Brown short coated puppy dog, retriever breed, lying on a blue, white, and pink textile

Welcoming a puppy into your home is an exciting adventure, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. To ensure your puppy grows into a well-adjusted, happy, and obedient adult dog, it’s essential to teach them the basics. From house training to fundamental commands, and socialization, laying the right foundation from the beginning can make all the difference for your puppy.

House Training: Establishing Good Habits Early

House training is one of the first and most important steps in raising a well-behaved puppy. Start with crate training, which provides your puppy with a safe, secure space and helps with both housebreaking and preventing destructive behavior. Make the crate a positive place with toys and treats and avoid using it as punishment.

It’s also important to establish a regular potty routine by taking your puppy outside at consistent times, such as after meals, naps, and playtime. Praise and reward your puppy for doing their business outdoors.

For chewing and biting, provide appropriate chew toys to redirect their natural instincts. Puppies chew to explore and relieve teething discomfort, so it’s important to give them acceptable alternatives. If your puppy starts chewing on furniture or other items, gently redirect them to a toy and use deterrents like bitter sprays if necessary.

Basic Commands: Essential for Communication

Teaching your puppy basic commands is vital for effective communication and creating a well-behaved dog. Start with key commands such as sit, stay, come, down, leave it, and heel. These simple commands can help you manage your puppy’s behavior, ensuring they follow instructions for safety and good manners.

Positive reinforcement is the most effective training method—reward your puppy with treats, praise, or toys when they listen. Consistency is important, so practice commands regularly and use the same words or gestures to ensure they understand what’s expected. The earlier you start, the easier it will be for your puppy to learn and retain these skills.

READ MORE: How to Educate Your Puppy in Their First Few Months 

Socialization: Building a Confident Puppy

Socialization is crucial for raising a well-adjusted puppy. Exposing them to different people, environments, and other animals helps them develop confidence and reduces fear or aggression. Start socializing your puppy as early as 8 weeks old and aim for a variety of experiences—visits to the park, meeting other dogs, and encountering different sounds, smells, and textures. Positive interactions will help your puppy form good associations with new experiences. If they are shy or fearful, take things slow and use treats and praise to reward calm behavior. Remember, early socialization can help prevent behavioral problems down the road, making it a key step in raising a happy, confident dog.

Bringing your pup to Dogtopia daycare is a great way to accelerate their socialization. At Dogtopia, your pup will have the opportunity to interact with a variety of other dogs in a safe, controlled, and fun environment. Our daycares provide supervised playtime, helping your puppy build confidence, learn proper manners, and get comfortable around other dogs and people. Find a Dogtopia near you and bring your pup in for their Meet & Greet!