For new puppy owners (about 8 weeks to 6 months)
Stop Guessing What to Teach Your New Puppy: The First-Weeks Plan for Routines, Biting and Socialization
21 short video lessons built around 1–2 minute sessions, with “ask your vet” checkpoints for health and vaccinations.
- 21 short video lessons, built around 1–2 minute training sessions21 lessons built on 1–2 minute sessions
- A socialization plan you build with your vet, not guessworkA socialization plan with your vet
- Handle nipping, jumping and evening zoomies without punishmentHandle nipping and jumping without punishment
- Printable workbook with 26 sections of checklists, planners and logs, plus a quick startWorkbook with 26 sections plus a quick start
One-time payment · No subscription · 30-day refund policy
- 30-day refund policy
- Instant access
- Lifetime access
The problem
Sound familiar?
- You brought a puppy home and suddenly everyone has conflicting advice.
- You know socialization matters, but you're unsure what's safe before vaccinations are finished.
- Your puppy nips hands, jumps up and gets wild in the evenings.
- Collars, brushing and nail trims are already a struggle.
- You're not sure what to teach first, or how to fit training into a busy day.
None of that means your dog is bad, or that you've failed. Your dog has learned a routine, and routines can be re-learned.
The key insight
Why a long list of commands isn't the answer
The first few months are a sensitive time: AVSAB describes the first three months as the primary socialization period, when positive early experiences matter most. What usually helps is not a long list of commands, but a predictable daily rhythm, positive and well-paced new experiences planned with your vet, gentle handling practice, and a few core skills taught with rewards. Normal puppy behaviors like mouthing and jumping are easier to redirect than to punish, and many 'wild' moments are simply an overtired puppy who needs a nap.
How it works
The 3-part Puppy Foundations method
- 1
Set up the first week
A puppy-safe home, a rest area, play area and potty spot, and a daily loop of sleep, potty, play and 1–2 minute training sessions.
- 2
Socialize and handle gently
Plan short, safe experiences with your vet, read body language so every experience goes at your puppy's pace, and practise consent-based handling for collars, paws, ears, brushing and pretend vet exams.
- 3
Teach first skills and manners
A marker word, name, sit, down, a mat settle, beginner recall, leave it and trade. Then redirect mouthing and jumping without punishment, and protect nap time.
The goal
The everyday rhythm you'll build
Wake, potty, a short game or a 1–2 minute training session, potty, nap. A loop your puppy can settle into, with socialization, handling and first skills fitted in around it, and clear signs for when to call your vet.
- A clear structure for the first weeks at home
- A socialization plan you build with your vet, instead of guessing
- Calmer grooming and vet visits through gradual, consent-based handling practice
- Humane ways to handle nipping, jumping and evening zoomies
One-time payment · No subscription · 30-day refund policy
Everything included
What you get today
21 video lessons
Short, narrated lessons across 6 modules, about 70 minutes in all
Printable workbook
26 sections: checklists, planners, practice logs and quick-reference cards
Socialization plan and practice logs
Plan one or two short, safe experiences a day, then log gear, touch, skills, crate and potty steps
4-page quick start
Do-today checklist, socialization in one line, everyday manners and when to get help
Puppy Foundations Program
$49one-time
- 21 video lessons across 6 modules
- Printable 26-section workbook and 4-page quick start
- Socialization plan, practice logs and a When to Call card
- Lifetime access on any device
- 30-day refund policy
One-time payment · No subscription · 30-day refund policy
Inside the program
6 modules, 21 short lessons
1Your First Week Together3 lessons
- ▸ Setting Up a Puppy-Safe Home · 3 min
- ▸ A Predictable Daily Rhythm · 3 min
- ▸ Your First Vet Visit Checklist · 3 min
2Socialization the Gentle Way4 lessons
- ▸ Why Early Experiences Matter · 4 min
- ▸ Planning Safe Socialization With Your Vet · 4 min
- ▸ Reading Puppy Body Language · 3 min
- ▸ Going at Your Puppy's Pace · 3 min
3Handling & Care Routines3 lessons
- ▸ Collar and Harness Comfort · 4 min
- ▸ Touch Tolerance Games · 3 min
- ▸ Grooming & Vet-Visit Practice · 3 min
4Core Skills4 lessons
- ▸ Name Response & Marker Word · 3 min
