Puppy Training Schedule By Age

Training your puppy can be a great way to provide stimulation and teach your puppy good behavior at a young age. Obedience training and socializing can help you teach your puppy how to behave in various situations they may encounter, so you can more confidently take your dog to friends’ houses, parks, or anywhere else.

While training can be great for puppies, experts recommend following a puppy training schedule by age to make sure you’re teaching your puppy the appropriate stuff at the appropriate time. Teaching certain behaviors at certain ages is crucial, and your puppy may have a hard time learning certain tricks and behaviors early on. A puppy training schedule makes it easy to stick to an effective training program.

If you want to train your puppy to behave better and follow basic dog commands, now is the time to figure out your puppy training schedule. In this guide, we’ll talk about what training should entail at various ages, as well as some other basic tips about dog training. Keep reading to learn more about how a puppy training schedule can help you train your pup.

• 8-10 Weeks
• 10-12 Weeks
• 3-6 Months
• 6 Months - 1 Year
• What Are The Benefits Of Training A Puppy?
• Puppy Training Schedule: FAQs
• Final Notes

8-10 Weeks 

When your puppy is 8 to 10 weeks old, you can get started with basic obedience training and leash training. Keep in mind that your puppy is still very young at this stage, so you might have a hard time getting them to stay focused for long periods of time. Shorter training sessions are typically more effective, so don’t worry if your puppy is getting distracted easily.

It’s also important to socialize your puppy when they’re young, that way you can get them used to being around other people and dogs early on. Early socialization can help prevent your dog from barking and displaying reactive behavior when you’re in public, whether that’s a dog park or a beach.

One of the best things you can do for your puppy at this age is to introduce them to new environments. You want your puppy to get used to going to the vet, walking around your neighborhood, visiting the park, and behaving in new homes. If you get a chance, try to take your puppy with you when you go places that allow for it, that way they don’t have anxiety or behavioral issues when they’re away from home. And don’t forget to bring treats and toys to make it a positive social experience.

10-12 Weeks

While house training should begin immediately, your 10-12 week-old puppy should be starting to have more success with potty time. House training is simply teaching your puppy to go outside when they need to go to the bathroom. As simple as this might sound, this is one of the most crucial parts of the puppy training schedule.

You should try to make a schedule for when you let your puppy outside to use the bathroom. You can start by taking your puppy outside first thing in the morning and just before bed, but you should also take them out after a nap, after crate time, after eating and drinking, and after playtime. When starting housetraining, you should take your puppy out once per hour.

During this stage of the puppy training schedule, you can also begin teaching your dog to use their crate, which will be a crucial part of training later on.

3-6 Months

Once your dog is 3 to 6 months old, you should continue with house training and start to add more advanced training. By this point in the puppy training schedule, your puppy is old enough to learn how to play, spend time alone, and control their impulses.

At this point in the puppy training schedule, you should also make sure your puppy is spending time around other dogs and people. However, you need to teach your puppy to play gently and politely — which you can do by reinforcing positive behavior when you play. You don’t want your dog to bite or become aggressive when dealing with toys.

Now that you can teach your dog some new skills, you can also incorporate things like recall and impulse control. This means teaching your dog basic commands like sit and stay, as well as teaching them to come to your call in a timely manner.

Finally, you can start teaching your puppy how to be alone during this time. Crate training can be an effective way to get your puppy comfortable with being alone, plus it provides them with their own personal space.1

6 Months - 1 Year

When your puppy is 6 months to a year old, it’s important to focus on the mastery of basic behaviors. A regular puppy training schedule at this age can help prevent behavioral issues at a later age. You can also start teaching your puppy more advanced commands at this age since they’re getting a bit older.

When your puppy is at least six months old, you can start teaching them to sit and stay even when distractions are present. This is essential because you’re going to run into situations where you need your dog to listen even though there are distractions nearby. Other advanced commands include coming when called and “drop it” or “leave it.”

What Are The Benefits Of Training A Puppy?

It’s never too late to train your dog, but there are several benefits to training a puppy using a puppy training schedule.

When your puppy is young, it’s easier to teach them basic behavioral skills. Older dogs have spent several years learning behaviors, so it can be more difficult to break those habits. Training your dog when they’re young also gives you a chance to bond with them, which can bring you closer when they’re older.

Dogs who aren’t properly trained may experience anxiety and similar issues, but training your puppy can help prevent these problems. If you need help training your puppy or following a puppy training schedule, you can always reach out to your vet.

Puppy Training Schedule: FAQs

What is an ideal schedule for a puppy?

When it comes to training your puppy, you should start with basic obedience training and socialization. As you progress in the puppy training schedule, you should start house training your dog. You can use crate training in tandem with house training to make sure your dog is comfortable waiting to go to the bathroom until you let them out. Later on, you can work in advanced commands as well as gentle play, leash training, being alone, and other important behaviors.

Keep in mind, all dogs are different so your puppy may learn at a slower or faster rate than we’ve described above. If you’re unsure when to execute the various training stages, talk to a vet.

What is the first thing you should train your puppy?

The first part of the puppy training schedule is teaching your dog basic obedience training. This includes simple commands like sit. You should also focus on getting your dog used to new environments, which can include public places such as the park, friends’ houses, and the veterinarian. The sooner you get your dog accommodated to being in unfamiliar territory, the better off they’ll be later in life.

How many training sessions a day should a puppy have?

It can be hard to fit in several puppy training sessions a day, but these training sessions don’t have to be especially long. Chances are your puppy has a fairly short attention span, which means short training sessions can be more effective. The goal is to fit several short training sessions into each day, which can be as short as 1-5 or up to 10 minutes. Remember that any training is beneficial for your puppy, so don’t feel bad if you can’t stick to a strict puppy training schedule.

What order should I teach my puppy commands?

Sit is one of the simplest commands you can teach your puppy—a lot of people teach their dogs to sit before anything else. Once your puppy has mastered that command, you can teach them to lie down, stay, come to your call, and heel. Keep in mind that every dog is different in terms of which commands they can easily obey. Your dog may have a tough time coming to your call, but they may do a good job of staying when you tell them to. Time is the key to training your puppy.

Final Notes

As a pet parent, following a puppy training schedule by age can help you make sure you’re teaching your puppy the right stuff at the right time. If you’re having trouble training your puppy, you can always talk to your vet or a trainer for expert advice.

Do you need help training your puppy? With Dutch, you can schedule a video chat appointment with a vet in no time, so you can get expert advice from the comfort of your home. If you want to know more about the ideal puppy training schedule, try Dutch and schedule an appointment with your vet today.