and when we adopted her, she did not have the best habits. Emma has taught us what to do, how to do it and when to do it. Our Sabrina is learning quickly and we employ what Emma has taught us and it never fails. She is flexible with scheduling and is always on time. You cannot do better than hiring Emma! Sabrina sits on command, heels when walking and sits at every street intersection. There is more to be done but thus far, it has been a rewarding and very useful training period.

Caroline F.

Training my dog with DeNovo Canine was a wonderful experience. Kayla makes everything so easy and simple, even for first time owners like us, and now my dog listens to every command. We get compliments everywhere we go about our dogs behavior and could not be more thrilled with our results!

Kelly S.

Pilar has done a fantastic job training our pup on a leash! I have counted on her to take care of my baby daily for the past 8 years. She did great working with her, as huskies are an intelligent yet stubborn and mischievous breed.

Sabine C.

Matt trained me and my 6 month old German Shepard. He is a wonderful trainer. Very patient and knowledgable. He explained and demonstrated each step during our 8 sessions with him, very focused. He made me and my dog a great successful team. I am comfortable to take Lacey anywhere. Would recommend Matt for any dog training. You can not get a better trainer that Matt.

Samantha W.

Ryker LOVES Mark. I've seen such a huge improvement pertaining to many of Ryker's behavioral issues since we started working with Mark and am looking forward to seeing many more. I'd previously done a bit of training with Ryker, but never got these types of results. Extremely happy with his service and would recommend 100%!!!!

Nicole B.

Athena is a wonderful caring trainer who has a passion for rescuing dogs and helping them find their forever homes. She has worked with all range of dog types, breeds including aggressive dogs. I would highly recommend her to anyone who wants a caring dog training professional!

Carolyn C.

We hired Jacques and his team of pet companions for a 10 day vacation we went on and had him stay at our place.We also use them to do some regular dog daily walks. They are easy to work with and so compassionate about caring for our pets. We will only use them for all our pet care needs going forward

Carolyn S.

Janet worked with my very out of control puppy (and myself) to get him to a place where he could be a decent member of my household. She is flexible and always finds a solution to try with the dog and the owner. Hard to believe that my dog is the same one that started when I worked with Janet. Would recommend her to everyone...and I have.

Linda M.

I have a 3 year old miniature schnauzer named Gia. My reason for having her join the pack was to get her more comfortable around other dogs. I spent a lot of time working with Gia and she is a good well trained dog except in this area. I couldn't get her over her fear of other dogs. She would bark and carry on whenever she saw another dog. She has been walking with the pack for a few months now and when Melissa picks her up she runs to the car and jumps in, she can't wait to see the other dogs. I would recommend Unmistakable Dog to anyone. Melissa does a wonderfully professional job. Linda M.

Ruth R.

After having Collin's professional help with my dog Reiko, I can't say how thrilled I am! He has both an interest and dedication to the care of dogs and a passion for the active care and well being of dogs as pets. Collin got to know my dog individually, taking time to evaluate his personality and moods, so Reiko felt comfortable and engaged. Collin knew how to create a stress-free environment for my dog and a safe, fun environment for training, play and walk time. He told us he really cares about the communication between pet parents and pets and it really shows through the lessons he leaves with us through his training. My favorite part about Collin as a trainer was his Q&A portion, he loved listening to any questions I had, even small ones, he knows I just love my fur baby!

Camden, NJ528 Dog Trainers near you

Answer a few questions

Get quotes

Hire the right pro

Camden Dog Trainers