Puppy Training Schedule: What to Teach Puppies, and When

At 2-3 months old, your puppy should begin learning...

• His daily routine. Where his food and water dishes are located. What times of day he will eat (typically morning, early afternoon, and evening). Where his bed is. What time he goes to bed. What time he gets up. Where he goes to the bathroom. Where his toys are kept. What routes he will be taken on for walks. And so on.

  Puppies love routines. They feel reassured and safe when they know where everything is and when they're on a predictable schedule. Routines reassure your puppy that, regardless of the unfamiliarity of his new world, everything is predictable. Routines reassure him that he knows what comes next, that his world is the same as it was yesterday, and that it will be the same tomorrow. Routines reassure him that YOU are dependable, that he can count on you to say and do the same things.

• Correction words. What "No" means -- to stop what he's doing when you say "No!" or "Ah-ah!" or "Stop that."

• Praise words. What "Good" means -- to wag his tail and look happy when you say "Good!" or "YAY!" (Puppies especially love the sound of "Yay!")

• Crate training. To stay quietly in his crate at night when he goes to sleep - and during the day whenever we're not interacting with him.

• Housebreaking. You should immediately introduce him to his bathroom spot, but a puppy of 2-3 months old is still an infant, so it will be several months before his internal organs are developed enough for reliability. Toy breeds and hound breeds are especially slow to housebreak, with many not being reliable until eight to ten months of age.

• Acceptance of being handled. Teach him what a grooming table is, and introduce the grooming positions of "Sit" and "Stand" and "Open your mouth" while you handle him all over, brush his coat, brush his teeth, and clip his nails.

• Food words. "Hungry," "Supper", "Breakfast", "Biscuit".

• To take things gently from your hand. "Easy!" No grabbing.

At 3-6 months old, your puppy should begin learning...

• To sit on command.

• To lie down on command - and to STAY lying down for up to 30 minutes.

• To stop barking when you tell him to be quiet.

• To interact well with strangers, other dogs, and other animals.

• To walk politely on the leash.

• To look directly at you when you say his name.

• To come when called.

• To "give" or drop whatever is in his mouth when you tell him to.

• To play games (such as "Find it!" and "Bring it!") with his toys.

• To wait inside the door or gate, even when it's wide open.

• And more...

At 6-10 months old, your puppy should begin learning...

• To stay sitting while you walk away from him.

• To walk very attentively by "heeling" close behind your left leg.

• To retrieve his ball or toy when you throw it.

• To do simple tricks: "Shake hands!" "Dance!" "Roll over!"

• And more -- whatever else he's ready for!