The first four months of a puppy's life shape the dog they become. Your job in this window isn't obedience drills — it's showing your puppy that the world is safe, that you're worth listening to, and that good choices pay off. Everything in this guide follows one rule: reward what you want, gently prevent what you don't.
Start with socialisation (8–16 weeks)
Socialisation is the single most important thing you'll do. Between 8 and 16 weeks, your puppy's brain is wired to decide what's normal and what's scary. Aim for one or two new, positive experiences every day.
- New people: children, men with hats and beards, wheelchairs, uniforms.
- New sounds: traffic, hairdryers, thunder recordings played softly.
- New surfaces: grass, tiles, gravel, wooden decks, wobbly cushions.
- Calm, vaccinated adult dogs — never chaotic dog parks.
- Handling: paws, ears, mouth, tail. Pair every touch with a treat.
If your puppy freezes, tucks their tail, or turns away — you're too close or too loud. Increase distance, lower intensity, reward calm looking, then leave on a good note.
Positive reinforcement, in one page
Dogs repeat what works. Catch your puppy doing something right and mark it instantly with a happy "yes!" followed by a small, soft treat within three seconds.
- Timing beats treats. A late reward teaches the wrong behaviour.
- Small treats, many reps. Pea-sized, 30–50 per short session.
- Never punish fear. Growling, hiding or snapping is information — respond by removing the trigger, not the puppy.
- Manage the environment. Baby gates, pens and leads prevent rehearsing bad habits.
House training that actually works
Puppies toilet after four predictable moments: waking, eating, playing and drinking. Take them out every time.
- Carry or lead your puppy to the same spot outside.
- Stand still and wait quietly — no play, no chatter.
- The moment they finish, celebrate: "yes!" + treat + gentle praise.
- Then a short play or sniff walk as a bonus reward.
- Accidents inside? Interrupt calmly, take them out, clean with an enzyme cleaner. Never rub their nose in it — it teaches fear, not cleanliness.
The first five commands
1. Name recognition
Say your puppy's name once. When they look at you, mark and reward. Practise 20 times a day in different rooms. Never say the name to scold.
2. Sit
Hold a treat at the puppy's nose and slowly lift it back over their head. As their bottom touches the floor, mark and reward. Add the word "sit" only once they're doing it reliably.
3. Down
From a sit, lower a treat between the puppy's front paws and out slightly. As their elbows touch the ground, mark and reward.
4. Recall (come)
In a quiet room, crouch, open your arms and call the puppy's name in a happy voice. When they arrive, reward for at least three seconds. Never call your puppy for anything they dislike.
5. Loose-lead walking
Start indoors. Every time the lead is slack, mark and reward. If the puppy pulls, stop and wait — the walk only continues when the lead loosens. Slow, calm, boring for the puppy = fast progress for you.
A gentle daily routine
Puppies need roughly 18–20 hours of sleep. A tired-but-underslept puppy looks like a wild puppy. Try this rhythm:
- Wake → toilet → breakfast → toilet → 10 min training/play → nap (1–2 hrs)
- Repeat through the day: short bursts of activity, longer naps in between.
- Two 5-minute training sessions beat one 30-minute session, every time.
- End every session on a win, even if you have to make it easy.
Common mistakes to skip
- Repeating a command your puppy doesn't know yet — teach the behaviour first, name it later.
- Using the lead as a correction tool. It's a safety line, not a punishment.
- Dog parks before 6 months — one bad experience can undo months of socialisation.
- Comparing your puppy to a friend's. Every puppy learns at their own pace.
Train with us in Durban
Our Saturday puppy classes take everything in this guide and put it into practice with experienced instructors, calm playmates, and a supportive club that welcomes every breed. Puppies can start from 8 weeks with their first inoculation.