Puppy training basics: your first months together

This guide is general information, not a substitute for a qualified trainer or vet. If you're worried about your dog's behaviour or health, speak to your vet first.

Bringing a puppy home is exciting, and a bit daunting too. Here's what trusted UK charities and vets say about the training that matters most in the first few months, from toilet training to your first puppy class.

Dogs Trust says puppy training starts as soon as you bring your dog home, and then carries on into adolescence, adulthood and beyond. It also advises going at your puppy's pace and using rewards they like (Dogs Trust). Getting ready for day one? Our new puppy checklist covers what to buy and sort out first.

Toilet training

Dogs Trust advises starting toilet training from day one (Dogs Trust). It can take a few months, and the odd accident is normal. Your puppy's bowels, bladder and the muscles that control them are still growing (Dogs Trust).

• Go out often. The RSPCA suggests taking puppies outside when they wake up, before bed, after every meal, after play or exercise, after any excitement, before you leave them and when you come back, and then every 45 minutes to an hour depending on age (RSPCA).
• Learn the signs. Sniffing the ground, turning in a circle and starting to squat are common signs your puppy needs to go (Dogs Trust).
• Reward straight away. Reward your puppy as soon as they've finished going outside (Dogs Trust). The RSPCA suggests a walk or a bit of play before heading back in, so your puppy doesn't learn that going to the toilet ends their time outside (RSPCA).
• Add a cue word. Both charities suggest quietly saying a word such as "toilet" or "be quick" just as your puppy starts to go, so they learn to link it with toileting (Dogs Trust; RSPCA).
• Never punish accidents. Telling a puppy off can make them anxious, and they may start going somewhere hidden instead (Dogs Trust). Clean up with a biological cleaner so the smell is removed. The RSPCA suggests a warm solution of biological washing powder, one part powder to nine parts water, then a rinse (RSPCA).

If toilet training isn't working, the RSPCA advises a vet check to rule out health problems (RSPCA).

Socialisation and the key window

Socialisation means helping your puppy learn, in a positive way, that everyday people, dogs, sounds, places and objects are normal (Dogs Trust; PDSA). Sources describe the most sensitive period slightly differently, but they all put it in the first few months:

• PDSA says a puppy's socialisation period runs from about 4 to 12 weeks of age (PDSA).
• Dogs Trust says the first four months of a puppy's life are vital (Dogs Trust). Its sound therapy advice describes an essential socialisation period of 3 to 16 weeks (Dogs Trust).
• Battersea says puppies are naturally curious and open to new experiences in their first 3 to 4 months (Battersea).

Many puppies come home at around 8 weeks old, so a lot of this window happens with you (PDSA). Your breeder should already have made a start (PDSA).

Before vaccinations are complete

Your puppy shouldn't walk in public or mix with unvaccinated dogs until their vaccines have taken effect. Ask your vet how long to wait (Dogs Trust; PDSA). You don't have to wait to start socialising, though. Dogs Trust, PDSA and Battersea all suggest carrying your puppy outside, in your arms or in a sling or carrier, to meet the world (Dogs Trust; PDSA; Battersea). PDSA adds that you can use gardens that unvaccinated dogs don't visit, and let your puppy meet fully vaccinated older dogs (PDSA).

Keep it positive and gradual

• Introduce new things slowly, and only when your puppy is relaxed. If they seem worried or overexcited, stop straight away (Dogs Trust).
• Build up gradually, for example a quiet row of shops before a busy town centre. Don't pack too many new experiences into one day (PDSA).
• Get your puppy used to being handled, by you and by people like vets and groomers (Dogs Trust).
• Gently introduce everyday sounds, including fireworks. Dogs Trust recommends sound therapy recordings for this (Dogs Trust). Our fireworks guide has more on Bonfire Night.
• Battersea says puppies can go through normal fear periods, often around 8 to 11 weeks and again in adolescence from about 6 months. Keep socialising, but go at your puppy's pace (Battersea).

Tip: once your vet says it's safe, quiet parks are a good place for short, calm outings. See our dog walks and parks page.

Crate and settle training

A crate can be a safe den for your puppy, and a help with learning to be left. The RSPCA says a crate must never be used as a punishment (RSPCA). Dogs Trust says crate training should always be done slowly and in your puppy's own time (Dogs Trust).

• Size: your dog should be able to stand, turn around, lie down and stretch out in it (RSPCA).
• Step 1, make it inviting: fix the door open so it can't swing shut, then toss treats or a chew inside and let your puppy explore in their own time. Keep sessions to about three minutes (RSPCA).
• Step 2, meals in the crate: feed meals in the crate. Close the door while your puppy eats, and build up very slowly. If they whine or seem distressed, go back a step (RSPCA).
• Step 3, short absences: with a chew or stuffed food toy inside, sit quietly nearby, then leave the room for a moment and come straight back. Gradually build the time up. If your puppy is vocal, wait for even the smallest pause in the noise before letting them out (RSPCA).
• Not all day: the RSPCA says it's never acceptable to shut a dog in a crate all day while you go to work. Puppies can't hold their bladder and bowels as long as adults can (RSPCA).

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Teaching a settle

Dogs Trust suggests teaching your dog to relax on a blanket. Sit quietly with your dog on the lead, and drop tiny treats when they settle on the blanket, without saying anything. Gradually reward calmer behaviour, like lying down, sighing or resting their head, and slowly add distractions (Dogs Trust). There's more on settling in our adult manners guide.

