Introduction & Table of Contents
DIY Puppy Guide and Reference Library

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, joyful, and… let’s be honest, sometimes overwhelming. Between sleepless nights, accidents in the house, and that endless puppy energy, it’s easy to feel unsure about whether you’re “doing it right.” You’re not alone—every puppy owner starts here.

When I brought home my own puppy, Apple, I thought I was prepared. I had done the research, chosen carefully, and was bursting with excitement. But Apple turned out to be a sensitive dog with big feelings—nervous with new dogs, hyper around people, and reactive to unexpected noises. All the books and videos I had studied couldn’t fully prepare me for the day-to-day reality of raising her.

That experience changed everything for me. It’s why I became a trainer, and it’s why I created this guide: the resource I wished I had back then. My goal is to give you a clear, step-by-step roadmap through the whirlwind of puppyhood, so you don’t have to piece it together from scratch the way I did.

Instead of endless, conflicting Google searches, you’ll have one place to turn for trusted strategies, practical demonstrations, and the big-picture perspective that makes everything click. We’ve done the heavy lifting—listening to countless podcasts, watching hours of videos, and sorting through mountains of advice—so you can focus on what matters most: raising a confident, happy, well-adjusted puppy.

This isn’t just about teaching your puppy to “sit” or “stay.” It’s about supporting emotional development, preventing common behavior problems before they start, and building the kind of bond that makes training not just effective—but deeply rewarding.

Whether you’re using this guide on its own or alongside any of our training programs, it’s designed to grow with you. You’ll revisit sections at different stages of your puppy’s development, finding fresh insights and tools to help you through each new challenge.

Take a deep breath—you don’t have to figure it all out at once. Start here, follow the roadmap, and trust that with patience and consistency, you and your puppy are building something wonderful together.

A Note on Obedience Skills in this Guide

Rather than offering a standalone module with all obedience skills in one chapter, basic commands are woven throughout this guide wherever they support good behavior, confidence, and emotional regulation. You’ll find clear, easy-to-follow instructions paired with practical demonstrations and reference resources. This approach reflects what I learned raising Apple—some skills only make sense in context. Integrating them into everyday routines is what helps puppies truly understand and retain them. Below I summarize basic obedience skills contained within the guide, and where they are located.

Core Obedience Skills – helping your puppy focus, follow instructions, and respond reliably

Sit, Stay, Down Stays (“Relaxation” library page)
Coming When Called / Recall (“Play and Training” library page)
Leave It (“Typical Puppy Behaviors” library page)
Drop / Out (“Training and Play” library page, under teaching Tug)
Leash walking skills (“Typical Puppy Behaviors” library page)

Manners & Greetings – teaching your puppy to navigate polite interactions

Door Manners (“Crate Training” subpage under “Contain, Restrain, or Train” library page)
Polite Greetings (“Socialization” library page)
Collar Grab (“Socialization” library page)

Handling & Focus – encouraging calm engagement and responsiveness

Touch / Hand Target (“Distract and Redirect with Games” library page)
Rewarding Mechanics (“Rewarding Mechanics” library page)

Behavior Management – preventing and redirecting common puppy challenges

Jumping (“Typical Puppy Behaviors” library page)
Leash Pulling (“Typical Puppy Behaviors” library page)
Counter Surfing / Eating off Floors (“Typical Puppy Behaviors” library page)
Potty Training (“Potty Training” library page)
Place (“Relaxation” library page)

By weaving obedience into real-life situations, this guide gives you a clear roadmap while showing the bigger picture. You can practice and learn at your own pace, and the lessons will reinforce what you experience in classes or private sessions—making training both more effective and less overwhelming.

Interested in accessing the full guide?

You can purchase the complete Puppy Training Map and Reference Guide for lifetime access to every section. Work through the material at your own pace, revisit it as your puppy grows, and always have trusted guidance at your fingertips.

Purchase Now - $25

Table of Contents
Here’s a quick look at what’s inside the guide. Each caption highlights either why the page matters or a key insight you won’t want to miss.