Sit can wait! - The First Things Your Puppy Actually Needs to Learn.

Getting a puppy is equal parts magic and mild panic.

One minute you’re staring at a tiny, perfect creature thinking I would die for you, and the next you’re googling things like “is it normal for my puppy to walk like that?”

One of the first questions I get asked as a trainer is: “What should I teach my puppy first?”

And honestly, my answer is usually not what people expect.

It’s not sit. It’s not stay. It’s definitely not trying to create a tiny robot who does tricks on command.

Modern puppies don’t need old school obedience first. They need to feel safe. and the best way to get there is to invest in building communication, confidence, and a relationship that is reliable. Here’s what I suggest to focus on instead.

Teach your puppy how learning works

Before we worry about behaviours, we need to teach puppies how to learn. That means helping them understand when they’ve done something right and when they are crossing a boundary you've made

This is where a marker comes in.

A marker can be as simple as the word “yes.” It’s just feedback, it tells your puppy, that exact thing you just did? That’s it. correct!

Spend a few minutes a day pairing your marker with food. Marker, treat. Marker, treat. You’re basically becoming a slightly unhinged but very kind Pavlov. ( Points if you get that reference.)

Once that connection is there, you can start marking moments you like in everyday life. Your puppy engages with you on a walk. YES. They choose to disengage from something exciting. YES. They offer calm behaviour without being asked. YES.

Your puppy’s name is sacred

Your puppy’s name is not something we chant louder and louder while they ignore us. Your puppy’s name should mean: look at me, good things happen here.

Start simple. Say their name, reward. Say it once, wait, reward when they respond. Over time, build this around small distractions.

If you protect your puppy’s name early, it becomes the foundation of recall, focus, and communication later.

Playing tug is training

If I could give every puppy owner one piece of advice, it would be this: get on the floor and play with your dog.

Tug is one of the most underrated training tools we have. It builds engagement, teaches give-and-take, and creates a dog who wants to work with you, not just for food.

The key is that tug toys don’t live on the floor. They come out with you. They have value because you are involved.

This is how you build a relationship that holds up when food isn’t enough and distractions are high.

Teach them the downs as well as the ups.

Puppies are basically chaos with legs. Helping them learn how to regulate themselves early makes a huge difference to confidence and impulse control.

One of my favourite tools is "Place". This might be a bed, a platform, or a raised surface your puppy can step onto with all four paws.

At first, it’s just about getting on. Then staying on for a moment. Over time, it becomes a place to settle, to focus, and to pause before exploding back into puppy life.

"Touch" the snoot boop

Teaching your puppy to touch your hand with their nose might seem insignificant, but it’s one of the most versatile skills you’ll ever teach.

It is the foundation of teaching recall, a great way to redirect them, a confidence builder and a bridge into trick training.

All you’re doing is presenting your hand, marking the moment they investigate, and rewarding. Simple, clear, effective.

These skills teach your puppy how to think, how to engage, and how to navigate the world with you.

To me that’s what modern dog training is really about.

Want support doing this properly?

Click! has a Puppy School now!

We focus on:

It’s a 4-week course designed to help puppies learn essential life skills, and just as importantly, to help you understand what your puppy actually needs from you.

The themes for each class are:

• Leadership, Obedience & Boundaries – because life is hard enough and the humans should be the ones in control.

  
  

• Loose Lead Walking & Recall – learn how to enjoy walks together instead of being dragged down the street.

  
  

• Toilet, Crate & Feeding Rituals – the basics done right.

  
  

• Fulfilment, Enrichment & Stimulation – happy brains, happy dogs, happy families.

  
  

Our next Puppy School intake starts February 17th, 2026, and it’s designed for real people with real puppies living in the real world.

If you want to set your puppy up with strong foundations, without pressure or outdated rules, we’d love to have you.

Jono From Click!

Check out Puppy School