How To Train A Puppy — Overview

Key Takeaways

Start training your puppy immediately from 8 weeks old using positive reinforcement methods

Focus on essential skills like potty training, crate training, and basic commands such as sit and come

Maintain a consistent daily schedule for feeding, potty breaks, and short training sessions

Socialization before 16 weeks is critical for developing a well-adjusted, confident dog

Use high-value treats and praise to reward good behavior while avoiding punishment-based methods

Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting time, but it also marks the beginning of one of the most important phases in your dog’s life. The first few months determine whether your growing puppy develops into a well-mannered family member or struggles with behavioral issues that can last a lifetime. Training a puppy isn’t just about teaching tricks—it’s about building communication, establishing trust, and setting both you and your pup up for years of happiness together.

Most puppies arrive at their new homes around 8 weeks old, and this is exactly when training begins. Your puppy learns constantly, whether you’re actively teaching or not. Every interaction shapes their understanding of the world, so why not make it intentional? The good news is that young puppies are incredibly adaptable and eager to please, making this the perfect window for positive reinforcement training.

This guide walks you through a structured approach to puppy training, from those first crucial weeks through the adolescent challenges around 6 months. You’ll discover practical techniques that professional trainers recommend, learn to avoid common mistakes that can set training back, and understand how to keep your puppy engaged while building the foundation for lifelong good behavior.

Start by puppy-proofing your home systematically. Remove or secure anything that could harm a curious puppy or that you don’t want destroyed. Electrical cords should be covered or moved out of reach, small objects that pose choking hazards need to be picked up, and anything valuable should be placed high enough to avoid those sharp puppy teeth. Think like a toddler-proofing expert—if it’s within three feet of the ground, your puppy will probably investigate it.

Establish designated areas for different activities before your puppy arrives. Choose a quiet place for sleeping, a consistent spot for meals, and identify where potty breaks will happen. This isn’t just about organization—it’s about helping your puppy understand expectations from day one. Dogs respond well to structure, and young puppies especially benefit from predictable routines. Setting up a playpen area with essential items like dog crates, beds, and potty pads provides a safe, comfortable space for training, supervision, and relaxation.

Your supply list should include essential training tools: properly sized dog crates, which are vital for crate training, potty training, and providing a safe, den-like space for your puppy to rest or eat, a comfortable collar and leash, and an assortment of high-value puppy treats. Freeze-dried chicken, small training treats, or tiny pieces of cheese work well for most food motivated puppies. Don’t forget puzzle toys and appropriate chew toys to keep your puppy’s mind busy during downtime.

The daily routine you establish now will become the backbone of successful potty training and overall behavior management. Plan for meals at consistent times—7 AM, 12 PM, and 5 PM works for most families. Schedule potty breaks every 1-2 hours, with additional trips after meals, naps, and play sessions. This structure isn’t rigid; it’s supportive, giving your pups the predictability they need to learn quickly.

Building trust begins immediately through gentle handling and positive interactions. Spend time simply being near your puppy without demanding anything. Let them approach you, offer treats for calm behavior, and speak in soft, encouraging tones. This emotional foundation makes every other aspect of training easier because your puppy sees you as a source of good things rather than stress.

Crate Training Basics

Crate training leverages your dog’s natural denning instinct while providing practical benefits for house training, travel, and safe downtime. The key is making the crate a place your puppy chooses to go, not somewhere they’re forced to stay.

Begin by feeding all meals inside the crate with the crate door open. This immediately creates a positive association between the crate and one of your puppy’s favorite activities. Place the food bowl at the back of the crate so your puppy has to fully enter to eat. Most puppies will start entering the crate voluntarily within just a few meals.

Once your puppy eats comfortably in the crate, begin closing the crate door for short periods after meals. Take baby steps—start with just 5 minutes while your puppy is relaxed and content to avoid overwhelming them. As your puppy shows comfort, you can gradually increase crate time to longer periods, working up to 10-15 minute periods by the end of the second week, always monitoring their comfort.

