Puppies can begin learning from 5 weeks old, and starting routines early helps them build confidence, social skills, and good habits that last.
Take your puppy out often, reward them for going in the right spot, and use crate training to build bladder control and confidence. Puppies often do not gain full bladder control until 16–19 weeks, so patience and consistent routines are key during this stage.
Teething: New teeth cause discomfort, making chewing on anything—including hands—relieving.
Exploration: Puppies use their mouths to investigate their environment.
Play/Excitement: They learn to interact through nipping, mimicking play with littermates.
Overtiredness: Puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep; lack of rest often causes increased, frantic biting.
Initially, puppies should only be left alone for short periods, gradually increasing to 2-3 hours as they grow, though they need constant supervision at first.
Avoid bathing before 7-8 weeks, then use puppy-safe shampoo only when necessary.
Immediate vet attention is required for continuous vomiting, diarrhoea, refusal to eat for 24 hours, or extreme lethargy.
In Basingstoke, we help puppies explore new sights, sounds, surfaces, and people in a positive, controlled environment. Join our Basingstoke Puppy Club at our dedicated dog training academy for structured socialisation and early obedience training.
Use a consistent command like “heel” and reward your dog when they walk calmly by your side to reinforce positive behaviour during walks. If you need further assistance, in Basingstoke we run an outdoor group class called loose lead and recall.
A puppy should be exposed to 7 different surfaces, play with 7 types of toys, be in 7 locations, and meet 7 new people.
Pup Pups Dog Training Academy
Unit 39, Basepoint, Stroudley Road, Basingstoke, RG248UP
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