Puppy Training 101: How to Train Your Puppy

Puppy training can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re a first-time pet parent. Between potty accidents, playful biting, and a puppy’s boundless energy, it’s easy to wonder if you’re doing it right. The good news is, training a puppy doesn’t require expensive classes or professional help. Many skills can be taught at home, and training is one of the best ways to bond with your new furry family member. No matter how sweet your pup is, every dog benefits from basic obedience training and early socialization. 

A well-trained puppy will grow into a confident, well-adjusted adult dog who can handle new situations with ease. Research shows that dogs with proper early training are less likely to develop anxiety issues, destructive behaviors, or aggression problems later in life. The time you invest in puppy training now pays dividends for the rest of your dog’s life. 

From how to potty train a puppy and crate training to basic commands and common behavioral issues, this comprehensive guide to puppy training will give you everything you need to set your furry friend up for success. Your well-behaved adult dog depends on the time you invest in training them today. Let’s begin. 

Getting started with puppy training

The best time to start puppy training is as soon as you bring your pup home. Once puppies are ready to leave their moms at around 8 weeks, they can begin learning. Dogs can be trained at any age, but their critical socialization period is between 3-14 weeks. Starting early helps your pup develop good habits before bad ones take root, making the training process smoother for both of you. 

The foundation: positive reinforcement 

As you start training, remember that dogs respond well to positive reinforcement. This means two things: 

• Praising or giving them treats when they behave well 

• Avoid punishing them when they do something you don’t like 

Over time, dogs begin to associate good behavior with positive rewards and are more likely to behave well on their own. 

Part of effective positive reinforcement is understanding what your pup considers a reward. For some, a warm pat or verbal praise is enough, while others prefer a treat or a toy. With time, you’ll quickly discover what motivates your pup the most. 

Tips for success

Patience is key to successful puppy training. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind: 

• Keep puppy training sessions short: 5-10 minutes for young puppies and 10-15 minutes for older pups 

• Be consistent: Use the same words, tone, and commands every time. Everyone in the household should follow the same rules. 

• Celebrate small victories: Progress isn’t linear. Some days feel like breakthroughs, and others like setbacks. Stay patient, you’ve got this. 

• Practice multiple times daily: Several short sessions throughout the day are more effective than one long session 

Every puppy learns at their own pace, and some breeds or personalities are more challenging to train than others. As you spend time together, you’ll get to know your furry friend, understand their body language, and discover what motivates them. Remember, if you’re struggling or prefer outside help, professional puppy training is always an option. 

Essential puppy training skills

Methods vary slightly depending on what you’re teaching, but the core principles remain the same: 

• Practice positive reinforcement 

• Be patient

• Stay consistent 

Socialization: setting your puppy up for life

Socialization is one of the most important aspects of puppy training, and starting as early as possible is key, since your puppy’s brain is most receptive to absorbing new experiences. Well-socialized puppies grow into confident and well-adjusted adult dogs. 

What is socialization? 

Socialization entails exposing your puppy to a variety of people, animals, environments, sounds, and experiences in a positive and controlled way. This helps them create positive associations so they’re not threatened by new experiences later in life. A well-socialized dog isn’t just comfortable around other dogs; they’re also relaxed when they encounter motorcycles, bicycles, cars, people with beards, children, wheelchairs, and other elements of daily life. 

How to house train a puppy

Housebreaking your puppy, also known as potty training or house training, is crucial and is usually the first thing pet parents tackle when training a puppy. 

Remember, young puppies can’t hold their bladder for long, so they may have bathroom accidents unless you take them out every couple of hours. Running into accidents inside the house can be frustrating, but pet parents should stay calm and avoid punishing pups when they have an accident. 

Instead of punishing your dog, try recognizing your puppy’s tells. When dogs need to go to the bathroom, they’ll whine, go in circles, or start barking. Becoming attuned to your pup’s cues strengthens your bond and helps speed up the house training process. 

Establishing a puppy schedule for bathroom breaks is another proven method for housetraining your puppy. Here’s a good walking schedule that works for most pups: 

• As soon as you wake up 

• Before and after each meal 

• Right before bedtime 

When housebreaking a puppy, keep these tips in mind: 

• Watch closely: Get familiar with their body language and learn to recognize specific cues

• Use positive reinforcement: Praise with treats and kind words every time they go outside 

What to avoid when housetraining your puppy: 

• Potty pads: They can confuse puppies about where it’s acceptable to go. If possible, skip them and train your pup to go outside from the start. 

• Punishing for accidents:  Never scold or punish your pup for accidents. This can create fear and anxiety, and may even lead to coprophagia (eating feces) as they try to hide evidence to avoid being punished. 

Crate training dogs

Crates can actually reduce separation anxiety in dogs, but only if they view their crate as a safe and comfortable den. If your dog loves their crate and goes in there to nap, they might feel safer inside when you’re gone. 

However, crate training isn’t right for all dogs. If your dog shows signs of distress when crated, like excessive drooling, frantic attempts to escape, or self-injury, then crating will only make their anxiety worse. 

Here are a few tips to start crate training your dog: 

• Make it cozy: Add a comfortable bed, their favorite blanket, and chew toys

• Lure them in: Use treats to encourage entry. Try feeding meals in the crate with the door open at first, then close briefly. 

• Increase time gradually: Once your pup seems relaxed, slowly extend the time the door stays closed 

• Try overnight: If your dog enjoys sleeping in the crate, you can start closing the door at night. Just make sure to keep it nearby so you can hear if they need to come out. 

