Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting experience, but it also comes with the responsibility of proper training. The first few months are crucial for setting your puppy up for a lifetime of good behavior and a strong bond with you.

This comprehensive guide covers everything from potty training and basic commands to socialization and problem prevention. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can help your puppy grow into a well-behaved adult dog.

Getting Started: The First Days Home

The first few days with your new puppy set the tone for your relationship. Focus on building trust and establishing routines rather than formal training.

Essential Supplies for Your New Puppy

Essential Puppy Training Foundations

These foundational training areas are crucial for every puppy. Focus on these before moving to more advanced commands.

1. Potty Training

Consistency is key to successful potty training. Puppies have small bladders and need frequent bathroom breaks.

1. Establish a routine: Take your puppy out first thing in the morning, after meals, after naps, after play sessions, and before bedtime
2. Choose a potty spot: Always take your puppy to the same area to reinforce the association
3. Use a cue word: Say "go potty" or another consistent phrase while they're eliminating
4. Reward immediately: Praise and treat your puppy right after they finish
5. Supervise constantly: When not in their crate, keep your puppy in sight to catch early signs they need to go
6. Clean accidents thoroughly: Use enzymatic cleaners to remove odors that might attract them back to the same spot

2. Crate Training

A crate provides safety for your puppy and protects your home when you can't supervise directly.

• Make the crate inviting with comfortable bedding and safe chew toys
• Feed meals in the crate to create positive associations
• Start with short periods and gradually increase duration
• Never use the crate as punishment
• Provide a special treat (like a stuffed Kong) when crating your puppy

3. Bite Inhibition

Puppies explore the world with their mouths, but they need to learn to control their bite pressure.

• When your puppy bites too hard, let out a high-pitched "ouch!" and stop play briefly
• Redirect biting to appropriate chew toys
• Provide plenty of acceptable chewing options
• Teach "gentle" by offering treats in a closed fist, only opening when they lick instead of bite
• Socialize with other vaccinated puppies to learn appropriate play

4. Socialization

The critical socialization window is between 3-16 weeks of age. Positive experiences during this period shape your puppy's future behavior.

Basic Command Training

Start with these essential commands using positive reinforcement. Keep training sessions short (5-10 minutes) and end on a positive note.

1. Sit

1. Hold a treat close to your puppy's nose
2. Slowly move the treat up and back over their head
3. As their head follows the treat, their bottom will naturally lower
4. As soon as they sit, say "yes!" and give the treat
5. After several repetitions, add the verbal cue "sit" just before they perform the action

2. Come

• Start in a low-distraction environment
• Say your puppy's name followed by "come!" in an enthusiastic voice
• When they approach, reward with high-value treats and praise
• Gradually increase distance and distractions
• Never punish your puppy when they come to you, even if it took a long time

3. Stay

1. Ask your puppy to sit
2. Show your open palm like a stop sign and say "stay"
3. Take one step back, then immediately return and reward
4. Gradually increase distance and duration
5. Always return to your puppy to reward rather than calling them out of the stay

4. Leave It

This potentially life-saving command teaches your puppy to ignore items on cue.

• Place a treat in your closed fist
• When your puppy sniffs or paws at your hand, ignore the behavior
• The moment they back away, say "yes!" and reward with a different treat from your other hand
• Gradually progress to placing treats on the floor covered by your hand, then eventually uncovered

Puppy Training Schedule by Age

Different developmental stages require different training focuses. Here's a general guideline:

Age	Training Focus	Key Considerations
8-10 weeks	House training, crate training, name recognition, handling	Short attention span, needs frequent naps and potty breaks
10-12 weeks	Basic commands (sit, come), bite inhibition, continued socialization	Teething begins, provide appropriate chew toys
3-4 months	Leash training, stay, leave it, continued socialization	Fear periods may occur, keep experiences positive
4-6 months	Polishing commands, adding distance and distractions, drop it	Adolescence begins, consistency becomes even more important
6+ months	Advanced training, tricks, canine good citizen preparation	Energy levels increase, provide adequate physical and mental exercise

Common Puppy Problems and Solutions

Every puppy presents unique challenges. Here's how to address common issues:

Chewing Inappropriate Items

• Puppy-proof your home by removing access to tempting items
• Provide plenty of appropriate chew toys in various textures
• Supervise constantly and redirect inappropriate chewing to approved items
• Use bitter apple spray on furniture legs or other targeted items

Jumping Up

• Turn away and ignore your puppy when they jump
• Reward all four paws on the floor
• Teach an incompatible behavior like "sit" for greetings
• Ensure all family members and visitors follow the same rules

Excessive Barking

• Identify the trigger (boredom, attention-seeking, alarm barking)
• Address the underlying cause (more exercise, mental stimulation, management)
• Teach "quiet" cue by rewarding moments of silence
• Never reward barking by giving attention

When to Seek Professional Help

While most puppy behaviors can be addressed with consistent training, some situations benefit from professional guidance:

• Signs of severe fear or anxiety that don't improve with positive exposure
• Resource guarding that escalates beyond normal puppy behavior
• Aggression toward people or other animals
• If you feel overwhelmed or inconsistent with training
• If your puppy isn't responding to your training efforts after several weeks