What is the first thing puppies should learn?

If you google this question you'll get all sorts of different answers, but the truth is the first thing puppies should learn when they come home is not to sit or come when called, it's actually not a behaviour at all. What puppies need to learn first is that they are safe. 

This is the single most important thing your puppy needs to learn. When we bring a puppy home for the first time it’s important to remember that we have taken them away from everything they’ve ever known. We've brought them to a place they don't recognise, they're away from their mum and little mates for the first time and even if you've been to visit them a few times, they don't really know that you either.  So we need to help them adjust to all of this change to doing our best to help them feel safe. 

How do we teach this?
Comfort them when they need comforting: If they seek you out or look worried, speak to them calmly, offer contact if they want it.

Don't leave them alone before they're ready: Most Puppies are not ready to be alone for long periods until they sixteen weeks old. In their first week home we shouldn't be leaving them alone at all. Leaving them alone too soon is likely to make them feel unsafe and increases the likelihood of developing separation related problems later in life.

Let them explore at their pace: If they're bold enough to explore away from you by themselves avoid the temptation to follow them everywhere, this helps build independence. When introducing new things, allow them to approach when they're ready.

Respect their space: This is incredibly important. It can be all to easy to constantly pick up puppies to move them around, play with and interact with them, but this can quickly cause stress and aversion to being handled. The majority of the time very young puppies will follow you anyway or come to a kissy noise. If you're touching them make sure they're able to move away if needed.

Formal training comes later. Your puppy doesn’t need to learn skills in those first few weeks at home. In fact teaching them anything will be much harder if they don’t already feel safe!

Need some with your puppy?
Book a free consultation call  or contact us to chat about our puppy classes and one to one puppy training in Leeds.