Position the crate next to your bed initially to help with nighttime anxiety. Your puppy has never been alone before, and your presence provides comfort during this adjustment. Each week, move the crate about 6 inches farther from your bed until it reaches its permanent location. This gradual transition prevents the anxiety that can develop when puppies are suddenly isolated.

Add comfort items like a heartbeat toy that mimics littermate comfort or a warm blanket with your scent. These items help bridge the gap between the security of their original pack and their new family. Never use the crate as punishment—it should remain your puppy’s safe haven throughout their life.

Potty Training Fundamentals

Successful potty training relies on consistency, timing, and positive reinforcement rather than corrections for accidents. The goal is to potty train your puppy by establishing consistent routines and using positive reinforcement to encourage the desired behavior of eliminating in the right place at the right time. Young puppies have limited bladder control and need frequent opportunities to succeed outside.

Take your puppy outside every 1-2 hours during waking periods, plus immediately after meals, naps, and play sessions. Most puppies need to eliminate within 15-30 minutes of eating, so don’t wait too long after meals. Carry your puppy outside if possible to prevent accidents during the walk to the door.

Develop a consistent verbal cue like “go potty” that you use every single time your puppy eliminates outside. Say it calmly while they’re in the process, then immediately reward with high-value treats and enthusiastic praise that should immediately follow the desired behavior. This helps your dog learn the connection between the cue, the action, and the reward, creating a conditioned response that will become incredibly useful for travel and schedule changes later.

Set up puppy pads near your main door as a backup option for emergency situations or when you can’t get outside quickly enough. While the goal is outdoor elimination, puppy pads can prevent accidents on your floors and provide a consistent surface if you live in an apartment or have mobility challenges. Puppy pads also help your dog learn where to go to the bathroom, whether outdoors or on pads, supporting the potty train process.

Clean any indoor accidents thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner specifically designed for pet odors. Regular household cleaners don’t fully eliminate the scent markers that attract puppies back to the same spots. Cleaning up accidents helps reinforce the desired behavior by removing scent markers and reducing the temptation to repeat them. The goal isn’t to punish accidents—it’s to remove the temptation to repeat them.

Month 1: Basic Commands and Manners (8-12 Weeks)

Once your puppy has settled into their routine and shows comfort in their new environment, it’s time to begin training basic commands that will make daily life easier for both you and your pup. Focus on commands that serve practical purposes rather than impressive tricks.

Teaching “Sit” Command

The sit command becomes the foundation for most other training because it’s easy for puppies to learn and immediately useful for managing excitement and impulsive behavior. Teaching your puppy to sit creates a default behavior they can offer when they want something.

Hold a high-value treat close to your puppy’s nose, allowing them to smell but not grab it. Slowly lift the treat straight up and slightly back over their head. Most puppies will naturally lower their bottom to the ground as they follow the food lure with their eyes. The moment their bottom touches the ground, say “sit” clearly and immediately give them the treat along with verbal praise.

Practice this sequence 5-10 times during each of your three daily training sessions, timing them around meal preparation when your puppy is naturally alert and food motivated. Keep the training sessions short—no more than 5 minutes at a time—to match your puppy’s attention span.

By week 3, begin gradually phasing out the food lure while maintaining the same hand motion. Reward every other successful sit rather than every single one, which actually strengthens the behavior through intermittent reinforcement. Soon your puppy will respond to just the hand signal or verbal cue without needing to see food first.

Use the sit command before meals, going outside, receiving attention, and any other activity your puppy enjoys. This teaches impulse control and establishes you as the giver of good things, building respect and attention without force or dominance tactics.

Recall Training (“Come”)

A reliable recall can literally save your dog’s life, so start building this skill immediately in a controlled environment where your puppy can’t make mistakes or learn to ignore the command.

