A beginner's guide to the first 8 weeks

The first eight weeks shape your puppy for life. Weeks one to four are all about warmth, milk and gentle handling from the breeder — good breeders expose pups to household sounds, different textures and kind hands from day one.

Weeks 5–8: the learning window

From week five, introduce new sounds, surfaces and friendly people in short, positive sessions. Start crate training immediately: feed meals inside the crate so it reads as a bedroom, not a prison. Build a consistent toilet routine — out after every sleep, meal and play session, with a party (and a tiny treat) for every success outdoors.

Train tiny, reward big

• Keep sessions under five minutes, several times a day.
• Reward every good choice with a pea-sized treat — our low-calorie training snacks are made for exactly this.
• Socialise widely before sixteen weeks: buses, umbrellas, friendly dogs, children.
• Swap forbidden chews for a toy instead of telling off — puppies learn what TO do fastest.

Small steps now prevent big problems later. Browse our puppy essentials for food, crates, toys and training gear.