How to train a puppy

It is always a great joy to welcome a puppy. It is an opportunity to prepare your house for their arrival, make room, buy a new bed, bowls, puppy food and other toys. It is essential for the puppy to find their bearings and to get used to their new territory. A new member whose arrival delights the whole family, but who will also require total dedication.

Although a happy decision, it is far from being insignificant. It will change your family life for at least the next 10 years. The education of a pup is therefore very important.

TOPICS

• First training tips for puppies

• First tricks to teach your puppy

• Best ways to train a puppy

• The difference between training a dog vs training a puppy

First training tips for puppies

Although dog training is intended to provide structure, teach obedience, cleanliness or not to bark, it can in no way change the dog’s nature and temperament. In other words, dog training can never turn a Jack Russell into a calm and composed dog, just as it cannot turn a Beagle into a couch potato.

It is important to consider the character of the adopted puppy, even though the basic commands remain the same. And of course, the prerequisite for a good education is successful socialisation.

Socialise the puppy

Successfully training your canine friend is only the result of good socialisation. If the puppy was separated too early from their mother, it can have an impact on the puppy’s well-being, and they can become a challenge to train.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Kennel Club (UKC) both recommend that we should leave puppies with their mother until at least 8 weeks of age. During the first eight weeks of their life, a mother will teach her pups touch and affection by licking them, which is vital in their bonding process and making them feel safe.

A puppy will learn about competition for resources and attention and how to coexist with other dogs. The mother will also make sure to keep her puppies in check by telling them off and moving them. As you will not be able to get your new puppy until he is eight weeks old, a breeder will have already started this process.

Some breeders prefer keeping puppies with their mother until they are 12 weeks old, leaving time for the first two terms of vaccination. During these four weeks, puppies will develop their personalities and will also be less likely to contract any diseases.

Therefore, it is possible to adopt a puppy by 8 weeks, as they are independent of their mother and can eat solid food, but it is highly suggested to wait until the 12 weeks mark to be sure that the puppy will be fully ready to join their new home.

Teach your puppy their name

When training a puppy, you should teach one trick at a time as to not overwhelm your doggie. Training sessions should remain short, fun and happen regularly, as puppies have short attention spans. Repetition is key!

Teaching a puppy their name does not require any techniques, but you should avoid calling your puppy by other nicknames at the beginning as it could be distracting.

Say your puppy's name in a cheerful tone and when your dog turns to the sound, mark the moment, with a clicker for example. Then reward your dog with a treat or praise and affection. This method is called clicker training.

Get your puppy used to wearing a collar

The collar should be put on as soon as possible so that the puppy can get used to it. If they have trouble with it, you might prefer using a harness. A lightweight collar or harness made of fabric or woven nylon is best.

At first, the puppy will wear the collar or harness for a short period. Then, as the days go by, they will wear it longer until you never remove it. This is the first essential step in learning to walk on a lead and to wear a GPS collar for dogs. It will then be possible to walk your puppy without fear of possible runaways.

When to start training a puppy?

When adopting a puppy, the first trick you should teach is potty training, which can take up to two months. It is now recommended that puppies start training at 8 weeks of age. In other words, you can start training your puppy as soon as you adopt them, as adoption under 8 weeks is not allowed.

First tricks to teach your puppy

How to potty train a puppy?

When potty training a puppy, focus on foundation training behaviors and positive reinforcement. Never use punishment for accidents, but reward correct actions. Take the puppy out often, even in distracting environments, to help them connect going outside with praise. Do it in the morning, after meals and before bedtime. As training progresses, rewards can become less frequent. Once wearing a collar and housebreaking are acquired, you can start with basic training cues like sit or stay.

How to teach your puppy recall?

Training sessions during walks are ideal for recall. Training classes also help reinforce focus and training skills in varied settings. Hide-and-seek works well: while someone holds the puppy, the owner hides nearby. The puppy is called and rewarded when they find them. Repeat, adding distance each time. The puppy will link the recall to a fun, positive experience and respond reliably even in distracting environments.

How to teach your puppy to drop it?

Toys are very useful when training your dog. Many puppies love to chase balls or Frisbees, so you should not hesitate to mix games with training sessions. However, they are often less inclined to give the object back.

When the puppy returns to the owner, simply crouch down and present the puppy with a treat, then exchange the treat for the object to get the puppy to let go. You should not hesitate to use words like "drop" or "give" as long as they are always the same. You should only use rewards until the puppy understands what is expected of them.

These games based on mutual happiness reinforce the complicity in the relationship between an owner and his dog. Good communication with the puppy enhances the bonding and trust that is established.

In addition, these training games are a pretext for prolonging walks without them being perceived as boring for the owner.

You should frequently change your walking routes to refine the puppy's already well-developed sense of smell. It is also important to differentiate between potty training walks and longer walks to release your dog’s build up energy.

How to teach your puppy to sit?

With your dog in an upright position, hold a treat near his nose. Keeping the treat near their nose, raise your hand up a little and over their head, towards their back. As the dog lifts their head to follow the treat, their rear end will rest on the ground.

As soon as they sit down, praise them and give them the treat. Repeat this several times in short but regular sessions. You can then add the key word "sit". Be careful not to say it before your dog gets into position.

Now that your dog has learned how to sit on cue, begin to phase out the treat rewards, but continue the praise. Only reward the faster sits with a treat, while still praising the slowest sit. This way, your dog should sit as soon as you tell them to.

Best ways to train a puppy

Don't change your habits

It can be tempting when you get a dog or puppy to take a few days off work to look after them. However, for strong foundation training behaviors, it’s not always a good idea. Keep your habits so the puppy learns to be alone and focus despite distracting environments. They need to develop training skills like self-control and patience. You can help by leaving an old piece of clothing with your scent in their basket. Offer interactive toys or create a simple game that uses training cues and rewards. This turns waiting time into a positive training session instead of boredom.

Teach your puppy not to pull on the leash and not to chase small animals

Another important foundation training behavior is to stop leash pulling and chasing. Even playful chasing reinforces instincts that may be hard to correct later. Enrolling in training classes helps your puppy learn to focus on you and respond to training cues in all situations. Consistent training sessions will strengthen recall and safety.

Don’t raise your voice

A puppy is sensitive to tone, so avoid shouting. Instead of punishment, use encouragement and rewards to guide good behavior. This builds trust and confidence. Gentle correction and clear training cues during short training sessions will help your puppy progress faster and avoid fear-based reactions.

The difference between training a dog vs training a puppy

Once the puppy grows into an adult, many owners continue with positive reinforcement training. The bond already built makes body language and cues easier to use.
Adult dogs focus longer than puppies, so you can add commands like the sit cue, stay command, or down command. These sessions also improve impulse control.
Most adult dogs stay playful, so they respond well to recall training or loose-leash walking. Using a clear release cue and a simple training lure keeps learning fun.