Puppy Training 101: Teach Sit, Stay & Come in Your First Week

The first week with a new puppy sets the tone for everything. Three commands — sit, stay, come — cover most of daily life, and you can start all three on day one. The secret isn't dominance or repetition; it's timing and reward.

Before You Start: Get the Rewards Right

Reward-based training only works if the reward is worth it. Kibble won't cut it for a distracted puppy. Use small, smelly, high-protein training treats — bite-sized so you can reward often without overfeeding. Keep them in your pocket all week.

Sit

Hold a treat at your puppy's nose, slowly raise it back over their head. As the nose follows up, the bottom goes down. The instant they sit, say “yes!” and give the treat. Ten reps, twice a day.

Stay

Ask for a sit, hold your palm out, say “stay,” wait one second, reward. Build up one second at a time. Don't rush — a reliable one-minute stay is worth more than a shaky ten-second one.

Come (The Most Important One)

Two people, opposite ends of a hallway, taking turns calling “come!” and rewarding every arrival. Make coming to you the best thing that ever happens. Never call your dog to punish them — it poisons the command.

Keep Sessions Short and Fun

Five minutes, several times a day, beats one long boring session. End while your puppy still wants more. Between sessions, a lick mat keeps them calm and a self-rolling toy burns the zoomies so they can focus when it's time to learn.

Consistency beats intensity — a few minutes daily and your puppy will have the basics down within a week or two. Shop training essentials at CrazyPawz — free US shipping, 60-day returns.