Bringing a Puppy Home: The Right Way to Start
Most puppy owners don’t fail because they don’t care…They fail because they start wrong.
Too much freedom. Too many toys. Too many “cute” moments that turn into bad habits.
If you want a calm, obedient, reliable dog, it starts the day your puppy comes home.
Start Training Immediately (Day One)
There is no “adjustment period.” Your puppy is learning from:
Every interaction
Every correction
Every thing you allow
Wait a week… and you’ve already trained the wrong behavior.
The Only Commands You Need Right Now
Keep it simple and consistent:
Sit
Whoa (hold)
Come
Place
Down
Even at young age, give command ONCE and make it have a reaction, if you command 5 or 6 times your pup will know there is time before reacting instead of on the first command.
That’s your foundation.
Everything else builds from this.
Commands are owners choice. Just stay consistent & everyone in household should use the same commands.
Toys: You’re Giving Too Many
Unlimited toys = distracted dog.
Instead:
Limit access
Rotate toys
Use them with purpose
You should be the most valuable thing in your puppy’s world, not a pile of toys. NOTE: Toys with no squeek device inside are recommended .
No Tug-of-War… Right Now
Early tug builds:
Possession
Overstimulation
Lack of control
Hard mouth
There may be a time for it later, depending on your doing with your dog
Right now, you’re building obedience, not competition.
Stop Relying on Training Treats
This is where most people weaken their dog. If your dog only listens when food is present… They’re not trained.
They’re negotiating. Build response through:
Timing
Consistency
Leadership
Not bribery.
Feeding Schedule (Non-Negotiable)
No free feeding. Ever.
8–12 weeks: 3 meals per day
12–16 weeks: 2 meals per day
Rules:
Set feeding times
Remove food after 10–15 minutes
No grazing
Add water to food. This adds more hydration.
This alone fixes a lot of problems.
House Training
Bell Training the Door
Hang a bell on the door. Every time you go out:
Ring the bell with their paw or nose
Immediately go outside
They learn fast: Bell = outside
Take Them Out Constantly
Especially:
After waking up
After eating
After playing
Important: When they wake up, they need to go out immediately.
Water Cutoff
Stop water around 7 PM. This reduces overnight accidents and speeds up training.
Crate Training: A Must
Even If It’s Hard at First
Skipping this creates chaos later. A crate gives your dog: structure, security, and a place to settle
The First Few Days
Your puppy just left their litter.
They will cry. That’s normal.
What Actually Works
Keep the crate near you at night
Calmly place a hand on their back if needed
Keep everything low energy
We’ve also had great success using: A stuffed dog with a heartbeat device. It mimics littermates and helps them settle faster.
The Rule Most People Break
Do not let them out when they’re whining. Only release them when calm. Otherwise you teach:
Noise = reward
The Truth Most People Don’t Want to Hear
The dog you have in 6 months…Is being created right now.
You either: Build structure early OR Spend the next year fixing problems
Want Your Puppy Started the Right Way?
Most people try to figure this out themselves.
That’s why they end up frustrated.
At Silverback Griffs at Devenney Ranch Dog Training, we build:
Obedience that holds under pressure
Dogs that listen the first time
Real-world reliability (not treat-dependent behavior)
Apply for Training
We keep a limited number of dogs at a time to maintain quality.
If you’re serious about doing this right:
Call or text: 970-389-6154 or contact us directly to start the application process