Puppy Training

Getting a puppy is an exciting time for both you and your new four-legged friend, and this comes with a whole host of responsibilities. Training is an essential part of being a dog owner so here’s some advice on how and where to start.

Before you start

Thinking about puppy training can be overwhelming. It’s a big commitment that requires time and effort but will reward you and your pup in the long run. Deciding what training to do is completely your own decision and really depends on the individual needs and experience of your pooch. Puppies need extra patience whilst they navigate their new life and space.

Before you start training your puppy, it’s important that you create an environment where they feel safe, especially around you. Training is made up of two components – relationship building and creating structure. It helps form a unique bond between you and your pup and once this bond exists, it’s easier to teach them specific commands and behaviours.

Whilst you’re training them, ensure you reward them with praise and treats to help them learn in a positive way. Consistency is key, so if you’re training them in a family household then ask everyone to use the same cue words. Always reward good behaviour rather than scolding bad behaviour. Puppies are curious and cheeky, allow them to explore whilst keeping them safe and on track with their training.

What’s the first thing to teach a puppy?

When you first bring your puppy home, don’t overwhelm them with training straight away. Let them settle in and explore their new surroundings. Be patient, every puppy is unique and has their own personality – meaning there’s no one way to approach training.

You will naturally begin training them by using their name. Helping your puppy get to know its name is important for getting their attention and it creates a good foundation for other training to begin.

Puppy training starts from the moment you prepare your house and bring them home, right into their adult life. There are some areas that are important for them to learn early on and ways that you can act in order to reduce negative behaviours such as guarding and mouthing/chewing, so here are some pointers to help train your new furry friend.

Body language

Firstly, the body language of a dog owner plays a critical role in training a puppy. Dogs are incredibly attuned to nonverbal communication and can read your body language more accurately than words. A new puppy especially won’t understand human language initially, so body language becomes their primary guide in navigating their new home and the outside world.

Here are some quick tips on how to act around your furry friend:

• A calm posture conveys safety and stability
• Leaning forward or stiff posture can be perceived as threatening or dominant
• Turning your back or walking away can be used to communicate disinterest or discourage unwanted behaviour
• A relaxed smile with gentle gestures reinforces trust and approval
• Excitable gestures such as clapping, jumping and high-pitched voices encourage playful or excitable behaviour
• Stepping between a puppy and a distraction shows them that you’re taking control
• Standing up straight and pausing play shows that rough behaviour has consequences

Enrichment

Enrichment isn’t just a bonus, it’s essential for your dog’s well-being. Just like humans, dogs need more than food, water and sleep to thrive. Enrichment provides mental and physical stimulation that taps into their natural instincts, reduces boredom and prevents behaviour issues.

Whether it’s sniffing out treats in a puzzle toy, going on a scent walk, or learning a new trick, enrichment activities help build confidence and keep your dog’s brain sharp. It’s also fun for both of you.

Play for bond building

When you play with your dog, you’re doing more than burning energy – you’re building a relationship based on trust, communication and mutual joy. For puppies, play is a critical part of social development.

It creates positive associations

Engaging in fun, low-pressure activities helps your dog associate you with safety, happiness and reward.

It improves communication

Games like fetch, tug-of-war or chase can be ways in which your puppy can read your body language, tone and cues, deepening your understanding of each other.

It releases feel-good hormones

Play triggers the release of oxytocin (the love hormone) in both dogs and humans, strengthening emotional bonds.

It builds trust and confidence

Structured, predictable play can help your puppy feel safe and know what to expect from you.

Toilet/ House training

Toilet training is essential and will start right from the moment you bring your fuzzy bundle of joy home. It’s important to be consistent and patient, this will not be a quick process so prepare yourself for accidents and frustration. Your pup’s bladder, bowels and the muscles that control them are still growing which makes accidents even more prone to happen.

When initiating toilet training, take them outside and show them where they should be doing their business. Start by taking them out on a light trailing line so you can keep them safe and close, rewarding them straight away when they go to the toilet. Doing this will teach them that this behaviour is correct. Give your pup plenty of opportunities to go to the toilet outside, especially first thing in the morning, after a sleep, after eating or drinking and after play or exercise. Usually, it’s best to take them out every 2-3 hours.

It’s important to take note and recognize the signs of when your puppy needs the toilet, such as sniffing the ground or turning around in a circle. If you notice them exhibiting these signs inside, interrupt them and take them out to their designated spot.

To train a command such as “go toilet” or “wee-wee” then say this phrase just as they’re starting to do their business, allowing them to associate the phrase with this behaviour. After practicing this for a while, you can take them to their usual toilet spot and say the phrase to see if they understand the command. If not, then just keep practicing.

Remember not to tell your puppy off. Toilet training will take time and accidents will happen. To clean up these accidents use a biological cleaning product that will break down the smell.

Crate training

Training your pup to use a crate can be a useful tool and can provide your puppy with a safe and relaxing space to unwind. It’s important to introduce them to a crate in the right way and in their own time. Before using it regularly, make sure that your pup is comfortable with the space by following the training outlined below.

Set the crate up in a quiet place where your puppy isn’t being disturbed while they’re trying to relax. Make sure the crate is large enough for them to turn around, stand up and stretch out. Kit it out with all their favourite toys and treats, blankets and a bed. You can also cover the top and sides of the crate with a blanket to keep out draughts and noise.

