Welcoming a puppy into your life is filled with joy, non-stop wagging, and endless cuddles.
As adorable as they are, puppies need support and training guidance to find their comfortable, confident place in their new family life with you.
Puppy training might seem daunting at first, but with a positive, force-free training approach and a little patience, it can be a rewarding experience for both you and your pup.
Let's dive into 5 key things to know to make puppy training work, from gathering essential supplies to tackling common behavioral issues. Whether you're a seasoned or first-time dog parent, we're here to help you set up your new puppy (and you!) for success.
1) Essential supplies for puppy training
Before you begin any dog training, it's a good idea to gather the right tools and supplies. A few things you'll need to help make training work smoothly and successfully:
- Leash and harness: A sturdy leash and a comfortable harness are must-haves for keeping your pup safe during walks. You'll want a leash with hardware that's not too heavy for your puppy and a harness to distribute the weight of pulling evenly across the shoulders and body to keep your pup's neck safe (at all ages). The even distribution of a harness also makes training easier and more instinctive.
Two trainer favorites:
6 Foot, Dual-handle Leash (with one handle close-in for extra safety)
- Training treats: Stock up on small, easily chewable treats to reward good behavior generously and often. Treats and praise serve as your positive reinforcement to motivate your pup during training and to register every good thing your puppy does.
- Crate: A cozy crate is not only great for using crate-training as support to house-train your pup; it also serves as a safe and comfortable haven for your puppy. (It should always be a place your pup wants to retreat to, never used as a punishment or for long periods.)
- Clicker (Optional): A clicker can be used for clicker training along with treats to mark precise moments when you're rewarding your pup for good behaviors. You can also use a marker word like "Yes!" to register your treat reward immediately.
- Chews: Puppies love to chew and are hardwired for chewing as an instinctive self-soother. Along with the release of "feel-good hormones" during chewing that all dogs experience, massaging sore gums and emerging teeth is a bonus benefit for teething puppies. You can direct all those chewing urges away from your furniture and favorite shoes with good, all-natural chews pups love.
A few healthy options to keep your puppy happily out of trouble:
Grass-fed 100% Beef Bully Sticks
All-natural Chicken Feet Chews
2) Socializing your puppy: a first, best thing to do
Socialization is an often overlooked but vital aspect of puppy training that shapes your puppy’s behavior and approach to life in lasting ways. It's not training per se but socialization is one of the first, best things you can do for your puppy.
Why? A unique opportunity...
You have about a 12-16 week window to take best advantage of your puppy's brain being uniquely attuned to socialization --when your pup is learning how to take in and react to the world.
With socialization, you're setting up your puppy to feel comfortable in your family and the larger world. Socialization lays the groundwork for your puppy to be relaxed and open to learning life skills.
Early exposure for young puppies to different people, environments, and other dogs fosters confidence and reduces fear in new situations. That doesn't mean you rush out to the dog park with your puppy!
What you do want to do for positive socialization for your new puppy:
- Build in predictability and control to every exposure to set up a happy, comfortable experience
- Always have plenty of treats in hand for all experiences and reward often and generously
- Introduce your pup to other calm humans of various sizes, ages, looks and always in a quiet, safe space
- Invite well-adjusted, puppy-friendly adult dogs over for playdates (one at a time at least to start)
- Get your puppy used to handling for care like toothbrushing and nail clipping gradually in a quiet spot at home. (Again, use lots of treats and do it in brief spurts as long as your pup is comfortable.)
- Expose your puppy to moving objects like bikes and skateboards in safe spots (your driveway) in brief moments so they become no big deal.
- Introduce noisy things in your house (vacuum cleaner, doorbell), again briefly, with treats at the ready.
- Take your puppy on walks, first around your home/yard, then gradually out in the world, starting with quiet, low-traffic sidewalks to get used to different stimuli (including the harness and leash).
- Enroll in group puppy classes only when the number is small and in a well-supervised setting.
3) Potty training your new puppy
Learning when and where to potty and how to communicate the need to you is one of the most essential life skills you can teach your puppy. Initially, it has a lot to do with the capabilities of your puppy's small bladder, and training requires consistency and vigilance on your part.
Tips for successful potty training
- Create a routine: Puppies thrive on routine. Physiologically, your puppy needs to go out often and after/before certain events. Take your puppy outside first thing in the morning, after meals, after drinking, after playing, and before bedtime. As your puppy develops physically, your pup will be able to go longer between trips outside.
