What to Expect from Your Puppy: 8 Weeks to 6 Months
Bringing Home a New Puppy
Most new puppy owners bring their dog home around 7 to 8 weeks of age. At this stage, puppies are cute, playful, and full of energy. However, they’re also totally untrained. From 8 weeks to 6 months, they grow rapidly and begin developing key behaviors, for better or worse.
Understanding what to expect during this developmental period—and how to guide your pup—can make all the difference in raising a well-adjusted adult dog.
8 Weeks to 4 Months: Foundational Training and Socialization
Early Adjustment
When first separated from their mother and littermates, some puppies may feel lonely or cry, especially at night. While some may advise “toughing it out,” it’s better to meet your puppy’s emotional needs. Providing comfort early on helps build a confident, independent dog later in life.
That said, it’s also important to set boundaries. Puppies naturally look for leadership. If you allow them to misbehave or get away with everything, they may not respect your guidance later.
Be kind but consistent. Use a firm verbal correction—like “No!” or “Eh-eh!”—and redirect their attention without using force or fear.
Potty Training
Potty training is one of your top priorities during this stage. Puppies can only “hold it” for about one hour per month of age, plus one—so a 2-month-old may only last 3 hours. The key to potty training a puppy is consistency:
- Take your puppy outside frequently (especially after eating or waking).
- Praise and reward them when they go in the right spot.
- Confine or supervise indoors to prevent accidents.
- Clean accidents thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner to prevent marking.
This is a great time to start building a puppy shot schedule with your vet. Core vaccines like distemper, parvovirus, and rabies are crucial in the first few months. A healthy pup is easier to train and socialize.
Product Spotlight: Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps Book
Set the foundation for good behavior early with Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps. This practical, positive guide walks you through everything from crate training to socialization—helping your puppy learn and thrive during their critical development stage.
Highlights & Benefits
- Step-by-Step Guidance: Covers obedience, potty training, and behavioral basics in simple, actionable steps.
- Positive Reinforcement Focus: Encourages trust and confidence through reward-based methods.
- Expert Insight: Written by a certified professional dog trainer for real-world results.
Introducing a Collar and Leash
Most puppies are unfamiliar with collars and leashes. Start by using a flat buckle collar without tags, letting your puppy wear it indoors. Once comfortable, attach a lightweight training lead and let them drag it around. Later, hold the leash and follow them before gradually leading the walk yourself.
Use short, positive sessions and treats to build good leash manners early. These experiences lay the groundwork for more advanced lessons when you begin training your puppy more formally.
4 Months to 6 Months: Teething, Energy, and Behavior Shaping
Chewing and Teething
Around 4 months, teething starts. Puppies will want to chew everything. Rather than trying to stop chewing, redirect it to safe objects like chew toys, teething sticks, frozen carrots, or puppy-safe Kongs. If your puppy chews on something inappropriate (like a cord or shoe), give a sharp verbal correction, then replace it with an appropriate option.
Product Spotlight: N-Bone Puppy Teething Sticks
Soothe sore gums and satisfy your puppy’s natural urge to chew with N-Bone Puppy Teething Sticks. These pumpkin-flavored treats are soft, digestible, and packed with calcium to support healthy teeth and bones during teething.
Highlights & Benefits
- Gentle on Gums: Flexible texture helps relieve teething discomfort without damaging young teeth.
- Digestible Formula: Made with safe, edible ingredients that are easy on sensitive stomachs.
- Nutrient Support: Enriched with DHA and calcium for growing puppies.
Zoomies and Excess Energy
It’s also normal for puppies to have short bursts of intense energy—often called “zoomies.” They may tear through the house, jump on furniture, or bounce off walls. Puppy-proofing your home, providing enriching toys, and giving them outdoor space to run can help prevent damage and redirect that energy in healthy ways.
Product Spotlight: Vivifying Snuffle Mat for Puppies
Keep your puppy mentally engaged and reduce boredom with the Vivifying Snuffle Mat. Designed to mimic foraging behavior, this interactive toy encourages sniffing and problem-solving—ideal for curious, high-energy pups.
Highlights & Benefits
- Promotes Natural Instincts: Hides treats among soft fabric layers to satisfy your puppy’s sense of smell and curiosity.
- Reduces Boredom: Provides stimulating enrichment and helps prevent destructive behaviors.
- Easy to Clean: Machine washable and lightweight for everyday use.
Puppy Play and Dominance
As puppies grow, play becomes more physical. You may notice behaviors like growling, humping, or biting during play with other dogs. These behaviors are normal, as long as they’re not directed toward you. If they are, interrupt immediately and redirect the behavior.
This is also the stage when puppy training classes become a great option. By 5 or 6 months, most pups have completed their puppy shots and can safely attend group sessions. In class, your dog can learn basic cues like:
- Sit
- Down
- Stay
- Leave it
- Wait
- Come
Group training helps reinforce good manners around other people and dogs and can prevent behavior problems down the road.
How to Train a Puppy Successfully
Puppy training requires patience, repetition, and positive reinforcement. Here's what works:
Keep training sessions short and fun.
Use rewards like praise, treats, and play.
Be consistent with cues and expectations.
Avoid punishment. Instead, interrupt and redirect.
Early socialization and training are key to raising a happy, well-adjusted dog. Every moment you spend now builds a strong foundation for the future.
Don’t Forget the Puppy Shot Schedule
Your vet will help you create a puppy shot schedule, typically starting at 6–8 weeks with boosters every 3–4 weeks until 16 weeks of age. Common core vaccines include:
- Distemper
- Parvovirus
- Adenovirus
- Rabies (around 16 weeks)
Vaccines not only protect your puppy from serious illness, but they also allow your pup to safely socialize—an essential part of early development.
Be Patient and Attentive
The 8-week to 6-month period is full of exciting changes, and with the right guidance, your puppy will grow into a respectful and well-behaved companion. Invest the time now to meet their physical and emotional needs, establish good habits, and lay the groundwork for lifelong obedience.
Think of this time like raising a toddler: your puppy watches you, learns from you, and relies on your leadership. With patience, love, and structure, you’ll raise the kind of adult dog every pet parent dreams of.
Haven’t adopted yet, but think you’re ready for the challenge? You can find a puppy of your own right here on PetPlace!