Top 5 New Dog Training Tips
March 27, 2025
Welcoming a new dog or puppy is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel overwhelming for both you and your new companion. Whether you’re adopting a dog from a shelter or welcoming a puppy from a breeder, I’m sharing my top 5 training tips for bringing home your new best friend.
Key Takeaways
Prioritize rest and avoid overwhelming your new dog initially.
Reward behaviors you want repeated with food, gentle petting and praise.
Supervise and nurture interactions with kids and other pets.
Carve out quality time with existing pets to avoid feelings of jealousy or neglect.
Learn to read your dog’s body language to better understand their needs.
1. Take It Slow: Why Prioritizing Rest is Key for Your New Dog
Sadie is a rescue puppy. Her family created this wonderful safe space which includes a bed, lick pad, and plush toys.
Your new dog is likely feeling a mix of emotions—excitement, curiosity, and stress. Your home, family, and routine are all brand new to them, so give them time to adjust.
Skip the Big Parties: Hold off on meet-and-greets with friends and extended family. Give the new dog time to settle in.
Create a Safe Space: Provide a quiet area where your new dog can relax. Include items they may enjoy like a bed, long lasting chew, frozen toppl for licking and water.
Starting slow sets the strong foundation for trust which is the bedrock of every awesome dog-guardian relationship.
2. Rewarding Good Behavior: Building Trust from Day One
While training at RBARI, I told Ellie “good down" to capture her polite behavior before throwing the ball.
While your new dog may not know what “sit” or “down” means it doesn’t mean you need to call me ASAP. Take my pro tip and use what is called capturing. Here are two examples of how to capture behavior.
Example 1: If your dog sits instead of jumping up, say "good sit" and reward them with a treat.
Example 2: When your puppy lays down quietly at your feet instead of biting at your ankles, say ‘good down” and pop a treat into their mouth.
Rewarding your new dog from day 1 helps build trust and reinforces all those polite behaviors you want from your pup!
3. How to Supervise Interactions Between Your New Dog, Kids, and Other Pets
Positive experiences for your new dog begin with you being present especially when kids and other household pets are involved.
Down this amazing, free resource at Stop The 77
Kids: Teach children to respect the dog’s space with "pat, pet, pause." My go-to resource for kids and dogs is from Stop The 77 and it should be yours too.
Resident Dogs: Introduce your new dog and resident dog on leash, outside, in a neutral location. Walk in parallel, giving each dog space, at first. Once inside, don’t expect your resident dog to automatically share their toys and their bed. Set up separate areas for both dogs to relax.
Cats: Keep the new dog on a leash for the introduction, and ensure your cat has a way to escape, if needed. Place baby gates around cat spaces so the dog can’t wander in, if left unsupervised.
Being proactive will prevent stress and conflict for everyone and every pet involved.
4. Strengthening Your Bond: Don’t Forget Your Existing Pets
Resident dog Kyla is treated to car ride - her favorite!
Adding a new dog to the family can sometimes leave resident pets feeling left out. To avoid feelings of jealousy, carve out dedicated one-on-one time with your other pets. Here are some simply ways to reassure them:
Take your resident dog on a solo walk or car ride.
Engage them in a game that they enjoy like fetch or chase – just the two of you.
Share a snack with your pet like banana, blueberries, carrots, or hard boiled egg while snuggling with them on the couch.
These small gestures help keep feeling of jealousy at bay and ensures your resident feels loved.
5. Reading Dog Body Language: Understanding Your Pup’s Needs
Every tail wag, yawn, and ear flick that your dog makes has meaning. Learning dog body language will help you understand your pup better and bond with them on a whole new level.
Happy Dog: A loose, wiggly body, soft eyes and open mouth mean they’re enjoying themselves.
Stressed Dog: Stiff body, whites of their eyes, yawning, lip licking, or crouching indicate nervousness or stress.
Paying attention to these signals will help you know whether your dog is having fun, feeling scared, or ready to make new friends. Fear Free’s 5-minute video on dog body language is a must-watch for every pet guardian.
Conclusion: You’ve Got Years Ahead to Make Memories
Bringing a new dog home doesn’t have to feel stressful. Instead of busy meetups, take lots of cute photos (of course there will be a ton) and share them with friends and family via text or social media. Give your new pup time to adjust, and soon they’ll feel right at home with you.
You’ve got a new best friend for life—these first steps will set the foundation for all the joy and memories ahead!
✌🏽❤️🐶
Like this article? Check these useful resources out 👇🏼
📰 How to Welcome Home Your Rescue Dog
🐶 Puppy Training: Build Good Habits from the Start