- ▸ Sit, Down & Settle on a Mat · 3 min
- ▸ Come When Called (Beginner) · 3 min
- ▸ Leave It and Trade · 4 min
5Everyday Manners4 lessons
- ▸ Mouthing and Play Biting · 5 min
- ▸ Jumping Up — Four on the Floor · 3 min
- ▸ Crate & Alone-Time Basics · 4 min
- ▸ Potty Training Essentials · 3 min
6Sleep, Play & Troubleshooting3 lessons
- ▸ Puppy Sleep and Overtiredness · 3 min
- ▸ Play That Builds Good Habits · 3 min
- ▸ When to Call Your Vet or a Professional · 4 min
Your options
How it compares
| Puppy Foundations | Scolding & 'alpha' methods | YouTube videos | Private trainer / behavior pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socialization planned around your vet's advice | Varies | Varies | ||
| Humane, reward-based methods | Varies | Varies | ||
| Step-by-step plan in one place | ||||
| Practise on your own schedule | ||||
| Best for fear, guarding or bites that break skin | ||||
| Cost | $49 one-time | Free | Free | Usually much more per session |
If your puppy shows persistent fear, stiffens or growls over food or toys, bites hard enough to break skin, or panics when alone, talk to your vet and a qualified behavior professional. The program's final lesson lists the warning signs in one place.
The plan
How your first weeks unfold
- Week 1
Settle in
Puppy-proofing, a rest area and potty spot, your daily rhythm, and your questions ready for the first vet visit.
- Then
Gentle socialization
Your vet's guidance written down, one or two short, safe experiences a day, and a few days of body-language spotting.
- Alongside
Handling and first skills
Gear steps, the touch ladder and one care skill a day, plus marker, name, sit, down, settle, recall and leave it.
- Keep going
Manners and habits
Mouthing, greetings, crate and alone time, potty essentials, naps and play, with the When to Call card on the fridge.
A framework, not a deadline. Your puppy sets the pace, and every puppy develops differently.
Honest fit check
Is this right for your dog?
A great fit if…
- Owners of puppies roughly 8 weeks to 6 months old, and owners preparing to bring one home
- First-time puppy owners who want a calm, structured plan
- Owners who want reward-based training without dominance or 'alpha' methods
Not the right fit if…
- Puppies showing persistent fear, growling or stiffening over food or toys, or bites that break skin. Please talk to your vet and a qualified behavior professional.
- Puppies with signs of distress when alone (persistent howling, drooling, damage, panic).
- Anyone looking for vaccination, diet or medical guidance. That's your vet's job.
Try it for 30 days
30-day refund policy: if the course isn't right for you, contact support within 30 days of purchase.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to socialize my puppy before all vaccinations are done?
That's a question for your veterinarian, because disease risk varies by puppy and by area. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior supports carefully managed socialization before vaccinations are complete, with precautions such as cleanable class floors and avoiding dog parks, and Dogs Trust suggests carrying your puppy in public until they're fully protected. The course helps you build a plan with your vet, but it doesn't give vaccination advice.
When can my puppy start a puppy class?
Ask your vet. AVSAB's position statement says classes can start as early as 7 to 8 weeks, with at least one set of vaccines given at least 7 days before the first class, a first deworming, and vaccines kept up to date. VCA's veterinary behaviorists suggest looking for classes with clear health rules: vaccinated, parasite-free puppies, a cleanable space, and sick puppies kept home.
What age is this program for?
It's designed for puppies from about 8 weeks to 6 months, and for people preparing to bring a puppy home. Many exercises also suit older puppies and young adult dogs who are new to training.
My puppy bites a lot. Is that normal?
Mouthing and play biting are common in puppies, especially when they're overtired, and Dogs Trust notes most puppies grow out of it. The course covers redirection, calm pauses and rest. Bites that break skin, biting with a stiff body and lips pulled back, sudden increases in biting, or growling or stiffening over food or toys are reasons to talk to your vet and a qualified behavior professional.
Does it include full potty training?
It includes the essentials. The separate Puppy Potty Training Plan goes much deeper, with schedules by age, troubleshooting and a three-week plan.