• Choosing the right crate: Your pup should be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. To keep your puppy from using one side of the crate as a bathroom, get a crate with a divider that you can adjust as they grow up. 

Even if your dog tolerates their crate well, you should never leave them confined for long periods of time. Extended crate time can cause physical discomfort and increase anxiety for any dog. 

Managing common behavioral issues in puppies

Behavioral training focuses on addressing unwanted behaviors such as nipping, jumping, excessive barking, or destructive chewing. These are all normal puppy behaviors. After all, your pup is learning boundaries and how to interact with the world. Thankfully, most of them can be managed with patience and consistent training. 

You can try behavioral training on your own, but it’s tricky, so a lot of people seek out professional dog training. 

Puppy bites and nipping 

Puppies bite because they explore the world through their mouths, and that’s how they play with other puppies. Here’s how you can teach them to bite less: 

• Redirect to toys: Whenever your puppy bites you, replace it with a chew toy. This teaches them what is appropriate to bite.

• Yelp and withdraw: Make a high-pitched “ow!” sound, and stop playing for a moment. This mimics how other puppies react. 

• Never use your hands as toys: Do not encourage hand-biting during play, since this reinforces the behavior 

• Provide chew toys: Teething puppies need something to chew as they develop their chewing instinct 

Jumping on people 

Jumping is cute when they’re young, but it can become problematic as they grow older. Instead, teach them alternative, more appropriate ways to greet other humans and dogs: 

• Ignore the jumping: Turn away and don’t give them any attention until they’re back on the ground

• Reward calm greetings: Whenever your pup stays down during greetings, use positive reinforcement 

• Be consistent: Make sure everyone in the household follows these rules 

Excessive barking 

Barking is how dogs communicate, but excessive or annoying barking should be addressed: 

• Identify the trigger: Figure out whether your pup is bored, anxious, or seeking attention, and address the root cause 

• Don’t reward barking: If your puppy is barking for attention, ignore them until they’re quiet 

• Provide mental stimulation: Tired or stimulated puppies naturally bark less

When to seek professional help 

There’s a lot you can do on your own, but some issues are serious enough to require professional intervention, including: 

• Aggression toward people or other animals 

• Severe fear or anxiety 

• Behaviors that don’t improve with consistent training 

• Any behavior that poses safety risks to your pup or others 

If you’re dealing with serious behavioral issues, chat with your veterinarian. With Kanguro’s puppy insurance, routine vet visits are covered, and your vet can recommend next steps, whether it’s working with a professional trainer, seeing a veterinary behaviorist, or exploring other solutions. 

Teaching your puppy basic commands

Obedience training teaches your puppy to respond to vocal or visual cues. 

Here are some foundational commands to start with. These commands aren’t just for show–they actually help keep your pup safe: 

• Sit: This is the foundation command for all dogs. Your pup should stop what they’re doing and sit when asked. 

• Stay: Teaching your pup to stay is one of the most important safety commands. Your dog should remain in place until released. 

• Come: Essential for recall at dog parks or if your pup isn’t on a leash 

• Down: Useful for keeping pets off furniture or to keep them from begging when you’re eating

• Leave it: Prevents your pup from eating dangerous items on walks 

Teaching fun tricks to your puppy

Once you’re done teaching your puppy basic commands, you can start adding fun tricks, which is also a great way of stimulating them mentally. Here are some cool tricks that people love teaching their pups to impress their guests: 

• Shake hands 

• Roll over

• Give a kiss

• Bow 

• High five

• Hug 

Remember, focus on the basics first. If your pup is having a hard time obeying basic commands like “Sit” or “Stay,” avoid overwhelming them with fun tricks until they’ve mastered the basics. 

Leash walking

A dog who walks beside you on a leash is safer, more enjoyable to go on walks with, and can accompany you everywhere. On the other hand, a dog who constantly pulls, lags, or lunges can make walks exhausting and dangerous. Here are a few tips to train puppies to walk on a leash: 

• Practice indoors: Let your puppy get comfortable with wearing a collar or harness and leash indoors

• Start with a loose leash: Keep the leash relaxed, not taut. Tension discourages learning and can cause them to pull. 

• Stop when they pull: Whenever they pull forward, stop walking and wait until they’re back at your side or until the leash loosens before continuing.

• Reward walking beside you: Praise them and occasionally give them treats when they walk by your side 

Leash training takes time and patience. Your pup needs to learn that walks aren’t about rushing wherever they find an interesting smell; it’s about taking a walk together. Soon, you’ll be able to enjoy pleasant strolls around town with your furry pal. 

Frequently asked questions

What is the 3-3-3 rule for dog training?

The 3-3-3 rule is a guideline of how newly adopted dogs gradually adjust to their new home: 

• First 3 days: initial decompression

• First 3 weeks: adjusting to a new routine 

• First 3 months: the time it takes for dogs to feel fully comfortable and integrated into your family 

At what age is training a puppy the hardest?

Two specific moments are challenging for puppy training. 

8-16 weeks: the foundation period 

• Short attention span: puppies love learning, but their limited short attention span makes it challenging 

• Intensive socialization: exposing them to so many sights, sounds, and people can be overwhelming 

• Foundation building: it is essential to lay down the foundations, but progress isn’t linear, and sometimes it’s as if they forgot everything they learned overnight. 

6-18 weeks: the adolescent period 

• Behavioral regression: They become rebels, and it can feel like they forgot everything you taught them 

• Boundary testing: They start challenging rules and testing limits 

• Common challenges: Jumping, leash pulling, excessive barking, and destructive chewing can increase during this period 

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