5 Things Your Puppy Should Learn Before 6 Months
The first few months matter most
Puppies are learning every minute. What’s safe, what’s scary, and how to navigate a big, busy world. The skills you build now will shape their confidence for years to come.
Here are five simple things every puppy should practice before 6 months old 👇
1. Focus Around Distractions
You don’t need perfect obedience, just a puppy who can check in with you even when the world feels exciting.
Start by rewarding eye contact or name response in calm settings, then add small distractions (a person walking by, a toy, another dog in sight).
2. Polite Leash Skills
Your puppy doesn’t come pre-programmed to walk nicely on leash — they’re just excited to explore! But before they’re fully vaccinated, most of this learning should happen indoors or in safe, low-traffic areas like your yard or hallway.
Start with short sessions and focus on connection rather than distance. Reward your puppy anytime they look at you, follow your movement, or walk beside you without pulling. These tiny moments teach your pup that staying close to you pays off.
Once your puppy is fully vaccinated (usually around 5–6 months), you can take those skills on the road!
👉 Try our Loose Leash Walking & Polite Greetings class! Perfect for active city pups who are ready to practice calm focus around distractions.
3. Confidence With New People and Dogs
Socialization isn’t just playtime. It’s about creating positive, low-pressure experiences. For some puppies, that might mean confidently greeting a new person. For others, it’s simply watching the world from a comfortable distance.
Your goal isn’t to force interaction; it’s to help your puppy feel safe and curious. Every calm exposure builds trust.
Keep new encounters short, upbeat, and easy: a quick sniff, a gentle hello, or even just seeing another dog walk by without reacting. Mix up what your puppy experiences — people of different sizes, voices, and movements; dogs of various breeds and energy levels.
These small, positive moments teach your puppy that the world is friendly, predictable, and nothing to worry about.
4. Calm at Home
Puppies need help learning how to turn off too!
While play and training are important, many young dogs never get to practice relaxing. Overexcitement often leads to unwanted behaviors like jumping, barking, and chewing — all because your puppy hasn’t learned how to settle.
Why “Calm” Is a Skill
Relaxation doesn’t come naturally for most puppies. It’s something they learn through repetition and reward. Teaching your puppy to rest helps them:
Develop better self-control
Recover from stimulation faster
Feel confident in new or busy environments
How to Teach Calm at Home
Start with short sessions and make it easy for your puppy to succeed:
✅ Create a calm space. Set up a comfy mat or bed in a quiet area.
✅ Reward calm behavior. Drop treats when your puppy lies down, sighs, or softens their body.
✅ Use enrichment to settle. Offer a long-lasting chew or scatter a few treats on the mat.
✅ Add small distractions. Practice while someone walks by, a door closes, or you move around the room.
Each time your puppy chooses to stay relaxed, mark it with a “yes!” or a quiet reward. Over time, they’ll learn that calm behavior makes good things happen.
The Long-Term Payoff
A puppy who can relax at home becomes easier to live with, easier to train, and more adaptable everywhere — from vet visits to patios to family gatherings. Once your pup has mastered calm at home, try out our Paws on the Patio class!
5. Handling and Grooming Tolerance
Vet visits and grooming are part of life. Start gently introducing handling now
Pair touch (ears, paws, collar) with treats so your puppy learns human hands predict good things.
🎓 Ready to Start Training? Join Our Next Puppy Class!
Our fall Puppy Training class in Chicago starts October 18th.
We’ll help you build all five of these skills in a fun, supportive group setting. Plus, each class leaves time at the end for playtime and socialization with other pups.
👉 Join the next Puppy Training Class before spots fill up!