Ages & stages
What to train a puppy at 4 months
Four months is a strange, wonderful stage. Your puppy has enough focus to learn real skills, enough teeth to wreck a table leg, and not enough impulse control to use either wisely for long. Ages here are approximate, because puppies develop at their own speed. What follows is where to spend your training minutes now, what to park for later, and how to tell if outside help makes sense.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Priorities right now
Three skills worth your time this month.
Recall foundations come first. Say your puppy's name once, back away a few steps, and reward the moment they reach you, indoors and then in a fenced yard. Keep a long line on for anything outside a fence, held by an adult. Never call your puppy to something unpleasant, like a nail trim or the end of play, or the word loses its value fast.
Leave it and duration round out the list. Manage first: pick up socks, cords and dropped pills so practice never involves a real hazard. For leave it, close a treat in your fist, wait for your puppy to back off, then reward from the other hand. For duration, ask for a sit, count two seconds, reward, and slowly stretch it. Release with a clear word so the stay has an ending.
- Name game toward you, indoors
- Long line outside any fence
- Leave it with a closed fist
- Two-second sits, then stretch
Teething and timing
What the teeth change, and what can wait.
Teething often peaks around this age, and many puppies chew harder and mouth more when their gums are sore. Give them legal options: a rotation of chews sized so they cannot be swallowed, plus a crate or pen break when mouthing gets wild. Never hold still while a puppy grabs at hands or sleeves. Trade the hand for a toy and step away. If the mouth looks painful, ask your vet.
Leave the big projects for later. Off-leash freedom in open spaces, long stays with you out of sight, and crowded patios can wait until recall and impulse control are sturdier. If you want help now, a private session at $150 plus GST gives you a written plan to practise all week. Puppy Fundamentals, a 3-week board and train at $2,775 plus GST, works on name recognition, crate comfort and calm socialization. The consultation points to the smaller option when that fits better.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
What should a 4 month old puppy know?
There is no fixed checklist, because puppies develop at different speeds. Many 4-month-olds can come to their name in a quiet room, back off a closed hand for leave it, and hold a short sit. Gaps at this age are normal, not a failure.
Is 4 months too early for recall training?
No, it is a good time to lay the foundation. Keep it a game indoors and in fenced areas, and use a long line held by an adult anywhere else. Real off-leash reliability comes later, after much more practice around distractions.
How do you stop a teething 4 month old puppy from biting?
Manage first: offer a safe chew before mouthing starts and use a crate or pen break when your puppy gets overtired. Swap hands for toys and step away rather than holding still. If chewing seems painful or the gums look unusual, check with your vet.
Can a 4 month old puppy go to board and train?
Puppy Fundamentals is built for puppies in their key learning window and works on crate comfort, leash manners, name recognition and calm socialization. Whether it suits your puppy is a consultation question. If private sessions at home are enough, we will say so.
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