[00:00:00] Staci Lemke: Hi everyone, and welcome back to The Well-Mannered Mutt Podcast, the podcast that helps you raise a well-mannered, confident canine companion without all the stress. If this is your first time tuning in, thanks for joining me today, and I hope you become a regular listener. So today on The Well-Mannered Mutt Podcast, I am going to answer yet another question I get from many of my new puppy parents, and that is, what should I teach my puppy first?
[00:00:28] Staci Lemke: Whether your pup just came home yesterday or has already chewed their way through a few slippers. Today’s episode will help you focus on the essentials. I’m talking about the top 10 things you should teach. Your new puppy skills that lay the foundation for a happy, well adjusted dog. Welcome to the Well Mattered Mutt podcast.
[00:00:47] Staci Lemke: I’m Staci Lemke, certified professional dog trainer, registered veterinary technician, and proud owner of Manners for Mutts Dog Training. With over 20 years of experience, I’ve helped countless dog owners just like you, build stronger, happier relationships with their furry friends. From private lessons to online courses, I’m here to help make life with your dog easier and more rewarding.
[00:01:11] Staci Lemke: I believe in training that is kind. Fun and scientifically proven positive reinforcement is at the core of everything I do because it’s the most effective way to teach your dog while strengthening your bond. Whether you’re tackling basic training, solving behavior challenges, or just looking for tips to keep your pup thriving.
[00:01:31] Staci Lemke: You are in the right place. So let’s dive into today’s episode and take the first step toward having the well-mannered mutt you’ve always dreamed of. Just so you know, these are not listed in any order of importance. They’re simply the way they popped into my brain. So let’s get started. Responding to their name.
[00:01:50] Staci Lemke: This is the first step in building a line of communication. You want your puppy to perk up and look at you. When you say their name. You want their name to have value so that when they hear it, they think, Ooh, I better tune in because something good is about to happen for me. Say their name in a cheerful voice and then reward them with a treat or a toy or praise.
[00:02:08] Staci Lemke: When they look at you, you’re not asking them to do anything other than look at you. They don’t have to sit or calm or lay down or anything like that. You wanna use your happy voice and make it fun for your puppy to interact with you. Potty training, potty training a puppy is important for a clean home.
[00:02:26] Staci Lemke: Establishing good habits and fostering a positive relationship with your new baby. Set up a consistent schedule of feeding, sleep, play, and potty trips. Reward pottying outside like your pup. Just won the lottery. Put management into place, such as baby gates, crates, and pens. To limit the areas your puppy has access to accidents, clean them up quietly and move on.
[00:02:51] Staci Lemke: Crate training, it helps with house training, prevents destructive, chewing, and gives your puppy a safe space to relax. The ability to settle in a crate is a skill that will benefit your dog for their entire life. Make the crate comfy. Toss in treats, toys. Never use it for punishment. Think cozy room, not timeout Place.
[00:03:13] Staci Lemke: Learning to be alone preventing separation. Anxiety starts early. Trust me when I say that you do not want a dog that can’t be left alone. Your puppy needs to learn that being alone is okay. They’re safe and that you’re coming back. Dogs are social animals and most of them need to be taught how to be alone.
[00:03:33] Staci Lemke: Start with short sessions, just a few seconds or minutes, and gradually increase the time while they’re relaxed and calm. Try to make use of those natural nap times. Learning to put teeth on toys, not people. All puppies explore the world with their mouths. So biting and chewing are normal puppy behaviors, but the need to learn what to chew and bite on and what not to.
[00:03:57] Staci Lemke: Encourage chewing on appropriate toys and gently redirect if your puppy mouths your hands are clothing. Have plenty of options available with different textures, shapes and sizes. Things like plush, squeaky toys, tug toys, chay toys, snuggle toys, and then some harder chew toys. Nobody ever gets a puppy and says, I can’t wait to clean up my first potty mess.
[00:04:21] Staci Lemke: If you are a new puppy owner, you know that potty training can be frustrating and stressful for both you and your new puppy. If you’re ready to stop feeling overwhelmed with puppy potty training, then my online course, easy Peasy Puppy Potty training is for you. In this course, you’ll get step-by-step instructions on how to potty train your puppy with less stress and less mess.
[00:04:44] Staci Lemke: Head over to Manners for mutts.com/potty training to learn more socialization to the world. Proper socialization builds confidence and helps prevent fear-based behaviors later on. Your pup needs to learn that the world is safe and fun, and it’s up to you to teach them this. Expose your puppy to new people, places, surfaces, and sounds in a positive and controlled way.
[00:05:13] Staci Lemke: It’s not about meeting everyone and every dog. It’s about having good experiences and forming positive associations with all the stuff in the world. Handling and grooming basics. Being handled is a necessary part of life. The sooner your pup gets used to it, the better they need to learn that being touched isn’t scary or painful for the most part anyway.
[00:05:36] Staci Lemke: Vets and groomers will also thank you and so will your dog When they get older practice touching their paws, their ears, and their mouth while offering treats, go slow, especially if your P has difficulty with any particular body part. Keep it short and fun. Relaxing on a mat or bed. This teaches your pup how to relax around the house during busy moments like dinnertime or when guest visit.
[00:06:00] Staci Lemke: Also, this is a skill that you can take on the road, use a treat to lure them onto the mat, reward them for lying down and staying there, build up to gradually longer durations. Coming when called. This can be a lifesaving skill. Literally, if your puppy ever slips out the door or you someday want to be able to let your dog off leash, you want them racing back to you when you call them, start indoors on leash and use a very happy voice reward with awesome treats and always make coming to you the best part of their day.
[00:06:34] Staci Lemke: Walking nicely on a leash. No one wants their arm yanked out of the socket every time they leave the house. Learning not to pull on leash makes walking more pleasant for both of you. And this doesn’t mean that your dog can’t sniff or wander or meet new people or anything like that on a walk. It just means that they’re not pulling on the leash and dragging you down the street.
[00:06:55] Staci Lemke: Practice in a low distraction area like your living room, reward your pup for walking near you and keep sessions short and positive. It’s not that obedience behaviors like sit or stay, aren’t important. They absolutely are. But during those early weeks and months, when you first have a puppy, the real magic happens when you focus on life skills, learning to feel safe, confident, calm, and connected to you.
[00:07:21] Staci Lemke: That foundation will make obedience training easier and more meaningful later on. And there you have it. That’s your top 10. And the good news is you don’t have to teach all of these at once. Training is a journey, and your puppy is learning every single day. Go at your own pace. Celebrate small wins and have fun with it.
[00:07:42] Staci Lemke: Please feel free to share this podcast with anybody that you know that’s either just gotten a brand new puppy or is planning on getting one in the future. Thank you for joining me today and taking the time to help your dog become a more well-mannered mutt. If you’ve got questions about today’s episode or an idea for a topic you’d love to hear about, let’s connect.
[00:08:02] Staci Lemke: You can find me on Facebook and Instagram @mannersformutts. Also, be sure to visit manners for muts.com for links. Resources and more. If this episode helped you and your pup, I’d be thrilled if you left a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps me create even more content to support you and your furry friend.
[00:08:25] Staci Lemke: Talk to you next time.
