Starting early makes puppy training feel easier later. A puppy under six months is curious, quick to learn, and still forming habits about your home, your hands, and the outside world. The goal is not strict “obedience” right away. It’s building simple routines, clear cues, and calm ways to handle everyday life. You’ll teach your puppy how to earn rewards, where to go to the bathroom, how to settle, and how to stay relaxed around people and sounds. You don’t need fancy gear, just time, treats, and patience. In this article, you’ll learn what to teach first, how to keep sessions short, and how to handle mistakes calmly. The focus is simple: set your puppy up to succeed, then reward choices that build calm.
Start With Routines Before Formal Training Begins
If you feel stuck, start with your day, not your dog. Puppies learn fastest when life is predictable. Pick a simple schedule for waking up, bathroom trips, meals, play, naps, and short practice breaks. A routine reduces accidents and helps your puppy relax because they know what comes next. Use the same door for potty trips, feed in the same spot, and keep water access consistent.
Simple daily anchors:
Potty right after waking, and after naps
Potty after eating and after play
A safe “rest area” when you can’t watch
A calm “done” moment after play (toy away, then a chew)
Here’s the technical bit: habits form through repetition and reward. When the same good choices keep paying off, they become your puppy’s default. That’s why a steady schedule beats random long sessions.
Use Rewards And Timing To Teach Fast
Puppies repeat what works. Reward the behaviors you want, and you’ll see more of them. Timing matters most: reward right as the good behavior happens, not seconds later. A small piece of food is often the easiest reward, because it’s quick and clear. Use a short marker word like “yes” to tell your puppy, “That earned the reward.” Say “yes” the instant your puppy sits, looks at you, or comes toward you, then give the treat.
Quick setup: keep treats in a pocket or jar so you can pay on time. Start with a few core skills: name response, sit, hand target (touching your hand with their nose), and coming when called in the house. Keep cue words consistent, and reward only what you meant to ask for. Clear signals speed learning.
House Training Basics That Prevent Future Messes
House training is mostly management, not luck. The rule is simple: if you can’t watch your puppy, limit their space. A crate or puppy pen helps because most puppies avoid soiling their sleeping area. Take your puppy outside often enough that they can succeed. When you go outside, stand still and quiet, so your puppy focuses on the task. The moment they finish, reward, then give a short bit of freedom, like a calm sniff. This teaches, “Potty happens outdoors, and good things follow.”
Watch for early signs:
sniffing the floor in a tight pattern
circling
Suddenly wandering away from you
heading toward a past accident spot
If an accident happens, clean it well and move on. Don’t punish. Punishment can teach your puppy to hide, not to hold it. Tighten your routine and supervision so your puppy gets more chances to be right.
Early Crate And Alone Time Without Stress
A crate is a safe bedroom that helps with sleep, house training, and teaching your puppy to settle. Start with the door open. Toss a treat inside, let your puppy walk in, and let them walk out. Repeat until the crate feels normal. Then feed a meal inside the crate, and close the door for a short moment while your puppy eats. Build calm by offering a chew while your puppy rests.
Helpful crate habits:
Open the door during a quiet moment, not while barking
Keep the crate in a low-traffic spot for naps
Pair the crate with calm rewards (chews, stuffed toys)
Alone time is also a skill. Practice tiny absences: step into the next room, come back, and reward calm. Slowly lengthen the gap. If your puppy struggles, shorten the time and build up again.
Social Skills With People, Dogs, And Places
Social learning happens every day, whether you plan it or not. Your job is to make early experiences safe and positive. Start with calm, friendly people who will not crowd your puppy. Let your puppy approach at their own pace. Reward calm behavior like looking at the person, soft body posture, and four paws on the floor. For other dogs, choose healthy, steady dogs with good manners. Skip chaotic dog parks where rough play and bullying can happen.
Try the “look and treat” game: when your puppy notices a new person, dog, bike, or loud truck, say “yes” and treat while the thing is still at a comfortable distance. If your puppy freezes, tucks their tail, or won’t take treats, you’re too close. Increase distance and reward calm watching. This protects confidence while your puppy learns the world.
Handling, Grooming, And Vet Practice At Home
Many adult issues start with touch. Teach your puppy that hands predict comfort and rewards. Begin with gentle, brief handling: touch an ear, say “yes,” reward, then stop. Touch a paw, “yes,” reward, then stop. Open the mouth for a second, reward, then stop. Over time, you can build longer handling, light brushing, towel rubs, and practice with nail tools.
Mini practice plan:
One new body area per session
Pair tools (brush, clippers) with treats before using them
Keep your puppy on a non-slip surface for safety
Stop before your puppy gets wiggly or annoyed
You can also teach a simple consent cue, like a chin rest on your hand, so your puppy can opt in to handling. This is cooperative care. You’re teaching your puppy to stay calm and relaxed, which makes real vet visits easier.
Stop Jumping, Biting, And Pulling Early Gently
Puppies jump, bite, and pull because it works and it feels fun. Your job is to show better ways to get what they want. For jumping, reward four paws on the floor. If your puppy jumps, turn away and become boring for a moment, then reward as soon as paws return to the ground. For biting, keep toys within reach and redirect to a chew or tug toy. If teeth touch skin, end play briefly and step away. That short pause teaches that rough teeth make fun stop.
For leash pulling, reward loose leash moments. When the leash stays slack, your puppy gets to keep moving and sniffing. If they hit the end of the leash, stop. The moment the leash loosens, move again.
Helpful habits to start now:
Calm greetings before petting happens
Daily chew time for teething relief
“Drop” by trading toys for treats
Small habits now help prevent bigger problems later.
Your Puppy’s First Lessons Set The Tone
Training under six months is about trust and clear daily habits, not perfection. Short practice, good timing, and smart management will carry you far. If you want support that fits your puppy and your home, Kelev K9 offers dog training and owner coaching, so you learn exactly what to do between sessions. A few guided sessions can prevent confusion and keep progress steady for everyone. Ready to get started? Contact Kelev K9 today to book puppy training and build a plan you can follow at home from day one.