I tell clients in my dog training school, "If I wanted my son to be a plumber, I wouldn't give him a wrench on his first birthday." In other words, do not expect unrealistic feats from your pup. Too much early formal training may take style and pizzazz out of a youngster. It is wiser to err on the side of caution.

Pup will need to learn certain commands from a safety standpoint and for acceptable behavior in the house. For example, early on you will want to teach the pup "No" and that biting is intolerable. You can also start teaching "Here" by running away from the pup saying "Here, here, here." When the youngster gets to you, reward it with a treat, an "Attaboy" or a pat.

When the dog is 10 to 12 weeks old, you can begin teaching, "Sit, Hup" or "Whoa." Don't make the dog comply for long periods. Your job at this stage is to show the pup what the command means, not demand that it respond like a pro. I don't like to teach "Sit" to the pointing breeds before I teach "Whoa," as pups that are taught "Sit" first have a tendency to sit when being taught "Whoa."

If you have a pointing breed, you can play "wing on a string," but don't over do it. This is a sight game and, if over done, may encourage creeping. I play this game only to bring out the pointing instinct in dogs up to 12 to 14 weeks old.

Developing retrieving instincts early is beneficial. Use a rolled up sock, dummy or tennis ball. Start the pup off retrieving in a corridor so it cannot run away with its prize. The object you use for these sessions should not be left around for the dog to chew on; it is a treat.