Congratulations on bringing home a new member – your new puppy! Considered to be the most loyal of all the pets known to man, you must train your pet from a young age. This will play a significant role in ensuring that your puppy turns out to be a well-groomed dog, not one that is disobedient and throws tantrums at the slightest pretext. You start training as early as 8 to 16 weeks old. Our comprehensive guide on when to start a puppy training schedule will provide you with all the necessary information regarding the dos and don’ts.
A detailed puppy training schedule by age:
Following a routine and detailed schedule for your puppy’s training is crucial for its well-being and behavior. Like humans, puppies tend to thrive when they have a routine as part of their daily lives. They know what to expect and how to behave. The routine tasks will make your puppy more confident about his abilities and experiences. With time, this confidence will develop a sense of obedience in your dog. We have explained in detail what you need to do and the training you need to impart so your puppy becomes a responsible dog.
Week 1 to 2:
Most people adopt a puppy between 8 and 16 weeks of age. During this time, it is essential to introduce the puppy to the basics so that they can respond when you call out their name and develop good manners and basic commands. This is the right time to introduce your puppy to socialization and get acquainted with a daily timetable – when they need to eat, play, undergo training sessions, potty breaks, and nap times. Potty training is essential during this time because you don’t want your dog to poop anywhere. Teach your dog where to poop and when to poop.
The primary training focus should be on the following:
- Teach them how to follow basic commands like “sit’, “come,” “stand,” “fetch,” and so on. You can use food items to lure them while teaching this.
- You must introduce the puppy to the rest of the family members and your close friends. This will prevent your puppy from becoming aggressive or developing a sense of fear.
- Provide them with chew toys so that you can redirect their chewing habits. Since they will be teething now, they will be urged to chew any object they encounter.
- Inculcate potty training so that they know that they are not allowed to poop inside the house.
- Take your puppy for a walk so that he gets introduced to different sights and sounds. This will help to lower his anxiety and develop a sense of belonging.
Note: Do not make the mistake of punishing your puppy if he is not following your instructions. Keep in mind that they are puppies and that they lack proper training. In the first few days, they will make mistakes. It would help if you were not harsh with them. Give your puppy sufficient time to develop good habits.
Week 3 to 4:
After the first two weeks of training, you need to expand the basic commands you teach your puppy. You should continue with “sit, “come,” “stand,” and “and fetch” and add other commands like “stay” and “down.” You must reinforce these commands regularly so that your furry friend will know what he is expected to do and follow them diligently.
This is the correct age to train your puppy to walk on a leash. Whenever you go out for a walk with your pet, put him on a leash. Make sure that the leash is neither too tight nor too loose. Let him get accustomed to it so that he can walk with the feeling of it around his neck.
Since this is a growing age, many puppies tend to bite during this time. And when they bite, they don’t know how much pressure to use and whether they hurt the human. You need to start with bite inhibition training so your pet can control the force of his bites. This training helps to prevent unnecessary injuries. If your pet bites too hard, you should immediately make noises like “ouch” or “no” so that they stop what they are doing. Once you do this a few times, the pets will become cautious and avoid doing it.
The primary training focus should be on the following:
- Incorporating basic commands as part of the training.
- Introduce leash training so that your pet does not run in the opposite direction when you step out for a walk with him.
- Train bite inhibition so that your puppy does not bite someone while they are playing with him.
Week 5 to 6
Continue with the basic commands and add more instructions like “leave it,” “stop,” and so on. It would help if you taught good manners at this stage. Puppies tend to be excited and often jump on others without the intention of hurting them. However, the opposite person may not like this. So, it would help if you taught your pet not to jump on others or end up in excessive barking. Your pet becomes well-behaved and obedient when you train them in good manners. Remember that positive reinforcement is the key when it comes to quality training. If required, praise your dog with treats and attention when they behave well.
The primary training focus should be on the following:
- Continuation of the basic command’s training.
- Incorporating new command words.
- Training your pet to behave well and become obedient.
Week 7 to 8
It will be two months since you started with the puppy training sessions. Your pet has now learned to follow the basic commands and instructions. And since you have been reinforcing them for quite some time, your pet knows that following the instructions means getting treats and attention. Continue with this process. At the same time, you must build on the leash training you carried out when your pet was 3 to 4 weeks old. Take your puppy to public places like the neighborhood café or park and introduce him to others there. Let him adjust to the changed surroundings so that he does not feel out of place or start to act aggressively.
The primary training focus should be on the following:
- Reinforcing basic commands.
- Advanced lease training where you take him to parks and neighborhood cafes.
- Introduce your dog to other people in public places.
Week 9 to 10:
As your pet becomes more active and agile, it is important that you introduce him to quality agility training. This includes various physical activities to develop his balance, coordination, and mental focus. For example, introduce games that involve jumping over hurdles, weaving through poles, or navigating through tunnels. Each of these activities is fun and a great form of exercise. Your pet is sure to love them.
The primary training focus should be on the following:
- Agility training to improve his balance and coordination.
- Introduction to different games to deal with different situations and distractions in a better manner.
Week 11 to 12:
During this period, you need to build on the agility training that you have already introduced. Make the activities difficult so that they challenge your pup’s development skills. This will also increase your pet’s mental strength, agility, coordination, and physical fitness.
Follow it up with trick training, but make it fun and interesting. For example, shake hands with your pup, train him to roll over, or spin around using positive reinforcement techniques. You should also incorporate problem-solving skills as part of the training. Why don’t you hide his favorite toys and ask him to search for them? This is a great way to prevent boredom during the training process.
The primary training focus should be on the following:
- Build on the agility training by incorporating new exercises.
- Start with trick training so that your pup develops new skills.
- Follow it up with problem-solving skills.
Week 13 to 14:
At this juncture, it is essential to understand that both your pup and you have come a long way since you started with his training. This is excellent news! By now, your pet has learned to follow basic commands, can walk with a leash on, has developed agility skills, and can easily mingle with people without getting aggressive. This is the perfect time to start with obedience competition training. Here, you will teach your pup to perform commands in a competitive setting. This will help you analyze his focus, precision, and obedience level. Moreover, it will strengthen the bond between you and your pup.
The primary training focus should be on the following:
- Basic obedience competition training.
- Completion of agility training.
- Incorporation of advanced trick training sessions.
Week 15 to 16:
You are nearing the end of your puppy training sessions, and hence, you should review all the skills you have taught so far. This is the right time to analyze what skills your pet has picked up and which areas you need to work more to improve your pet’s skills and incorporate advanced obedience competition training. Make sure to focus on precision and accuracy so your pup can hone his skills in the best way possible.
The primary training focus should be on the following:
- Analyze all that you have taught your pup so far.
- Make a list of the skills and behaviors that you need to work on.
- Build up on the obedience and competition training.
Training your puppy from an early age is essential to their growth and development:
When it comes to your puppy’s growth and development, it is essential to incorporate training from an early stage. You need to be patient and consistent in your approach and should review your pet’s performance from time to time so that you know how he is performing and what areas you need to work on.
Summing it up:
Your furry friend will live with you for the rest of his life. Don’t you want your best friend to have all the best qualities? This is only possible when you incorporate the necessary training sessions. What are you waiting for? Get started right away. Contact a reliable service provider who will train and teach your dog all the essential skills and mannerisms to grow and develop as desired.
