Tips To Train Your 14 weeks Old Puppy
Now that you have brought your 14-week old puppy home, it is time to train it. Well, here are some practical tips for preparing your puppy with little or no hassles:
Nutrition and Healthy Development
The puppies at the age of 14 weeks have already got their first round of vaccines. These vaccines would protect it against different dangerous diseases, such as canine parvovirus, canine distemper virus, etc.
The veterinarian doctor will be giving booster shots of these vaccines in the coming month. However, if you are not aware of the puppy’s medical history, it is advisable to get a complete examination to rule out any medical issues.
Your puppy will have benefited from a long period with her siblings, learning social skills that early-weaned puppies miss out on. Hopefully she will also have seen a few other things, but on balance, even if she is encountering plenty of stuff for the first time after 12 weeks, that time spent learning to interact with other dogs should prove very advantageous.
It all depends on how good the breeder really is. A good breeder will have been doing all the socialisation you would do and doing house training. My cocker spaniel was 10.5weeks when I brought him home, he was pretty much house trained and had had a great early socialisation (hed been doing all the stuff an owner should in those first few weeks home). I would have been happy to have got him, even if he was older from this breeder. If however the breeder isnt doing the socialisation and house training to a high standard then 13weeks is too late for a lab. One issue is vacs – is breeder getting both sets done for when dog is picked up? Otherwise itll be fairly late before he could be walked and hell be very heavy to carry around.
Sigh, Im not sure about vaccinations etc.. Ive tried asking but my mum is now not listening to me as shes angry that Ive pointed out that 13 weeks is late for a Labrador. She thinks its all mumbo jumbo but Ive read and researched all this for my own purposes and Im convinced that correct early socialisation is important. If anyone can find a link to an easy to read piece of info about this Id be very grateful. She is unlikely to read anything too complicated as she doesnt want to believe it….
We first met our whippet pup at 9 weeks 1 day old, fell in love with her, so put down 80% of the cost plus a holding fee to cover her second jag (the first had been done by her breeder the day before) and the next three weeks while we were away on holiday. We then returned to collect her 22 days later, when she was 12 weeks 3 days old, completely innoculated and ready to go home with us, or at least to my parents where we staying en route to and from our holiday. Then, the next day, we travelled the 250 miles back to our own home. She journeyed just fine; no sickness or distress. That was four weeks ago, she is now four months old, has settled in and bonded just great with us, enjoys running free in our five local parks (four in walking distance), and meeting and playing with all the other dogs. Socialisation hasnt been a problem at all. So no, I dont think 12 weeks is too late at all. 
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Your Complete Puppy Training Schedule 12 – 24 Weeks!
Welcome to the age of adolescence. At 8-12 weeks old, puppies should be getting ready to go to their new homes. During this period, they are undergoing lots of changes. While it is important to use discretion when choosing appropriate social interactions for your puppy, they should not be placed in isolation—this may cause fearful behaviors to develop.
When you bring your new puppy home, it is important to carefully research veterinary clinics and choose one you want to use for your pet’s lifetime. Because it is important that experiences during this time are positive, it may be helpful to look for clinics that have veterinarians and staff that are Fear Free-certified and/or accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).
During this time, puppies are rapidly growing. They have increased independence and start to test their boundaries. Teething also occurs now—this is considered the peak time for destructive chewing. This can be corrected by diverting the puppy’s attention to what they should be chewing on, and giving them praise for chewing on what is appropriate by using a praising tone, a clicker, or treats.
Because puppies are losing puppy teeth to make room for their adult teeth, it is important to be mindful of what your puppy is chewing on. Puppies should not chew on anything that is harder than what you can place your thumbnail print into. That’s important to check, so your puppy does not risk fracturing one of their baby teeth. When baby teeth are damaged or shifted, it is possible that might affect their adult teeth that have not erupted, which may lead to extensive and complicated dental work.
When placed in their new home, common puppy behaviors include biting, tail wagging, yipping, and nipping. Nipping is a puppy’s primary form of communication—a way to signal that they are ready to play and to test the limits of their new home. However, nipping should be discouraged. In the 8-16-week window, it may be difficult for puppies to grasp complex training concepts. An introduction to commands (their name, positive reinforcement of behaviors that you want to encourage) can be done at this time.
Puppies at 3-12 weeks old are in an important socialization period. The most critical part of socialization development is the fear period, from 8-10 weeks. During this time, puppies are very sensitive to traumatic experiences, so keep that in mind when beginning puppy training. Training should focus more on praise for behaviors that you would like to encourage, such as treats for using the designated bathroom area. Training should not involve harsh punishments or isolation. During this time, puppies can retain fear for a person, another animal, or object. Fearful behavior is exhibited by trembling, ears folded against the head, tail tucking, freezing in place, hiding, growling, barking while backing away, or excessive fidgeting.
During this time, your puppy should be completely weaned from a milk diet and should be eating an AAFCO-approved puppy food. Puppies should be fed three to four times a day. However, the frequency may change based on the size of your dog and other special considerations. Talk to your veterinarian about what diet may be appropriate for your puppy and an appropriate feeding schedule.
It’s critical to be consistent with training and to reinforce commands. If not, your puppy may regress and develop unfavorable behaviors. Training sessions can be made fun and interactive with treats, praise, and toys to help keep your puppy’s interest during training and help them associate it with positive experiences.
During play sessions, use toys for play to help discourage mouthing. Do not play with your puppy using your hands or feet; it can cause issues later with training.
During this time, your puppy’s vaccine schedule is ongoing. While it is important to let your puppy go outside, enroll in puppy classes, and generally explore the world, make sure your puppy has safe experiences with pets you are familiar with, or pets that are around the same age group, to reduce the risk of exposure to a diseases. At this time, they are at risk for contracting intestinal parasites from chewing on sticks, grass, and being exposed to diseases they may not have started vaccination for or completed. They may also be around other pets with unknown vaccination and deworming status. Puppies are also at risk for developing the papilloma virus.
Puppies are curious, growing, and developing, which can place them at risk of foreign body and toxicity ingestion. While this can happen at any age, a puppy is more susceptible because they are still learning commands such as “leave it” or “drop it” and because they are exploring the world with their mouths.
During this time, there are so many things a puppy can get into, it may be helpful to look into pet insurance for your pup. That way you have the support you need if an accident does happen.
During this time, your puppy will be going to the vet quite a bit. Most vaccines require multiple rounds of boosters to be effective. When puppies are older than 16 weeks, most vaccines need an initial shot, then a booster for the series to be completed.
The timing of the rabies vaccine should be discussed with your vet. The age when a puppy may start a rabies vaccine is dictated by state law. The Distemper vaccine (DAPP) series may be given in 2–4-week intervals starting at 6 weeks of age, depending on clinic and manufacturer recommendations up to about 16 weeks of age. Vaccines given at home (not under a licensed veterinarian) are typically not counted toward vaccination status. This is because a licensed professional has been trained on the correct method of storage and administration of vaccines to make sure the vaccination is safe. It must be stored correctly and must be used prior to the vaccine expiration date.
It is important that vaccines given to your pup are listed on official letterhead from a veterinary practice. If official vaccine records cannot be provided by the previous home, they may be repeated at the veterinary clinic to make sure that your puppy has the protection they need.
Your veterinarian may also recommend other vaccines for your puppy. These depend on lifestyle and what diseases may be prominent in the area. Non-core vaccines that may be recommended include:
It’s also important to talk to your veterinarian about what may be considered appropriate and safe prevention treatment for fleas, ticks, and heartworm. Unfortunately, due to global warming and a variety of other factors, these pests are now known to be living everywhere in the United States.
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