Puppy Training Questions

Immediately upon acquisition. It is much easier to guide a puppy into acceptable behaviour than to correct unacceptable behaviour later on. House training is quite easy; all it takes is being a bit proactive.

Start with basic commands like “sit,” “come,” and “stay.” These lay the foundation for communication and control. Pair training with positive reinforcement such as treats and praise.

None of the above. Punishing when house training will only work against you. It will make your puppy distrustful and afraid to relieve himself in your presence outdoors or when hearing your voice. Instead, interrupt the pup by picking him up and taking him to the preferred doggy toilet area.

Not just yet. It will take some time for the puppy to realise he must keep the whole house clean. I generally do not trust my puppy out of sight in the house until he's over 1 year old. A suggestion would be to block off the room where you and the pup are. As added insurance, be sure to shut the basement door.

Many pet owners tend to give their puppy more responsibility than a dog trainer would. This is why house training is difficult for some. Limit his responsibility until the pup's age and behaviour indicate he is ready for more freedom. How old would a child be before you give them unsupervised run of the house?

You need to crate-train your puppy. Keep the dog crate in your bedroom. This gives the puppy 6–9 hours more time with you. Crate training the pup via sleeping in the bedroom helps him bond better and be less needy and demanding of your attention. The pup is also more likely to sleep through the night uninterrupted.

Be sure that the crate is big enough for the puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down... but not so big as to allow him to mess at one end and sleep at the other. Use a divider or cinder block to make the space smaller.

Be sure to put the puppy out for a quick toilet break before crating him. Never use the dog crate for punishment. Avoid crating for more than 5 hours at a time. Arrange for an at-home consultation from a local dog trainer if you are having difficulty crate training your puppy. Check with local animal professionals or dog rescues for a referral.

Yes—puppy classes provide structured learning, expert guidance, and socialization opportunities. Dog Training by Bob Maida can help correct unwanted behaviors early and teach you effective training techniques.