Imprinting is not really the right term - which is meant for early age training.

The term imprinting actually means that the animal is developing a social preference, rather than a learnt behaviour.

Imprinting has been done extensively with birds and is well known as a term in the horse world,

but there are very few studies done to determine its efficacy. Meaning the evidence for its success or failure is mostly anecdotal.

early and continual training is what I prefer to refer to this process of developing behaviours including habituation and desensitisation

of young animals to stimulus they will encounter in their everyday lives.

If you want to find out more about this methodology - see the links and some of the great information available as a DOG DOC member.