Puppy Basics: Training Tips for the First 16 Weeks

Back to home Home Guides Dog Training Tips Puppy basics Dog Training Tips Puppy basics Set the foundation in the first 16 weeks — the socialization window that shapes your dog for life. Sort by Recommended Title: A–Z Title: Z–A Skill: Easiest first Skill: Hardest first Beginner How to train a puppy: 8-week science-backed plan Week-by-week roadmap covering socialization, name games, first cues, and impulse control. Beginner What is puppy kindergarten? Why the first 16 weeks matter more than any training class you'll ever take. Intermediate Puppy kindergarten at home: science-backed tips Replicate the Duke Puppy Kindergarten curriculum in your living room. Beginner Most popular puppy training resources of 2026 Curated books, classes, and apps that actually reflect current cognition research. Other training topics Potty training Adult & rescue dogs Behavior & body language Cognition & intelligence Enrichment & games Senior dog training & care Back to the full training tips hub Training works better when it fits your dog's mind Dognition's science-based assessment reveals how your dog actually thinks across five cognitive dimensions — so you can pick the tips that will land, and skip the ones that won't. Assess Your Dog Based on the work of Dr. Brian Hare & Vanessa Woods Every Dognition guide, assessment, and blog post is grounded in the research and methodologies of Dr. Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods at the Duke Canine Cognition Center. Their work established that "smart" isn't one number — dogs think across five distinct cognitive dimensions, and the best training matches the method to the mind. Book · 2013 The Genius of Dogs How dogs are smarter than you think — the founding text on canine cognitive science. Read more Book · 2024 Puppy Kindergarten The Duke Puppy Kindergarten study — how the first 16 weeks shape a dog for life (as covered by The New York Times). Read the NYT feature