Puppies are constantly learning – from their environment, from interactions with people and other animals, and from direct training.
This lays a vital foundation for the adult dog that will emerge. Providing your puppy with proper socialization and basic puppy training will ensure he grows into a confident adult dog.
Follow this step-by-step puppy training guide to set you and your pup up for success.
When can I start training my puppy?
Puppy training begins as soon as you bring your puppy home, usually around 8 weeks of age. At this young age, your puppy can learn some basic puppy training cues, such as: Sit, stay, come.
Puppy Training Tips
Here are some basic tips to get you started on training your puppy.
1. Use positive reinforcement
There are many different methods for training puppies that you may have heard about or even seen first-hand from dog trainers, but there is only one scientifically-backed and accepted method of training: Use positive reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement is the process of using rewards to encourage desired behavior. Avoid the use of punishments such as harsh corrections, shocks, chokes, correction devices such as prong collars, and dominance-based handling techniques, as these methods can have long-term consequences that cause fear and anxiety in adult dogs.
Positive reinforcement is the process of giving rewards to encourage desired behavior. The use of punishment should be avoided.
To apply positive reinforcement to training your puppy, first find out what rewards work best for your puppy. Some puppies might be excited enough to be trained with something as simple as a piece of their regular dog food, while others might not be as excited about training. Special training rewards.
Some puppies may not be interested in food at all. Toys they enjoy Your puppy will feel grateful for what he gets when he does something good. Praise is another way to give your puppy positive reinforcement. Petting, excited looks, and a “good job!” may be enough for basic puppy training.
2. Keep training sessions short
Puppies have a short attention span. When training basic cues, keep sessions short (about 5 minutes each), averaging 15 minutes total per day. End sessions on a positive note so your puppy looks forward to the next session.
3. Be consistent when training your puppy
It’s important to be consistent in your approach to cues and training – use the same words and hand signals when teaching your puppy basic cues like “sit,” “stay,” and “come.”
It’s also important to consistently reinforce desired behaviors, even when it’s inconvenient, so while you’re potty training your puppy, if he comes to the front door wanting to go outside, stop what you’re doing and let him outside, then reward him when he potty trains outside.
4. Practice in a variety of environments
Taking your puppy to a new environment, like the park or beach, and asking for cues is very different from home training because your puppy will be encountering new sights and smells that he won’t have at home.
Practice in a variety of situations so your dog will become more confident in any situation.
However, it is important to note that until your puppy has had all his vaccinations, he should not go to places where there are a lot of dogs. You can always consult with your veterinarian about how to safely socialize and train your puppy.
5. Be patient
Puppies, like young children, are growing and learning – they will make mistakes and may not always understand what you are asking them.
Every puppy learns at a different rate, so don’t be frustrated by pushing them to the end. Maintaining a consistent routine for mealtimes, potty breaks, naps and playtimes will help your puppy feel secure. And a secure puppy is ready and able to learn.
Basic Puppy Training Timeline
So when should you teach your dog different cues? When should you start potty training? Here’s a timeline you can use to train your puppy.
7-8 weeks of age
Basic signals (sit, wait, come)
You can start giving basic cues as early as 7 weeks of age.
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Say a single command such as “sit”
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Use a treat to get your dog to sit
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Once your puppy sits, give him a treat and praise him.
Leash Training
Start by having your puppy wear the collar or harness for short periods while giving him treats, then gradually increase the time. Once your puppy knows how to come to you, you can let him walk around the house on a lead without being distracted.
Once your puppy is used to the harness/collar and lead you can move the training to outdoors. Make sure your puppy doesn’t go anywhere other dogs have been until he has had all his vaccinations – as long as he stays in a fenced backyard he’ll be fine.
General Handling
Get your puppy used to being handled. Gently stroke his ears and paws while giving him a treat. This will help him get used to having those areas handled and make vet visits and nail clipping less stressful when he’s older.
8 – 10 weeks
Crate training
Crate training helps your puppy recognize the crate as a safe and calm place. Take your puppy to the crate for 10 minutes while he’s calm, and gradually increase the time he spends in the crate.
Give your dog a treat when he enters the crate, and you can even feed him in the crate to create a positive environment.
Toilet training
It’s important to stick to a schedule when potty training: take your puppy outside first thing in the morning, after meals, and after every playtime and nap during the day. Reward your puppy with a treat every time he goes to the bathroom outside.
10-12 weeks of age
Learning not to bite
Puppies at this age can be quite mouthy, and while putting objects in their mouths is how they explore the world, it’s important to teach them not to bite hands or ankles.
If they start biting you, guide them towards an appropriate object to bite. Toys etc..
6 months
Puppies will have entered adolescence at this point and are at the most difficult stage to begin training at, so it is important to start training your puppy as young as possible.
During this phase, training continues to solidify and strengthen skills in more public and distracting environments such as dog parks.
Puppy training FAQs
How long does it take to train a puppy?
Training is a lifelong experience for most dogs, and you should begin training from the moment you bring your puppy home, with the hope that by six months of age your puppy will understand what you want and respond accordingly.
However, active, intelligent dogs require ongoing education, and most continue to learn until they are two or three years old.
When should I start my puppy training classes?
Puppy training classes will vary depending on your goals for your dog and the facility’s requirements (some facilities require proof of certain vaccinations before enrolling a puppy in school.) Most puppies can begin puppy socialization by 8 weeks of age, and actual training classes by 12-16 weeks of age.
What is the first thing you should teach your puppy?
Puppies have a lot of skills to learn in the beginning, and they are often taught all at the same time. The first cue that many people teach their dogs is “look.” In other words, make sure you make eye contact with your dog when you call his name or use the “look” command, so he’s paying attention to us and knows the information we’re trying to convey to him.
