5 Essential Things to Teach Your Puppy From Day One

1. Build a Strong Bond and Socialise Early

Your puppy’s first days in their new home are vital for building a loving, trusting relationship. Focus on making your world the best place for them to be by gently introducing them to people, other animals, and everyday sights and sounds. Positive experiences early on help avoid fearfulness later and encourage your puppy to explore confidently. Using tasty treats during introductions can reassure your puppy and promote enjoyment.

Responsible breed selection and finding your puppy from reputable breeders or rescues promotes healthy temperaments and good lifelong behaviour.

2. Encourage Working for Food to Stimulate Your Puppy’s Mind

Handfeeding your puppy some meals or using food-dispensing toys encourages mental stimulation and strengthens your bond. Puppies naturally enjoy learning, so short training sessions where they earn their food by performing simple behaviours reward focus and calmness around mealtimes. Avoid feeding from a bowl all at once to prevent boredom and promote good manners, such as gentle mouthing.

This approach channels your puppy’s natural drive constructively and supports early behaviour training development.

3. Consistent House Training for Success

Start house training immediately by taking your puppy to the correct toileting spots, whether outside or on indoor pads, and praising them right after. Expect frequent toileting after eating, waking, or playing, and be patient as puppies do not gain full bladder control until around six months.

Never punish accidents; instead, monitor your puppy closely and use crates, pens, or baby gates to manage their environment effectively. This helps prevent accidents and teaches your puppy where it’s appropriate to toilet in a compassionate and consistent manner.

4. Help Your Puppy Gain Confidence Being Alone

Although dogs are social creatures, teaching your puppy to be comfortable alone from a young age is essential to preventing separation anxiety. Begin with short periods in a safe area like a crate while you remain nearby, gradually increasing the time alone. Provide safe chew toys to keep them occupied and never reward clingy behaviour.

Gradually building alone confidence ensures your puppy grows into a well-adjusted adult who copes calmly with being left on their own.

5. Guide Your Puppy on Appropriate Chewing

Chewing is a natural way for puppies to explore their world, but left unchecked, it can lead to unwanted damage or discomfort. Provide a selection of safe chew toys at all times and prevent access to inappropriate items like furniture or shoes. Supervise them closely and confine them safely when unsupervised to prevent accidents.

Redirect any biting or mouthing with gentle corrections and rewards for acceptable chewing to establish positive habits early.

Most importantly, enjoy this delightful time with your puppy as you set the stage for a fulfilling lifelong friendship.

For further expert training advice, visit our dog coach Vicky Carne's website.