Published in Animals, the retrospective study by Ian R. Dinwoodie, V. Zottola, and N. Dodman evaluated data from 641 owners reporting on 1,023 dogs. Nearly half of the dogs had attended puppy training, allowing comparisons across age groups and with dogs that did not receive formal early training.
The researchers examined whether training at different early-life stages influenced the development of behavior problems at one year of age or older. Contrary to common assumptions, the study found no special advantage for training puppies before three months of age compared with training begun slightly later.
However, attending training classes at six months of age or younger was strongly associated with lower odds of multiple behavioral issues. Specifically, early-trained dogs showed:
• 0.71 the odds of aggressive behavior
• 0.64 the odds of compulsive behavior
• 0.60 the odds of destructive behavior
• 0.68 the odds of excessive barking
• 1.56 the odds of house soiling (higher, suggesting potential trade-offs)
Additional findings from the entire dataset revealed broader patterns. Dogs acquired at 12 weeks or younger had lower odds of fear/anxiety and destructive behavior. Male dogs were less likely to develop aggression, compulsive behavior, or mounting/humping, but more likely to roll in repulsive materials. Neutered dogs showed higher odds of fear/anxiety, escaping, coprophagia, and rolling in repulsive materials.
The study concludes that while very early training is not uniquely beneficial, training before six months clearly reduces the risk of several adult behavior problems. These insights support early-life socialization and structured training programs as valuable components of long-term canine behavioral health.
Source: Dinwoodie, I. R., Zottola, V., & Dodman, N. (2021). An Investigation into the Impact of Pre-Adolescent Training on Canine Behavior. Animals. Published April 30, 2021. Authors affiliated with institutions in animal behavior, veterinary science, and psychology.
