Puppy training plan - 12 steps

Puppies come usually home at age of 7-8 week. They about 4 critical socialization weeks before this sensitive social time end in the age 12 weeks. During these weeks at new home are important. It's crucial to take puppy to new places and meet new people and dogs. It is also sensitive time so make sure all the experiences are save and give the puppy confidence to face new things in the future.

One the best plans I have come a cross is the so-called 12-step-program. It has simple idea of doing certain things in 12 different way. Here are 12 examples:

1. People

• Meet 12 different person
• For example man with beard and without, different age children, old people, people with big hats, people with umbrellas

2. Playing with 12 different toys

• hard, soft, different materials
• it will help you to keep wide range choices for rewarding in the future and strengthens your relationship

3. Walk at least 12 different surface

• more surfaces you can find the puppy to try the better. 
• this helps the puppy learn move in all future places no matter are they slippery or rough

4. Go and 12 different places

• if you live in the countryside take the puppy in the city and vise versa
• take to puppy to mall (if its aloud)
• animal farm
• agility arena
• etc.

5. 12 different sound

• clapping, firecrackers, gun shots, car horns, drills, vacuum
• make sure you start with distance with loud voices or use cd so that you can control to volume so that the puppy won't get scared
• reward and play with puppy when it ignore the sounds and it's relaxed

6. 12 moving targets

• this good exercise to practice some control to pray and herding instinct
• reward the puppy when it watches calmly cars, bikes, runner, playing kids, cats etc.
• at this point is easier to control and reward right reactions to moving objects this is import thing to all dogs that so interest to chase thing at young age

7. 12 challenges

• going trough tunnels, climbing up the stairs/ fallen trees, balancing games, brain games/ toys
• remember to take consideration puppies physical and mental development, you can ask a breeder for proper exercises for you breed

8. Different people handling your puppy for 12 times

• this helps the puppy take vet checks, medical treatments and grooming as peace of cake

9. Drinking and eating from 12 different cups and places

• this can really help you when you are on the road, you never know what kind of dish you might have to use to feed your dog
• feeding in different places helps the puppy feel relaxed to do basic thing everywhere

10. Playing with 12 different puppies / SAVE adult dogs

• more different looking pups the better
• make sure pups are save and they feel comfortable in the situation

11. Start practicing staying home alone in different time periods 12 times a week

12. Leash work in 12 different times in 12 different places

And so on! This in the MOST important time to so the puppy world in the save way and give it nice experiments that can help the development balanced dog for life. These few weeks can make big difference for the rest of the life of dog. Make them count!!!!