November 21, 2011
Is a dog ever too young or too old to start training using the methods shown in The Power of Training Dogs with Food and The Power of Playing Tug with your Dog?
Full Question:
I have a 3 year old black lab mix (who does AKC obedience and rally) and an 8 month old GSD. Is a dog ever too young to start Michael's training program, for example the power of food and tug. I have both of them. Is my black lab to old to start it? And what should I do differently?
Cindy's Answer:
Hi Kenny,
We start puppies with the food work shown in The Power of Training Dogs with Food anytime after about 7 weeks of age. Tug work is typically started as soon as teething is complete (usually around 6 months old).
No dog is too old to start this work, although it sometimes is easier to teach a dog that doesn't have previous training with other methods. It just may take a bit longer for the dog to get on the same page with the new program, especially if the foundation training the dog had previously was a correction based method as opposed to reward based.
I would start with the Food DVD with both dogs first and then progress to The Power of Playing Tug with your Dog.
We also just released a new video that fits in with both of these Advanced Concepts in Motivation. It's excellent and I think you would find it very helpful.
Good luck with your dogs!
Cindy Rhodes
We start puppies with the food work shown in The Power of Training Dogs with Food anytime after about 7 weeks of age. Tug work is typically started as soon as teething is complete (usually around 6 months old).
No dog is too old to start this work, although it sometimes is easier to teach a dog that doesn't have previous training with other methods. It just may take a bit longer for the dog to get on the same page with the new program, especially if the foundation training the dog had previously was a correction based method as opposed to reward based.
I would start with the Food DVD with both dogs first and then progress to The Power of Playing Tug with your Dog.
We also just released a new video that fits in with both of these Advanced Concepts in Motivation. It's excellent and I think you would find it very helpful.
Good luck with your dogs!
Cindy Rhodes
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