I'm trying to determine just when is the right time to start giving strong corrections to a puppy, I'm thinking that just depends on the dog no? Also I'm not exactly sure when to start obedience training. Should it be after I have build a substantial amount of drive or should I just start with food and then cross over to ball on a string or somthing? I guess I'm concerned that I will end up with a dog who knows the command but is slow doing it.

Is this dog a working dog or a pet?

And how old?

Working, and that is what I'm wondering, how old it needs to be. Right now were only at 4months.

Matthew,

A four month old puppy is still a baby. Do you have Ed's DVDs? Your puppy 8 weeks to 8 months, How to Raise a Working Puppy, and Basic Dog Obedience would be good ones for you.

I'd order at least the first two and not worry too much about corrections until after you have watched them.


While you are waiting for the DVDs to arrive read: http://leerburg.com/pdf/theoryofcorrections.pdf and
http://www.leerburg.com/pdf/Ed%20FrawleysPhilosophyonDogTraining.pdf

You'll find a lot of good articles here:
http://leerburg.com/articles.htm

I'm very much a novice when it comes to dog training, but I think the more experienced here will agree that a 4 month old puppy is too young for strong corrections.

Read the articles, order the DVDs, and enjoy your puppy.

Right, I agree. I just don't want to train now and have him learn somthing the wrong way because I can't correct him.

Matthew

My personal opinion is that 4 months is too young to correct for failure to follow commands. However, when it comes to determining what age to start applying corrections, it depends upon you individual situation. What is your definition of a working dog? Does he live in the house? Do you have children around? What is you goal for this dog?

All of us have differing opinions about training and correcting pups. Additionally, we have differing philosophies pertaining to how a working dog should be kept.

Example, I have a Malinois (he is an extreme dog)that lives outside in one of my kennels. He has never received a correction to this day and is as wild as two bucks. He bites any and everything, show signs of being a very sharp adult, and has more confidence than any dog I have seen. There are no inhabitions what so ever. When doing bitework, he never looks to see if it is ok or if dad is about to out or correct him.

Having said all of that, remember that he lives in a kennel and has no direct contact with my children so there is no need for corrections. Your situation may dictate otherwise.

As far as the obedience training goes, it is simple. Instead of correcting, just do not reward incorrect behaviors. When he performs the behavior correctly, mark it, and reward immediately. This will encourage speed. When he fails to perform the command properly, give him a negative marker like "ah uh", and start over completely. This too will encourage speed and correct OB.

Right now at your pups age it's all about setting him up for success and redirecting or withholding reward for unwanted behavior. True corrections do not "need" to be introduced until later (one year or so) from a training standpoint. The only things I will correct a working puppy for are not coming and not dropping what is in their mouth once they understand what both of those commands means. Both of those can get a pup killed. This was Ed's advice when I picked up my puppy and it has served me well.