Puppy training begins the moment your puppy comes home — typically 8 weeks old. The window from 8–16 weeks is the most important developmental period in a dog's life. What your puppy is exposed to and learns during these weeks shapes the adult dog's temperament. This guide covers the week-by-week schedule that works for any breed.
Step-by-step guidance for puppy training and every other training challenge — used by 50,000+ dog owners.
See the Training ProgramEstablish name recognition, crate acceptance, and basic potty schedule. Begin sit and bite inhibition. Keep sessions to 3–5 minutes — puppies have very short attention spans. Start gentle handling exercises (touch paws, mouth, ears) to prevent later vet/grooming difficulties.
This is the most critical period. Expose your puppy to dozens of friendly people, calm dogs, varied environments, surfaces, sounds, and handling. Add come, down, and basic leash introduction. Continue crate and potty training. Enroll in a puppy class with a positive-reinforcement trainer.
Begin proofing commands across distractions. Add Leave It and Drop It (life-saving commands). Continue socialization. Address jumping and mouthing consistently. Start short loose-leash walking sessions. Most puppies are reliable on basic commands by week 10 if training has been consistent.
8 weeks old — the day you bring the puppy home. Earlier formal training isn't possible because puppies stay with their mothers until 8 weeks, but learning starts immediately upon arrival.
3–5 minutes for puppies under 12 weeks, 5–10 minutes from 12–16 weeks, 10–15 minutes after that. Multiple short sessions throughout the day work better than one long one.
Yes for socialization specifically. The structured exposure to other puppies and dogs in a controlled environment is hard to replicate at home. Choose a class using positive reinforcement methods.
Complete training program with lifetime access. Covers puppy training and every other training topic.
See the ProgramDisclosure: We earn affiliate commissions when readers buy through some links on this site, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent.