When Should You Start Puppy Training Classes? A Complete Guide

This article was co-authored by Clarissa Farris, a canine behaviorist and trainer, along with the Petful team.

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Why Puppy Training Classes Are Essential for Your Pet’s Development

Puppy training classes are crucial for your puppy’s development. During the first year of life, your puppy needs to learn several important skills. If I had to choose the three most vital skills for puppies to learn while young, they would be:

• Socialization: Helps your puppy interact well with people and other dogs. Learn more about socializing your puppy.
• Bite inhibition: Teaches your puppy to control the pressure of their bite. Find out how to stop puppy biting.
• House-training: Essential for keeping your home clean and your puppy well-behaved. Read more about house-training your puppy.

Without these three skills, many puppies are rehomed or, sadly, even euthanized by their third birthday. House-training is an obviously necessary skill because when it’s not present, everyone in the house knows it. However, when a puppy has not learned bite inhibition or been socialized, it’s not always obvious until behavior issues become full-blown as an adult.

Why Your Puppy’s Age Matters for Puppy Training Classes

Bite inhibition and socialization both need to be learned while your puppy is young. A puppy has a key developmental period that typically ends around 12 weeks of age. These first 12 weeks are the most crucial for socialization because, during that time, a puppy is very receptive to learning new things.

Key points to consider:

• Critical Development Period: The first 12 weeks are essential for socialization.
• Bite Inhibition Timeline: Must be taught before 6 months of age when a puppy’s jaws develop and can cause damage.

A good puppy training class helps your pup become socialized and develop bite inhibition. Additionally, it teaches obedience commands, and tolerance. Enrolling your puppy in training classes ensures they get the necessary skills for a well-behaved and socialized adult dog.

When Should You Start Puppy Training Classes?

Are you wondering, “What age can you start puppy classes?” The answer is 7–8 weeks old.

Most people think their puppy must be fully vaccinated to start training and socializing. However, the distemper/parvovirus vaccine (DHPP) is a series of vaccines that are spaced out. Waiting until your puppy is 100% vaccinated would mean missing their critical socialization period.

Instead, begin puppy training classes right after they receive their first DHPP vaccine, which should be at about 6–8 weeks of age.

Key points from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB):

• Puppies can be socialized as early as 7–8 weeks of age after their first distemper/parvo vaccine set.
• The risk of behavior problems from not socializing a puppy outweighs any risk of disease exposure.
• “Behavioral problems are the greatest threat to the owner-dog bond.… Behavioral issues, not infectious diseases, are the number one cause of death for dogs under three years of age.”

The Benefits of Group vs. Private Puppy Training Classes

Choosing between group and private training classes depends on your puppy’s needs and your personal preferences. Each type of class has its own advantages.

Group Training Classes

• Socialization: Group classes provide excellent opportunities for socialization with other puppies and people.
• Distraction Training: Learning commands in a group setting helps puppies learn to obey even with distractions.
• Cost-Effective: Group classes are generally more affordable than private sessions.
• Support System: You can share experiences and tips with other pet parents in the class.

Private Training Classes

• Personalized Attention: Private sessions offer one-on-one attention, which can be beneficial for puppies with specific behavioral issues.
• Flexible Scheduling: Private classes often have more flexible scheduling options.
• Customized Training Plans: Trainers can tailor the training plan specifically to your puppy’s needs and your goals.
• Focused Environment: Without the distractions of other puppies, your puppy may find it easier to concentrate and learn.

How to Keep Your Young Puppy Safe During Training Classes

Looking to start puppy training classes but worried about safety? There are several things you can do to minimize your puppy’s risk of contracting diseases in public:

1. Look for Vaccine Requirements: Choose a puppy class that requires all participants to be up-to-date on shots. Puppies receive antibodies from their mother’s milk that protect them against certain diseases. However, this protection wears off before 12–14 weeks of age. It’s crucial that shots be given on time to ensure your puppy doesn’t stay unprotected once the milk’s effects wear off.
2. Clean Floors: Select a training facility that cleans the floor with a cleaner that kills distemper and parvo right before the class begins. The trainer should also prevent any dogs not participating in the class from entering the area.
3. Carry Your Puppy Into the Classroom: Distemper and parvo are contracted through the saliva and feces of other animals. Carry your puppy into the classroom to avoid contact with other dogs and the ground where feces may have been tracked. You can also request that the trainer have human participants remove their shoes before entering the classroom.
4. Be Picky About Where Your Puppy Pees: When taking your puppy potty, choose an area where other dogs are not likely to have gone potty, even if that means walking farther. Make sure you take your puppy out before leaving home to minimize the number of times they will need to go potty while out.

