Is it easier to train a puppy, adult or adolescent dog? (border collie, rescue)

[titaniummd]

Is it easier to train a puppy, adult or adolescent dog?

I was just curious. I am waiting on training classes that don't commence until the 2nd week of January. We just got a 1 year old Bichon Rescue (if you don't know by now).

[TeddieXRuxpin]

I find it a lot easier to train a puppy because you're starting from scratch and you don't have to untrain them from bad habits or anything that they have already learned.

You've been posting about him haven't you had him for a while now?

[cleosmom]

My Cleo was a year and a half when we got her and had no training at all other than potty training. She's smart as a whip and had no issues training her, however she's a Border Collie mix and willing to please.

[legglegz]

you can train any dog at any age, Questions is, do you have the commitment

[TeddieXRuxpin]

Originally Posted by legglegz

you can train any dog at any age, Questions is, do you have the commitment

Again this wasn't a question of what dogs can be trained, but what dogs are usually the easiest.

Every dog is going to be different. You may find a puppy to be easier or an adult with a strong will to learn to be easier. Reward, reward, reward.

[titaniummd]

Originally Posted by TeddieXRuxpin

You've been posting about him haven't you had him for a while now?

4 weeks. I just gave him his monthly flea med.

[TeddieXRuxpin]

Originally Posted by titaniummd

4 weeks. I just gave him his monthly flea med.

Ahh it just seems like it's been longer. I guess it's just me.

[riveree]

I don't know......

It would seem puppies would be easier, but they can have so much energy and can be so easily distracted.

I'm training an older dog now who has had no training - the first few weeks you'd think I had a wild animal in the house .

So far, it's been the ease of puppy-training with the maturity of an adult dog, so that's been an interesting combo.

Now a dog who lived a domestic life - as it seems your Bichon had before you - might be tougher since there may be the bad habits to break.

It sounds like Snowy is fairly well-behaved though, isn't he? He's not doing anything crazy like peeing on the sofa or anything, right?

[dvflyer]

Every dog is different. I would say in general it's easier to train any non-puppy because they typically have less uncontrollable energy.

[dreamhunter65]

I do basics as a puppy and as get older training gets more into it. Each dog trains at different ages, but start basics young and keep with it. Find with basics young as they get older and less hyper more training sticks in the heads. Big thing is repetition and keeping it fun dog gets bored easily train shorter periods..Keep training fun and when get one step done add another until get where want.

Your dog at 1 year old is out of puppy stage and been with you enough now know's who the boss is and may train real easy, But dogs like people have a mind of their own and will test us also to see what can get away with or may just have a off day and really screw up.