Puppy Training: What to Do in the First Year

A puppy learns fast, which means habits form fast, good and bad. Plan your first year around a few priorities and you avoid most of the problems owners later pay trainers to fix.

The first weeks (about 8 to 12 weeks old)

• Routine. Regular meals, sleep, potty breaks and play make everything easier.
• House training. Take your puppy out after sleeping, eating and playing, and reward in the right spot. Expect accidents.
• Crate and settling. Teach your puppy that quiet time is normal and comfortable.
• Gentle handling. Practice touching paws, ears and mouth so vet visits are easy.

Socialization (roughly the first three to four months)

This is when puppies are most open to new things. Introduce new people, surfaces, sounds and calm friendly dogs, always at a pace your puppy can handle. Ask your vet which places are safe before vaccinations are complete.

Three to six months

• Teach sit, down, come, wait and loose-leash walking with rewards.
• Manage teething with appropriate chews and teach bite inhibition.
• Join a puppy class for supervised play and distraction practice.

Six to twelve months: adolescence

Many puppies seem to forget everything at this age. They have not; they are testing boundaries. Stay consistent, keep exercise and mental work high, and keep practicing recall in safe areas.

Do you need a trainer?

Not always, but an early trainer is cheaper than a late one. A few sessions can get your routine right. We can refer you to a trainer, and you can also read our local guides to puppy training in Tampa and Knoxville.

Related

• New dog checklist
• Insuring a puppy: when to buy
• Puppy training in Tampa
• Puppy training in Knoxville