Across Australia, thousands of families brought home a new puppy over the summer holidays - fast forward to March, and many are now struggling with chewed-up furniture, endless accidents, and late-night howling.
“Why is my puppy biting everything (including me)? Why won’t they listen? Why do they pee on the rug right after being outside?”According to Sarah Rutten, force-free dog training expert and founder of The Canine Perspective, these early weeks are critical for setting puppies up for a lifetime of good behaviour, without outdated punishments, confusion, or frustration.
“The first two weeks can make or break your relationship with your pup,” Sarah says.
Sarah, a straight-talking advocate for force-free training, shares her top do’s and don’ts for the first 14 days with a new puppy, so overwhelmed pet guardians can breathe easy and build a strong foundation from day one.
The Do’s: Setting Your Pup Up for Success
1. Establish a routine – Your pup doesn’t need a rigid schedule, but predictability helps! Take them out for toilet breaks after naps and meals to make toilet training click faster.
2. Reinforce the good stuff – If your puppy is calmly lying down, reward it! Too often, we ignore the good and only focus on ‘fixing’ problem behaviours. Show your pup what you do want!
3. Introduce new experiences (safely!) – Socialisation is crucial, but make sure it’s positive. Worried about vaccines? Carry your pup and expose them to sights and sounds safely.
4. Let them rest – Puppies need a lot of sleep! Ensure they have quiet time and discourage kids from constantly handling them.
5. Be patient and consistent – Puppies are learning a whole new world. Keep cues consistent and avoid overloading them with rules all at once.
6. Give them time to adjust – Leaving their littermates is a huge change. Stay with them as much as possible for the first two weeks before slowly introducing alone time.
7. Keep their diet stable – Changing food too soon can cause tummy troubles. If you want to switch their diet, do it gradually.
8. Provide appropriate chew toys – Puppies bite: it’s how they learn about the world!
9. Enrol in a force-free puppy class – Training isn’t about ‘fixing’ your dog—it’s about teaching you both how to communicate.
10. Consider pet insurance early – Vet bills can pile up fast! Getting insurance early prevents exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
11. Introduce other pets slowly – Existing dogs and cats might not love the new addition immediately. Give them escape routes and safe spaces.
12. Have fun and get to know your pup – Every dog has their own personality, history, and instincts. Learn what makes your pup tick!
The Don’ts: Avoiding Common Mistakes
1. Don’t punish ‘bad’ behaviour – Punishment creates fear, not learning. Puppies aren’t ‘misbehaving’—they just don’t know the rules yet!
2. Don’t overwhelm them – New experiences should be introduced gradually. Rushing can cause anxiety and stress.
3. Don’t force handling – Get your puppy comfortable with being touched slowly—don’t just grab their paws or ears and expect them to love it!
4. Don’t expect too much too soon – Your pup is just a baby. Keep training sessions short (5-10 minutes) and fun.
5. Don’t ignore stress signals – A stressed pup might yawn, lick their lips, or avoid eye contact. Learn to read their signals and give them space when needed.
6. Don’t leave them alone for hours on end – Arrange for someone to be with them during the first couple of weeks, and ease into alone time gradually.
Sarah Rutten believes that the best dog guardians aren’t the ones who have ‘perfect’ dogs—but the ones who take the time to understand their dog’s needs.
“Training is about building a relationship, not just teaching cues,” she says.
Experience with all the joys (and challenges!) that come with raising a young dog.
Sarah Rutten has loved animals ever since she can remember – and dogs in particular. It didn't matter if it was her beloved family pet, the neighbour’s canine companion, or her friend’s furry family member. She was the kid that was always found out the back hanging out with dog.
In 2003 she officially took the plunge and enrolled in Delta Society Australia's Certificate IV in Dog Behavioural Training. It was a transformative experience, and on completion of her qualifications - she co-founded Paw Power Dog Training. In 2009, she embarked on a three-year Diploma in Canine Behaviour Science & Technology at the Companion Animal Sciences Institute in Canada.
In mid-2013, after leaving Paw Power Dog Training behind she opened The Canine Perspective. She completed the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainers Professional Course in 2016. She's a proud Delta Accredited Instructor and hold memberships of the Karen Pryor Academy, the Association of Animal Behaviour Professionals, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (Australia), and the Pet Professional Guild. Furthermore, she is a qualified assessor for Greenhounds, a qualified assessor and trainer for mindDog Australia and serve as a Department of Local Government temperament assessor.
Currently, Sarah resides between East Ballina and the Sunshine Coast, Australia with her partner, Chris, and their Pugs: Doug and new puppy Floyd. Apart from helping people with their canine companions, she indulges in her many hobbies - such as macramé, reading, walking, going to the gym, music, social media scrolling and spending quality time with friends—both human and canine!
You can follow Sarah Rutten and The Canine Perspective on www.thecanineperspective.com.au, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thecanineperspective or @thecanineperspective on Instagram.
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