it all depends id say wait until 2 2 and half years but sometimes i will give a yearling a quick bump nothing long just to see if they will take hold or come right out the gate but best to wait until 2 years or at-least 17 months or so to really get anything serious as a dog to be redeemed match quality really has to have alot here as im never coming to the big show without a almost sure thing infact when i take a first look if there not naturals of the jump i dont want them either so best to wait as then u leave out most ?s of the dogs worth every1 one will say something different too as there wont ever be a right or wrongs here just maybe more on this dog won at this age or this dog seen that much time at this age or what ever have u be.