When Should I Start Training My Dog?
The short answer? Now.
No matter your dog’s age — puppy, adolescent, adult, or senior — the best time to start is today.
But here’s where many people get stuck: they assume “training” means waiting for puppy school, enrolling in obedience classes, or teaching a list of commands. In reality, training and raising a dog are not the same thing — and training alone is only a small part of the journey.
Before asking when to start training, it helps to ask a better question:
What kind of dog do you actually want to live with?
Training vs Raising a Dog
Some people want a dog that knows lots of commands and tricks.
Most people want a dog that is calm, well-mannered, emotionally balanced, and easy to live with.
Those outcomes don’t come from commands alone.
Raising a dog is about:
how they learn to exist in your home
how they handle frustration and excitement
how they relate to people, children, visitors, and other dogs
how they manage their emotions
how they respond to guidance
That process starts the moment your dog enters your life — not at a specific age, and not in a weekly class.
Puppies Are Learning From Day One
Puppies don’t wait to be taught.
From birth, they are constantly learning how the world works. Their mother begins this process long before they come home, and once your puppy arrives at around eight weeks of age, you take over that role.
Every interaction teaches something:
how food appears
how space is shared
how calm is rewarded
how excitement is managed
how boundaries are respected
If you’ve brought home an older dog, the same principle applies. Learning never stops. Older dogs are absolutely capable of change — it may take more patience and clarity, but we see it succeed every day.
It’s Never “Too Late” to Start
There is a persistent myth that older dogs can’t learn new habits.
That simply isn’t true.
While ingrained patterns may take longer to shift, dogs of any age are capable of developing new ways of thinking and responding when they are given clear guidance and consistency. What matters is not age — it’s approach.
Rethinking What “Dog Training” Actually Is
Traditional obedience-style training often focuses on mechanical actions like sit, drop, or stay. While these have their place, they rarely translate into real-life reliability on their own.
A dog that can sit on cue may still:
jump on visitors
ignore you around distractions
struggle with anxiety
lose control when excited
That’s because obedience doesn’t automatically create emotional regulation, impulse control, or understanding.
Real-life behaviour change comes from addressing how a dog thinks and feels — not just what they can do on command.
Learning Happens All the Time — Not in Sessions
Think about raising children. Parents don’t set aside thirty minutes a day to “train” their child and then switch off the rest of the time.
Dogs are no different.
Your role as a dog guardian is ongoing. Learning happens:
at home
on walks
during mealtimes
when visitors arrive
in moments of excitement or stress
This integrated approach is how social mammals naturally raise their young — and it’s far more effective than separating “training time” from real life.
The Truth About Puppy School
Puppy classes can be enjoyable and social, and for some dogs they can be a positive experience. However, many owners place far too much weight on them.
Missing puppy school does not doom your dog.
Completing puppy school also does not guarantee:
good manners
emotional balance
reliable behaviour as your dog matures
Group classes are, by nature, generic. They cannot account for your dog’s individual temperament, your household dynamics, or the situations you struggle with most. Many focus heavily on treats, play, and surface-level behaviours, which can leave owners unprepared when real challenges appear later.
Why Commands and Treats Aren’t Enough
Treats are useful for teaching skills and tricks — but life isn’t a series of tricks.
A dog raised without structure, boundaries, or emotional guidance may look impressive in controlled settings, yet struggle when it actually matters: around visitors, other dogs, or open doors.
We often meet owners who feel confused and frustrated because they “did everything right,” yet their dog’s behaviour has deteriorated over time. The issue is rarely effort — it’s missing foundations.
What to Focus on Instead
Rather than prioritising commands early, focus on developing:
calm behaviour
patience
independence
emotional regulation
respect for space
trust and consistency
healthy social skills
When these foundations are in place, dogs develop a receptive, balanced state of mind. From there, technical skills and obedience become easier and far more reliable.
So What’s the Best Way to Start?
After years of practical experience, we believe private, in-home coaching is the most effective way to support real change.
Instead of attending countless classes focused on teaching your dog, invest in a small number of sessions focused on teaching you how to raise your dog. Once you understand the principles, you can apply them anywhere — at home, on walks, at the beach, or relaxing on the couch.
This approach allows you to work smarter, not harder.
Personalised Support Makes the Difference
Private coaching considers:
your dog’s age, history, and temperament
your household and lifestyle
your goals for your dog
real situations you struggle with
Once a solid foundation is established, you can choose to add other activities — obedience, agility, tracking — as enrichment rather than as a fix.
Final Thought
Training doesn’t start at a certain age.
It starts with awareness, clarity, and consistency.
If you want to create a calm, well-adjusted dog and genuinely enjoy life together, starting now — in the right way — makes all the difference.
If you’d like support, SitDropStay offers private, in-home dog behaviour training and coaching across Australia. We’d be happy to help you get started.