When introducing your puppy to a crate keep the door fixed open so they can explore as they please and don’t feel trapped. Don’t force them to go in, just allow them to sniff around and explore in their own time. If they do go inside, then reward them straight away. You can leave treats in and around the crate to create a positive experience for your pup.

Once your puppy feels comfortable with the idea of the crate you can start doing short and fun training sessions where you encourage them to go inside. Drop treats through the top of the crate to entice them in. If they’re hesitating, you can put treats in the doorway too. If they move out of the crate then don’t try to force them back in, just let them do it in their own time. As time goes on you should hopefully need less treats and they can start spending time freely and unprompted in this space.

Just as with all training, this will take time and patience so don’t give up on your pup.

Handling, grooming and vet visits

Whether your puppy has a long or short coat, they need to be groomed and handled on a daily basis to teach them how to remain calm. Touch builds trust, from brushing their coat to checking their paws or visiting the vet regularly, gentle, consistent handling helps your dog feel safe and keeps them healthier in the long run.

Teaching your puppy to accept gentle restraint, examination and even handling by strangers helps reduce fear, making checkups smoother for everyone. A dog that is comfortable being handled is a dog who can be treated early and effectively if health issues arise.

Another key element of training is getting your puppy comfortable with equipment. Before they can succeed in training, walks, grooming or vet visits, they need to feel safe around the tools we use. Whether it’s a harness, crate or grooming brush, the key is building positive associations and introducing each item at your puppy’s pace.

You can let your dog investigate each object by presenting the item and letting them sniff or look at it without pressure. Take it slowly, never force it and pair this activity with rewards using high-value treats, praising each time the item is shown, touched or used.

Puppy mouthing/ chewing

Chewing and mouthing is a completely normal behaviour for puppies – it’s how they explore the world. However, it can be annoying when the things they’re exploring are your shoes and furniture. Puppy’s chew and mouth things more whilst they’re teething which occurs until they’re around 7 months old. To stop them mouthing on items you don’t want them to, you need to make it clear what they can and can’t chew.

Firstly, puppy-proof your living space. This means putting your prized possessions out of the reach of your pup. You could also consider installing child gates to stop them accessing areas you don’t want them to. Always keep a toy handy, making sure there’s always suitable toys around for them to chew on. They should be soft enough to indent with a fingernail, otherwise they risk breaking their teeth. Providing toys of different textures or swapping out toys daily can keep things interesting and exciting for your puppy.

As with other training, praise your pooch when they chew on the right thing. If they happen to bite or chew on you then stop what you’re doing and withdraw your attention from them. They need to know that biting someone is not okay and the best way to do that is to have no reaction. Turn away and cross your arms to show that the playing has ended. To keep this message consistent, avoid rough and tumble games where biting is encouraged. The most important thing is to not tell them off for this behaviour. Scolding gives them attention, and in a puppy’s mind they think that any attention is good attention.

Providing good exercise, mental stimulation and playing with other dogs can all help avoid excessive mouthing and chewing as they tend to do this when they’re bored.

Leave training

Puppies like to explore all sorts of things and often end up picking up something they probably shouldn’t. Teaching your dog to “leave it” is both useful and essential in case they pick up something dangerous.

Before teaching the “leave” command, a useful exercise to practice is ‘fair trade’. This is where you trade what your puppy has gotten a hold of for something better, such as a shoe or sock for their favourite toy or treat. You can teach them this by giving them a toy they don’t use much or are uninterested in and then introducing a treat or a better toy. Whilst doing this you can introduce command words such as “drop”. Every time they make the right choice then reward them straight away. Your puppy will learn that if they’re told to “drop” then they will get something better in return. Once they’ve mastered this you can start training them to “leave” things.

To train your puppy to “leave it” you can start with their favourite treat in one hand and a boring item in another such as a piece of paper or something they won’t be interested in. This will be your “leave it” item. Hold the boring item out to your pup and wait for them to look away from it. Once they’ve moved away then reward them with the treat. Continue practicing this until your pooch is consistently looking away and once they’ve got this down, you can add in the “leave it” que. Say “leave” as you hold the boring item out and then carry on rewarding them when they do so. After practice, your pup should be looking away as soon as you say the cue. Over time you can make the training harder by adding in distractions or giving them a more interesting “leave it” item.

Jumping up training

Puppies are excitable little things and like to jump up and get attention. This can be super cute when they’re small but as they grow older and bigger, this behaviour can become more inconvenient. Jumping up is a way for them to express excited or nervous energy but it’s important to teach them from a young age to stay down.

If you reward them with attention when they jump up, they will see this behaviour as something good. If you don’t want your puppy to jump up, then don’t respond when they do so and then reward them with treats and praise when they’re firmly on the floor. Just as with other training, giving them attention or telling them off will just encourage the behaviour.

To stop your pup from jumping up you should interact with them before they do it. Have treats or toys handy when you come in from being away or during other moments that excite your puppy. You can get on the ground and play with them before they jump up, showing them that it’s more fun being on the floor. Ask visitors to also be consistent with this and persevere with the training.

Training classes

If you’re struggling to train your puppy on your own, you can go to puppy training classes that will help you with a training structure and routine. Research training classes near you to find the best fit.

Training up your new pup

Training your puppy is no walk in the park but if you’re consistent, positive and patient, both you and your pooch will see the benefits.