The first year of your puppy's life shapes who they'll become as an adult dog. The good news: you don't have to figure it out alone. This puppy training schedule gives you a week-by-week roadmap from the day you bring your puppy home to their first birthday.
The Golden Rule of Puppy Training
Before we dive into the timeline, remember these three principles:
- Short sessions work better than long ones. 5–10 minutes, several times a day, beats one 30-minute session.
- Reward what you want. Catch your puppy doing the right thing and reward it — that's how they learn what to repeat.
- Never punish fear. If your puppy is scared, help them feel safe. Punishment during fearful moments creates lasting problems.
Weeks 8–10: Foundations Start on Day One
Most puppies come home at 8 weeks. Start training immediately — waiting "until they're older" is the biggest mistake new owners make.
Top Priorities
- Potty training — Take puppy out every 1–2 hours, after meals, and after naps
- Name recognition — Say the name, reward when they look at you
- Crate training — Feed meals in the crate, leave the door open at first
- Handling practice — Touch paws, ears, mouth daily so vet visits are easy later
- Socialization — Meet 5+ new people per week (follow vet's puppy socialization guidance)
Avoid
- Off-leash dog parks until fully vaccinated
- Rough play or anything that encourages biting hands
- Leaving your puppy alone for more than 2–3 hours at a time
Weeks 10–12: Basic Commands and Socialization
This is the peak of the socialization window. Expose your puppy to safe, positive experiences with as many new things as possible.
Commands to Introduce
- Sit — Lure with a treat up and back over their head
- Look at me — Rewards attention and builds eye contact
- Come — Always positive, never used for punishment
- Settle — Calm time on a mat
Socialization Checklist
- Different types of people (kids, elderly, people in hats, uniforms, wheelchairs)
- Other dogs (healthy, friendly, vaccinated)
- Different surfaces (grass, tile, carpet, metal grates, gravel)
- Common sounds (vacuum, doorbell, traffic, kitchen noises)
- Car rides
- Vet office visits (just for treats, no exam)
Weeks 12–16: Puppy Class and Leash Skills
Enroll in a puppy class if you haven't already. Structured classes provide professional feedback, controlled socialization, and a chance to meet other new puppy owners.
Commands to Add
- Down — Lure from sit into a down position
- Stay — Very short duration at first (1–2 seconds)
- Leave it — Teach impulse control
- Loose-leash walking — Reward walking beside you without pulling
Typical Daily Schedule
- 7:00 AM: Potty break, breakfast, short training session
- 8:00 AM: Morning walk and play
- 9:00 AM: Nap in crate
- 11:00 AM: Potty break, training session, enrichment toy
- 12:00 PM: Lunch and nap
- 2:00 PM: Potty break, short walk
- 4:00 PM: Training, play, or socialization outing
- 6:00 PM: Dinner, family time
- 8:00 PM: Final walk, calm time
- 10:00 PM: Last potty break, bedtime
Months 4–6: Building Reliability
Your puppy is smart and energetic — but also entering an "adolescent" phase where they may test boundaries. Stay consistent.
Focus Areas
- Proofing commands in new environments (parks, friends' houses, streets)
- Longer stays and distance work
- Calm greetings (preventing jumping)
- Continued socialization
- Basic grooming tolerance (brushing, nail touching)
Warning Signs
Watch for fear periods — common around 4–5 months. If your puppy suddenly becomes afraid of something they were fine with before, don't force it. Let them approach at their own pace and reward brave behavior.
Months 6–9: Adolescent Dog Behavior
Welcome to puppy teenagerhood. Your well-trained puppy may suddenly "forget" everything they learned, test limits, and develop selective hearing. This is normal — don't give up.
Training Priorities
- Reinforce every command with high-value rewards
- Extend duration and distance gradually
- Add distractions slowly
- Don't skip classes — group environments keep skills sharp
Exercise Notes
Puppies have more energy now, but their joints still aren't fully developed. See our guide to walk duration for age-appropriate exercise. Avoid long runs, jumping, and repetitive high-impact activities until 12+ months for small breeds, 18+ months for large.
Months 9–12: Advanced Obedience
Your dog is mentally mature enough for more complex work. Now is the time to cement everything and add finishing touches.
Skills to Master
- Reliable off-leash recall in safe, fenced areas
- Settling quietly in public (cafes, stores that allow dogs)
- Waiting at doors and crossings
- Greeting politely without jumping
- Ignoring dropped food on walks
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Inconsistent rules — Everyone in the household must enforce the same boundaries
- Punishing after the fact — Dogs don't connect punishment with things that happened minutes ago
- Skipping socialization "until vaccines are done" — Carry your puppy to outings if needed; the socialization window closes fast
- Too much freedom too soon — A trained 6-month-old still shouldn't have full house access unsupervised
- Not enough rest — Puppies need 18+ hours of sleep a day
When to Hire a Professional
Get help immediately if your puppy shows:
- Growling or snapping at family members
- Resource guarding food, toys, or spaces
- Extreme fear or shyness that isn't improving
- Aggressive behavior toward other dogs
Early intervention is much easier than trying to fix deep-rooted behavior later. See our dog training cost guide to understand your options.
Find a Puppy Trainer Near You
Ready to get professional help for your puppy? Browse professional dog trainers in our directory and filter by puppy specialization to find someone local.