Puppy training · Updated June 2026
How to train a puppy,
from day one.
The eight weeks between coming home and 16 weeks old are the most important of your puppy's life. Here's exactly what to do, in order, socialization, house-training, bite inhibition, and the first cues, all reward-based.
Quick answer
Start training the day your puppy comes home, usually around 8 weeks. Use positive reinforcement in very short sessions of 5 minutes, three to five times a day, and prioritize four things over tricks: socialization during the 8-16 week window (positive exposure to people, dogs, sounds and surfaces), house-training on a consistent schedule, gentle bite inhibition, and foundation cues, name response, sit, recall indoors, and calm handling. Prevent unwanted behavior rather than punishing it, keep the crate a positive den, and stay consistent across the household. What you build before 16 weeks shapes the adult dog more than anything you do later.
01 · The method
Seven puppy priorities,
in order.
Tricks can wait. These are the things that actually shape who your puppy becomes, front-load them while the developmental window is open.
01
Socialization first (8-16 weeks)
This window only opens once. Give your puppy positive, gentle exposure to many people, friendly vaccinated dogs, surfaces, sounds and handling. Carrying and car trips count before full vaccination, the behavioral risk of under-socialization outweighs the disease risk for most puppies, but ask your vet about the local situation.
02
House-training on a schedule
Take the puppy out every 1-2 hours and after waking, eating and play, and reward the instant they finish outside. Supervise or use a correctly sized crate so accidents never rehearse. Most puppies are reliable by 4-6 months.
03
Bite inhibition, the #1 skill
Mouthing is normal and peaks now. The goal is a soft mouth, not zero contact: when teeth pinch, give a short "ouch" and disengage for a few seconds, then redirect to a toy. A puppy who learns bite inhibition becomes a safe adult.
04
Short, frequent sessions
Five to eight minutes, three to five times a day. Puppy attention is tiny, stop while they are still keen. Many short wins beat one long, frustrating session every time.
05
Foundation cues
Teach name response and eye contact first, then sit, down, recall inside the home, and a hand target. Mark the behavior the instant it happens and reward within two seconds.
06
The crate as a safe den
Build the crate slowly with food and toys so it becomes a place the puppy chooses, never a punishment. A crate-happy puppy house-trains faster and settles more easily.
07
Prevent, don't punish
Manage the environment so the puppy can't rehearse jumping, chewing or stealing, and reward the behavior you want instead. Aversive corrections at this age often resurface as adult fear or reactivity.
Go deeper on the hard parts
How to potty train a puppy
The schedule, the rewards, and fixing accidents.
How to stop puppy biting
Bite inhibition without punishment.
Puppy training schedule by age
Week-by-week from 8 weeks to 6 months.
Puppy training basics
The core 12-week foundation track.
When to start training a puppy
The critical 8-16 week window, explained.
Crate training, step by step
Make the crate a den, not a prison.
Most-searched questions
The questions people
actually ask.
When should I start training my puppy?
The day you bring the puppy home, usually around 8 weeks old. The 8-16 week socialization window is the single most important period of a dog's life, so start with gentle socialization, house-training and short reward-based sessions immediately.
What should I teach my puppy first?
Name response and eye contact, then sit, recall inside the home, and calm handling of paws, ears and mouth. Run house-training and bite inhibition alongside these from day one, they matter more than any trick.
How long should puppy training sessions be?
Very short, 5 to 8 minutes, three to five times a day. Puppies can't sustain longer, and ending while they're still keen keeps them eager for the next session.
Can my puppy be socialized before its vaccinations are complete?
Yes, safely. Carry the puppy in new places, take car trips, and invite vaccinated dogs and varied people to your home. Avoid dog parks and unknown dogs until your vet clears full vaccination, but do not wait to start socializing, the window is closing.
Is it ever too late to train a dog?
No. Puppies learn fastest, but dogs learn their whole lives. An older puppy or adult simply needs more repetitions; the methods are identical.
Should I punish my puppy for accidents or biting?
No. Punishment at this age tends to create fear and can make problems worse. Prevent accidents with supervision and a schedule, redirect biting to toys, and reward the behavior you want instead.
Our method & sources
Every TailorPup plan and guide uses reward-based training (positive reinforcement), the approach the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) recommends for all dog training. Read the full science and source list on our training method page.
TailorPup is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or certified by the AVSAB. References are provided for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian or a qualified trainer.
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