Begin indoors in a hallway or long room with a family member or friend holding your puppy about 10 feet away from you. Call your puppy’s name followed by “come” in a happy, excited voice—think celebration, not demand. The moment your puppy starts moving toward you, praise enthusiastically and have amazing rewards ready when they reach you.

Use the highest-value treats you can find for recall training. Small pieces of cooked chicken, freeze-dried liver, or cheese work well for most food motivated dogs. Make coming to you the best thing that happens in your puppy’s day by celebrating like they’ve just performed a miracle.

Practice this exercise 2-3 times daily, gradually increasing the distance to 20 feet as your puppy shows consistent response. Always practice in areas where your puppy can’t get distracted or choose to ignore you—success builds success, while ignored commands teach your puppy that “come” is optional.

Never call your puppy to come for something they perceive as negative like ending play time, getting a bath, or going into the crate. Instead, go get your puppy for these activities. You want “come” to always predict something wonderful from your puppy’s perspective.

Leash Training and Walking

Leash training teaches your puppy to walk politely beside you rather than pulling, lunging, or weaving unpredictably. Start this process indoors where distractions are minimal and your puppy can focus on the new sensation of wearing a collar and leash.

Introduce the collar and leash gradually by having your puppy wear them for 5-10 minutes daily during positive activities like eating or playing with a favorite toy. Many puppies initially try to remove the collar or seem uncomfortable, but pairing it with good things helps them adjust quickly.

Practice the “heel” position by keeping your puppy on your left side with frequent treats for staying in the correct position. Use high-value rewards and praise when your puppy looks up at you or maintains a loose leash. This teaches them that good things happen when they pay attention to you rather than everything else around them.

Start outdoor walks with just 5 minutes and increase by 5 minutes each week as your puppy builds endurance and attention span. Remember that young puppies tire easily and can become overwhelmed by too much stimulation, leading to poor decision-making and ignored commands.

When your puppy pulls on the leash, stop moving completely. Only continue walking when the leash becomes loose again. This teaches your puppy that pulling doesn’t get them where they want to go faster—in fact, it stops all forward progress. Be patient and consistent; most puppies learn this connection within a few weeks of practice.

Impulse Control Development

Impulse control forms the foundation for almost every other behavior you’ll want from your adult dog. At this stage, your puppy is learning impulse control, which is essential for preventing unwanted behaviors like lunging, pulling, and over-excitement. Teaching patience and self-control now prevents issues like resource guarding, door bolting, and demand barking later.

Teach “stay” by having your puppy sit, then taking one small step backward while holding your hand up in a “stop” signal. Wait just 3 seconds before stepping back to your puppy and rewarding. Gradually increase both the distance you step away and the duration of the stay, but progress slowly to set your puppy up for success.

Practice “leave it” by placing treats on the ground and covering them with your hand. Wait for your puppy to stop trying to get the treats and look at you instead. The moment they make eye contact, praise and give them a different treat from your other hand. This teaches them that ignoring forbidden items leads to better rewards.

Require your puppy to sit before meals, going through doors, and receiving toys or attention. This simple rule teaches your puppy that good things come to those who wait and that you control access to resources. It’s not about dominance—it’s about building thoughtful decision-making skills.

Gradually increase the duration of stay commands from 3 seconds to 30 seconds by the end of this period. Practice “wait” at doorways by requiring your puppy to sit and wait for permission before going outside or entering rooms. This prevents dangerous bolting behavior and reinforces your puppy’s habit of checking in with you before making decisions.

Environmental Exposure

Your puppy needs positive exposure to the variety of sights, sounds, surfaces, and situations they’ll encounter throughout their life. The goal isn’t to overwhelm them, but to help them build confidence through controlled, positive experiences.

Start with household sounds at low volumes and gradually increase intensity as your puppy shows comfort. Play recordings of vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, doorbells, and television sounds while offering treats and maintaining a calm, happy demeanor yourself. Your puppy takes emotional cues from you, so your relaxed attitude helps them learn that these sounds are normal and non-threatening.

