Sometimes you are just too smitten to think about training your new puppy. It's still tumbling around and looking so darn cute. Working on housebreaking might be the only dog training you are concerned about.

However, the first 16 weeks of your puppy's life are a critical learning period. During those first months, your puppy will develop about 90% of their attitudes about the outside world ? people, other animals and their environment.

Puppies are not ready for formal training during the first 4 months, but those months are so important to their development that it's beneficial to use that time to develop healthy habits ? for both your puppy and you.

A puppy school is a good way to start teaching your puppy without exposing them to the formal obedience training for which they are not ready. The right puppy school is a great way for puppies and owners to get off to a good start on a lifetime of learning and mutual respect.

Look for and stick to learning the basics of puppy training:

?Housebreaking

?Chewing/biting

?Jumping

?Puppy first aid

?Walking on a loose leash

?Crate training

?Nutrition

?Puppy and child safety

?Puppy learning games

You and your puppy will enjoy the advantages of puppy school for a lifetime. By starting to learn in those all-important early days, your dog will have a solid basis in learning that will make all future obedience and behaviour training much easier and more productive.

It's important to make sure that puppy school is fun for your dog. If you feel too much is trying to be done, then you are probably right. Trust your instincts and choose a school you think has the right approach to puppy training.

Alpha Paws? Puppy Pre-school specializes in a fun and natural approach to teaching your puppy how to learn. The Alpha Paws? instructor will perform an assessment and develop a puppy-training program specifically for your puppy's needs.