The answer to that question is -- as soon as you bring them into your home!
It is suggested that you and your family have a family meeting prior to bringing home your new dog so you can discuss and decide on consistent commands to be given to the new addition to your family.
The initial commands could be "sit" "stay" "go out?" "off the couch!". If all of the family is consistant, your new dog will learn the commands very quickly, even if they are only eight weeks old.
Also discussed is the consistency in potty training and what will be said when "accidents" happen (no spanking!). And what everyone will do when you catch him / her "going" in the house. Each person should do the exact same thing.
For instance, if any of you catch the pup "going", you could quickly pick them up, saying "not here" then while going out the door, say "we go out" and put them outside until they "go" again outside. Once done, you give the puppy high praise.
If everyone is exactly consistent, the potty training should not take long at all.
The younger the dog, (yet old enough to leave their mother), the easier it is for him / her to adapt to their new home and understand how the household runs. Older dogs may have a more difficult time adjusting, yet with consistent commands from all family members, all dogs should do well.
So have a dog training plan ready that includes the whole family. Begin training immediately after getting your new dog.
A really good Dog Training Site with Video Training Guides is Dove Cresswells Dog Training Online -- Click Here.
