Puppy training schedule by age: 8 weeks to 6 months

Puppies change fast, and so do their training needs. What works at 9 weeks — short games, lots of sleep, gentle new experiences — is different from what a 5-month-old with adult teeth and teenage energy needs. This schedule shows what to focus on at each stage, so you teach the right things at the right time.

The big picture

Age	Main focus	Core skills
8–10 weeks	Socialization, routine	House training, crate, name, handling
10–12 weeks	Puppy class, bite inhibition	Sit, hand target, trading toys
3–4 months	Foundation cues	Down, come, leave it, first leash walks
4–5 months	Generalization, teething	Stay, mat settle, cues in new places
5–6 months	Reliability, adolescence	Loose-leash walking, recall with distractions

Why timing matters: the socialization window

The AVSAB position statement on puppy socialization explains that the first three months are when sociability outweighs fear, making this the main window for puppies to adapt to new people, animals, places and sounds. AVSAB considers it standard of care to socialize puppies before they are fully vaccinated, because the risk of infection in well-run settings is small compared with the risk of behavior problems later. Puppy classes can start at 7–8 weeks, with at least one set of vaccines 7 days before the first class and a first deworming. Avoid dog parks and areas used by dogs of unknown health status. Details in our guide to puppy socialization.

8 to 10 weeks: settling in

• House training: take the puppy out at least every two hours and after sleeping, eating, drinking and play. See how to potty train a puppy.
• Crate: start with open-door games and meals in the crate — see crate training a puppy.
• Name game: say the name once, reward when the puppy looks at you.
• Handling: touch ears, paws and mouth for a second, then treat. It pays off at the vet and the groomer.
• Socialization: new people (gently), surfaces, household noises, car rides — always at the puppy’s pace.

10 to 12 weeks: puppy class and bite inhibition

• Enroll in a reward-based puppy class once the vaccine requirement is met.
• Teach sit with a food lure, then fade the lure; see how to teach a dog to sit.
• Teach a hand target (nose to palm), useful for recall and moving the puppy without pulling.
• Handle mouthing: redirect to a toy, and pause play briefly when teeth touch skin.
• Protect sleep: young puppies need a lot of rest, and overtired puppies bite more.

3 to 4 months: foundation cues

• Down and come in the house and yard, with high-value rewards.
• Leave it: start with a treat in a closed hand.
• Leash: short walks focused on sniffing and rewarding the puppy for staying near you.
• Keep socializing: different people, friendly vaccinated adult dogs, gentle exposure to traffic and crowds from a distance.

4 to 5 months: teething and generalization

• Teething: offer frozen chews and puzzle toys; supervise and puppy-proof the house.
• Stay: add distance, duration and distraction one at a time.
• Go to mat: a settle cue for meals and visitors.
• Generalize: practice known cues in new rooms, the yard, a quiet park.

5 to 6 months: getting ready for adolescence

Many puppies seem to “forget” everything as they approach adolescence. That is normal.

• Keep sessions short and rewarding.
• Work on loose-leash walking: stop when the leash tightens, reward when the puppy returns.
• Practice recall on a long line with mild distractions.
• Keep up socialization and handling — they are not one-time tasks.

A weekly plan at home

Day	Session ideas (3–5 minutes, 2–3 times a day)
Monday	Name game, sit, handling
Tuesday	Hand target, crate game, new surface
Wednesday	Down, leave it, car ride
Thursday	Come (recall game between two people), new person
Friday	Mat settle, leash practice
Saturday	Puppy class or outing
Sunday	Review favorites, enrichment and rest

The method

Use rewards — food, play, praise — and avoid punishment. The AVSAB position on humane training recommends reward-based methods for all dogs, and puppies are especially sensitive to fear. Learn the principles in positive reinforcement dog training.

Socialization checklist by category

Aim for calm, positive exposure — not forced contact. Reward curiosity and let the puppy retreat.

Category	Examples
People	Men, women, children (supervised), people with hats, beards, uniforms, wheelchairs
Animals	Calm vaccinated adult dogs, cats that are used to dogs
Sounds	Vacuum, doorbell, traffic, thunder recordings at low volume
Surfaces	Grass, tile, carpet, gravel, metal grates, wobbly cushions
Places	Car rides, a vet visit for treats only, quiet parking lots, a friend’s house
Handling	Ears, paws, mouth, brushing, nail clipper touches
Objects	Umbrellas, bikes, strollers, skateboards (from a distance)

Daily routine for an 8–12-week-old puppy

Time	Activity
Morning	Potty, breakfast, short play, 3-minute training, nap
Midday	Potty, socialization outing or new experience, nap
Afternoon	Potty, chew time, training game, nap
Evening	Potty, dinner, family time, handling practice
Night	Last potty trip, crate by the bed

Young puppies sleep a lot. If your puppy becomes bitey and frantic, it often needs a nap, not more play.

Common mistakes by age

• 8–12 weeks: keeping the puppy isolated until all vaccines are done, missing the socialization window.
• 3–4 months: long training sessions and repeating cues the puppy does not know yet.
• 4–6 months: giving full house freedom too soon; teething puppies chew everything.
• 5–6 months and beyond: assuming adolescence means the puppy is “stubborn” and switching to punishment.

Milestone checklist at 6 months

• Responds to its name most of the time
• Sits and lies down on cue in familiar places
• Comes when called indoors and in the yard
• Walks on a loose leash for short stretches
• Accepts handling of paws, ears and mouth
• Rests calmly in a crate or on a mat
• Mostly house trained
• Copes calmly with everyday sounds and visitors

If several boxes are empty, that is normal — simply keep working at the puppy’s pace. If your puppy shows persistent fear, growling or snapping, talk to your veterinarian early.

How to use rewards at each age

Young puppies work best for small, soft food rewards; older puppies may love toys and play as well. Use the most valuable rewards for the hardest tasks, such as recall outdoors or calm behavior around other dogs, and everyday kibble for easy repetitions at home. As skills become reliable, reward some repetitions with praise or life rewards (going outside, a sniff, a game) instead of food.

Tools that help

The 30-Day Puppy Training Plan turns this schedule into four printable weekly tables with a socialization checklist and house-training log. For extra mental exercise as the puppy grows, Brain Training for Dogs, below, offers reward-based games. Breed matters too: see our German Shepherd training guide. More in the dog training guide.