Western Mass
Dog Training
Puppy
Training Guide
1) Introducing Your Puppy to its New Home
Congratulations on your new puppy!
Your first week together is all about helping your puppy feel safe and secure in their new environment while beginning to build a trusting connection with you.
If possible, plan to take the first full week off to focus on settling in and establishing a predictable routine for your puppy. Keep things simple and calm during this time—avoid too many visitors or busy outings, which can easily overwhelm a young puppy. Instead, focus on gentle routines, confidence-building experiences at home, and positive interactions with you.
Below, you’ll find a list of essential items to have on hand—ideally before your puppy arrives. Many new owners are surprised by how much these small details can make the transition smoother for both them and their pup!
Starting equipment:
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Harness for walking
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Crate: Essential containment tool.
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X-pen or baby gate: Essential containment tools
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Lightweight 6 and 15 ft drag lines: For indoor supervision and outdoor training
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Leash: Regular 6 foot leash for walks
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Treat pouch
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Appropriate toys: For teething, mental stimulation, self-soothing, bonding, and distracting
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Dog bed: Ensure comfort and a designated resting area. Choose a raised edge.
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“Non-toxic” materials: Look for toys that specify non-toxic materials
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Grooming equipment (brush or comb, nail clipper, and dremel)
Things to Avoid:
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No regular flat buckle collar for leash walking until you begin leash training
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No small toys: Avoid toys smaller than your pup’s mouth
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No toys prone to dissection or ingestion, especially when unsupervised
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No corrective tools, such as e-collars or prong collars
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No dollar-store toys: cheap toys can have lead and other toxic materials in them
DETAILS
Crate and an x-pen, and possibly some baby/door gates
Purchase the correct sized crate for your pup, as well as an x-pen. Starting crate training early is essential (See Module II), unless your pup has severe confinement trauma. If crate training seems challenging, consider using an x-pen, which can also serve as a flexible barrier in various situations, like restricting your puppy from certain areas when guests or repairmen are around. Additionally, use a barrier around food preparation to prevent your puppy from scavenging scraps. We have found that used crates and baby gates are plentiful, while x-pens might be easier to purchase new. However, their versatility makes them well worth it!
Leash and drag lines
To get started, purchase a regular 6-foot leash for walking, and two lightweight leashes that you can use to make a 6 and 15 foot drag line by cutting off the handles.
High end lightweight leash recommendation
Low end lightweight leash recommendation
There are not a lot of lightweight puppy leashes on the market. If you want to save money, it’s easy enough to make them yourself with paracord from a hardware store and clips.
Treat pouch
There’s many to choose from, but for a quick low-cost purchase we can recommend this pouch. We like it because it is low cost with a lot of features: different attachment options (belt clip, shoulder strap, waist cinch), drawstring to prevent treats from dropping out, a poop bag dispenser, two zipper pockets for valuables, and a side clip.
Dog bed
There are too many variables, sizes, and preference styles when it comes to recommending a specific dog bed. However, we can suggest two features you will want to look for: a raised edge, as it more clearly delineates the rest area for your dog, and machine washable!
Harness
We strongly recommend using a harness for your puppy initially. Allow your puppy to be a bit spazzy and distracted for now; the harness will not hinder their behavior. The goal is to switch to a regular flat-buckle collar later when we teach leash walking. At that time, we can teach our puppy how it can avoid the pressure it feels when pulling on the collar, without having been desensitized to the feeling. We do not recommend used harnesses. Our preferred harness, which offers both good ergonomics and has a martingale collar that prevents your pup from squirming out, is the Freedom No-pull Harness.
Nail clippers, dremel, and styptic powder
Consider purchasing nail clippers with a guard rather than the "guillotine" style, allowing you to shape the nail cut around the quick. A dremel can help refine the cut. Conditioning your puppy to accept these tools is crucial; visit the final paragraph on the “Consent” page in Module 3 of the DIY Guide.
Additional resource (blog): “Cutting Your Dog’s Nails: How Important Is It Really?”
Toys
Your puppy requires toys for teething, training, distraction, mental stimulation, and bonding. Toys are pivotal for various purposes—from teething and training to mental stimulation and bonding. However, ensure they're size-appropriate, durable, and safe for your puppy. Food toys are particularly useful for relaxation and distraction, especially when frozen.
Experiment to discover which toys your puppy responds to best, as preferences can vary widely among dogs. Ensure the toys are safe and won’t pose a choking hazard, and avoid cheap toys that may have toxic materials. Below we provide some food toy options to consider for your immediate purchases. For other types of toys and play, see the “Play and training" page in Module 5: Training Foundations of the DIY Guide.
Here's a curated list of food toy options to explore: