Your pup parenting roadmap, starts with Pupford

Bringing home a puppy is one of life’s most joyful experiences, but it can also be confusing, exhausting, and emotional. 

From potty training and biting to leash manners and baby-proofing your home, there’s a lot to learn fast. Fortunately, with the right training approach, the right tools, and a little support, you can build a strong bond with your pup and set them up for lifelong success.

In this guide we will cover practical advice, our best Pupford resources - from training courses, treats, and tools, and pro tips to help you navigate puppy season (without losing your mind) from a certified dog trainer!

Let’s dive in.

Table of Contents:

1. Part 1: Before You Bring Them Home
2. Part 2: Mindset and Preparation
3. Part 3: Your Training Roadmap
4. Part 4: Helpful Products from Pupford
5. Part 5: Puppy Blues and Emotional Support

Part 1: Before You Bring Them Home

New Puppy Checklist

Before your pup arrives, prep your home and gather essentials. 

Must-haves include:

• Collar + ID tag
• Leash + long lead
• Crate and playpen
• Treat pouch
• Training treats
• Dog Food
• Toys (a variety of types)
• Bowls (food & water)
• Grooming tools & supplies (this will vary on your pup’s coat type)
• Potty cleanup supplies

👉 Tip: Having the right tools before your puppy arrives drastically reduces stress and sets you up for successful training from day one.

Part 2: Mindset & Preparation

Training Philosophy: Positive Reinforcement

Pupford’s training philosophy is rooted in positive reinforcement, rewarding what you want your dog to do, rather than punishing mistakes. This method builds trust, increases engagement, and teaches dogs fast without fear or frustration.

Whether teaching sit, stay, or recall, use praise, treats, toys, and affection to reinforce good behavior, and make training sessions short and fun.

🐶Want to learn about why we discourage punishment-based training methods? Click here!

Part 3: Your Training Roadmap

 1. Start Right with Free Courses

Pupford offers free, expert-designed training courses to help with everything from basic manners to behavior challenges:

30 Day Perfect Pup (with Zak George)

A 100% free, step-by-step puppy training course covering essentials like biting, potty, leash manners, and more, perfect for both first-time and seasoned pup parents who need a refresher.

Prepping for Puppyhood

Preps you for everything you need to know before and right after bringing home your new puppy.

Puppy Nutrition & More Courses

Free modules on choosing food and understanding nutritional needs.

👉 Tip: Training sessions should be SHORT. Even 5-10 minutes several times a day builds habits faster than long, random training bursts.

2. Potty Training Basics

Potty training is one of the earliest, and most important, challenges. Here’s how to set your pup up for success:

• Schedule: Take your pup outside frequently (after naps, meals, play).
  
  
• Consistent Spot: Always use the same outdoor spot.
  
  
• Reward: Treat and praise immediately when they go in the right place.
  
  
• Accidents: Don’t punish, just clean up and try again.

Want to take potty training to the next level? Learn how to bell train your pup!

More of a visual learner? Check out our Potty Training Guide from our Essential Dog Training Course 👇

👉 Tip: Don’t forget to grab some enzymatic cleaner (you’re gonna need it).

3. Basic Cues & Obedience

Teach foundational skills like sit, come, down, leave it, and wait using treats and praise. Our online training courses and blog posts walk through how to teach these cues with clarity and consistency.

4. Leash Training

Leash manners play a huge role in making walks both fun and safe for you and your puppy. Rather than expecting perfect behavior right away, start indoors where there are fewer distractions and your puppy can focus on learning. 

As your puppy becomes more comfortable, gradually introduce new environments. Move from inside your home to your yard, then to quiet outdoor areas, and eventually to busier spaces. Always progress at your puppy’s pace and be mindful of their vaccination schedule, ensuring they’re only walking in unfamiliar places when it’s safe to do so. 

Check out our in-depth Loose Leash Walking video from our Essential Dog Training Course

Or if you’re more of a kinesthetic learner, we’ve got you covered too!

