Just over a year ago, I brought home my brand-new Border Collie puppy, Hamish. Upon reflecting on the last 12 months, and particularly the crazy first few months of puppyhood, it sure has been a wild ride. We did some things right, I made some mistakes, and I learned a lot.  

As a new puppy owner, it can be easy to fall into the trap of allowing your little furry family member to get away with naughty behavior. However, it is important to have fun with your puppy while also setting boundaries and training life skills. Remember, you will be living with this dog from puppyhood all through their senior years. As a dog trainer who recently raised a crazy puppy to adulthood (or at least his teenage years), I feel confident advising the 6 best things to do with your new puppy!

Clicker Training

A clicker is a training tool used by positive reinforcement trainers. These little tiny noise makers are used to mark and reward behaviors you want from your puppy or dog. Basically, you focus on the good behaviors and click when they do something you want, followed by a food reward. Think of it like taking a picture of good behavior. You ask them to sit, and click right when their butt hits the ground. This science-based training technique teaches your puppy to actively figure out the behavior you want rather than develop bad behaviors.

However, before you start clicker training your new puppy, you need to charge, or load, the clicker. This teaches them that when they hear the click, they get a yummy food reward. Have about 10 soft treats, and click and immediately give them a treat. Repeat a few times until they get the hang of it. To learn more about clicker training and general training, please find a trusted dog trainer to help you through the process.

Teach Them Their Name

What behavior do you expect of your puppy when you say their name? To look at you, come to you, or distract them? Whatever behavior you want, it is important to teach your new puppy that there is value to their name.

Kind of like the clicker, you can teach this behavior by “charging” their name. Have 10 treats, say their name and immediately put food in their mouth. Repeat the game with the rest of the treats. This trains them to acknowledge you when you say their name.

If your puppy learns this game quickly, you can certainly make it harder and use the clicker. First, throw a treat on the ground. As they go to get it, say their name. When they turn around to look at you, click to mark the behavior, and toss another treat. Repeat 9 or 10 times to help them learn their name.

Recall

Once your puppy has mastered their name, you can quickly progress to recall. Arguably, recall might be one of the most important behaviors for your new best friend to learn. It is important to be able to call them back to you whether they are chasing something or you need to come inside from the yard.

Like the second part of the name game, you will toss a treat for your dog to go chase. As they go for it, call their name. When they look at you, you are going to say “come!” and move away from them. By moving away from your puppy, you are engaging their natural instinct to chase. If you are using a clicker, mark the behavior when they start moving towards you. Let them catch up to you and give them a treat from your hand. Then toss another treat and repeat the exercise about 10 times.

Crate Training

Crate training is another important life skill for any dog. Small puppies are notorious for getting into trouble, and most pet parents cannot be home all the time to keep an eye on them. A crate keeps your puppy safe and keeps them from destroying your house. Remember, they are still learning how to function as a family member and will need help and management!

Many dog owners might end up not using the crate as their dog grows up and matures. That does not mean they should not learn how to be happy in the crate. If your puppy ever needs to travel, be boarded, or have to stay at the veterinarian for either a regular or emergency procedure, the experience will be much less stressful for them if they already have positive experiences in the crate. For an in-depth crate training guide, check out this article on the Doggy Mobile Apps blog!

Potty Training

Potty training is probably the first training hurdle new puppy owners tackle. While accidents are bound to happen, with consistency and patience, your puppy can be housebroken in no time!

Puppies need to use the bathroom a lot! I recommend taking them out every couple of hours during the day, as well as immediately after they eat and drink water. Crate training also helps potty train. As soon as they come out of the crate, immediately take them outside to use the bathroom, creating a pattern. By ignoring accidents in the house but celebrating going outside, your puppy will quickly understand what behavior is better!

New puppy parents can definitely use the clicker to aid potty training. As your puppy finishes their business, click and give them a treat! Eventually, you can fade out the food reward as they generalize doing their business outside.

Socialization

Socializing your puppy is crucial to their development and learning to handle stressors in their environment. New people, sounds, or other animals are potential triggers that can cause anxiety, fearfulness, or reactivity, leading to major behavioral challenges later in life for your puppy.

However, by slowly and positively exposing your puppy to new things and environments, you can help create a laid-back, emotionally confident adult dog. Some places, like dog parks, might not be safe for a puppy who has not had all their vaccines, but you can certainly carry them around local pet-friendly shops or join a puppy class. Talk to your veterinarian or dog trainer for advice on the best local spots to socialize your new puppy!

Final Thoughts

Raising a puppy is an exciting adventure filled with challenges, learning, and plenty of memorable moments. From teaching basic skills like their name and recall to crate training, potty training, and socialization, the lessons you teach early can help shape a confident, well-mannered family member. Remember that puppies are still learning about the world, so patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement are key. Most importantly, make time to play with and enjoy your puppy while building your relationship. Those tiny puppy moments may sometimes feel exhausting, but they pass quickly. With the right balance of training, boundaries, and fun, you can set your new best friend up for a happy life.