Expose your puppy to various surfaces both indoors and outdoors. Practice walking on grass, concrete, gravel, stairs, and slippery floors like tile or hardwood. Many adult dogs develop fears of specific surfaces because they weren’t exposed during this critical period, so take time to make each surface a positive experience with treats and praise.

Begin car rides with short 5-minute trips to positive destinations like parks or friend’s houses rather than just the veterinarian. This prevents your puppy from associating car rides exclusively with stressful experiences. Secure your puppy safely in a crate or with a harness designed for vehicle safety.

Visit pet-friendly stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s for controlled exposure to new environments, sounds, and people while your puppy is still building their immune system. These environments offer excellent socialization opportunities without the disease risks of dog parks or pet stores with animals.

Create positive associations with all new experiences by pairing them with high-value treats, praise, and calm energy from you. If your puppy seems fearful or overwhelmed, don’t force interaction. Instead, increase distance and let them observe while receiving treats for calm behavior.

Social Interactions

Proper socialization with people and other dogs requires careful planning to ensure positive experiences that build confidence rather than fear or overexcitement. Quality matters more than quantity—a few excellent interactions are better than many stressful ones.

Arrange controlled meetings with vaccinated, well-behaved adult dogs who are known to be patient with puppies. Adult dogs can teach important lessons about canine communication and appropriate play that puppy parents can’t provide. Always supervise these interactions and end them before your puppy becomes overstimulated.

Introduce your puppy to people of different ages, ethnicities, and clothing styles in controlled settings where you can manage the interaction. Ask people to let your puppy approach them rather than reaching toward your puppy, and provide treats for your puppy when they show calm, friendly behavior around new people.

Allow supervised interaction with children, but teach both your puppy and the children appropriate behavior. Children should avoid grabbing, hugging, or overwhelming your puppy, while your puppy should learn that gentle behavior around small people leads to good things. Never leave young children unsupervised with your puppy.

Expose your puppy to people wearing hats, sunglasses, uniforms, and other unusual clothing that might seem frightening later if not introduced during this critical period. Ask friends to dress up in different outfits and give your puppy treats for calm behavior around these “strange” people.

Keep all social interactions positive and end them before your puppy becomes overwhelmed, overstimulated, or tired. Watch for signs like excessive panting, trying to hide, or becoming overly rough in play. A well-socialized puppy should approach new experiences with curiosity rather than fear or excessive excitement.

Months 4-6: Adolescent Training Challenges

Puppy adolescence brings new challenges as your growing puppy tests boundaries, experiences hormonal changes, and develops more independence. This period requires patience, consistency, and often an increase in both physical exercise and mental stimulation to channel your puppy’s energy positively.

Addressing Behavioral Regression

Don’t panic when your previously well-behaved puppy suddenly seems to forget everything you’ve taught them. Behavioral regression during adolescence is completely normal and temporary, but it requires a strategic response to prevent permanent setbacks.

Expect temporary setbacks in housetraining even if your puppy has been reliable for weeks. Adolescent puppies may have accidents due to excitement, distraction, or simply testing whether the rules still apply. Return to your original potty training routine with more frequent breaks and closer supervision until reliability returns.

Increase exercise to 60-90 minutes daily through structured walks, play sessions, and training games. An adolescent puppy with excess energy will create their own entertainment through destructive chewing, excessive barking, or other problem behaviors. Tired puppies make better decisions and focus more easily during training sessions.

Provide additional mental stimulation through puzzle toys, training games, and new challenges. A bored adolescent puppy is a destructive puppy. Rotate toys regularly, practice commands in new locations, and introduce more complex training exercises to keep your puppy’s mind engaged.

Maintain consistent rules and boundaries despite testing behaviors. Your puppy may try jumping on furniture that was previously off-limits, demand attention through barking, or ignore commands they used to follow reliably. Stay calm and consistent—giving in to testing behavior teaches your puppy that persistence pays off.