Loose Leash Walking Training: 5 Tips to Stop Pulling | Pupford

5. Puppy Biting & Chewing

Puppies explore with their mouths, it’s totally normal! But we get it, being attacked by a baby shark 24/7 is not ideal. Here are some tips:

• Redirect nipping to appropriate chew toys
• Reward and encourage calm behavior and interactions. 
• Rotate chew toy choices so your pup stays interested. 

👉 Tip: A good chew toy, or a chew from Pupford’s engage line, gives your pup something healthy to gnaw on and helps save your fingers and furniture from sharp little teeth.

🐶Learn How to Choose the Right Chew for Your Dog | Pupford

Want to learn more about puppy biting? Good news, we’ve got 11 more tips for how to stop puppy biting FAST.

6. Crate Training

Crates can become your puppy’s safe, comfortable retreat, not a place for punishment. 

When introduced correctly, a crate gives your puppy a predictable space to rest, relax, and feel secure, especially during naps or when you can’t actively supervise.

Start by making the crate a positive experience. Use high-value treats, praise, and favorite toys to encourage your puppy to explore it willingly. Keep early crate sessions short and calm, gradually increasing the amount of time your puppy spends inside as they build confidence. The goal is for your pup to choose the crate on their own because it feels safe and familiar.

Why crate training is so beneficial

• Supports potty training by helping puppies learn bladder control and develop a consistent routine
  
  
• Prevents destructive behavior by limiting access to unsafe items when you’re not supervising
  
  
• Creates a safe space where your puppy can rest without being overstimulated
  
  
• Helps with alone-time skills, reducing the risk of separation-related stress later on
  
  
• Makes travel and vet visits easier, since your puppy is already comfortable being confined
  
  
• Encourages healthy sleep habits by giving your puppy a consistent place to relax

🐶 Learn more: Is Crate Training Necessary? Is It Cruel? 17 Pros, Cons & Benefits of – Pupford

When done thoughtfully and positively, crate training isn’t about confinement, it’s about giving your puppy structure, security, and a space that truly feels like their own.

Want to watch exactly how to do it? 👇

7. Socialization

Socialization is the process of teaching your puppy how to feel safe, confident, and comfortable in the world around them. 

True socialization isn’t about racing to meet as many dogs or strangers as possible; it’s about creating positive, controlled experiences that build confidence and teach your puppy the world is a safe and predictable place. 

When approached thoughtfully and in line with your puppy’s vaccination guidance, positive socialization helps reduce the risk of fear, anxiety, and stress-related behaviors later in life.

Many pup parents fall into the trap of thinking socialization means flooding their puppy with endless exposure. However, overwhelming a pup can actually have the opposite effect, it can deepen fear, anxiety, and even trigger avoidant or reactive behaviors later in life. 

Instead of rushing into crowded or chaotic settings, allow your puppy to observe new experiences from a comfortable distance, and let them approach on their own terms. Use high-value treats and enthusiastic praise to reinforce calm curiosity, and watch for stress signals like yawning, lip licking, or avoidance, if they appear overwhelmed, give your puppy space and try again later.

Remember, socialization includes far more than just people and other dogs. 

Everyday elements like different surfaces (grass, tile, stairs), various sounds (vacuum, traffic, sirens), moving objects (bikes, strollers), and even people wearing hats, sunglasses, or uniforms are all part of the world your puppy will live in as an adult. 

Introducing these things gradually and pairing them with treats and praise helps your pup build positive associations with real-world stimuli.

Socialization works best when it’s about quality, not quantity. A few positive, low-stress experiences will do far more for your puppy’s confidence than overwhelming them with chaotic situations. This sets the foundation for a dog who approaches the world with curiosity instead of caution.

🐶Ready to start socializing? Download our Socialization Checklist and learn more about the do’s and don’t of puppy socialization!