Teaching time alone

Dogs Trust says teaching a dog to cope alone should ideally start when they're a puppy, to help prevent separation anxiety (Dogs Trust).

• Start small. PDSA suggests leaving your puppy for a few minutes at first, such as while you make a cup of tea, and gradually building up (PDSA).
• Practise while you're still at home. A baby gate lets your puppy see, hear and smell you while you're apart. Give them a chew or food toy before you step through it (Dogs Trust).
• Once your puppy is relaxed being left in the house, try leaving for a short time and build up from there (PDSA).
• Keep comings and goings calm and low-key (Dogs Trust; PDSA).
• If your puppy shows signs of stress, shorten the time and go more slowly (Dogs Trust).

PDSA says four hours is the longest dogs should routinely be left, and that four hours would generally be too long for a very active young puppy (PDSA). If you work long days, a dog walker or licensed day care can help. Our guide to choosing a walker, boarder or day care explains what to check.

Mouthing and learning a gentle mouth

Puppies explore with their mouths, and play biting is a normal part of growing up (Blue Cross; Battersea). The RSPCA explains that puppies usually learn the rules of play from other dogs. When they bite a playmate too hard, the play stops, and this teaches them to bite with a soft mouth (RSPCA). You can help in a similar way:

• Redirect onto a toy. Keep a toy to hand, keep your hands still, and offer the toy instead (RSPCA; Blue Cross).
• Pause the fun. If your puppy's teeth touch you, stop and stay still. Restart the game once they're calm (Dogs Trust).
• Don't squeal or pull away. Blue Cross says high-pitched squeals and pulling your hands away tend to excite puppies and can encourage more biting (Blue Cross).
• Don't tell them off. Blue Cross warns it can frighten your puppy and damage their trust in you (Blue Cross).
• Check sleep and food. Overtired or hungry puppies tend to mouth more (Blue Cross).
• Supervise children. It isn't reasonable to expect children to handle play biting on their own. Stair gates help when you can't actively supervise (Blue Cross).

Sources differ on how long this phase lasts. Blue Cross says most puppies grow out of it between three and five months of age (Blue Cross). Battersea says most start to grow out of it by around five to six months, but some, especially larger breeds, carry on into their first year and sometimes up to 18 to 24 months (Battersea). Either way, it should be steadily reducing. If it's getting worse or more intense, get help from a qualified trainer or behaviourist (Battersea).

First cues

Dogs Trust says there's no one-size-fits-all answer to what to teach first, but name learning and house training naturally start early (Dogs Trust). Good early skills include:

• Their name: useful for getting your puppy's attention, and a base for other training (Dogs Trust).
• Coming when called: start indoors or in the garden, and always reward your puppy for coming back (Dogs Trust).
• Sit, down and wait: Battersea recommends these to help dogs stay calm and learn self-control (Battersea).
• Leave: Dogs Trust calls this an essential skill for when your puppy reaches for something they shouldn't have, or something dangerous (Dogs Trust).
• Four paws on the floor: Dogs Trust notes that jumping up is often encouraged in small puppies, which can confuse them later (Dogs Trust).

Battersea says timing matters. Reward your puppy as soon as they do what you asked, for example while they're still sitting. A clicker or a marker word such as "yes" can help (Battersea). The RSPCA advises keeping sessions short and fun, because growing and learning is tiring (RSPCA).

Puppy classes and vaccinations

Good puppy classes can boost your puppy's confidence and teach basic training (RSPCA). The RSPCA suggests finding a class and signing up as soon as you know you're getting a puppy, because classes can get booked up (RSPCA). When your puppy can start depends on their vaccinations and on the class:

• PDSA says puppies usually start vaccines at around 6 to 8 weeks, with two injections 2 to 4 weeks apart (some need a third). They're fully protected 2 to 4 weeks after the final injection (PDSA).
• The Royal Kennel Club says you can start puppy classes as soon as your puppy's vaccinations are complete, but how early you can go varies from class to class (Royal Kennel Club). Its Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme Puppy Foundation course takes puppies from 8 weeks of age, depending on the club, up to 12 months (Royal Kennel Club).
• PDSA suggests asking whether your vet practice runs puppy socialisation groups, and checking which vaccines your puppy needs before their first class (PDSA).
• Clubs usually ask to see your dog's vaccination records (Royal Kennel Club).

So the honest answer is: ask your vet, and ask the class. Before you book, our guide to choosing a trainer explains what to look for, and the RSPCA suggests watching a class without your dog first (RSPCA).

Find puppy classes in Liverpool

Browse puppy classes and trainers on our Liverpool dog trainers page, and find a practice on our Liverpool vets page for vaccinations and health checks.

In Liverpool: Fast Track Dog Training in Belle Vale (L25) runs reward-based puppy classes for puppies up to 18 weeks old at the start (Fast Track, checked 18 Oct 2026). Wag n' Waves (L24) runs reward-based puppy and adolescent classes and one-to-one sessions (Wag n' Waves, checked 18 Oct 2026). Precious Paws (L24) runs a Sunday puppy playgroup for socialisation (Precious Paws, checked 18 Oct 2026).

What comes next

Somewhere between about five months and a year, many puppies hit their "teenage" phase, and training that seemed solid can wobble (Blue Cross; RSPCA; PDSA). Our teenage dogs guide explains what to expect.

More in our training series:

• Teenage dogs: the adolescent phase
• Adult dog training: recall and manners
• Choosing a dog trainer in Liverpool

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