Puppies, like toddlers, have short attention spans and tire quickly. A few 5-minute sessions spread throughout the day are far more effective than one long session. This approach helps your puppy stay engaged, reinforces learning, and prevents frustration—for both of you.

Dogs are all about what they can see. They’ll always pick up on a visual cue, like a hand signal, before they even think about listening to what you’re saying. So, start by teaching the hand cue. Then, instead of turning into a broken record and repeating your verbal cue a million times, if your dog doesn’t respond right away, just throw in that hand cue to help them get the picture.

I’ve seen it time and again—owners chatting away to their dogs during training, thinking they’re delivering pearls of wisdom. But here’s the truth: your dog isn’t deciphering your monologue. In fact, all that chatter is like background noise, and it often distracts you from what really matters—your body language. So, here’s a little challenge: zip it during training sessions. Focus on your movements and only break the silence for some well-deserved praise when your pup gets it right. You’ll be amazed at how much clearer your training becomes when you stop playing the role of a play-by-play announcer.

Praise can be anything your dog likes—a word, a noise, whatever gets their tail wagging. The key is that it’s genuine and expressive because dogs can totally tell when you mean it. I don’t recommend using the cue in your praise, like saying, “good sit.” Here’s why: we’re teaching your dog that when they hear a cue, they’re supposed to respond with a specific action. If you say “good sit” when they’re already sitting, you’re kind of telling them that “sit” doesn’t actually require any action on their part.

Instead, keep your praise cue-free. Use whatever feels natural to you—whether it’s a different word each time or a go-to phrase that feels right. The important part is that it’s genuine and doesn’t muddy the waters with the cue word.

Don't feed your dog right before a training session. If they’re full, they might not be as motivated to work for the treats you’re offering. And if you end up handing out a lot of treats during the session, you might need to reduce their next meal by a similar amount to avoid overloading their stomach. Remember, their bellies can only handle so much at once!

Training isn’t just something you do during those few minutes when you’re teaching a new behavior. It’s an ongoing process. Your dog is always learning, so if they do something you don’t want to encourage, make sure you address it right away. Training is happening all the time, whether you realize it or not!

If your puppy is getting into mischief, yelling from across the room is like shouting into the wind—ineffective and a bit pointless. Instead, make the effort to get up, walk over, and handle the situation face-to-face. Just like us, dogs know the difference between empty words and ones that come with a little backup. They’re much more likely to take you seriously when you show follow through with a calm, direct approach.

When it comes to training, it’s always a win to wrap things up on a high note. But let’s be real—things don't always go as planned. If the session spirals into a chaotic mess, it’s better to call it quits before you both end up in the doghouse. Remember, there’s no shame in hitting the pause button and coming back with a fresh start tomorrow. After all, the goal is progress, not perfection.