Age of training a puppy?

I have had my pup just over 2 weeks, and he is now 11 weeks old.
Is this to young to teach "serious" things like "leave it" etc..
He is doing really well, but my Dad said he is too young

I thought the earlier the better?
training sessions are never more than 5-10 mins at a time and hes a smart cookie!

if you are training using positive methods then its not to young at all

the only things they are too young for is to sit up and beg and things like that that growing joints and muscles are not ready for

i think the sooner you teach important life skills the better

Yeah thanks - you have just reinforced what I thought was right.

He doesn't always get it (I don't expect him to), and he doesn't always do the action - but a good 90% of the time he does.

And that is to "leave it" (hardest one for him but he still does it), and "give" (as I decided to split them up). To sit, lie down, come (again doesn't always listen - but isn't bad ) and to wait (sit down for a few seconds while i do something/go somewhere he isn't allowed/wait for me to allow him to get his food etc).

But he can do all of these already.

I just found it weird he said he was too young, when he can see how well he is doing

I don't plan to teach him everything I can think of in the next week or anything, I just thought if I got the base of the basics in, he can grow up doing them instead of trying to teach them later

Agree totally with the previous post - as long as it is nothing that is putting a strain on his joints (or his cocentration span ) the sooner the better. He isn't going to be perfect, but that is because there are so many new things to distract him.

Remember to keep the trainins sessions really short, have fun and always end on a high (with your puppy succeeding at the behaviour you have asked of him) not just wandering off because he has had enough.

It used to be thought that you couldn't/shouldn't train a dog before he was six months old. This was because of the methods used. It was considered okay to push/pull/choke/smack a dog once he was six months old, but not before. Thank goodness we have moved on from those days. Don't think your dad is being weird - he too is trying to do the best for your puppy.

Remember that as well as training he needs to be socialised - meeting lots of different people and (when he is vaccinated) lots of friendly dogs. He also needs to experience things - traffic, black bin bags, shopping trolleys etc, etc, etc - in a positive way. And that has to be done as soon as possible.

It is a busy time bringing up a puppy properly, and it sounds like you have started well. Good luck and have fun

Val

Thankyou
Yeah training is like 10 mins max, normally about 5 lol.
I don't expect him to be perfect - but it is all positive methods

He can go out and meet other dogs etc on friday!
we have the tv on in the main room (where he is a lot), eith different programs at different volume levels and things don't seem to fase him
Like Dad watches a lot of the police programs, and on the way back from the vet yesterday an ambulance went past sirens blaring and he didn't even flinch
Sorry that was a tad off topic

Good for you - television is a good start before you get him out into the real world. Enjoy when you take him out, but give him plenty of time to sit or stand and watch the world go by.

Val

Yeah
He has been round to play with next doors (fully vaccinated) 18 month labrador, and the kids (12 and 9 i think they are), and he is really good
And like to and from the vets etc I park a bit back and then walk with him a bit holding him
We have a lot of animal programs on in the background too