Part 4: Helpful Products from Pupford

Here are some great products to help with training, enrichment, and bonding:

Training Treats

• Freeze Dried Training Treats: High-value, low in calories, minimal ingredients, and easy-to-handle treats perfect for training sessions.
  
  
• Soft & Chewy Training Treats: Under 2 kcal each, and a smell pups can’t resist, ideal for frequent rewards during training.

👉 Why these matter: Training treats should be both irresistible and low-calorie so you can reward often without overfeeding.

New Pup Packs

• Puppy & Small Dog New Pup Pack: Great starter bundle with treats, chews, and even a free collapsible bowl, perfect for under 25 lbs pups.
  
  
• New Pup Pack (varied sizes): Bundles of treats & chews so your pup always has something to reward good behavior with.

Chews & Enrichment

Chews and enrichment products play a huge role in helping puppies learn what is appropriate to chew while keeping their growing brains and bodies engaged. 

Puppies naturally explore the world with their mouths, and providing safe, satisfying outlets for that behavior helps redirect chewing away from hands, shoes, and furniture.

Long-lasting chews can also soothe teething discomfort, promote calm behavior, and give puppies something constructive to focus on during downtime.

In addition to chews, enrichment tools encourage problem-solving, slow feeding, and mental stimulation, all of which can help reduce boredom-related behaviors like excessive biting, barking, or destructive chewing. 

👉Tip: Learn how mental enrichment can reduce problem behaviors.

Rotating different chews and enrichment options keeps things interesting and teaches your puppy how to self-soothe and settle independently.

Chews & enrichment favorites from Pupford

• Turkey Tendons – A highly palatable, single-ingredient chew that encourages appropriate chewing and helps keep pups occupied. the perfect size and durability for small pups!
• Bully Rings – A great alternative to traditional bully sticks, offering durability and engagement for puppies who love to chew.
• Collagen Sticks – A great long-lasting chew for growing puppies that supports joint and skin health.
• Snuffle Mats – Encourage natural foraging behaviors by hiding treats or kibble, providing mental stimulation and slowing down fast eaters.
• Lick Mats – Perfect for spreading soft foods or treats; licking promotes calm, soothing behavior and is helpful during crate time or grooming.
• Puzzle Toys – Interactive toys that challenge your puppy to problem-solve and work for rewards, keeping their brain engaged.

Using chews and enrichment intentionally doesn’t just keep your puppy busy, it helps teach healthy coping skills, encourages relaxation, and shows your puppy how to make good choices, laying the groundwork for better behavior and enrichment habits as they grow.

Part 5: Puppy Blues & Emotional Support

What Are Puppy Blues?

First-time pup parenting (and even seasoned pup parents) can experience stress, exhaustion, frustration, and doubt. This is often called the puppy blues.

You might feel like nothing’s working or like you’re failing, but that’s normal. Training takes consistency, patience, and time. 

Puppies don’t come pre-programmed, they learn from you.

Strategies to Cope

1. Take breaks. When you’re overwhelmed, step away for a few minutes. It's okay!

2. Celebrate small wins. Whether they sat once or lasted 10 minutes without biting, celebrate it!

3. Use community support. Pupford’s private Facebook groups and trainer tips offer support and encouragement, you’re not alone.

4. Remember progress isn’t linear. Some days are great; others are frustrating, that’s growth.

🐶Listen to our Puppy Blues Podcast

Recap: The Ultimate Puppy Guide

Puppyhood goes by faster than you think, but its impact lasts forever. The experiences you create now shape how your puppy feels about the world, and about you. When you’re supported with the right knowledge, tools, and encouragement, you can move beyond simply getting through the day and start truly enjoying the journey.

Pupford is here to support you every step of the way, with free training courses, trusted expert advice, a welcoming community, and rewards that make learning positive and fun. Puppyhood doesn’t have to be stressful, it can be the beginning of a lifelong bond built on trust, communication, and joy.