Puppy Training Basics: A Practical Guide for the First Weeks

Use feeding toys, like the Kong, to shape a puppy's behavior, keep him engaged, and teach calm chewing and independent time through structured feeding games.

Set up a long-term puppy pen and a short-term crate area with a pee pad and enrichment toys to train good habits through positive reinforcement.

Establish a routine to lower your puppy's stress and help Tokyo feel relaxed in the playpen by gradually habituating him to the cage.

Establish a calm daily routine of play, yard time, and quiet periods to teach independence, reduce separation anxiety, and help the puppy thrive in a human environment.

Keep the cage open all night so the puppy can use a familiar space when he needs to go, avoiding extended confinement and urinating where he sleeps.

During second night at home, Tokyo learns to use his designated spot for peeing and pooping, reinforced by a rectangular fence and rewards to control when and where he goes.

Teach your puppy to be alone from start to prevent separation anxiety. Start with a morning training session, then let him enjoy time alone in a fenced area with kongs.

Use food rewards to create a positive outdoor experience, teaching your puppy to walk by your side without pulling, stay calm with low body language, and reward when he comes.

Adopt a 360-degree approach to raising a puppy, with confinement, toys and a play area, and supervised feedback to keep him calm and learn to live in a human environment.

Puppy training basics teaches slow, controlled exposure to the beach, starting with the waves near shore and feet only, increasing confidence without pressure or force.

Expose your puppy to the neighborhood cafe to help him meet diverse people, adjust to movement and noise, and become affectionate and comfortable in human environments.

Practice daily exposure to noise, people, and cars to build a social, stress-free puppy. Continue consistent exposure training through the first 13 weeks as the key method.

During weeks three to thirteen, expose your puppy to 150 strangers, varied touch, noises, and dogs to build positive associations and prevent fear and aggression.

Discover noise exposure considerations during the first weeks of puppy training basics, with practical guidance to support new puppy owners.

Pair touch with food to create a positive association in puppies, guiding them to tolerate ears, tail, feet, brushing teeth, and eyes, as contact ends when feeding stops.

Carry your puppy outside in your arms to socialize and prevent fear, while completing a three-dose core vaccine that protects against parvovirus and distemper, with final dose at four months.

teach bite inhibition through hands-on play, heart-wrenching yelps, and gentle treats to reward soft bites and build jaw control by five months.

Help your puppy associate the bathtub with experiences by feeding him as the water runs, keeping feet in the tub stress-free, and training him to come and enjoy bath time.

Be your puppy’s leader by establishing clear boundaries and mental control through humane training, avoiding not-allowed methods, and reinforcing positive alternatives to build consistent obedience in the pack during puppyhood.

Discover practical answers to common puppy questions, from managing crying and bite inhibition to housebreaking, confinement, and using Kong toys, with a clear, consistent training method.