You don't need a fancy program to raise a well-mannered dog — you need consistency, patience, and a pocket full of good treats. Here's a gentle four-week starting plan.
Week 1: Name & marker
Teach your puppy that their name means good things, and introduce a marker word like "yes!" Say the marker, then immediately give a treat. You're building the language you'll use for everything else.
Week 2: Sit & attention
Lure your puppy into a sit, mark, and reward. Practice eye contact: the moment they look at you, mark and treat. Short sessions — two or three minutes — several times a day beat one long drill.
Week 3: Recall foundations
In a quiet room, say your puppy's name plus "come," and reward generously when they arrive. This is where a high-value treat earns its keep — coming to you should always be the best deal around.
Week 4: Add gentle distractions
Repeat the basics with mild distractions — a different room, a calm family member nearby. Keep wins easy and frequent so confidence grows.
- Keep treats tiny so you can reward often without overfeeding.
- End on a win every session.
- Stay calm — frustration travels right down the leash.
The Happy Day Pets take
A bag of snappable, whole-ingredient chips is the perfect training partner — lots of small rewards, nothing artificial. Stock your training pouch.