Consider enrolling in professional puppy socialization classes or adolescent dog training if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Group classes provide structure, professional guidance, and continued socialization opportunities that benefit both you and your puppy during this challenging period.

Advanced Command Training

As your puppy matures, you can introduce more complex versions of basic commands and add new skills that require greater impulse control and attention span. This advanced training builds confidence while providing mental exercise that tires your puppy in positive ways.

Practice existing commands with increasing distractions like other people, dogs, interesting smells, and exciting environments. Start with mild distractions and gradually increase difficulty as your puppy shows reliable response. A command that only works in your living room isn’t truly trained yet.

Add distance challenges to your recall training by practicing from 50+ feet away in securely fenced areas. Use a long training line initially to ensure safety while building reliability at greater distances. Remember that recall should be the most rewarding experience in your puppy’s life—celebrate like they’ve just won a prize every time they come when called.

Extend the duration of stay and down commands to 2-3 minutes while you move around, leave the room briefly, or work on other tasks. This builds independence and self-control while teaching your puppy that they don’t need to follow you constantly or demand attention every moment.

Train “drop it” and “leave it” with increasingly tempting objects like food dropped on the ground, favorite toys, or interesting smells during walks. These commands can prevent dangerous situations and reduce resource guarding tendencies if taught with positive methods that reward compliance.

Work toward reliable off-leash recall in securely fenced areas, but never rush this process. Off-leash reliability requires thousands of successful repetitions and should only be attempted in completely secure environments until your puppy proves 100% reliable in all situations.

Punishment-Based Methods

Modern dog training has moved away from punishment-based methods because research consistently shows they’re less effective and can create serious behavioral problems. Avoid techniques that rely on fear, intimidation, or discomfort to modify behavior.

Never hit, yell at, or use shock collars on your puppy. These methods may temporarily suppress unwanted behavior, but they don’t teach your puppy what you want them to do instead. Worse, they can create anxiety, fear-reactivity, and even aggression that becomes much more serious than the original problem.

Avoid the outdated practice of rubbing your puppy’s nose in accidents during house training. This creates fear and confusion without teaching anything useful about where elimination should occur. Your puppy doesn’t understand the connection between past actions and current punishment, so this approach is both ineffective and harmful to your relationship.

Don’t use the crate as punishment or leave your puppy crated for more than 4 hours at a time during the day. The crate should remain a positive space throughout your puppy’s life, and excessive crating can lead to anxiety, depression, and destructive behavior when finally released.

Replace negative corrections with positive redirection to appropriate behaviors. Instead of yelling “no” when your puppy chews furniture, redirect them to an appropriate chew toy and praise them for making the right choice. This teaches your puppy what you want while maintaining a positive learning environment.

Focus on rewarding good choices rather than punishing mistakes. Puppies learn faster and retain information better when training is enjoyable and rewarding. Set your puppy up for success by managing their environment and providing clear guidance about appropriate behavior.

Inconsistent Training Approach

Inconsistency confuses puppies and slows progress significantly. When family members use different commands, rules, or training methods, your puppy can’t develop reliable responses because the expectations keep changing.

Ensure all family members use the same commands and training methods. If one person says “sit” while another says “sit down,” your puppy doesn’t understand these mean the same thing. Hold a family meeting to agree on consistent vocabulary and training techniques before starting any program.

Maintain consistent rules about furniture access, human food, and other household boundaries. Your puppy can’t understand why jumping on the couch is okay when Dad’s home but forbidden when Mom’s around. Consistency in rules helps your puppy learn faster and reduces anxiety about what’s expected.

Stick to scheduled meal times and potty breaks even on weekends and holidays. Puppies thrive on routine, and irregular schedules make house training much more difficult. If you must change the schedule, do so gradually over several days rather than suddenly.

Don’t skip training sessions due to busy schedules—consistency trumps intensity. Three 5-minute sessions daily are more effective than one 30-minute session twice a week. Short, frequent practice helps your puppy retain information better and makes training a normal part of daily life.