How much time do I need each day?
Short sessions of a minute or two, several times a day, suit puppies best. The daily rhythm lesson shows how to fit them around naps, meals and potty trips.
Do you use punishment or 'alpha' methods?
No. Everything is reward-based, in line with AVSAB's Humane Dog Training position statement, which recommends reward-based methods for all dog training and describes dominance and 'alpha' ideas as outdated. Handling practice is consent-based, with no pinning or restraint.
My puppy cries in the crate. What should I do?
Go back to the last step your puppy was comfortable with and progress more slowly, as the crate lesson shows. Never use the crate as punishment. Persistent distress, like non-stop howling, drooling, trying to escape or panicking, is a reason to talk to your vet and a qualified behavior professional rather than pushing through.
Will you tell me what to feed my puppy, or how much exercise they need?
No. Diet, feeding amounts, treats for special diets, exercise limits, chews and parasite control are your vet's call, and the course's first vet visit checklist helps you ask the right questions.
My puppy seems scared of lots of things. Will this course fix that?
The course shows you how to keep new experiences positive and well paced, but it isn't a treatment for fear. AVSAB advises owners of fearful puppies to seek veterinary guidance. Please talk to your vet, who can refer you to a veterinary behaviorist or credentialed behavior consultant.
Will my puppy be fully trained at the end?
No program can promise that. Every puppy develops differently. This one gives you solid routines and first skills to keep building on, and socialization should continue through adolescence.
Is this course reviewed by a vet or a credentialed behavior professional?
No. It's an educational course researched and written with AI assistance from published veterinary and animal-welfare guidance, which is cited on every lesson. It hasn't been reviewed by a veterinarian or credentialed behavior professional, and it isn't a substitute for advice from your vet.
What's your refund policy?
We offer a 30-day refund policy. If the course isn't right for you, contact support within 30 days of purchase.
Give your puppy's first weeks a calm, clear plan.
Start today with lesson 1 and the Getting Started Checklist. If the program isn't right for you, contact support within 30 days for a refund.
One-time payment · No subscription · 30-day refund policy
Where the methods come from
- Socialization lessons draw on the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's Puppy Socialization position statement and always route timing decisions to your vet (no endorsement implied).
- Reward-based methods, in line with AVSAB's 2021 Humane Dog Training position statement (no endorsement implied).
- Built from published guidance by VCA's veterinary behaviorists, AAHA, the ASPCA, Dogs Trust, Battersea, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue's Center for Animal Welfare Science and the UC Davis Clinical Animal Behavior Service, plus peer-reviewed research. None of these organizations has reviewed or endorsed this course.
- Every lesson lists its sources, and we flag where sources differ (for example, on socialization timing and precautions) or where something is our own practical convention.
- Position Statement on Puppy Socialization (AVSAB)
- Position Statement on Humane Dog Training (AVSAB)
- How to Choose a Trainer (AVSAB)
- 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines: Life Stage Checklist (Puppy) (AAHA)
- Puppy Behavior and Training: Socialization and Fear Prevention (VCA Animal Hospitals (LifeLearn))
- Puppy Behavior and Training: Handling Exercises (VCA Animal Hospitals (LifeLearn))
- Play Biting in Puppies (VCA Animal Hospitals (LifeLearn))
- Puppy Behavior Training: Sit, Down, Stand and Stay (VCA Animal Hospitals (LifeLearn))
- Training Your Puppy to Come, Wait, and Follow (VCA Animal Hospitals (LifeLearn))
- Puppy-proofing 101 (VCA Animal Hospitals)
Honest limits
- This program doesn't give medical or vaccination advice; your veterinarian decides vaccine timing, outings, parasite control, diet and exercise.
- It does not treat fear, aggression, resource guarding or separation-related problems. Those need a vet and a qualified behavior professional.
- Every puppy develops differently; there's no set timeline for any skill and no promise of a particular adult temperament.
- It takes short, frequent practice sessions most days.
- It includes only the essentials of potty training; the full Puppy Potty Training Plan is a separate program.
- Educational content only. It has not been reviewed by a veterinarian or credentialed behavior professional and isn't veterinary advice.
- No results are guaranteed.
Results vary with practice and with each dog.