hello
i have two questions about my new cocker span puppy:
(a) age can start to train
(b) where can i find training classes
(c) what is crate training.

sorry a lot to answer!
thanks

a) asap
b) depends on area you live in
c) where dogs use a crate for bed and that crate is special to them. Can be taken places and dog will feel safe there.NOT PUNISHMENT

EDITED to say- best to wiat till puppy has all vaccinations before training classes start. However, you can train him/her at home before then.

Search for a good training class. Should be no more than 8 pups really for each class. Do you want to do clicker training? some classes specialise in this, others dont even touch it. Should be able to visit different training classes in your area BEFORE making your decision as to where your puppy will be trained. :-)

EDITED AGAIN to say- crate training should be looked up on the net. There are a lot of things to it... more than i have siad on this post. Get a good training book which should have info on it...

When I got my puppy, he was 9 weeks, so I gave him a couple of weeks to settle in, then started basic training with him myself at home. If you ask at your vets, they will probably have details of dog training clubs in your area. I took my puppy along straight away, though he wasn't on the floor with the other dogs until he'd finished his injections (just sat on my lap to get used to being amongst other strange dogs). I did crate training as well, which is supposed to help them understand toilet training quicker, as they don't like to dirty their sleeping area - to start off with I used a playpen, which had his bed and water bowl in it, as well as an area of newspaper for him to 'go' on. When he was around 15/16 weeks he was holding on to go until about 6.30 am, so I moved him into a smaller sized cage then for the night (or when I went out shopping, etc) - enough room to stretch out, but no toiletting room, so that worked for us. Then in the daytime I could watch him and toilet train him as usual.
Hilda