A. The best time to start training is as soon as you get your puppy.  If he is at least 8 weeks of age, enter him in a positive reinforcement puppy kindergarten class. Lucky Dog Canine Training's Puppy Kindergarten class is for puppies 8 weeks to 16 weeks of age.  Positive reinforcement classes are gentle and very kind to your puppy.  The sooner your start training the less problems you will have as the puppy grows into an adult. 

Q. What training methods do you use in the your classes?

A. We use positive reinforcement training in our classes.  Positive reinforcement is a kind, gentle, fun way of training. 

Q. Do you use food to train in your classes?
A. Yes, food is one of the highest reinforcements you can use.  When teaching a new behavior, food gets your dog's attention without havening to place him into a position.  It forces him to think, "What do I have to do to get that treat?".  Food therefore has two roles: as target and as reward. Training with positive reinforcement allows the dog to relax and learn as it strengthens the bond between you and your dog. Over time, you will be able to expect  more behaviors for fewer treats. You will also become skillful at incorporating other rewards into training.
 

Q. Will playing tug of war causes aggression?
A. There is no evidence that playing tug of war with your dog will cause aggression.  However, tug of war does have rules to the game. The are as follow:  1.  Must teach a reliable "give" command.  2.  You always start the game with your toy. The dog is to never start the game. 3.  You stop the game before the dog wants to stop playing, and put the toy away; this toy is your toy not the dog's.  If you abide by these  strict rules for the game, there is no reason to deprive your dog of this fun and efficient energy burner. Tired dogs are well-behaved dogs.

Q. How do I get my dog to stop pulling on leash?
IA. t is natural for a dog to pull on a leash.  After all, to the dog we are very boring (we move to slow); everything else in the environment is calling your dog to it. Getting rid of pulling on leash takes perseverance, insistence,

consistency, patience and communication. In class you will learn how to stop the pulling.

Q. Will I always have to food reward my dog?
A. Certainly not as frequently as for a newer behavior, but yes, maintenance of established behavior with (concealed) intermittent rewards is a must. Think of it this way: you have to feed your dog anyway. You can give it all to him for free in a bowl or you can reserve part of his daily caloric intake and make him earn it! Also, don’t forget that there are other rewards besides food: everyday things such as play, sniffing, door opening, car rides and access to other dogs can also be used to reward established behavior.

Q. Isn’t crate training cruel?
A. A crate is a safe, comfortable place that most dogs voluntarily use when the door is left open. How might you treat an untrained human baby when unsupervised? Would you consider it “cruel” to leave her in a crib and “kind” to leave her on the kitchen floor without a diaper? Crating ensures your dog does not develop habits such as house-soiling and indiscriminate chewing when you're not supervising.