The first few months with a new puppy are when habits get set — good ones and bad ones. Getting toilet training, basic commands, and socialisation sorted early saves a lot of headaches down the track. Leave it too long and you're not teaching a puppy anymore; you're trying to undo months of practice doing the wrong thing.
Every guide in this section uses reward-based positive reinforcement, which is what the RSPCA, most Australian vet clinics, and qualified trainers recommend. No dominance theory, no punishment-based methods. Just clear, consistent training that actually works.
Whether you're in a house with a backyard or a unit with a balcony, training a puppy in Australia comes with its own set of considerations — hot pavement in summer, vaccination timelines that limit where you can take a young pup, strata rules in apartments, and working out the best approach for your breed and living situation.
Puppy Training Schedule by Age
| Age | Focus Areas | What to Do | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8–10 Weeks | Toilet Crate Socialisation | Name recognition. Toilet breaks every 30–60 min. Introduce crate as a positive space. Handle ears, paws and mouth daily. | First fear period (8–11 wks). Keep experiences positive. Avoid dog parks until fully vaccinated. |
| 10–12 Weeks | Sit Toilet Socialisation | Teach sit using a lure. Toilet every 1–2 hrs. Enrol in vet-run puppy preschool. Expose to household sounds. | Bladder holds ~2 hrs during day. Still needs 1 overnight break. Sessions: 5 min max. |
| 12–16 Weeks | Sit, Drop, Come Bite inhibition Crate | Add drop and come (recall). Redirect mouthing to chew toys. Practise alone time in crate (up to 30 min). | Socialisation window closes ~16 wks. Final vaccinations due. Prioritise new people, dogs, surfaces. |
| 4–6 Months | Stay, Lead walking Jumping, Barking Toilet reliable | Introduce stay and loose-lead walking. Address jumping on people. Toilet training mostly reliable. | Teething peaks 4–5 months. Provide chew toys. Puppy tests boundaries — stay consistent. |
| 6–12 Months | Proof commands Adolescent issues | Practise commands in new locations with distractions. Work on off-lead recall in safe spaces. | Second fear period (6–14 months). Pups may seem to "forget" training. Keep reinforcing. Consider group classes. |
Puppy Training Quick Reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Toilet training duration | Most puppies are reliably trained within 4 to 8 weeks. Smaller breeds often take longer — some aren't fully reliable until 5–6 months. |
| How often to go out | Roughly 1 hour per month of age. An 8-week-old: every 30–60 min. A 4-month-old: every 3–4 hrs. Always after eating, sleeping and playing. |
| When to go outside | Your backyard is fine straight away. Avoid off-lead parks and busy paths until fully vaccinated at ~16 weeks. Vet puppy preschool is safe earlier. |
| Puppy pads vs outside | If you have a backyard, skip the pads — they can teach pups indoors is okay. Pads are useful for apartments, long shifts, or extreme weather. |
| Training session length | 5 minutes, several times a day. Puppies lose focus fast. Short frequent sessions beat one long one. Use part of their meal as treats. |
| When to start training | From day one (as early as 8 weeks). Socialisation is most effective before 16 weeks. Sit can start immediately with positive reinforcement. |
| Crate training | Not mandatory but helps with toilet training and settling. Never use as punishment. Max 2 hours during the day for young pups. |
| Hot pavement (Aus summer) | If you can't hold your hand on the ground for 5 seconds, it's too hot. Schedule breaks for early morning and evening. Use shaded grass or a turf tray. |
What You'll Find Here
Guides in this section cover the practical stuff that new puppy owners deal with in the first weeks and months: toilet training step by step, getting a puppy comfortable in a crate, teaching sit, stay, come and drop, early socialisation before and after vaccinations, loose-lead walking, stopping biting and mouthing, and dealing with common problems like barking, jumping, and separation anxiety.
Each article is written for Australian conditions, with references to local vet resources and organisations where it matters.
