6 Puppy Training Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Updated: 3 days ago
The first weeks with a puppy are full of advice from everyone you meet, and a lot of it pulls in completely different directions. Making a few training mistakes along the way is normal, it happens to all of us. Your puppy is a tiny little sponge, so a small change from you can turn things round fast.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The most common puppy training mistakes are waiting too long to start, teaching tricks before everyday life skills, mixed rules between family members, long training sessions, giving attention for the behaviour you don't want, and letting your puppy get overtired. Each one is easy to fix. Start training the day your puppy comes home, keep sessions to a minute or two, agree house rules as a family, reward calm behaviour when you see it, and protect your puppy's sleep.
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IN THIS POST
ā Mistake 1: Waiting until vaccinations are done to start
ā Mistake 2: Teaching tricks before life skills
ā Mistake 3: Different rules from different people
ā Mistake 4: Training sessions that go on too long
ā Mistake 5: Rewarding the behaviour you don't want
ā Mistake 6: Forgetting about sleep
ā If you've already made these mistakes
ā FAQs
Mistake 1: Waiting until vaccinations are done to start
It makes sense to want to keep a young puppy safe, but learning doesn't wait for the vet. Your puppy is forming opinions about the world from the day they arrive.
What to do instead
Start on day one at home with their name, gentle handling, toilet routines and following your hand for a treat. Before vaccinations are complete, carry your puppy to see the world from your arms, without putting them on the ground. Your vet can tell you when it's safe for paws to touch down. Read more in when to start puppy training.
Mistake 2: Teaching tricks before life skills
Sit, down and paw are lovely, but they won't help much when your puppy is chewing the skirting boards or crying in their crate. The skills that make life easier are settling, toilet habits, coming to you, walking on a loose lead and greeting people without jumping.
What to do instead
Notice and reward calm moments without asking for anything. If your puppy lies down quietly while you cook, drop a treat between their paws. Training happens all day, not just in a ten-minute session.
Mistake 3: Different rules from different people
If one person lets the puppy jump up for a cuddle and another tells them off for it, your puppy has no way of knowing which is right. Mixed messages slow learning down and can lead to frustration.
What to do instead
Sit down as a family and agree the basics: the words you'll use, where the puppy sleeps, whether they're allowed on the sofa and how you'll greet them. Write it on the fridge so visitors can follow it too.
Mistake 4: Training sessions that go on too long
Young puppies have very short attention spans. Long sessions end in mistakes, frustration and nipping.
What to do instead
Train in tiny bursts of one or two minutes, a few times a day, and stop while your puppy is still keen. Our one-minute puppy games are a good place to start.
Mistake 5: Rewarding the behaviour you don't want
Puppies repeat what works. Pushing a jumping puppy away, chasing them when they steal a sock or talking to them while they bark all give them attention, and attention is a big reward.
What to do instead
Stay calm and quiet when your puppy does something you don't want, then show them what to do instead and reward that. Swap a stolen sock for a treat, turn away from jumping and reward four paws on the floor.
Mistake 6: Forgetting about sleep
An overtired puppy is a bitey, wild puppy. It's very easy to keep them busy all day and then wonder why the evenings fall apart.
What to do instead
Puppies need around 18 to 20 hours of sleep a day. Build naps into your routine and give your puppy a quiet place to rest. Read why puppies need more sleep than training.
If you've already made these mistakes
Don't worry. Your puppy isn't keeping score. Pick one thing to change this week, stick with it, and you'll see a difference. Small, steady changes work far better than trying to fix everything at once.
RENEE'S TIP
If you're not sure whether something is a mistake, ask yourself: what is my puppy learning from this? If the answer is something you'd like them to do again, you're on the right track.
QUICK CHECK
ā Start training the day your puppy comes home
ā Life skills before tricks
ā Agree the house rules as a family
ā Sessions of one or two minutes
ā Reward what you want, stay calm about the rest
ā Protect your puppy's sleep
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FAQs
What are the most common puppy training mistakes?
Waiting too long to start, teaching tricks before life skills, mixed rules at home, sessions that are too long, rewarding unwanted behaviour by accident and not enough sleep.
What should I avoid in the first week with a new puppy?
Avoid too many visitors, long training sessions, rough play and putting your puppy on the ground outside before your vet says it's safe.
Can you start training a puppy before vaccinations?
Yes. Start at home straight away, and carry your puppy to see the world until your vet says they can go on the ground.
How long should puppy training sessions be?
One or two minutes, a few times a day, ending while your puppy still wants more.
Is it too late to fix puppy training mistakes?
No. Puppies learn quickly, so changing one habit at a time makes a big difference.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Renee Patience Ā· National Dog Trainer of the Year 2025
Founder and head trainer of Paws Academy, with more than 30 years training dogs and a Level 6 Diploma in Applied Canine Behaviour. Renee has competed in agility, obedience and heelwork to music across the UK, including at Crufts and Olympia, has appeared on CBBC, and is the author of the Modern Training Guides and the Modern Breed Handbook series. Pictured with her boxer, Kookie.
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