Training Y ou're looking for a new puppy or kitten, so you study the breed books and visit humane shelters and breeders. You ponder coat colors and make complex choices like short hair versus long hair and large size versus small. The one thing you can't really pick, however, is temperament. That's because misbehavior, when recognized early, can often be successfully managed and even changed. Just as with children, it's important for puppies and kittens to learn how to work and play well with others at an early age.
Puppies have critical developmental periods that can mold their behavior for life.
When these playing and learning stages are altered, affected puppies are more likely to develop inappropriate behavior toward other dogs and people. For example, orphan puppies raised by hand are more likely to behave inappropriately toward other dogs. Likewise, puppies that are not adopted by new owners until after three or four months of age may have missed out on important exposure to new people and circumstances. Studies show that early separation from the litter may also affect behavioral development. With these issues in mind, the optimal time to adopt a puppy is between seven and 10 weeks of age, says Richard H. Polsky, PhD, a certified applied animal behaviorist based in West Los Angeles, California.