You’re excited to bring home your new addition to the family, the one who’ll be by your side during every adventure, curled up by you on evenings, and the mischievous one who somehow gets away with everything thanks to those irresistible puppy eyes.
However, there’s some work to do to ensure your puppy becomes a well-adjusted dog, which is why we've pulled together this puppy training guide covering the essential foundations to help set your puppy up for success.
The trick to successful puppy training is positive reinforcement, consistency, and patience, with puppies learning best in short bursts. And of course plenty of training treats to reward good behaviour.
Toilet Training
From day one, establish a consistent toilet routine. Puppies thrive on repetition and regular trips outside help them quickly understand where they should go.
As a rule, take your puppy out to their toilet area:
- After waking
- After eating and drinking
- Before and after playtime
- Before you leave the house
- When you return home
- Before bedtime
In the beginning, it’s worth taking them out every hour.
Keep a stash of training treats near the door so you can immediately reward successful toilet trips with praise and a treat.
Consistency is what makes toilet training work. Many puppies pick it up surprisingly quickly when routines are followed closely. It can also help to keep a note of your puppy’s toilet habits so you can begin spotting patterns and adjust your schedule accordingly.
Signs your puppy needs the toilet
There are common signs to watch out for such as:
- Sniffing the floor
- Circling
- Whining
- Returning to a previously soiled area
- Unable to settle
For night time toilet training, set an alarm slightly before they’d usually wake up needing the toilet, then gradually extend the time over several nights.
Crate Training
A crate provides your puppy with a safe, secure, den-like space where they can relax, sleep, and retreat to.
It’s key to make the crate inviting:
- Comfortable bedding
- Toys
- Long-lasting chews
Allow your puppy to explore the crate at their own pace. Reward them with treats for going near it or stepping inside.
Place the crate in a room where the family spends time, so your puppy feels included. Start with the door open, once they’re comfortable, try briefly closing the door for a few seconds before opening it again. Slowly increase the distance and duration between you and the crate, eventually leaving the room for short periods and then leaving the house briefly.
To encourage your puppy to spend time in their crate willingly, you can also:
- Feed meals inside the crate
- Hide treats inside
- Give enrichment chews during crate time
Socialisation
The key socialisation window for puppies is between 8 - 16 weeks old. During this time, gentle positive exposure to everyday life and different environments helps them build confidence and resilience.
After giving your puppy a day or two to settle in at home, gradually introduce them to:
- New people
- Different dogs
- Household noise
- Passing traffic
- New environments
- Car journeys
Pet shops and garden centres are often great dog-friendly places for socialisation. If they aren’t fully vaccinated yet, carry them while out and about.
At home get them used to noises like:
- Vacuum cleaners
- Hairdryers
- Doorbells
- Washing machines
Keep experiences calm and positive, rewarding calm curiosity with praise and treats to help build positive associations.
Basic commands
Start with simple foundational commands such as:
- Sit
- Stay
- Lie down
- Recall
Use high-value training treats your puppy loves, as this increases motivation and helps reinforce good behaviour.
For best results:
- Train in a quiet room away from distractions
- Keep sessions short and regular
- Be patient and consistent
Dogs, just like us, learn at different speeds. Always try to end training on a positive note with something they are confident in.
Handling and grooming
Get your puppy used to being handled from an early age to make grooming sessions and vet visits easier in the future. Reward calm behaviour with treats and praise so your puppy forms positive association with being touched and examined.
It’s important to gradually get them comfortable with having their paws, ears, mouth, body and their tail being handled.
Keep sessions short, calm, and positive, rewarding them throughout for relaxed behaviour.
Preventing separation anxiety
Leaving their mum and siblings can be a huge adjustment for a puppy, so learning to feel safe when alone takes time.
In the early weeks, focus on building security and trust first.
A simple exercise is once a day, placing a treat in another room for your puppy to discover while you briefly step away. Gradually increase both distance and duration over time.
Puppy biting and nipping
Biting as a puppy is completely normal. Teething, excitement, and overtiredness can all be triggers. When your puppy starts biting:
- Divert their attention to a soft toy or teething chew
- Stay calm and avoid shouting or screaming as they’ll think your playing
- Reward calm play behaviour
- You can also hold a training treat near their nose to encourage them to let go, before rewarding
Training your puppy takes time, patience and consistency, but the effort you put in during these early weeks helps shape the dog they’ll become.
Keep sessions short, make learning positive, and don’t underestimate the power of a great training treat. Reward-based training builds trust, confidence, and a stronger bond between you and your puppy.
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