Puppy Articles
Before we begin, we'd like to welcome your new puppy to the family! One of the most important things you can do for your puppy (and yourself) is provide them with proper training early!
Puppies are most receptive to learning and forming habits between 8-16 weeks of age, making this the ideal time to start your puppy training schedule. This article will provide a comprehensive and organised puppy training schedule that you can follow to keep your pup on track with their development.
Starting early with puppy training is crucial as it can lead to a well-behaved and obedient adult dog, reducing the likelihood of behaviour problems in the future. So, let's start this exciting journey of training your new arrival!
A Complete Puppy Training Schedule by Age
Establishing a schedule and routine for our puppy's training is crucial for their overall well-being and development. Much like humans, puppies thrive when they have a predictable routine in their daily lives. It helps them make sense of the world and provides a sense of stability that makes them feel secure.
Your routine can also help your puppy become more confident in their abilities and new experiences as they arise. Over time, this increased confidence can lead to a more well-behaved and obedient dog. The below breakdown will help you establish a routine for your puppy and training efforts. We recommend incorporating these training exercises into your daily routine, so your puppy will expect and anticipate the training sessions. This can make them more receptive to learning and willing to follow your commands.
Week 1-2 (8-16 weeks old)
You've likely brought your new puppy home when they are aged between 8-16 weeks. During this time it's important that they start learning the basics, such as their name, good manners in the home, and some other basic puppy commands.
This is also an excellent time to introduce your puppy to socialisation and get them accustomed to a daily schedule, including feeding, playtime, training, potty breaks, and nap times.
Potty training is also vital at this point, which should start as soon as your puppy comes home. You can create a potty training schedule to teach your pup where to go and how to hold it. In addition, puppy crate training can help speed up housebreaking and reduce separation anxiety.
Your primary training focus areas at this stage should be:
- Basic obedience commands, such as Sit and Come (you can use food lures when teaching)
- Socialising your puppy with family and close friends (to prevent fear and aggression in your adult dog)
- Redirecting chewing and mouthing behaviours with chew toys
- Potty training to help them understand that the bathroom is outside
- Broad exposure to different sights and sounds in a positive and controlled manner to lower anxiety as they age
Please note: Never, ever punish your puppy for doing the wrong thing. After all, they are babies, so why should they know what is right or wrong? Punishment methods can significantly hinder Puppy development, so avoid them and reward the good stuff with plenty of praise for an effective and positive experience instead
Week 3-4
After the first two weeks of training, it's time to build upon the basic commands that your puppy has learned. Continue to practice the "Sit" and "Come" commands regularly, and add in some new ones such as "Stay" and "Down." It's essential to reinforce these commands regularly, so your puppy knows they are expected to follow them consistently.
One of the most critical skills your puppy needs to learn is walking on a leash without pulling or becoming overly excited. Start by introducing your puppy to the leash and let them get used to the feeling of having it on. Then, begin short leash training sessions, teaching your puppy to follow you, rewarding them for good behaviour, and correcting them when they pull or try to go in a different direction.
Bite inhibition training is also essential to puppy training and socialisation, which you can introduce at this point. Puppies naturally use their mouths to explore their environment and play, but it's essential to teach them how to control the force of their bites during play and interaction with people. This training helps prevent injuries and helps your puppy learn appropriate play behaviour. When your puppy bites down too hard during play, immediately say "ouch" or "no" and stop the play session for a few seconds to teach them that biting too hard leads to the end of playtime. Over time, your puppy will learn to control the force of their bites, and you can gradually increase the duration and intensity of play sessions.
Your primary training focus areas at this stage should be:
- Building on basic commands
- Introducing leash training
- Bite inhibition training during play and social interactions
Week 5-6
As your puppy grows and learns more about how to behave, it is important to continue practising the basic commands. Regularity helps to reinforce the controls in their memory, making it easier for them to respond to the commands consistently. Ensure that you allocate time for training and practice sessions every day.
In addition to the basic commands, it's also essential to introduce your puppy to more advanced commands, such as "down" and "leave it." The "down" command teaches them to lie down on command, which can be especially useful when you need to keep them still or calm in a specific situation. The "leave it" command teaches them to resist the temptation to pick up or eat items they should not have, such as dropped food or dangerous objects.
Good manners are also beginning to be taught at this stage, including no jumping on people or excessive barking and waiting patiently for food. Teaching your puppy good manners helps to make them well-behaved, obedient and enjoyable companions. Remember, positive reinforcement is key when training, so reward with treats, praise, and attention when good manners are displayed.
Your primary training focus areas at this stage should be:
- Continued practice of basic commands
- Introduction to "Down" and "Leave it" commands
- Training for good manners (No jumping or excessive barking and waiting patiently for food)
Week 7-8
As we near the two-month mark, you'll want to continue reinforcing the commands your pup has learned in the previous weeks. Incorporate the controls into your daily routine and practice them in different environments with varying distractions.
You can now begin advanced leash training, which involves increasing the distractions your puppy encounters on walks, such as other dogs, people, and new smells. Gradually increase the complexity of the "sit" and "down" commands while walking and reinforce good behaviour with praise and rewards. Throughout any training in this guide, you must ensure you never punish your puppy for misbehaving, especially when on the leash.
Training for good manners in public places can also start at this point by introducing your puppy to different environments, such as parks and outdoor cafes. Practice commands such as "sit," "stay," and "leave it" in these new environments and ensure your puppy is comfortable and calm in these settings before moving on to more complex situations. Be patient with your puppy as they adjust to new surroundings.
Your primary training focus areas at this stage should be:
- Reinforcing commands learned so far
- Continue socialising your puppy with other dogs and people
- Expose them to a wide range of experiences (car rides, trips to the vet, etc.)
