The first few months with a new puppy are a window. During this time, your puppy's brain is forming its understanding of the world, its social relationships, and what behaviors are expected of it. The habits and commands you establish now will influence your dog's behavior for the rest of its life.
The good news: puppies are natural learners. They want to figure out what makes you happy. With the right approach, training is faster and more effective than most new dog owners expect. Here's where to start.
The Golden Rule: Positive Reinforcement Only
Modern dog training is built on positive reinforcement — rewarding desired behaviors so they become habits. Punishment-based training (yelling, physical corrections, scruff-shaking) is slower, damages your relationship with your dog, and increases anxiety. It's also unnecessary: reward-based training consistently outperforms punishment in speed and lasting results.
Your toolkit:
- High-value treats — Small pieces (pea-sized) of something your puppy loves. The higher the value, the faster the learning.
- A marker word or clicker — "Yes!" said immediately when the puppy does the right thing, followed by a treat. The marker tells your puppy exactly which behavior earned the reward.
- Your enthusiasm — Puppies feed off your energy. Happy, excited praise reinforces learning powerfully.
Command 1: Sit
Sit is the foundation of all other commands. A puppy that sits on cue can be managed in almost any situation.
How to teach it:
- Hold a treat close to your puppy's nose.
- Slowly move your hand up. As their nose follows the treat, their bottom naturally goes down.
- The moment their bottom touches the floor, say "Yes!" and give the treat.
- Repeat 5–10 times per session. Add the word "Sit" just before the movement after a few repetitions.
Most puppies learn sit within 2–5 short sessions. Keep sessions to 3–5 minutes — puppies have short attention spans.
Command 2: Stay
Stay is sit extended over time and distance. It's one of the most practical skills for daily life — keeping your puppy in place while you answer the door, for example.
How to teach it:
- Ask your puppy to Sit.
- Say "Stay" in a calm, clear voice.
- Wait 1–2 seconds, then say "Yes!" and reward (while they're still sitting).
- Gradually increase the duration: 3 seconds, 5 seconds, 10 seconds.
- Add distance only after duration is reliable: take one step back, return, reward.
The release word matters: use a consistent word ("Okay" or "Free") to tell your puppy when stay is over. Without a release, they'll learn to break stay whenever they feel like it.
Command 3: Come (Recall)
A reliable recall is the most important safety skill you can teach. A dog that comes when called is a dog that can be trusted off-leash and in emergencies.
How to teach it:
- Start indoors, crouching down. Say "[Name], Come!" in a cheerful, excited voice.
- When your puppy reaches you, give them a jackpot reward — several treats in a row, enthusiastic praise, a favorite toy.
- Never call your puppy to come for something they find unpleasant (bath, nail trim). Go get them instead. You want "Come" to always predict good things.
- Practice on a long line (20–30ft leash) outdoors before trusting off-leash recall.
Critical: Never punish a puppy that comes slowly or reluctantly. The moment they reach you, the behavior earns the reward — regardless of how long it took.
Command 4: Down
Down is a calming behavior — a puppy lying down can't be jumping on guests or getting underfoot. It's also the basis for "place" training (staying in a designated spot).
How to teach it:
- Ask your puppy to Sit.
- Hold a treat in front of their nose and slowly move it straight down toward the floor between their front paws.
- As their nose follows and their elbows touch the floor, say "Yes!" and give the treat.
- If they stand up instead of lying down, start from sit again. Never force the position physically.
Command 5: Leave It
"Leave it" teaches impulse control — ignoring something your puppy wants. This is critical for safety (dropped medication, dangerous food, wildlife) and for general good manners.
How to teach it:
- Place a low-value treat on the floor. Cover it with your hand. Wait.
- When your puppy stops pawing/sniffing and looks away (even for a second), say "Yes!" and give them a different, higher-value treat from your other hand.
- They learn: looking away from the covered treat produces something better.
- Progress to treats on the floor uncovered, then to dropped items, then to items on walks.
Training Schedule and Session Length
| Puppy Age | Session Length | Sessions Per Day |
|---|---|---|
| 8–12 weeks | 2–3 minutes | 3–5 |
| 12–16 weeks | 3–5 minutes | 3–5 |
| 4–6 months | 5–10 minutes | 2–3 |
| 6+ months | 10–15 minutes | 2 |
Mental Stimulation: The Training Multiplier
Training is mental exercise. A mentally tired puppy is a calm, well-behaved puppy. Supplement training sessions with:
- Puzzle feeders — feeding from a puzzle toy instead of a bowl provides 10–15 minutes of brain work that equals a 30-minute walk for mental tiredness
- Sniff walks — letting your puppy follow their nose (instead of heeling) is deeply mentally stimulating
- Interactive toys — engagement toys and food launchers build reward associations and burn energy
Our Toys & Enrichment collection has puzzle feeders, snuffle mats, and interactive toys specifically designed for mental stimulation. They're one of the highest-ROI investments you can make in a puppy's early months.
Common Training Mistakes
- Sessions too long — A bored, frustrated puppy learns nothing. Stop while they're still engaged.
- Inconsistent cues — If "Sit down" sometimes works but "Sit" doesn't, your puppy is confused. Pick one cue and stick to it.
- Luring forever — The treat in your hand is a lure to start learning. Fade it quickly: once the puppy knows the behavior, reward from your pocket, not your hand.
- Expecting too much too soon — A puppy that sits perfectly at home will fall apart at the dog park. Train in many different environments before expecting reliability anywhere.
For a complete first-weeks checklist, see our new puppy checklist. Ready to set up the perfect training environment? See our enrichment collection for mental stimulation tools.
