Faith Tsoi
- Aug 31, 2023
- 2 min read

When is the best time to start puppy training?

Can I take my puppy out even if they are not fully vaccinated? Can they attend Puppy Class? Can they go to the dog park?

A puppy has just arrived home, but it is barking constantly, and there is toilet accidents everywhere. What should I do?

If you're a first-time dog owner, all of the above are likely questions on your mind. Where should you start to address these concerns?

Here are some key points to share:

1. Make sure to catch the best moment for puppy socialization – before 4 months old

This period usually occurs within the first few weeks to a few months after a puppy is born. During this time, puppies are highly sensitive to their environment, humans, other animals, and various stimuli. This is a critical time for puppies to develop correct and positive responses to the outside world. By exposing them to different sounds, smells, scenes, people, and other animals, puppies can build trust and learn proper social behaviors. Owners should provide positive social experiences to help puppies adapt to various situations.

You might worry about not taking your puppy outside until they've received all three vaccine shots, but by the time the vaccines are complete, your puppy might be over 4 months old, and you would have missed the prime socialization period!

Even though puppies haven't received all their vaccinations, they can still go outside and explore the world. However, avoid high-risk places such as dog parks. Apart from the potential exposure to unknown viruses and bacteria, puppies might become overly excited or fearful of other dogs after visiting a dog park. Socialization should be gradual and not rushed.

Therefore, puppies can participate in Puppy Classes and have positive interactions with fully vaccinated dogs.

2. When bringing a puppy home, don't give them too much "freedom."

Newly arrived puppies need time to adjust and require plenty of rest. It's recommended to limit their activity space and place it in an area with fewer people around. This can also increase the success rate of potty training.