Week 1
Settle in safely
Adoption day onwards
This week's goals
- Set up a quiet sleeping area and bathroom routine.
- Confine your puppy to one or two rooms initially.
- Establish a simple feeding schedule (3–4 meals a day for most pups).
Milestones to watch for
- Puppy knows where their food, water, and crate are.
- First trip outside on a leash.
Things you'll want this week
- Crate sized to current weight + 6 months — A correctly sized crate is the single most useful house-training tool.
- ID tag with your phone number
- Adjustable harness (not flat collar) for leash walks
- Enzymatic cleaner for accidents
Discuss with your vet:
- Book a first vet visit within 48–72 hours.
💡 Use puppy gates rather than letting them roam — fewer rules to enforce, fewer accidents to clean.
Week 2
House training fundamentals
Week 2 home
This week's goals
- Take your puppy out on a schedule (every 2 hours plus after meals, naps, and play).
- Reward outdoor toileting within 3 seconds of finishing.
- Start tooth handling — short, positive sessions.
Milestones to watch for
- First overnight without an accident.
- Comes to their name in low-distraction settings.
Discuss with your vet:
- Confirm vaccination schedule with your vet.
Week 3
Socialization window opens
8–10 weeks
This week's goals
- Expose your puppy to different surfaces, sounds, and people.
- Begin short positive socialisation visits — vet office, hardware store carry trips.
- Avoid dog parks until your vet clears vaccinations.
Milestones to watch for
- Sits on cue 3 out of 5 times.
- Tolerates a brush for 30 seconds.
Week 4
Loose-leash basics
~9–11 weeks
This week's goals
- Practice short on-leash walks with food rewards for staying close.
- Begin "name game" reps — call name, mark, reward.
- Introduce a wider variety of safe surfaces and sounds.
Milestones to watch for
- Walks 5 metres without pulling.
Week 5
Bite inhibition and play
~10–12 weeks
This week's goals
- Redirect mouthing to chew toys — never to hands or clothing.
- Use yelps and short play withdrawals to teach soft mouth.
- Practise hand-feeding meals for low-resource-guarding risk.
Milestones to watch for
- Settles in the crate during a meal.
Week 6
First grooming and handling
~11–13 weeks
This week's goals
- Daily 30-second brushing and paw handling — pair with treats.
- Begin tooth brushing reps with puppy toothpaste.
- Introduce car rides with treats and short trips.
Milestones to watch for
- Voluntarily offers a paw.
Week 7
Predictable schedule
~12–14 weeks
This week's goals
- Lock in feeding and toilet schedule.
- Continue daily 10-minute training sessions, twice a day.
- Plan first vet wellness check if not already booked.
Milestones to watch for
- Sleeps through the night with no toilet break.
Week 8
Recall foundation
~13–15 weeks
This week's goals
- Practise emergency recall on a long line.
- Pair the recall cue with high-value rewards only.
- Avoid calling the puppy for things they dislike.
Milestones to watch for
- Returns from 5m on cue in low-distraction environments.
Week 9
Stranger and guest etiquette
~14–16 weeks
This week's goals
- Practise "four on the floor" greetings.
- Reward calmness around the doorbell.
- Plan short, structured visits with familiar adults.
Milestones to watch for
- Greets one new guest without jumping.
Week 10
Two safe walks a day
~15–17 weeks
This week's goals
- Build up to two 20-minute walks daily, age-appropriate.
- Avoid forced exercise (jogging) until joints mature.
- Begin practising "leave it" with safe distractions.
Milestones to watch for
- Walks past another dog without lunging.
Week 11
Independence work
~16–18 weeks
This week's goals
- Practise short solo time in their safe zone.
- Increase duration gradually — measure in seconds, then minutes.
- Pair alone time with a long-lasting chew.
Milestones to watch for
- Settles alone for 30 minutes.
Week 12
Reassess and plan ahead
~17–20 weeks
This week's goals
- Review what is working and what is not — write a 4-week plan.
- Discuss spay/neuter timing with your vet.
- Consider a puppy class or one-to-one trainer if behaviours need attention.
Milestones to watch for
- Has a calm default in the home, knows three reliable cues.