Puppy Training

Every puppy needs high-quality food, separate food and water bowls, a secure place to sleep with comfortable bedding, a well-made collar and leash, and a few toys.

Each of these items helps keep your puppy safe, comfortable, and assists with their adjustment to their new home.

Start by providing your puppy the same food they are used to and make any switches slowly – an abrupt change to different foods can cause an upset stomach. For play and teething, a puzzle-type toy is ideal. Avoid buying dozens of toys and treats, however, as too many toys confuse a puppy about what they should and should not chew.

Familiar scents, such as a soft blanket rubbed against the mother and littermates, can help make separation less traumatic.

Most importantly, give your puppy lots of love and human company!

Your puppy is curious, and their mouth is an exploratory tool. Chewing is a natural function of your dog's development, a source of stress release, and if effectively managed, can be a way to prevent the onsite of destructive behaviors, including separation anxiety. Puppies do not necessarily mean to be aggressive when they nip, bite or chew.

If your puppy tries to bite your hand, stop moving them. If they try to bite your leg, stand still.

When your pup does make a mistake, do not use treats as bribes to stop undesirable behavior – instead, use a firm voice or sound to express your displeasure. If necessary, clap your hands for emphasis.

Use Bitter Apple spray on your hands, clothing, and other items – its unpleasant taste can deter biting.

Guide your puppy to appropriate alternatives, such as giving them a favorite chew toy.

We recommend providing appropriately sized chew toys and introducing these safe chews while your dog is in a crate or "place." Introducing chew toys in this way will help create positive associations and also allow you to observe their behavior with new toy to ensure its safety.

When using your hands in training, make sure your puppy always associates them with gentleness and enjoyment.

Your puppy is naturally a den animal – a crate is a peaceful haven where your pup can feel secure.

Crates allow you to relax or complete tasks that are difficult while watching your puppy. They also help with training by limiting your puppy’s mistakes to times when you are present and prepared to teach.

Dogs naturally avoid soiling their dens, so a crate is a great tool for potty training. Ensure the crate is only large enough for your puppy to stand up and turn around – any larger and they may soil a corner where they do not sleep. Built-in dividers can help, if needed.

Keep the crate near you as much as possible so your puppy doesn’t feel removed from the rest of the family.

A crate should never be used as punishment!

Be proactive! Your puppy has not yet developed the awareness or physical capability to control their bodily functions like an adult dog and needs plentiful opportunities to relieve himself.

As a guideline, puppies can hold their bladders for the number of hours equal to their age in months plus one. For example, a two-month-old puppy can last about three hours.

Confine your puppy to a specific room or smaller area of the house by closing doors and using baby gates (and/or a crate) while they are learning. Be sure to take your puppy out at regular intervals, as well as these six critical times:

1. After waking up
2. Before going to bed for the night
3. After eating or drinking
4. After/during excitement or exuberant play
5. If frightened or nervous
6. After the family arrives home

Remain in the designated potty area until your puppy is finished, then reward them with lots of excited praise.

Have patience! A common mistake is to return inside too soon, only to experience an unexpected mess.

The best method is to help your puppy avoid mistakes.

If you do catch them in the act, quickly take them to the designated potty area and praise them as they continue to potty. If you find a mess after the fact, all you can do is clean it up.

Accidents are part of toilet training, but good management reduces how often they occur. Treat each accident as feedback—your puppy needed a break sooner than expected. 

Clean the spot thoroughly so the scent doesn’t draw them back, and reset your routine with more timely trips outside. 

Do not “correct” your puppy for soiling, as puppies may become scared of being grabbed or learn to hide and toilet. Never become physical or hit your puppy. Your hands are for praise only.

When new dog owners ask, “How do I socialize my puppy?”, the answers they find often focus on playdates, dog parks, or meeting every dog on the block. But at Bark Busters, we take a different approach: Our recommendation is rooted in calm, controlled exposure, not overstimulation or forced interaction. 

True socialization isn’t about letting your puppy interact with everyone! Socialization means safely and slowly exposing your puppy to new experiences and environments. For example, new sights, smells, terrain, and people and dogs, as appropriate for their temperament.

Help your puppy to: 

• Stay calm and focused around new people, dogs, and distractions
• Observe without reacting
• Feel secure in unfamiliar environments
• Look to you for guidance and reassurance

The most vital period of a puppy’s development is between 8-16 weeks, which is an ideal time for education and socialization. 

What to Avoid During Puppy Socialization

Just as important as knowing how to socialize your puppy is knowing what not to do. Common mistakes can lead to fear, reactivity, or unwanted behaviors.

Avoid:

• Dog parks – Too much stimulation, too little control
• Leash greetings – Can lead to pulling, frustration, or aggression
• Overwhelming environments too early – This creates fear, not confidence
• Letting fear “work itself out” – Without guidance, fear can turn into long-term anxiety

At Bark Busters, we teach you how to read your puppy’s body language, respond calmly, and build trust at every step.

Take things slow and expose your puppy carefully to new situations. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian or your local Bark Busters trainer for advice on proper socialization.

Puppies need lots of love, play, and rest.

Most of all, puppies need sleep! In fact, they need 18-20 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period when they are young.

Each puppy is different, so let your puppy tell you when they’re tired. Do not take a young puppy jogging or force them to play – these activities can cause overexertion or injury.

Group and individual lessons serve different needs, but any type of professional training can help dog owners who are looking for personalized, trouble-free, and effective solutions for their puppy's issues. It can also help you and your puppy understand each other better, making both your lives more enjoyable.

Your puppy will provide new and different challenges as they get older. Combining puppy school with one-on-one lessons can address them with more complete and in-depth training.

If you decide to enroll your puppy in group classes, ensure that all dogs have been vaccinated to prevent exposure to disease. and that your puppy is grouped with dogs of equal size or similar personality types, so that the experience doesn’t frighten your inexperienced puppy.

Bark Busters offers professional home dog training, and, in some areas, puppy classes. Our natural training methods work with puppies as young as eight weeks.