HELP! WE HAVE A PUPPY! Get an early start on puppy training

Whether you’re a first-time puppy guardian or have raised more than your share, it’s never an easy task. It’s fun. And exhausting. And maddening. And joyful. But frustrating. And it’s difficult. We recently brought home our 3rd puppy and our 5th dog overall. There are things you forget like how housetraining is a numbers and timing game. Or, if you’ve brought your puppy into your home and already have a dog (or more), you’re reminded that the thing dogs want most is whatever the other dog is enjoying. Pets? The other dog is coming in hot. Chews? Sure—in separate rooms! Toys? That other ball is always better!

Ellison and Chaka during a brief moment of calm

No matter where you are, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We want to do all the things, RIGHT NOW! We don’t know where to begin, and spend far too much time daydreaming about our future dog. I found myself saying just this morning, I can wait for our 9-week-old puppy to turn 2!  That thought isn’t fair to me or my dog. In fact, it’s a slippery slope because what may happen is that the dog we imagine never materializes, despite our best efforts. Down the road, we end up wasting time grieving the loss of the dog that never was. Our expectations are hard to rein in and we flounder when it comes to setting training goals. I can hear you asking, “So how do I train my puppy then?”

The short answer is to take it slow and easy.  You don’t have to do all the things. Some of the best dog training advice I recently received regarding my barking and lunging adolescent herding mix was to resist the urge to micromanage him. I think that’s great advice for all puppy guardians as well. Let your puppy just “be” and take it all in. They’ve been taken from their cozy place with their siblings or have perhaps been in a shelter for a short while. They’re going through a lot. What they need from us most are positive experiences, predictability, agency, and choice.

All puppy guardians have the same goal: to keep their puppy safe, enriched, happy, and well-fed so they become a well-behaved adult dog and are a pleasure to be around.  Below are some very basic, very flexible guidelines to get you started. Where you are in your journey is important too. Your initial puppy training plan for the first two weeks (often 8-10 weeks of age, but can and should be started no matter the age) should include:

• Creating a daily schedule (and sticking to it)

• Potty training

• Independence training (using crates, exercise pens, and teaching your pup to be comfortable alone)

• Name recognition

• Socialization to family and friends; frequent visitors

• Desensitization to noises (traffic sounds, doorbells, fireworks, etc.)

• Introducing a clicker or marker to reinforce natural behaviors, like sit or down, with positive reinforcement

• Learning to relax (yes, this often must be taught! Ditch the outdated notion that a tired puppy is a happy puppy)

From 8-12 weeks, we recommend:

• Attending a group class

• Introducing foundation behaviors that will help you IRL (spoiler alert: this isn’t doing a long stay in the middle of a busy city sidewalk or dog park)   

• Start introducing verbal cues to behaviors

• Socialization to other people, environments, noises, objects

• Introduction to cooperative care and handling

• Leash walking

After the early socialization period of 7-12 weeks, keep actively creating new positive experiences for your puppy. Socialization is an ongoing process. Our dogs are always learning, for the rest of their lives. And we can learn right alongside them! Here are a few books we highly recommend:

Puppy Start Right

The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Became Themselves

Puppy Brain: How our Dogs Learn, Think, and Love

Control Unleashed: The Puppy Program

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t know where to start or can’t find the time to train your new arrival, find a local dog trainer that can help. We’ve completed the Puppy Start Right for Instructors course to give you a jumpstart on training and socialization. We offer remote dog training to anyone, anywhere. We can coach you through these tumultuous times and head off any potential problems before they even begin. We’re here to get you started on your journey with the right foundation skills and mindset! Let us know how we can help!

Chaka snoozing during her first brewery visit at 11 weeks