The short answer: at any age. Puppies are learning from the day they come home, whether we're teaching them or not, so the sooner you give that learning a direction, the easier life gets for both of you.
Why starting early helps
Every habit your puppy practises gets stronger, good or bad. Jumping up for attention, mouthing hands, pulling towards every new smell: each one is far easier to shape at ten weeks than to undo at ten months. Starting early isn't about drilling commands. It's about building good habits before problems have a chance to set in.
The first months are also when your puppy forms their view of the world. Our puppy socialisation guide explains why calm, positive experiences between 3 and 16 weeks matter so much.
What to work on first
- Their name. A quick, happy response to their name is the start of every recall.
- Settling. Teaching your puppy to relax on a bed or in a crate makes everything else easier.
- Coming back to you. Practise recall in the house and garden, where it's easy to succeed.
- Lead manners. Get your puppy used to a collar or harness and a loose lead before walks become a tug of war.
- Gentle handling. Touching paws, ears and mouth, so grooming and vet visits are no drama.
- Short sessions. A few minutes at a time, several times a day, and always finish while it's going well.
When to get help
Book a lesson as soon as your puppy is home if you'd like a plan from the start. You don't need to wait for a problem. It's also worth getting help if you notice:
- mouthing or nipping that isn't easing off
- worry around new people, dogs or places
- pulling that's already getting strong
- recall that disappears outdoors
How our puppy training works
Puppy lessons are private, 45 minutes long, and held at our training grounds or on Pocklington Green, for owners across York, Pocklington and East Yorkshire.
- A single lesson is £90.
- The Puppy Package gives you three lessons, our puppy guide and WhatsApp support between lessons for £240.
Start with a free phone call
Every puppy is different, so we start with a free 15-minute phone consultation and plan the lessons around your puppy. Book your free phone consultation.
Need help with your dog?
Puppy Training in York, Pocklington and East Yorkshire, starting with a free phone consultation.
