The First Weeks of Training, Simplified

Forget hour-long drills. In the first weeks, training is three tiny habits practised in two-minute bursts between naps — and they prevent the vast majority of problems owners call us about later.

First: charge the name. Say it once, then reward the glance — ten times a day. A dog whose name predicts good things is a dog you can reach in any emergency.

Second: reward calm. Drop a treat between the paws whenever your puppy settles on their own. You are not teaching "down"; you are teaching the idea that settling down pays — the foundation of every well-behaved adult dog.

Third: make recall a game before you ever need it. Run backwards, crouch down, celebrate like they just won the lottery when they reach you. Never call a puppy to scold them, and never chase — be the most fun thing in the field.