Puppy Training - The First 8 Weeks at Home

The first two months at home with a new puppy set the pattern for your dog's whole life. Here is a week-by-week plan for house training, socialisation, biting, and the first commands, using a gentle approach.

Bringing a puppy home is one of the most joyful things you'll ever do - and one of the most challenging, in a good way. The first eight weeks set the pattern for everything that follows - how they learn to be clean, how they feel about the world, and the relationship they build with you.

Here is a gentle, week-by-week plan that gets you and your puppy off to the right start - no punishment, no stress, just consistent, kind training.

Week 1 - Settle in and set up the routine

The first week is about introducing calm and routine, not training as yet. Your puppy has just left the comfort of everything they knew, let's give them time to adjust.

Set up a safe space. A crate, or a quiet corner with a bed gives them somewhere to retreat to. Crates, used properly, become a den - never a punishment place.
Begin a schedule. Puppies thrive on routine. Food at the same times, toilet breaks at the same intervals, bed at the same time. The schedule is the foundation of house training.
Keep it boring at first. Too many visitors and new places in week one overwhelms a baby dog. Let them explore the house calmly and meet the family gradually..

House training (start now, but be patient)

House training is the thing most owners stress about - and it's mostly about timing.

Take them out on a schedule - first thing in the morning, after every meal, after every nap, after play, and before bed. That's roughly every 2-3 hours at this age.
Use a cue word ("toilet" or "hurry up") as they go, then praise warmly and give them a treat.
Watch for the signs - sniffing, circling, heading to the door - and hurry them outside if needed.
Never punish accidents. At this age, they physically can't hold it all in! Clean up silently, and remember - every accident is a missed opportunity to take them out, not a misbehaviour.

Weeks 2-3 - Name, "sit," and gentle handling

Once they're settled, start out with the basics.

Teach them their name by saying it happily and treating every time they look at you.
Start "sit" with the treat-over-the-nose method from our positive reinforcement guide.
Handle them gently every day - touch paws, ears, and mouth. Brush them, lift them up for cuddles. Puppies who learn handling feel safe and grow into dogs who let you clip nails and check teeth.

Weeks 3-8 - Socialisation

This is probably the most important window in your puppy's life - roughly weeks 3 to 16, when they are most open to new experiences. What they learn now shapes whether they're confident or fearful as adult dogs.

Introduce safe people - friends, children who know how to behave, people in hats and glasses and wheelchairs. Always positive, always short.
Introduce sounds - vacuum, doorbell, traffic, quietly at first, paired with treats.
Introduce surfaces and places - grass, pavement, stairs, car rides, all short, happy trips.
Meet other dogs - after their second vaccination (ask your vet), set up play dates with calm, vaccinated dogs. If they can't go out yet, carry them so they can watch the world safely.
Never force it. If your puppy is nervous, back off and go slower. One scary experience can undo ten good ones.

Puppy biting (the part everyone asks about)

Puppies explore with their mouths - it's normal, and it passes if you handle it in the correct manner.

Redirect. The instant teeth touch you, offer a chew toy instead and praise the toy.
Stop the play. If they bite during play, say "ouch!" calmly and walk away for 30 seconds. They learn biting ends the fun.
Never rough-house with your hands. Hands are for stroking, toys are for tugging.
Be consistent. It takes weeks, but a puppy who learns "teeth on skin = no fun" grows into a dog with a soft mouth.

Weeks 4-8 - The first real commands

Build on the basics with the commands that matter for safety and everyday life.

"Come" - the most important command your dog will learn. Play the "puppy ping-pong" game - 2 people call the puppy back and forth, rewarding every arrival. Never call them for something bad (like bath time) - coming to you must always feel good.
"Leave it" - hold a treat in a closed fist. When they stop sniffing it, mark and reward with a different treat.
Loose-leash basics - stop when they pull, move when the lead is loose. A few minutes a day is plenty at this puppy age.
Alone time - leave them in their safe space for short periods so they learn being alone is fine. This is the foundation of preventing separation anxiety.

What NOT to do in the first 8 weeks

No punishment. Never shout, hit, or rub their nose in anything. It frightens puppies and teaches them nothing except to fear you.
No overwhelming. One new thing at a time, short and sweet.
No "wait until they're older." Socialisation and habits are being formed now. The gentle work you do this month prevents months of fixing later.
Don't skip the vet. Vaccinations, worming, and a health check in this window protect them, and get the all-clear for socialisation.

The takeaways

The first 8weeks are pretty intense - you'll be tired, and the house-training and biting phases can feel endless. But every kind, consistent interaction is building a confident, well-mannered dog. Do the routine, embrace the chaos, and remember - the puppy you invest in now becomes the dog you live with for the next decade and more. It's one of the best investments you'll ever make.

Once the basics are in place, teach the 10 essential commands - and make sure you're using positive reinforcement all the way.