inhibition, command training, and dog and human social etiquette which are all necessary for a dog to learn.
When to Start a Training Class
You can start training a puppy at home. You can begin by teaching your puppy, within your home environment, your expectations of polite behavior such as no biting, jumping and barking, simple commands, and leash walking.
Vets and dog trainers recommend waiting to begin a training class until the puppy is between 3 and 4 months old and has received the necessary immunizations to reduce the risk of infectious diseases such as canine distemper and parvovirus.
Finding Classes and Dog Trainers
Ask friends, neighbors and other dog owners. Ask your vet. Call your local ASPCA, shelter, rescue group or humane society, since many of these sponsor classes and have trainers and animal behaviorists on their staff. Check with your local parks and recreation department. Check with your local public school and  community colleges which often include dog training in their continuing education and adult education classes. Call or visit local pet product supply shops, which sometimes offer their own classes. Check on-line as there are many dog training websites and referral sites.
Selecting a Class and Dog Trainer
Watch a session of a class, or preferably watch the first and last sessions of a class. Look at the dogs’ behavior and attitudes, and the attitudes of the owners and trainer. Is everyone happy to be there, do they seem relaxed, do they chat with each other after class? Was the trainer relaxed but firm with the dogs?
Find out about the trainers credentials and experience. Is he/she certified? How long has he/she been a trainer? Is he/she a member of any professional organizations? Do they offer certification and additional training credits? Is he/she only experienced with a limited number of breeds, or ages of dogs? Ideally, a trainer has experience not only with pure breeds or puppies, but also mixed breeds, rescue and older dogs.
Avoid trainers who use metal collars and physical punishment such as leash jerking, push-pull, grab-and-shake. Also avoid trainers who use frightening punishment such as domination and alpha roll-over techniques. Finally, avoid trainers who criticize other training methods. It’s best to have a trainer who is kind, compassionate, firm but not abusive about discipline, and is flexible enough to utilize a variety of training methods depending on the needs of the dog.
Getting the Most from the Class
Make sure you are providing a good diet and nutrition for your dog to optimize his health, energy and ability to focus. Provide some opportunities to exercise as an outlet for stress and pent-up energy, to optimize his ability to focus during the class.
Keep in mind that class is where you and your dog learn  the skills, but you and your dog need to practice them at home for two ten minute per days sessions to reinforce the skills.
Always be consistent with your dog both in class and when practicing at home. Use the same command words, follow up with rewards, affection, treats.
And make sure you engage in affectionate bonding activities every day, such as playing, petting, grooming and massage.
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