Puppy Training Plan

A simple, positive-reinforcement puppy plan to use alongside class.

Ground Rules

• Keep sessions short: 1 to 3 minutes
• Do several mini sessions each day
• Reward fast
• Stop while your puppy is still engaged
• Use management: crate, baby gates, leash indoors, chew toys

Daily Rhythm

• Morning: potty, reward, 2-minute training
• Midday: potty, short walk or sniff outing, 2-minute training
• Afternoon: nap, chew toy, handling practice
• Evening: potty, class homework, calm settle time

Week 1: Attention, Routine, and Potty Success

Goals

• Learn her name
• Build a potty routine
• Start crate comfort
• Begin calm handling

Practice

• Name game: say her name once, reward eye contact
• Potty outside, then reward right away
• Toss treats into crate and make it positive
• Gently touch paws, ears, collar, then reward

Win for the week

• She starts checking in when you say her name
• Potty routine is getting clearer
• Crate feels normal, not scary

Week 2: Sit, Come, and Chewing Redirection

Goals

• Teach sit
• Start recall games
• Reduce biting and random chewing

Practice

• Lure into sit and reward
• Say “come” indoors and reward heavily
• Redirect biting to a toy
• Offer chew toys before she gets wild

Win for the week

• She can sit with a lure
• She comes happily indoors
• Biting gets redirected faster

Week 3: Loose Leash Beginnings and Leave It

Goals

• Start leash manners
• Teach leave it
• Build gentle socialization

Practice

• Reward a few steps of loose leash walking
• Stop when pulling starts, reward slack leash
• Use a closed fist for leave-it practice
• Introduce calm new people, sounds, places, and surfaces

Win for the week

• She can walk a few nice steps
• She starts backing off from a treat in your hand
• She has several calm new experiences

Week 4: Down, Settle, and Polite Greetings

Goals

• Add down
• Start a settle on mat
• Teach polite greetings

Practice

• Lure from sit into down
• Reward stepping onto and relaxing on a mat
• Ask for sit before greetings
• Reward four paws on the floor

Win for the week

• She can follow a lure into down
• She starts settling a bit more easily
• Greetings are less chaotic

Week 5: Reliability and Mild Distractions

Goals

• Practice skills in slightly harder places
• Improve recall
• Build impulse control

Practice

• Name response in yard or driveway
• Come from short distances with mild distractions
• Sit before doors open
• Leave it with boring dropped items
• Short calm leash walks in new areas

Win for the week

• She can still respond when life gets a little more interesting
• She waits a beat for what she wants

Week 6: Put It Together

Goals

• Link skills together
• Build confidence
• Prepare for next steps after class

Practice

• Short sequences: name, sit, down, come
• Polite greetings
• Settle on mat while you sit nearby
• Calm crate entry and exit
• Handling with slightly longer duration

Win for the week

• Basic skills show up in normal daily life
• You have a steady routine
• She is starting to think before acting

Socialization Checklist

Aim for calm, positive exposure to: - Friendly adults - Calm vaccinated dogs in controlled settings - Different surfaces - Hats, bags, umbrellas - Household sounds - Car rides - Vet office parking lot visits - Gentle handling by trusted people

If she seems worried, create distance and make it easier.

The Big Four Problems

Biting

• Redirect to a toy
• Pause play if needed
• Reward calm behavior

Chewing

• Manage the environment
• Rotate legal chew items

Potty Accidents

• Supervise more closely
• Take her out more often
• Reward every outdoor potty

Zoomies / Overtired Behavior

• Try a potty break
• Offer a chew
• Encourage a nap

Success at the End of 6 Weeks

A good result is: - Better attention - Improving potty habits - Basic sit, down, and come - Early leash manners - Better recovery from excitement - More confidence in the world