The goal of early puppy training is to give your puppy the best possible start in life. A pup’s first six months are the most important months of his entire life. They are crucial to his social development and future well-being. This is the time when learning takes place rapidly. Anything your pup experiences now will make a greater impression on him than it ever will again. Therefore, you want to capitalize on this critically important time and set the patterns for a well-behaved dog. By seven weeks, your puppy's brain is developed sufficiently to allow him to process what he needs to learn.

A good puppy class will teach your puppy that learning is fun. It will also establish a very special bond between you and your pup. Using positive training techniques, you will learn how to teach your puppy manners and how to prevent your pup from displaying unwanted behaviors. Your puppy should enjoy the learning process and become confident and curious about life.

Most puppies are keen to learn at this age. When your puppy begins to mature - around 6 - 12 months - he is right in the middle of the most independent, challenging phase of his life. Keep in mind that your puppy hasn’t had the opportunity to establish inappropriate behavior patterns, as opposed to the adolescent or adult dog whose misbehaviors must be modified or redirected. Starting early gives you a jump-start to shaping good behavior.

You should not expect to graduate from a puppy class with a fully trained dog. Rather, you are laying the foundation for a lifetime of training. As your puppy grows and matures, he will be able to tackle more complicated tasks. What you learn in a good puppy course will help you on a day-to-day basis, as well as for the rest of your dog's life.

Before registering your puppy for a puppy class, see "Guidelines for Selecting a Dog Trainer" on St. Hubert’s web site. Here are a few additional recommendations:

• Call the trainer and ask if you may drop by to watch a puppy class. If the trainer will not allow you to drop by or limits the classes you can attend, we recommend that you continue researching other trainers.

• There is no need to immediately place a training collar on a young puppy. If a trainer insists that the puppy be placed on a training collar in order to give forceful collar corrections, we recommend that you continue researching other trainers.

• The use of food and toys as motivators should be encouraged. If a trainer will not allow you to use food and toys as rewards, we recommend that you continue researching other trainers.

• Puppy training is for puppies. Typically, puppy classes do not accept dogs who are older than five months since they are beginning to enter the stage of adolescence. Find a training class that is limited to pups, 18 weeks and younger.

• When you visit the training class, watch the owners and puppies. Are they having a good time? Are people laughing, clapping and cheering? Or, are the puppies hiding, frightened and intimidated? Go with your gut feeling; you will not be wrong.

• The instructor should have excellent interpersonal skills with each of the students. Watch the interactions (s)he has with each student. Do you feel the trainer likes people just as much as (s)he likes dogs? Remember, YOU are the dog trainer; the instructor is YOUR coach! Coaches should be non-judgmental, open-minded, flexible and supportive.

• Once you decide to register for the class, make sure the instructor has policies in place for reimbursements as well as adequate liability insurance in case of injury. When there is an exchange of money, good business practices need to come into play.

• Don’t allow a trainer to do anything to your dog that you feel is inappropriate. Do not be afraid to speak up. You should never feel bullied, intimidated or shamed into doing something that makes you uncomfortable.

• Avoid trainers who guarantee results. Behaviors are quite complex and cannot be predicted.

• Remain with your puppy at all times. Do not allow a trainer to remove your puppy from your sight, especially if your puppy is acting up or misbehaving. Your puppy’s safety is your responsibility.