Puppy Beef Jerky Training Treat

There are many aspects of puppy training that can start from the very beginning, including toilet training and sleep/crate training. When it comes to obedience training, one of the first things you can teach your new pup is their name! Not only does it set you up for successful training, but it provides ample opportunity to bond with your new furry pal. To learn how to teach your puppy their name, be sure to check out our training video from expert trainer, Jon.

Successful puppy training takes a lot of patience, consistency and - time! The length of your puppy's training will rely on your puppy, their capability and of course, your dedication to training. Setting up a solid training schedule prior to your puppy coming home is key, as well as sticking to it - and not feeling disheartened if the penny doesn't immediately drop. When it comes to obedience training, most puppies will be accustomed to the basics by 6 months old.

Puppies are able to safely go outside on walks about 7-10 days after their last round of vaccinations. This should be at around 12 weeks of age. That said, lead training can start well before this! To get your puppy accustomed to the lead, the harness and a collar, you can start lead training indoors or in your garden. When they're ready, this can continue outdoors in the big wide world.

Your puppy's nutrition should be focused around their main meals, but treats are always a must - especially when it comes to training! However, you should always consider how many treats you're feeding your puppy. Generally, the 10% rule applies - for example, if your puppy weighs 4kg, you’ll be looking at an intake of around 200 calories a day, 20 of which should come from treats. For more information, explore our article: 'How many treats per day can my dog have?'

Toilet training is one of the most important things you can teach your puppy, and can be taught from the get-go. Some people choose to use puppy training pads in the early days of toilet training, but others find this counterproductive. You can try and put the training pads outside if this is what your puppy's accustomed to, as the main aim is to get them used to peeing and pooping in their designated area - not inside the house! For further advice, check out our expert training video: ' How to toilet train a puppy '.

When it comes to puppy training, the younger the puppy is when you start, the better! Between 8-16 weeks old (the age a puppy should be when they come home with you), their little mind is like a sponge. This will make training a lot easier and it shouldn't take long for them to pick things up. Can't teach an old dog new tricks? Not necessarily. It'll just take a little more time and patience, so it's advised to start as early as possible.

Biting is a natural instinct for puppies and cannot completely be avoided. However, you can train puppies to redirect their biting, mouthing and nipping to dog toys and help avoid extensive, destructive chewing. Like any training, you can help puppies stop biting with dedicated training, using lots of patience and of course - treats! For more guidance on helping your puppy to stop biting, be sure to check out our ' How to discipline a puppy ' blog post.

Sleep/crate training is one of the harder forms of puppy training and takes a lot of determination. Part of crate training does include not tending to your puppy when they're crying or whining for attention, however this should always be approached with caution. If your puppy's getting too stressed when on their own, or not settling down, you should approach them to calm them down - but ensure you're not making too much of a fuss. Explore our how-to article to learn more about crate/sleep training for your pup.

Starting training from the get-go is always encouraged with pups, as the earlier you start, the easier it'll be and the quicker they'll learn! However, you should also consider the amount of training you're doing at one time. After all, puppies are still growing and developing and can only take so much exertion. Younger puppies should do no more than 15 minutes of training a day, but this can be gradually increased as they get older. If you'd like to know about avoiding over-exercising your puppy, be sure to check out our how-to article.