- Pro tip: Dogs are happiest when they find ways to communicate with us to have some control over what happens. You can give your pup a voice in timing by placing a Smart Bell 2.0 or Tinkle Bells next to your outside door. Ring it every time you take your puppy out (showing your pup and using a happy marker word or phrase like "Let's go outside!"). With consistency and rewards, your puppy will quickly connect the bell with going out and enthusiastically tell you when it's time to go by ringing the bell. And, of course, be sure to treat your puppy for letting you know!
- Pick one spot: Designate a specific potty spot in your yard, and always take your puppy to that location. The familiar scent will encourage your pup to go.
- Use positive reinforcement: Reward your puppy immediately when your pup successfully potties outside with treats and praise.
- Monitor accidents: Accidents happen, but always avoid scolding your dog. Instead, clean the area thoroughly to eliminate odors and prevent repeat accidents. Mentally note when it happened so you can anticipate next time.
Remember, potty training takes time, and your puppy's training timeline will be what works for you and your very individual puppy.
4) Teaching basic cues to your puppy
Puppy parents often want to jump in immediately to teach their new puppy basic cues (what used to be known as obedience training). Instead, positive trainers and behaviorists will tell you that before you start training, build your communication and trust bond with each other first.
One of THE most important behaviors to lay the groundwork for effective communication and trust is teaching your puppy that paying attention to you is a happy, rewarding thing to do!
If your dog regularly checks in and pays attention to cues from you (verbal and nonverbal), everything else you want to do with your puppy is so much easier. Having your puppy's attention is a great skill to be able to count on for everything from basic puppy training to helping your puppy feel secure and safe in triggering situations.
Teaching and reinforcing that paying attention is a good thing!
How to nurture paying attention? Stand next to your puppy in a no-distraction spot and treat. When your puppy looks at you for more, treat. Keep treating every time your pup makes eye contact with you. Begin to walk away. As your puppy naturally follows you, looks and checks in with eye contact, say "Yes!" and treat immediately. Your puppy will quickly connect that paying attention to you is highly rewarding.
Keep repeating to firmly establish the connection. Always have treats ready for whenever your puppy checks in with you anytime anywhere, including on walks.
From here you're ready to begin training basic cues like "touch," "sit," "down," "stay," and "come." The best, easiest, positive way is to catch your puppy in a good behavior and reward the behavior to see more of it, eventually adding a word cue to connect it all.
Each cue also has some natural body language from you that can encourage the behavior instinctively for your puppy.
For example to teach a puppy "sit":
- You can hold a treat close to your puppy’s nose and slowly move your hand upward.
- This will cause your puppy's head to follow the treat while your pup's rear naturally lowers.
- Once your pup is in a sitting position, reward with the treat and much praise!
- Repeat, repeat, repeat. Start introducing the word "sit" as your puppy sits, and your pup will soon connect it as a cue to sit. Raising your hand palm-up can also be a silent "sit" cue.
Patience is key when teaching cues. Keep training sessions short, fun, and rewarding!
5) Addressing common puppy training challenges
Most puppies inevitably face some challenges along the way. If your puppy jumps, nips, chews your shoes, or occasionally barks excessively, you are not alone.
Three keys to navigating these issues successfully with your puppy:
- Redirect your puppy's attention to something positive and engaging. Never punish; it accomplishes nothing and destroys your bond of trust. If your puppy is nipping, for example, which is quite natural for teething puppies, redirect your puppy to chew toys or any of the edible chews noted above. A redirect that's engaging helps when any common issues happen.
- Identify and understand the cause of the behavior. Is your puppy barking out of fear, to alert you, or from boredom or excitement? Is your puppy chewing out of boredom or sore, teething gums? Is your pup jumping from overexcitement, fear, or not enough socialization or regular exercise? Once you understand, you can redirect positively and address/solve the cause.
- Pre-empt the cause. Proactively make it impossible (or almost) to fail. Set your pup up for success by puppy-proofing your home: keep shoes and other chewable items out of reach (giving your pup appropriate chews instead). Avoid boredom and excess energy with plenty of physical exercise, play, and attention, along with healthful chews for mental stimulation and natural soothing.
With consistency, patience, and lots of love, you're helping your pup join you seamlessly and happily at the center of your family life and adventures out in the world.
The bond you're developing during these early stages creates trust and understanding between you and your pup for life. Puppyhood is just the beginning— cherish this time and enjoy the process!
Happy learning with your puppy!
We're here to celebrate your puppy's new life with you and support you in living your best life together. That includes bringing you information and products to support your pup's health and spirit in daily adventures large and small.
We're committed to creating high-quality products that are safe, healthful, and practical for everything you need for your puppy, now and through the years ahead.
