When Should You Start To Train A Puppy?

Ideally, your puppy will have already started to learn a few things before he even comes to live with you. 

If your puppy comes from a good breeder then he should already have received a little socialization. 

He should be familiar with some noisy things in the home, such as TVs, radios, stereos, vacuum cleaners.  He may know about things that pop open like umbrellas. 

He’s probably been for car rides.  He may have met some strangers who came to the house or people in the vet’s office.  All of these things help socialize a puppy and build his confidence.  The breeder may even have groomed the puppy and had him on a leash for a few walks.

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When you bring your puppy home you should continue doing all of these things.  After your puppy has his second set of vaccinations you can take him out more to meet people and see things.  In the mean time you can work on the things he needs to know about living at home such as housetraining and bite inhibition.

You can start puppy dog training as soon as you bring him home which should be around 8-12 weeks.  Some toy dog breeders like to keep their puppies a little longer and some breeders with large breeds may let them go closer to eight weeks. 

If you’re getting a puppy from a shelter you may not have much choice about the age of the puppy.  Whatever the case, by eight weeks puppies are more than ready to learn puppy dog training and housebreaking.  Some breeders will have already been teaching their puppies the basics before you bring a puppy home.

House Training For Your Puppy

 Training is not difficult to teach but it does take patience.  With puppy potty training you should expect your puppy to have accidents and make mistakes, just as a human child would.  From the time you first bring your puppy home you should be consistent about taking your puppy outdoors and showing him where you would like him to potty. 

If he makes a mistake in the house you should clean it up and deposit it outdoors in the right spot. 

This will help your puppy identify the right place.

You should take your puppy outside as soon as he wakes up in the morning, immediately after each meal, after he drinks water, after playtime, after each nap, and just before bedtime at night. 

Even with all of those trips outside your puppy may not make it through the night at first.  He is small and he has a little bladder. 

You will also need to watch your puppy carefully.  Look for the signs that he needs to go outside:  wandering off, sniffing the floor, looking for a place to go. 

If you can’t see your puppy then there is a good chance that he is looking for a place to potty in the house. 

Pick him up gently and take him outside, just in case.

As your puppy gets older he will be able to go longer between potty breaks and he will be able to give you the signal that he needs to go outside. 

But when he first comes to your house he doesn’t know how to communicate with you or that he’s not supposed to potty inside.  Be patient and watch him carefully.  He will learn very quickly.

One great way fro puppy dog training is to use a crate for housetraining, at least at night or when you’re not home.  Dogs will not soil their sleeping area so a crate encourages your puppy to wait until you take him outside to relieve himself. 

The rule of thumb is that a puppy can go two hours for each month of age, plus one.  So, a three-month-old puppy can go four hours before he needs to go to the bathroom.  Crates are not intended as a place to dump puppies or dogs.  Most puppies and dogs find them very comforting and reassuring.  A safe place of their own, like a den.

Puppy Dog Training - Bite Inhibition

Puppy dog training also includes puppy bite inhibition.  Bite inhibition is usually learned while a puppy still lives with his mother and littermates.  When a puppy bites too hard or plays too rough his mother and littermates will either nip him back or stop playing with him.  When your puppy comes to live with you your puppy is apt to see you as another playmate. 

He may get carried away and bite too hard or play too rough.  Since your puppy has very sharp little teeth it can really hurt when he nips you.  That’s why you have to reinforce the idea of bite inhibition.

Biting puppies can be a problem unless you teach them bite inhibition.  Luckily, it’s easy to teach.  One great technique for puppy dog training is when your puppy nips you or bites you should let out a loud YELP just as another puppy would.  Let your puppy know that it hurt.  You can go on playing with him. 

If he does it again you should get up and leave.  Stop playing with him.  Turn your back on him and ignore him for at least 30 seconds. 

Then you can try playing again.  If your puppy is calmer you’re doing well.  If he’s still excited and playing too rough you should stop playing with him until he’s calmer. Do this every time your puppy nips or plays too rough and your puppy will learn to control his nipping and rough play.

Puppy Dog Training - Jumping

Puppy dog training also includes teaching your puppy not to jump on people.  This can be hard to teach because puppies are naturally enthusiastic.  You may need a friend or family member to help you.

You can stop a dog from jumping on you by using the Sit command.  If your puppy learns to Sit when you tell her to you can give her the Sit command when she starts to jump.  Praise her and give her lots of treats for doing what you ask instead of jumping.  You are heading off a bad behavior with a good one.

If your puppy is bad about jumping on strangers when they come in the door you can have someone practice with you.  Have them knock on the door (or ring the bell). 

When you go to the door give your puppy the Sit command before you answer the door.  Use the Stay command to keep her sitting there while your helper comes in the house. 

You may need to practice this many times because it will be very tempting for your puppy to hop up and jump on the person coming in the house.  But, with practice, your puppy will learn to Sit and Stay when you let someone in the house.

You can start teaching your puppy with puppy dog training basic obedience commands such as Sit and Stay from about eight weeks old.  Many people like to take their puppies to puppy preschool and puppy kindergarten classes where they learn manners and enjoy more socialization with other puppies and people. 

Work on manners at home, especially, for the first few months with your puppy, then you can move on to more advanced puppy dog training obedience work.

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