The first few weeks with a puppy

The first few weeks with a puppy

The first few weeks matter far more than most owners expect, and not because of the commands you teach. What a puppy practises in that window becomes the default it reaches for months later.

Build the routine before you build the obedience

Sleep, food, toileting and calm all sit on a predictable rhythm. A puppy who knows roughly what happens next settles faster, chews less and recovers quicker from anything startling.

Let the world in slowly

Socialisation is not the same as meeting everybody. It is controlled exposure at a distance your puppy can cope with, ending before they tip into panic or over-excitement. Quality beats quantity every time.

Reward what you want to keep

Four paws on the floor, a settle on a mat, checking in with you on a walk. These are the behaviours worth paying for early, because they are the ones you will still want at three years old.

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