Training a puppy is a whole different ball game than training a dog. Your focus when training a puppy should not be obedience ( sounds crazy, I know).  Rather you should focus on  building confidence and engagement. Obedience can be taught in any stage of a dog’s life, BUT you only have a short window of the puppy stage! 

8-20 weeks are the most crucial weeks in your puppy’s development. During this stage, confidence drills, proper socialization, environmental conditioning and relationship building should be at the forefront of your training! 

This stage of their life will have the most impact on the way your dog views their world. You need to BE SURE the experiences your dog is having are a POSITIVE one. I have seen it time and time again ( on social media) people giggling as their new puppy is barking at the vacuum or broom as they continue egging them on. You’ve basically sealed your fate that your dog will hate vacuums from here on out- especially if you continue tormenting them with these objects as you think it is funny to watch. You’ve just built a pretty strong fear and insecurity in your dog. 

Control who your puppy interacts with! I can not stress this enough. To socialize your dog properly ( whether it be with people or dogs) you want your dog’s experience to be positive, not overwhelming or intimidating. Choose proper socializing partners! 

During this stage proper management is going to be essential. Manage your puppy’s space.  Managing your puppy prevents poor habits from forming. Tools to help manage your puppy include crates, leash tethering, place-board/bed, bones, exercise pens, and baby gates. The more you manage their space, the less likely it is going to be for them to make poor decisions ( pottying in the house, chewing on things, eating something they shouldn’t, jumping on the couch, ect. ) I can not stress this enough. Think about it as your puppy earning their freedom over time as they mature and prove to you that they can handle it. If you can not focus on your puppy you have a couple of options: put them up in a crate, tether them to you or put them in a safe a pen in your view.