Address unwanted behaviors immediately rather than ignoring them and hoping they’ll stop. Behaviors that get practiced become stronger, so redirect or manage problem behaviors as soon as they appear rather than waiting until they become established habits.

Troubleshooting Common Issues when Learning How to Train a Puppy

Even with perfect preparation and consistent training, most puppy parents encounter behavioral challenges that require specific strategies to resolve. Understanding how to address these common issues prevents small problems from becoming major behavioral concerns.

Excessive Biting and Nipping

Puppy biting is normal behavior that serves important developmental purposes, but it needs to be channeled appropriately to prevent injury and teach bite inhibition. The goal isn’t to stop all biting immediately, but to teach your puppy what’s appropriate to bite and how hard is too hard.

Redirect biting to appropriate chew toys immediately rather than allowing your puppy to mouth hands, clothes, or furniture. Keep a variety of chew toys readily available and praise enthusiastically when your puppy chooses them over inappropriate targets. Rotate toys regularly to maintain interest and provide different textures for teething relief.

End play sessions immediately when teeth touch human skin, even if it doesn’t hurt. Say “ouch” in a surprised voice, stop all interaction, and ignore your puppy for 30-60 seconds. This teaches your puppy that biting humans makes fun things stop happening—a powerful deterrent for social animals.

Provide 15-20 minutes of vigorous exercise before training sessions to help your puppy focus on learning rather than burning excess energy through biting. Tired puppies have better impulse control and are more likely to make good choices during interactions.

Teach a “gentle” command by offering treats in your closed fist and only opening your hand when your puppy licks or nuzzles instead of biting. This teaches your puppy to control the pressure of their mouth and provides an alternative behavior when they want something from you.

Increase mental stimulation through food puzzles and training games during the teething period (3-6 months) when biting urges are strongest. Chewing and biting help relieve teething discomfort, so provide appropriate outlets rather than trying to eliminate the behavior entirely.

Separation Anxiety Prevention

Teaching your puppy to be comfortable alone prevents separation anxiety, which can lead to destructive behavior, excessive barking, and emotional distress for both you and your puppy. Start building independence early, even if you work from home or have family members around most of the time.

Practice short departures starting with just 5-10 minutes daily, gradually increasing to several hours as your puppy shows comfort being alone. Begin by leaving the room for a few seconds, then leaving the house briefly, building up slowly so your puppy never experiences panic or abandonment fears.

Leave special toys or high-value chews that only appear when you’re gone. A frozen Kong stuffed with treats or a puzzle toy with hidden food keeps your puppy busy and creates positive associations with alone time. These items should be special enough that your puppy looks forward to your departures.

Avoid making departures and arrivals emotionally dramatic. Don’t spend 10 minutes saying goodbye or immediately shower your puppy with attention when you return. Calm, matter-of-fact departures and arrivals teach your puppy that coming and going is normal and not cause for excitement or anxiety.

Gradually increase alone time to 4 hours by 6 months of age, which is the maximum most adult dogs should be left alone regularly. Puppies under 4 months should never be alone for more than 2-3 hours due to their physical and emotional needs.

Create positive associations with alone time by practicing crate training, providing engaging activities, and ensuring your puppy is tired and content before departures. A puppy who sees alone time as nap time or puzzle time is much less likely to develop anxiety about being left.

FAQ

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When should I start training my puppy?

Begin training immediately when bringing your puppy home at 8 weeks old. Puppies are capable of learning basic commands and house rules from this early age, and delaying training can lead to the development of unwanted behaviors that become harder to correct later. The critical socialization period ends around 16 weeks, making early training essential for proper development.

How long should puppy training sessions last?

Keep training sessions short and frequent - 5 to 10 minutes maximum for puppies under 4 months old. Young puppies have limited attention spans, so multiple brief sessions throughout the day are more effective than one long training period. As your puppy matures, you can gradually extend sessions to 15-20 minutes, but always end while your puppy is still engaged and successful.

