Ages & stages
What to train a puppy at 8 weeks
An 8-week-old puppy has usually just left its litter, and everything in your home is new: the floors, the stairs, the dishwasher, you. This is not the week for a full obedience plan. It is the week for a handful of habits that make the next few months easier, taught in tiny pieces between naps.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Start here
Five small jobs for the first weeks home.
Name first: say it once in a bright voice, and mark and reward the moment the puppy looks at you. Crate next: feed meals in it with the door open, and close it only briefly once the puppy settles. For potty, take the puppy out after waking, eating and playing, every time, to the same spot, and reward right there. Never make a puppy wait for the door to teach patience.
Handling is the quiet one people skip. Touch a paw, an ear or the collar for a second, then give a treat, and stop before the puppy squirms. Exposure means letting the puppy notice the vacuum, a doorbell recording at low volume or a hat from across the room, then rewarding calm curiosity. If something worries the puppy, add distance; never carry or lure it closer.
- Name, marked the instant it looks
- Crate meals with the door open
- Potty trips after sleep, food, play
- Two-second handling, then a treat
Leave for later
What can wait, and who can help.
Formal heel, long stays, polite greetings at the door and anything off-leash can wait until the puppy is a little older and its attention span has grown. So can most tools: a puppy this young mostly needs a light collar or harness and plenty of rewards. Ask your vet where it is sensible to take your puppy before vaccinations are complete, and keep children as watchers rather than trainers.
If you want to do the work yourself, Private Training is $150 plus GST for a one-hour session and leaves you with a written plan for the week, which suits a household building its first routine. Puppy Fundamentals, a three-week board and train at $2,775 plus GST, works on crate comfort, name recognition and calm exposure to new sights and sounds. The consultation is where we suggest one, and the lighter option when it covers the need.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
What should I teach my 8 week old puppy first?
Start with the puppy's name, a calm crate and a steady potty routine. Add short handling and quiet exposure to household sounds. Everything else can be layered on as the puppy grows.
Can you start training a puppy at 8 weeks?
Yes, as long as it looks like play and lasts a minute or two. Puppies this age can learn their name, simple routines and that the crate is a good place. Keep it short and end while the puppy still wants more.
How do I stop my 8 week old puppy biting?
Mouthing is normal at this age, but you do not have to put up with it on your hands. Offer a toy to chew instead, and calmly end play if teeth keep landing on skin. If biting seems intense or fearful, ask your vet or a professional to take a look.
Should I crate train an 8 week old puppy?
Many owners find a crate makes potty training and safe rest much easier. Build it slowly with meals and chews inside, short closed-door periods once the puppy is settled, and plenty of trips outside. Never use the crate as punishment.
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Plan your puppy's first weeks
Book a consultation and we will help you choose between hands-on lessons and Puppy Fundamentals for your new puppy.
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