Your 8 week old puppy can start learning today. Not sit and down drills, but the real stuff: their name, where to potty, how to rest alone, and that hands and people are good news.
I have trained dogs in Salt Lake City for about 18 years. The first two weeks home set the tone for the next ten years. Here is what I work on first, in the order I do it.
Your puppy just left their mom and littermates. They sleep a lot, around 18 hours a day. They have a bladder the size of a walnut and an attention span to match.
So keep it short and happy. Three to five minutes of work, then a nap. You are not running a class. You are showing your puppy how life works here.
Say the name once in a happy voice. The second your puppy looks, mark it with a word like yes and pay with a treat or a bit of play. Do this ten times a day, all over the house. Never use their name to scold.
Out first thing, after every nap, after every meal, after every play session, and right before bed. Go with them, stay boring, then throw a party when they go. Watch for the sniff and circle. Common slip ups are in my post on puppy potty training mistakes.
Feed meals in the crate with the door open. Add short naps with the door closed. Most pups settle fast when you stay steady. My full plan is here: how to crate train a puppy.
Touch paws, ears, mouth, collar, and tail for a second at a time, then treat. Do this every day. Your vet and groomer will thank you, and so will you the first time you pull a foxtail out of a paw.
Your 8 week old puppy will bite you. That is normal, and it is how they learn to use their mouth. What matters is what you do next.
Keep a toy in reach and trade for it. If the teeth stay on skin, end the fun for a moment and go quiet. No yelling, no thumping the nose. My whole approach is here: how to stop puppy biting and nipping.
Do not wait to start showing your puppy the world, but do it the calm way. Carry them, sit on a bench, let them watch traffic and people from a distance. The goal is a puppy who sees new things and shrugs.
Ask your vet what is safe before shots are done, then ask your trainer how to use those weeks well. Skip the dog park, and skip the crowd of strangers reaching for your pup.
Do not expect a dry night every night, a puppy who ignores a dropped french fry, or a solid stay while you walk away. That comes later, with practice.
Do expect fast wins on name, crate, and potty when you are consistent. Owners who start with a trainer in these first weeks usually get there in days, not months, because the timing is right from the first rep.
We are a school, not a boot camp. We show you and your puppy how to work as a team, with play, connection, and impulse control. Everything above is part of our puppy training program.
We also stand behind our work with the Dependable Dog Guarantee: “All pups who train with us will reach their goal or we will add additional sessions FREE until the pup is finished.”
New puppy in the house? Read your first 30 days with a new puppy next. When you want help, book a free training session or call us at 801-516-4012.
Three to five minutes, a few times a day. Stop while your puppy still wants more.
About every hour while awake, plus after every nap, meal, and play session. Set a timer if you need to.
No. Your puppy is learning either way. You are just deciding what they learn.
Both. Food is easy and fast. Play builds the bond and works better once your puppy is excited. Use what your puppy wants in that moment.
Start with short leash work at home and in your yard. Ask your vet when it is safe to walk in public where you live, and ask your trainer how to build up.
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