Puppy Training Guide

Build training around rewards

Puppies learn through repeated associations. Reward the behaviour you want as soon as it occurs, using food, play, praise or another reward the puppy values. Keep sessions short and clear, practise in different safe environments and avoid overwhelming the puppy with too many demands at once.

Socialisation and everyday skills

Good socialisation is more than meeting as many dogs and people as possible. Introduce sights, sounds, surfaces, handling, travel and household routines gradually and positively. Teach useful skills such as name response, recall, settling, loose-lead walking and calm handling. Allow sleep and quiet time because puppies need substantial rest.

Consistency and welfare

Everyone in the household should use similar cues and boundaries. Avoid training methods that rely on fear, pain or intimidation. If behaviour becomes difficult, sudden or unsafe, seek help from a suitably qualified behaviour professional or vet. Training should improve communication and safety rather than suppress normal behaviour. Training also benefits from management: prevent unwanted behaviour where possible, reward calm choices and practise important skills in ordinary household situations. Recall, settling, handling and lead manners are particularly useful life skills. Progress should be gradual, and a puppy should not be expected to cope with situations that are too difficult too quickly.