Training a puppy doesn't have to be complicated, but it does need to be clear and consistent. Start small, keep it fun, and use short training sessions where your puppy can succeed. This way, you build a foundation for good behaviour at home, during walks, and in new situations, step by step.
On this page, you'll read about the best place to start, how to build up exercises, and why the right reward makes such a big difference. For many puppies, small, soft Puppy training treats work well because you can reward quickly without long interruptions in training.
Where to start when training a puppy?
The first few days are mainly about getting used to things, predictability, and trust. Your puppy doesn't need to learn a whole list of commands right away. Instead, focus on a few skills that will be used every day and have immediate practical benefits.
- Name recognition - your puppy learns that paying attention to you brings positive outcomes.
- Coming when called - important for safety and contact.
- Walking without pulling - prevents pulling from becoming a habit.
- Potty training routine - fixed times, lots of repetition, and calm rewards.
- Gradual alone time - build up calmly without forcing it.
- Getting used to touch - useful for grooming, paws, mouth, and vet visits.
A crate can help with calm and potty training, provided you introduce it calmly. Read how that works in Crate training for your dog.
Focusing on this foundation immediately often makes later training much easier. Your puppy then learns not just tricks, but how to work together with you.
Are you dealing with biting or chewing on hands, clothes, or furniture? You can find the approach in How to stop puppy biting.
The most important rules for puppy training
Puppies learn fastest when the exercise is clear. Long sessions, too many distractions, or inconsistent rules only lead to confusion.
- Train briefly - often 1 to 5 minutes at a time is enough.
- Reward immediately - your puppy needs to understand which behaviour brings a reward.
- Work in small steps - start easy, then gradually increase difficulty.
- Practice in a calm environment - start without many distractions.
- Repeat frequently - young puppies learn through routine and repetition.
- Stop in time - it's better to end on a good note than too late.
Positive training doesn't mean anything goes. It means being clear, rewarding desired behaviour, and preventing or redirecting undesired behaviour before it becomes a habit.
Which exercises are most important?
1. Teaching your puppy to come back
Coming when called is one of the most useful exercises you can teach. Start indoors or in a very quiet environment. Call your puppy's name, make yourself interesting, and reward immediately as soon as he comes to you. Only then build up distance and distractions.
Don't just use recall when something fun is over. If "here" always means the game is finished or the leash goes on, the signal loses value.
2. Learning to walk on a leash
Many puppies not only need to learn to walk on a leash but also get used to the moment of leashing. Don't let the collar or leash become a struggle. Let your puppy get used to it calmly, reward relaxed behaviour, and practice short distances first. Don't expect a young puppy to walk perfectly by your side for an entire walk immediately.
3. Potty training
Potty training is primarily about timing. Take your puppy outside after sleeping, eating, playing, and resting. Reward immediately when he pees or poops in the right spot. Punishing accidents usually backfires. It's better to guide more quickly and refine the routine.
4. Learning to be calmly alone
You build up alone time in seconds and minutes, not in leaps. First, practice your puppy staying relaxed while you move around the room, then briefly out of sight, and only later actually leaving. If your puppy whines, barks, or becomes restless, the step was often too big.
5. Getting used to touch and grooming
Holding paws, looking in the mouth, brushing, and touching the body are not minor matters. If you practice this calmly early on, you will make grooming and examination easier later. Work from easy to difficult and reward small successes.
How to smartly build up an exercise
Many problems in puppy training arise not because a puppy is stubborn, but because the step is too big. A useful sequence is:
- First, teach the behaviour in a calm situation.
- Reward every good repetition immediately.
- Only then add a word or signal.
- Then increase one thing at a time: duration, distance, or distraction.
So, don't simultaneously ask for a longer stay, further distance, and staying attentive in a busy park. Always choose one more difficult factor. That keeps the training clear.
Rewarding during puppy training
A good reward makes training faster, clearer, and more fun. Especially with puppies, a small, soft snack often works well because you can reward quickly and continue training immediately. Make sure the reward is small, easy to eat, and attractive enough for your puppy.
In addition to food, you can also reward with your voice, attention, or a short play session. Which reward works best varies per puppy and situation. For calm focus exercises, a training treat is often useful, while for some puppies, play works better for things like recall.
For puppy training, many owners consciously choose soft dog treats for puppies that you can easily give in small pieces. This aligns well with short repetitions and many moments of success during practice.
Are you unsure about the correct amount of rewards? Read: How many training treats can a dog have per day?
Using a clicker or marker word
A clicker or a fixed word like "yes" or "good" can help to mark the exact right moment. This is especially useful for exercises where timing is important, such as sit, stay, or come. The system is simple: first, you mark the good behaviour, then the reward follows.
A clicker is not mandatory to train a puppy well. However, it can be extra clear if you want to work consistently and quickly indicate exactly which behaviour you are rewarding.
Do you want to see concretely how to cleverly combine rewarding with food with a clicker? Check out Training treats with clicker training.
What should you preferably not do with a puppy?
A young puppy is constantly learning, even when you are not consciously training. That's why it's smart to avoid common mistakes.
- Do not punish for fear or confusion - that often makes learning more difficult.
- Do not have unrealistic expectations - a puppy has little concentration yet.
- Do not repeat endlessly - if you say the same thing ten times, the signal loses value.
- Do not build up too quickly - especially with alone time, recall, and leash training.
- Do not do long training sessions - short and positive works better.
Are you unsure if your puppy understands? Then make the exercise easier instead of stricter.
Frequently asked questions about puppy training
What should you teach your puppy first?
Start with name recognition, making contact, coming when called, potty training routine, and calmly walking on a leash. These are skills you'll use every day and that provide a strong foundation for further training.
From what age can you train a puppy?
You can start with simple exercises and acclimatization almost immediately after your puppy comes home. Think about attention to their name, calmly following, touch, and short reward moments. Small, soft rewards are often used from about 8 weeks of age, as long as they are appropriate for the puppy and given in small quantities. Also read Puppy training treats: from what age and what is safe?.
How long should you train with a puppy per session?
Usually, short sessions of 1 to 5 minutes are most effective. Several short training moments per day often work better than one long training session.
Is a clicker necessary to train a puppy?
No, a clicker is useful but not essential. You can also train very clearly with a fixed marker word and an immediate reward, as long as your timing is good and you remain consistent.
