People ask us all the time what they should teach their puppy first. Sit, down, stay, roll over, shake? Honestly, you can skip most of that for now. If your puppy knows three simple things by 12 weeks, life at home gets a lot easier.
1. Look At Me
This one is our favorite, and it’s the one most people forget. Hold a small treat near your puppy’s nose, then slowly bring it up to your eyes. The second your puppy glances at your face, say “Yes” and give the treat. That’s it.
Why it matters: a puppy who will look at you can be redirected from almost anything. A squirrel, a visitor, the neighbor’s dog. You get their attention back first, then you can ask for something else.
2. Sit
Sit is the old standby for a reason. Hold a treat at your puppy’s nose and slowly move it back over their head. Their rear end drops as their nose follows the treat. Say “Yes” the moment it touches the floor.
Don’t push on their back, and don’t repeat the word over and over. Say “sit” one time and wait. Puppies figure out fast that the word only counts once. A sit at the door before it opens or before a meal turns into good manners without you even trying.
3. Leave It
Put a treat in your closed fist and let your puppy sniff and nibble at your hand. They will paw and lick, and that’s fine. The moment they back off, even a little, say “Yes” and give them a different treat from your other hand. Not the one in your fist.
After a few days they’ll start backing off as soon as they hear the words. This is the command that keeps socks, dropped chicken bones and mystery stuff on the sidewalk out of your puppy’s mouth. With Goldendoodles, who love to carry everything around, you will use it daily.
A few tips that make it stick
- Keep sessions to about five minutes. Puppies tire out fast.
- Do a little exercise first. A tired puppy learns better than a wild one.
- Use tiny soft treats so you aren’t filling them up.
- Reward the instant they do it right, not three seconds later.
- Stay calm and cheerful. If they get it wrong, just reset and try again, no scolding.
Don’t worry if your puppy isn’t perfect at 12 weeks. They’re babies. If you practice a few minutes a day, these three will be solid before you know it, and they give you a great base for everything else down the road.
Puppy Pals Team