When to start puppy potty, leash training, and name recognition?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. You can start from as young as 8 weeks by getting your puppy used to wearing a collar for periods of time. Teach leash walking as a fun game, anywhere from 10-12 weeks onwards, depending on the individual pup - but just don't expect too much too soon. I hope this is helpful!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your new puppy. Dogs do not gain physical control over their urination and defecation until 4-5 months of age. At this stage, you are just trying to be consistent and create predictable routines for him. This will teach him what to expect and where he should go to the bathroom. However, he is much too young at this point. As far as walking on a leash, this takes time for puppies to learn as well. Most are more comfortable with this by 3-4 months of age. Most puppies can sit on command by around 8-10 weeks of age. Continue to work with him and be patient. He will learn. As far as exercise, playing with toys with keep him occupied at this age. I hope this information helps!

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Snow is very very cute!! 5 weeks is very young. In the US we do not recommend puppies be removed from their mothers that young. Snow is to young to learn commands and come when called. I promise you with time and as he grows he will learn his name and come. Just practice a few times per day for only a few minutes. Puppies tire easily. It is very common at 5 weeks to appear deaf and like they can't see. It is just immaturity! I hope this helps and have fun with your new puppy!

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! 5 weeks is a bit young to leave her mother but if she is fully weaned it should be ok. We usually do not start vaccines until they are 7 weeks of age. Some breeders will give them a parvo vaccine at under 7 weeks. You should be fine until she gets her first vaccine but people with sick dogs or unvaccinated dogs shouldn't handle her and she needs to be kept away from all dogs. I hope this helps and good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! At 14 weeks old, she doesn’t understand commands or her name. I recommend keep working with her but use things like clapping, slapping your leg, jumping up and down to get her attention to come to you. When she does, give her a lot of praise and make It fun. Over the next few months, you can add her name and command words, like “come”, but it will take time for her to understand. I recommend using a leash during training so you can get her attention and so she can follow you and understand what you are asking her. Good luck and kisses to Princess!

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She is not too young to be away from mom if she is 5 weeks of age. Pets are vaccinated as early as 6 weeks of age, and are usually weaned off of mom at this age. Since you have another pet in the home that does go outside, it is best to start vaccines for this pup once she is 6-8 weeks of age. Intestinal worms usually don't make pets too sick, but it can cause loose stool and potential vomiting. They still will eat well and do well as long as the worms are treated in a timely fashion (within 1-2 weeks), so this is an easy fix if you do encounter this. If your other pet is on a monthly heartworm prevention, then it has a natural intestinal dewormer in it as well that can protect your pet against 2 types of worms (hookworms and roundworms), which are the most common types of worms seen in puppies. But again, if you do happen to encounter a worm problem, this is easily dealt with with the appropriate dewormer, so keep an eye out for any loose stools. I hope that this helps and best wishes deciding on if you want to adopt this new pup. Take care. : )

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Duke is very young. At 4 weeks he should still be with his mom and litter mates. He is very much like a human baby at 4 weeks-play a little and sleep 15-20 hours per day, poop and pee. At 4 weeks he doesn't quite have the ability to be trained yet. I would be patient, let him be a baby, cuddle with him and start easy training in another month or so. Good luck!