You’ve just brought home your new puppy. They’re indescribably tiny, they’re heart-meltingly adorable, and they’ve already stolen your heart (and possibly your favourite slipper). From the moment you decided you’d like a dog, you’ve had big dreams of country walks, cosy pub afternoons, and a dog who listens beautifully when you call them.

But right now? They’re busy chewing everything in sight, you’re covered in bites and scratches, and you’ve been on your hands and knees cleaning bodily fluids off the carpet more times than you’d like to admit.

It’s natural to wonder: When can I actually start training this little whirlwind?

Here’s the short answer: You can start right away. Even if they’re only eight weeks old, they’re like little sponges for soaking up info, so jump on this opportunity to start teaching your puppy the moment they arrive home. In fact, you’ll make your life a lot easier if you do.

The “too young” myth

From the moment they’re born, puppies are learning from their mum, their littermates, their breeder, and now from you. If you’re not guiding that learning, they’ll happily make up their own rules and end up teaching themselves behaviours that you didn’t sign up to… such as using your brand new £££ sofa as their new favourite chew toy.

There’s this ridiculous myth that you shouldn’t start training until your puppy’s six months old. That’s about as sensible as saying you shouldn’t bother teaching a child manners until they’re at secondary school. We’ve long held the notion that 1 human year equals 7 in dog years, but scientific research has shown this not to be true.

[Here comes the serious science-y bit]

As you can see from the graph above, a puppy just a few months old is the equivalent of a 10-year-old in human years. So, if we reframe how we go about training our weeks-old puppy using this visual, you’re essentially doing the equivalent of nursery or preschool learning for a human toddler.

Early training isn’t about perfection. It’s about gently showing them what works in your world, in a way that’s fun, rewarding, and age-appropriate.

What early training looks like

Training an eight-week-old puppy doesn’t mean hour-long sessions or strict drills. At this stage, it’s about weaving learning into everyday life.

That might mean:

Rewarding them for coming to you when you call their name.
Taking them outside regularly and praising them for toileting in the right place.
Gently introducing “sit” or “down” as fun little games.
Handling their paws, ears, and mouth so they’re comfortable with being touched.

Puppies learn best in tiny bursts — much like toddlers, they have the attention span of a gnat. I’m an advocate for “kettle training”. This is the simple idea that with younger dogs and puppies, your training sessions should last no longer than it takes the kettle to boil. The sessions should be short, frequent, fun, and full of praise. So every time you turn the kettle on to make a brew, turn the kettle time into some fun and engaging training time with your baby pup.

But what about socialisation?

If you’ve read anything about raising a puppy, you’ve probably heard about the “critical socialisation window.” This is the period between roughly 3 and 14 weeks when your puppy is most open to new experiences. And this window is gold dust for their development.

During this stage, your puppy’s brain has been hardwired to be open to new places, experiences, and people. What happens to them during this phase can shape their behaviour for the rest of their adult life. Puppies who don’t get to experience the world early on can find everyday life a bit scary. A confident dog usually starts with a happy, varied puppyhood, but without it, they’re more likely to grow into a worried adult.

Sounds pretty heavy, right?

For now, simply focus on making sure they have positive new experiences and get used to things they might come across later in life.

The bad news: most puppies come home to us at eight weeks, which means you’ve only got about six weeks left of that golden period. BUT they’re not fully vaccinated yet.

The good news: You can still socialise your puppy before vaccinations — you just have to think outside the box.

Check out my blog on socialisation here

How to socialise safely before vaccinations

Think of socialisation as gentle exposure rather than throwing them into the deep end. You want your puppy to have lots of positive, low-pressure experiences with the sights, sounds, smells, and situations they’ll likely encounter in their life as your dog.

Live in the middle of a city? No point worrying about tractors and livestock, as you’re unlikely to come across them in your day-to-day life. Similarly, if you live in a really rural location, walking next to roads with heavy traffic and crowded pavements may be something you won’t normally encounter.

So have a think about your everyday life, and create a list of scenarios, objects, and people your pup is likely to encounter when going about their day with you.

Here’s how to do it safely:

Get them out in the big, wide world — use a puppy sling or simply carry them to keep them off the ground. Yes, you’ll look like the proudest dog parent in Britain (and you are), but it keeps your puppy safe while letting them soak up the sights and sounds of their world. Puppies can still see and smell the world before they can walk in it. Take them into town, to the park, or to watch the school run. Let them sniff the air and hear traffic, chatter, and kids playing.
Invite visitors over — you’ve probably got a list as long as your arm of family and friends are eager to meet your new addition. So use this to your advantage! But this is to be controlled and done on your terms, so invite people to come over in a controlled meeting, rather than having a free-for-all with the whole family. Try to include people of different ages, appearances, and voices. Let your puppy meet people with hats, glasses, beards, or crutches. The more variety, the better.
Take short car rides — take them out for short trips. This helps them get used to the motion of the car while taking in all the sights and sounds along the way.
Arrange safe playdates — if you know fully vaccinated, friendly dogs, arrange a meet-up in your garden or theirs. Maybe a friend has just rehomed a rescue dog who has had blood tests to show that they’re free of the main diseases that can affect dogs and puppies. This is a great way for your puppy to learn dog manners without the risk of disease.

How to go about training a young puppy

When your puppy is this little, training should feel like play. You’re not aiming for strict obedience; you’re laying the foundations for good habits and a strong bond.

Here’s where to start:

Make sure they know their name – Say their name once, and when they look at you, reward them with a treat or praise. This builds focus and sets the stage for recall training later.
Toilet training – Take them outside regularly, but especially after eating, sleeping, or playing, and celebrate like they’ve just won Crufts when they go in the right spot.
Sit and down – Teach these as simple, fun actions. They’re the doggy equivalent of “please” and “thank you” and give you something to ask for in distracting situations.
Handling and grooming prep – Gently touch their paws, ears, and mouth so they learn it’s no big deal. This will make vet visits, nail clipping, and grooming so much easier.
Recall games – Indoors or in a secure garden, take turns calling your puppy between family members. Always reward them for coming to you.

Remember, keep sessions short (a minute or two) and end on a win. If your puppy is losing interest or getting tired, draw a line under it and try again later.

Why early training matters for bonding

Starting training from day one isn’t just about preventing chewed furniture or puddles on the kitchen floor. It’s about building a relationship of trust, communication, and fun. Every positive interaction teaches your puppy that you’re worth listening to and that good things happen when they choose you over the rest of the world.

This bond becomes the foundation for everything else you’ll do together, whether it’s walking through a busy high street, relaxing together in a pub, or navigating the countryside off-lead.

A great next step — puppy group classes

Once your puppy has had their vaccinations, joining a positive, reward-based puppy class is a brilliant way to continue their learning. Classes give you:

Expert guidance from a trainer.
A safe environment for your puppy to meet others.
Practical exercises that set you up for success in real-life situations.

Final thoughts

So, when can you start training your puppy? From the moment they arrive home.

Early training, combined with safe, creative socialisation, will help you raise a confident, happy, and well-mannered dog.

If you run into challenges, feel stuck, or just want more ideas for making the most of these early weeks, I’m here to help. You can find more details about my friendly, positive puppy training here: barkerandhounddogtraining.com/clever-puppy

When can I start training my puppy?