What should I do if my puppy isn’t responding to treats during training?

Try higher-value rewards like small pieces of cooked chicken, freeze-dried liver, or cheese. Also ensure your puppy isn’t too full from recent meals, as hungry puppies are more motivated by food rewards. Some puppies may respond better to praise, play, or toy rewards instead of treats. Experiment with different motivators to find what excites your individual puppy most.

Is it normal for my puppy to have accidents after seeming housetrained?

Yes, regression is completely normal, especially during the adolescent phase (4-6 months). Puppies don’t gain full bladder control until 4-6 months of age, and stress, excitement, or changes in routine can cause temporary setbacks. Maintain consistency with your potty training routine and avoid punishment during these periods. Most puppies return to reliable habits within a few weeks if you stay consistent.

Should I enroll my puppy in group training classes?

Group puppy classes are highly recommended for socialization and structured learning, typically starting around 10-12 weeks after your puppy has received at least two rounds of vaccinations. These puppy socialization classes provide controlled exposure to other dogs and people while reinforcing basic obedience training under professional guidance. Look for classes that use positive reinforcement methods and focus on both training and appropriate play behavior.

Maintaining Good Behavior

Maintaining good behavior in your puppy is an ongoing process that extends well beyond those first few months. As your puppy grows and explores the world, it’s essential to keep reinforcing the lessons they’ve learned and to stay proactive in preventing unwanted habits from creeping back in. Consistent training sessions and positive reinforcement training are the cornerstones of helping your puppy retain good behavior and continue developing into a well-mannered adult dog.

Reinforcing Learned Commands

Just because your puppy has mastered a command doesn’t mean the work is done. Reinforcing learned commands is key to making sure your puppy remembers and reliably responds, even as they encounter new situations and distractions. Short training sessions—just 5 to 10 minutes at a time—are perfect for keeping your puppy engaged and focused. Use these sessions to practice basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come,” mixing them up to keep things interesting.

Positive reinforcement training remains your best tool. Reward your puppy with tasty puppy treats, enthusiastic verbal praise, or a favorite toy whenever they respond correctly. If your puppy is food motivated, a food lure can help reinforce the command, especially in new or more distracting environments. As your puppy becomes more proficient, gradually increase the level of difficulty by practicing in busier places or with more distractions, but always set your puppy up for success.

For example, start by teaching your puppy to sit in a quiet place, then try the same command in the backyard, during a walk, or when guests are present. This helps your puppy learn that “sit” means the same thing no matter where they are. Always end your training sessions on a positive note, while your puppy is still eager and attentive. This keeps training fun and ensures your puppy looks forward to learning with you.

Preventing Bad Habits from Returning Starts with Basic Training for Your New Puppy

Even after your puppy has learned good manners, it’s important to stay vigilant and prevent old habits from resurfacing. Consistency is your best friend—continue to reinforce the rules and routines you’ve established, and don’t let little lapses slide. If you notice your puppy starting to slip back into unwanted behaviors, such as chewing on furniture or barking for attention, address them right away.

Redirect your puppy’s energy to appropriate outlets. If you catch your puppy chewing something off limits, calmly offer a chew toy instead and praise them for making the right choice. Crate training can also be a valuable tool for preventing bad habits, giving your puppy a safe, comfortable space to relax when you can’t supervise directly. This helps prevent issues like separation anxiety and destructive behavior.

Ongoing socialization is just as important for maintaining good behavior as it is for preventing problems. Enroll your puppy in puppy socialization classes to help them continue building social skills and confidence around new dogs and people. These classes reinforce good manners and teach your puppy how to interact appropriately in a variety of situations.

Remember, every puppy is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Stay patient, be consistent with your training, and always use positive reinforcement to encourage the behaviors you want to see. With time, effort, and a proactive approach, you’ll help your puppy grow into a well-behaved, confident companion who’s a joy to have in your family and community.