HI all
PLEASE help We are just about to go mad !
We have a 12week old GSD and live in Cardiff.
Have contacted 5 so called training clubs and most say 12 weeks is to young to start training?
Others say call again in May / June, as they are too busy.
We want to get our puppy used to other dogs & people etc .
Its at this stage that WE thought a puppy develops social skills .
Do you know of any classes in our area or is it too soon to start the real basics
Many thanks
Carole & Gary

12 weeks is not too young to start training in my opinion. I taught my dog to sit when he was 7and a half weeks!!  and started from there :)

If its a club, your dog will need to have had jabs. They cannot go out till about 14 weeks if i am correct! Maybe that's what they mean? Also might depend on what sort of club you contacted ?

Somebody please correct me if i am wrong! But hope this helps anyway!

My goldie started training classes at 8 weeks (after her first jab but before the second. ) As my club is inside and all dogs are vaccinated to some degree, i was quite happy to take the risk and it was worth it as she is a very sensitive dog and if i hadn't started socialisation with other dogs at that age she probably would have been a total nightmare! As far as i am aware most clubs (puppy socialisation and puppy obedience type clubs) will take pus as soon as they are passed as ok to go out after vaccinations. Have you contacted any apdt registered clubs? try www.apdt.co.uk to find a good training class that is most likely to accept you.

Hi Carole and Gary

12 wks is not too young to start training - mine start at 7 weeks.

You're right that this time is very important for the puppy - up to the age of about 16 wks is extremely important.  After that the window of socialisation begins to close. 

You may have to travel further than you would like to go to a puppy class, perhaps.

Have a look here: www.puppyschool.co.uk

and here:

www.apdt.co.uk

opps posted at the same time!!

I have a shepherd and she started training at 10 weeks. I think it has been the making of her being such a brilliant and easy dog to live with. Don't get me wrong, she has her little moments, but she is great with training, and I think the early start benefitted her.

Many thanks to you all
Just  as I posted this a company just outside Cardiff contacted us.
Hopfully Jasmine our GSD will be starting classes in 3 weeks.
Again many thanks.
We do not post often but we watch and learn from all of the posts.
This is a great web site
Love
Carole & Gary

What a lovely name!

Good luck :D !!

All the best x