Puppy paws to personality

Matt Limb OBE explains why the first few days and weeks with a new puppy are the most important training time you and your canine companion can spend together.

The first days with a new puppy are a curious mix of joy, chaos and no small amount of responsibility.

That tiny bundle of fur you carried home will one day grow into a companion who shapes your daily life for the next decade or more, and the habits you put in place during these early weeks will last a lifetime.

For many, the temptation is to get swept up in the excitement, the wagging tail, the soft eyes, but behind every playful moment lies the serious task of raising a dog that is well-mannered, well-balanced but above all well-trained and well-socialised.

Responsible ownership begins before you even set foot in the breeder’s kennels. Meeting the canine parents, avoiding the glossy lure of puppy farms and choosing a breed that genuinely fits your lifestyle and work routine are the foundations.

Yet once that decision is made and your new pup is in your arms, the real work begins; introducing them to the world in a way that builds their confidence, setting boundaries in the home and with other dogs, if you have them, plus gently starting the training that will make them a pleasure to live with – and that training begins the moment the puppy arrives.

Choosing your puppy
I grew up surrounded by dogs and with them came countless old wives’ tales about the best way to select a puppy. Much of this came from my childhood on a remote farm where we lived, a place where we always had several working sheepdogs.

One local hill farmer swore by his own method, I can still picture him with a chipped mug of tea in his hand as he explained it. He told me he would never pick a puppy himself but would always allow the mother to do it for him. His approach was simple but strangely compelling. He would sit quietly in the barn with the mother and her litter, making no effort to touch or interact with them until they had settled around him. Then he would gather the pups and place them across the barn in the straw, keeping the mother back. Sooner or later her instinct would force her to fetch them and the first one she picked up was always the one he kept.

To him, that pup was either the strongest or the one most in need and therefore the one worth trusting to become a faithful worker.

There were other tales too. In the northern Pennines some men would check the roof of a pup’s mouth, believing that a dark or black roof was the mark of a faithful and dependable dog. I have never seen any proof of this, but I cannot help noting that every dog I have owned has shared that same black roof.

But experience has taught me that timing is everything. Those first 72 hours are crucial. In that period, you should not take your eyes off a puppy for a moment. For the following 10 days I never leave them alone for more than an hour and only then if they are asleep. It means adjusting your own life, working from home as a necessity not a choice and accepting that nothing comes before the newly arrived pup.

Those first 10 days are the foundation for every step of training, socialisation and growth that follows.

Sticking to a routine
The times when I let my guard down in those early days are the very moments that turned into bad habits. A chewed chair leg, or a puppy who learns that barking will get them attention – small mistakes that can take months to put right. By contrast, when I gave those days my full attention the results lasted.

My older spaniel, now grey around the muzzle, still follows the same simple bedtime routine I set on her first night in the house.

Routine is the key. At that stage a pup may be on four or five meals a day and for me each one marks the start of training. As soon as the bowl is empty, out we go to the same patch of grass. There will still be the odd accident but from the very first meal the rhythm is taught; food, then outside. Over time the puppy begins to understand the pattern and the habit becomes second nature.

From the very first day I also start with the simplest but most important lesson of all: their name. It sounds obvious but it is the key to every recall, every command and the start of real communication.

The trick is repetition, without fuss. I use their name in a calm, encouraging tone whenever I put food down, whenever I praise them and whenever they glance up at me. In those early days a name should never be shouted in anger or frustration, only spoken as something positive. It is remarkable how quickly they learn to connect the sound with you and how soon you see those little ears flick or a head turn at the call. Get that right and it makes every step of training that follows so much easier because the first connection of trust and understanding has been built.

Every pup I have taken on has slept in the bedroom for the first few weeks. Only hours before it was curled up with its littermates and mother; to suddenly be shut in a kitchen or locked in a crate on its own seems to me too harsh. I know many advocate crates and I understand their purpose, but they are not my way. A puppy is not an object to be enjoyed when it suits you, and then put away when you have had enough. They need reassurance and for me that means being close by.

Building a bond
The night-time routine is simple. A last trip into the garden, then into the basket by the bed. If they stir in the night, I am there, keeping it calm and quiet so they learn it is not playtime. Yes, it may mean broken sleep, but it prevents accidents and more importantly it teaches them that their needs will be met. In time, any night trips become fewer, the confidence grows and soon they are ready to sleep alone. By then the bond of trust is there.

One part of early training that is often overlooked is not for the puppy at all, but for any dogs already in the household. Bringing in a youngster is a disruption; the older dogs will have their own views on the matter. I have found that if you got it right with them when they were pups it makes the introduction far easier.

A well-trained and well-balanced dog tends to accept the newcomer with patience, often even helping to teach them the rules of the house. I have watched my older spaniels quietly correct a puppy with a firm look or a small growl, setting boundaries in a way no human can.

Of course, it is still your role to supervise and ensure that early meetings are calm and positive, with no sense of rivalry over food or space. But when you have put the work in with your older dogs, the puppy benefits twice over; once from your training and again from the example set by their new companions.

Early lessons in socialisation
Many think socialisation starts with the first walk but in truth it begins long before. A puppy must first learn how to cope in the home. The sound of the vacuum cleaner, the postman at the door, the clatter of pans in the kitchen: all of these are steps towards confidence.

I made mistakes here, too. With one spaniel I rushed, convinced that early exposure was always best.

Instead, he became nervous of strangers, a wariness that never quite left him. With my youngest, I did the opposite. We started with a single room, then the house, then the garden, before moving further afield. The difference was clear. He is growing into a steady worker in the field, untroubled by new situations because the foundations were quietly built at home.

The joy of a new puppy is real but so is the responsibility. They are not ornaments or toys and they do not thrive on affection alone. They need time, patience and structure, especially in those early weeks.

In my home the dogs are not just pets but working companions, each has a function. Yet the same principles apply, whether you are raising a gundog or a lapdog.

And responsibility stretches far beyond training. Veterinary care grows ever more expensive with even the basics, vaccinations, worming and flea treatment, all adding up quickly. Food, bedding and equipment all add their share too. Too often I have seen people fall in love with the idea of a puppy without considering the cost or the commitment.

Responsible ownership is about honesty with yourself long before you even consider bringing one home.

A puppy’s first year will shape the dog they become. For me, you only get one chance at those first few nights and early weeks. Treat them as the most important days you will ever spend together, because they are. Get it right and the rewards are immense – the start of a perfect relationship between man and his best friend, one you will enjoy and one where you and your dog will always be welcomed back in the field.

We Recommend

Lucky for some: Isuzu D-Max wins ‘Best Workhorse Pickup’ for 13th year in a row at 2025 Trade Van Driver Awards

JAECOO 7 SHS earns its safety badge

Honda HR-V e:HEV

Ready for everything: The New Isuzu D-MAX

Wisdom for today’s world

Sweet music at Honda… and all that Jazz

View all