- Use positive reinforcement and never punish misbehaviour
- Advanced leash training
- Training for good manners in public places
Week 9-10
Your puppy should have a good understanding of the basic commands and follows them consistently by this point. However, it's important to continue practising and refining them to ensure they are followed in any situation. Do this by introducing more distractions during training sessions to teach focus and obedience in challenging environments.
As your puppy grows and becomes more active, it's a good time to introduce them to basic agility training. This involves various physical activities that help develop coordination, balance, and mental focus. For example, jumping over hurdles, navigating through tunnels, and weaving through poles. These activities are a lot of fun, great exercise, and will help your puppy develop spatial awareness and build their confidence.
Your primary training focus areas at this stage should be:
- Reinforcing commands learned so far
- Agility training
- Exposure to various environments and situations to learn how to deal with distractions and solve problems
Week 11-12
We are now at a point where you can focus on refining the agility training you introduced in the previous weeks. This includes improving your puppy's skills in jumping, running through tunnels, and navigating obstacles. Continue to increase the difficulty level of the agility course and introduce new challenges to keep your pup engaged and stimulated. The bonus here is that these activities will also benefit your puppy's physical fitness, coordination, and mental agility.
Trick training is a fun and rewarding way to build on obedience and agility skills. Try shaking hands, rolling over, and spinning around using positive reinforcement techniques to encourage progress. In addition, problem-solving exercises that challenge your puppy's skills and reinforce the importance of following commands can be incorporated into your everyday routines. For example, hide treats or toys and encourage your puppy to find them (which can also be a great way to prevent boredom and destructive behaviours).
Your primary training focus areas at this stage should be:
- Continuing and improving agility training
- Trick training
- Advanced problem-solving training
Week 13-14
At this point, it is important to realise that you and your puppy have come a long way in your training journey, which is excellent! By now, we have a solid foundation in basic commands, good manners, and agility training, so it's time to finish agility training by building upon the skills learned in the previous weeks and ensuring their proficiency. Introduce more advanced tricks to keep your pup entertained, engaged and super fit!
Obedience competition training can be explained at this point, which teaches your puppy to perform commands in a competitive setting. They will be judged on their obedience, focus, and precision while you and your puppy compete as a team, strengthening your already solid bond.
You should have a well-behaved pup who can perform a variety of tasks with ease, so your primary training focus areas at this stage should be:
Week 15-16
We are near the end of our puppy training schedule, and we recommend a final review of all the commands and skills learned so far to ensure your puppy is proficient and able to follow them consistently in any setting. Pay attention to any areas that need further improvement so you can reinforce the commands that your puppy needs a little longer to learn.
This is also the time to build upon the obedience competition training introduced in the previous week. Work on perfecting the behaviours and skills required to compete, focussing on precision, accuracy, and speed in a distracting environment. You can also build upon the trick training introduced earlier with more complex tricks, strengthening the communication and trust between you and your puppy in the process.
Your primary training focus areas at this stage should be:
- Provide regular problem-solving exercises that are increasingly complex and challenging
- Consolidate the skills and behaviours learned throughout the program
- Refine and perfect basic obedience and competition training
Puppy Training Goals By 6 Months of Age
At the six-month point, your pup should have mastered the basics of obedience training, toilet training and an acceptable level of socialisation, being comfortable around people of different ages and sizes (and other dogs) other dogs.
Use the following as a checklist to assess your pup's training progress:
The Basics of Obedience Training
Obedience training basics your puppy should understand include responding to commands such as:
- Sit
- Stay
- Come
- Down
- Leave/Drop it
Be sure to reinforce these commands regularly and teach your puppy to come when called, even when distracted, and walk on a leash without pulling.
The Basics of Toilet Training
Successful toilet training means you have a puppy who takes care of their business outside and can hold their bladder for longer periods. Establish a routine for trips outside at regular intervals and be consistent. Always reinforce the desired behaviours with praise and rewards.
The Basics of Puppy Socialisation
By exposing your puppy to different people, animals, and environments, they will become well-adjusted and comfortable in a variety of settings. have fun with your puppy and take them to new places, introduce them to other furry friends and people, and provide positive experiences. Keep an eye on your puppy's behaviour to ensure they feel safe and comfortable when exposing them to new adventures and situations.
The Basics of Behavioral Training
Behavioural training prevents unwanted behaviours such as biting, chewing and jumping. Again, positive reinforcement, redirection, and consistent training are key here, and you'll need to be patient while your puppy learns these new behaviours.
Puppy Training Goals By 12 Months of Age
When your puppy reaches their first birthday, they should have mastered advanced obedience training and be able to respond to commands in distracting environments (especially when off the leash). They should also have advanced toilet training, and be able to hold their bladder for more extended periods, letting you know when they need to go outside.
They should also know how to have fun and be comfortable around a variety of people, animals, and settings! Displaying controlled behaviour in public, inclusive of barking, chewing, and jumping, means you have a calm companion by your side in any public setting.
Training Your Puppy Is Important for Their Development
Training your puppy is an important part of their development, and with consistency and patience, you'll raise a well-behaved and well-adjusted adult dog. Of course, it will take your time and patience, but training will yield plenty of benefits while also being a great bonding experience for you and your new best friend.
It's also important to remember that good nutrition is crucial during your puppy's developmental stages, and a balanced diet from Eukanuba provides an active dog with all the necessary nutrients to support their growth and development.
Training can be strenuous both mentally and physically for your pup, so provide plenty of love and attention along the way. After all, you are creating the foundation for a happy and fulfilling life with your newest family member, so make sure it is a positive one.