What Do Puppies Learn in Puppy Training Classes?

Puppies learn many important things in a puppy training class. Not all puppy classes are created equal, so ask a lot of questions and look for a lesson plan that focuses on the following five key areas

Socialization

Socialization is crucial for puppies to interact well with people and other dogs. A good class will expose your puppy to:

• People
• Other puppies
• New sights
• New smells
• New sounds

Classes should include fun interactions and obstacles like ramps, tunnels, brooms, and vacuum cleaners. Some classes encourage pet parents to take turns handling each other’s puppies, helping them get used to different people and improving your training skills.

Weekly playtime helps puppies learn:

• Bite pressure control
• Reading dogs’ body language (how to read dogs’ body language)
• Confidence
• When to give another puppy a break

Trainers should also guide you on socializing your puppy outside of class. Since many puppies haven’t finished their vaccines, you can carry them to various places until they are fully vaccinated.

Bite Inhibition

Bite inhibition teaches puppies to control their bite pressure, reducing the risk of severe bites. This is learned through play:

• When one puppy bites too hard, the other yelps and stops playing, teaching gentleness.

Classes should also teach puppies to “leave it” to stop all mouthing before 6 months of age.

Handling

Handling training helps puppies tolerate being touched and restrained, essential for grooming (how to groom your puppy) and vet visits (visiting the vet).

Handling exercises should be enjoyable. Gently touch different parts of your puppy’s body and reward them. Passing puppies around in class helps them get used to various people.

Obedience

A great puppy class will teach:

• Name recognition (naming your pet)
• Basic commands like “sit,” “down,” “stand,” “leave it,” “come,” and “heel” (basic commands)

The goals of obedience training include:

• Introducing your puppy to learning
• Improving communication with your pup
• Preventing behavior issues like fear and aggression

Commands taught may include:

• Sit
• Down
• Stand
• Come
• Heel
• Stay
• Watch me
• Leave it
• Off
• Drop it
• Out
• Wait
• OK or Free

Look for classes that at least cover basic commands and the beginnings of polite leash walking.

Q&A Time

Living with a puppy is fun but challenging. Puppies tend to jump on us, bark, and chew on household items.

Classes should include a few minutes each week to address any issues you’re experiencing at home, offering timely advice and solutions.

Here’s a video showing what your first puppy training class might look like:

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Puppy Training Classes

Puppy training classes are a fantastic way to set your puppy up for success, but there are common mistakes that pet parents should avoid to make the most of these sessions.

Skipping Classes

Consistency is key in puppy training. Missing classes can disrupt your puppy’s learning process and cause setbacks.

Not Practicing at Home

Training should continue outside of class. Regular practice at home reinforces what your puppy learns in class.

Using Negative Reinforcement

Puppies respond best to positive reinforcement. Avoid punishment-based methods, as they can lead to fear and anxiety.

Overwhelming Your Puppy

Pay attention to your puppy’s stress signals. Too much stimulation can overwhelm your puppy and hinder their learning.

Ignoring Trainer’s Advice

Professional trainers provide valuable insights and techniques. Follow their advice closely to achieve the best results.

Final Thoughts on Starting Puppy Training Classes

Puppy training classes are extremely important for your puppy’s development. While many experienced pet parents can teach their puppies basic commands like “sit” and “come” at home, puppy classes offer much more than just obedience training.

Key benefits of puppy classes include:

• Socialization: Exposing your puppy to various people, environments, and other dogs.
• Bite inhibition: Teaching your puppy to control the pressure of their bites.
• Handling tolerance: Helping your puppy get used to being touched and restrained.
• Obedience around distractions: Training your puppy to follow commands even in distracting environments.

As a trainer with experience in teaching off-leash obedience, I sought out a puppy class for my dog, River. Despite already knowing most of the commands, she greatly benefited from the handling, socialization, and bite inhibition practice in class.

Puppy classes are not only beneficial but also a lot of fun for both the puppies and their owners.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

References

• “AVSAB Position Statement on Puppy Socialization.” American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. 2008. https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Puppy_Socialization_Position_Statement_Download_-_10-3-14.pdf.
• “Vaccinations.” American Veterinary Medical Association. https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/vaccinations.aspx.
• Denzer, Barbara. “The Importance of Socializing Puppies.” Animal Behavior College. http://www.animalbehaviorcollege.com/PawPrints/paw-prints.asp?ArticleID=178.