Bringing a new puppy home is exciting, but without a structured plan, that excitement can quickly turn into exhaustion. A comprehensive puppy training schedule helps you navigate the critical developmental stages, ensuring you teach the right skills at exactly the right time.
This guide breaks down training milestones by age, giving you a clear roadmap to raise a well-behaved, confident, and happy dog.
8 to 10 Weeks: Building Trust and Routine
When you first bring your puppy home, your primary goal is establishing a schedule and building a bond. Do not worry about advanced tricks yet; focus on safety, security, and the absolute basics.
House Training and Crate Training
Start potty training the moment you walk through the door. At this age, puppies have very little bladder control. Take your puppy outside:
- Immediately after they wake up.
- After they eat or drink.
- After a play session.
- Every 30 to 60 minutes while awake.
Introduce the crate as a positive, safe space, not a punishment. Feed meals inside the crate and provide high-value treats when they enter voluntarily. This aids in potty training and prevents destructive behavior when you cannot supervise them.
Name Recognition
Your puppy needs to know that their name means “look at me.” Say their name cheerfully, and the instant they make eye contact, mark the moment with a “yes” or a clicker and give a treat. Repeat this frequently throughout the day in low-distraction environments until their head whips around every time you speak.
Bite Inhibition
Puppies explore the world with their mouths. When your puppy bites too hard during play, stop moving immediately and let your hand go limp. If they continue, remove yourself from the interaction for 30 seconds. They must learn that teeth on skin causes the fun to stop.
10 to 12 Weeks: Socialization and Basic Commands
This is arguably the most critical period in your dog’s development. The “socialization window” closes quickly, usually around 16 weeks. You must safely expose your puppy to the world while their brain is most receptive to new experiences.
Controlled Socialization
Socialization does not just mean meeting other dogs; it means exposure to new textures, sounds, and people. Because your puppy likely isn’t fully vaccinated yet, avoid high-traffic dog parks. Instead, carry them or use a stroller to expose them to:
- Loud trucks and traffic noises.
- People wearing hats, sunglasses, and uniforms.
- Different surfaces like gravel, grass, tile, and carpet.
- Household sounds like vacuums and blenders.
Manding (Asking Politely)
Teach your puppy to “sit” for everything they want. Require a sit before you put the food bowl down, before you open the back door, and before you give affection. This teaches impulse control early: they learn that calm behavior gets them what they want, not jumping or barking.
Handling and Grooming Prep
Touch your puppy’s paws, ears, tail, and mouth daily. Pair these touches with treats. This prepares them for future vet visits and grooming appointments, ensuring they don’t develop aggression or fear when being handled.
3 to 4 Months: Impulse Control and Leash Manners
At this stage, your puppy creates more permanent associations. They are growing larger and more confident, making this the ideal time to refine manners before adolescence sets in.
Loose Leash Walking
Start training this indoors first. Reward your puppy for standing by your leg. Once you move outside, if the leash goes tight, stop walking immediately. Only move forward when the leash is slack. If you let a puppy pull you now, they will pull you forever.
Recall (The “Come” Command)
Recall is a lifesaving skill. Practice this in a fenced area or on a long line. Run away from your puppy while calling their name to trigger their chase instinct. When they catch you, reward them heavily. Never use the “come” command to punish them or do something unpleasant (like a bath), or they will learn to ignore it.
“Leave It” and “Drop It”
Puppies at this age are teething and will chew everything.
- Leave It: Teaches the puppy to ignore an item they haven’t picked up yet.
- Drop It: Teaches the puppy to release an item already in their mouth.
Trade them a high-value treat for the object so they don’t develop resource guarding.
4 to 6 Months: Proofing and Consistency
Your puppy is entering the pre-adolescent phase. You may notice they start “forgetting” commands they knew perfectly last week. This is normal. You must become more stubborn than they are.
Proofing Behaviors
“Proofing” means practicing known commands in difficult environments. Your puppy might sit perfectly in the kitchen, but can they sit at the park with a squirrel nearby? Gradually increase the “Three Ds”:
- Distance: Ask for commands from further away.
- Duration: Make them hold a “stay” for longer periods.
- Distraction: Practice commands while other people or dogs are nearby.
Public Manners
Take your puppy to dog-friendly stores or patios. Practice “settle” (lying down calmly) while you browse or sit. This teaches them that going out doesn’t always meant party time; sometimes it means being a calm observer.
6 Months to 1 Year: Adolescence and Maintenance
Welcome to the teenage phase. Hormonal changes occur, and your dog may test boundaries. Reliability is your goal here.
Reinforcing Structure
If behavior regresses (potty accidents, chewing), go back to basics immediately. Restrict their freedom in the house again if necessary. Do not assume they are being spiteful; they are just navigating a developmental leap.
Advanced Activities
Now that their joints are developing further and their attention span is longer, you can introduce more complex activities to burn off energy. This is a great time to start:
- Agility foundations (low impact only).
- Scent work or hide-and-seek games.
- Advanced trick training (roll over, spin, play dead).
Training is never truly “finished.” By following this schedule, you lay a foundation that lasts a lifetime, but you must maintain these standards. Consistency is the secret sauce. If you stick to the plan, you successfully transition your puppy from a chaotic bundle of fur into a respectful, reliable companion.