Last summer, my family decided it was finally time to get a dog! Naturally, I was thrilled. We’d been thinking about it for a while, and once we got a referral from an acquaintance to a reputable Cockapoo breeder, everything happened so fast. Before I knew it, we were in the car, headed to pick up our newest family member, Teddy!
From the moment we brought Teddy home, he became such a beloved part of our lives. We were all so excited to play with him, take him on walks, and just get to know him. Since he was our first family dog, I quickly discovered that while having a puppy is a ton of fun, it also comes with a lot of responsibility—especially when it comes to training.
As Teddy grew, we noticed a few challenging behaviors starting to pop up. He would jump on anyone who walked into the room, have accidents around the house, get nervous around other dogs, and try to snatch food off our plates whenever we sat down to eat. What started as small quirks turned into real behavioral issues. That’s when we realized—we really needed to train Teddy.
One of the first things we learned was that we should have started training Teddy way earlier—like, as early as eight weeks old. In fact, some really amazing dog breeders actually start simple training and use trainers themselves when the litter is in their first 8 weeks of development, such as Chris at Dog Genius. We also realized just how long proper training takes. Basic commands can take weeks to teach, and more complex behaviors can take months of consistent practice. It’s not a one-and-done deal. It’s hard work. And a lot of it!
One of the biggest challenges we faced was consistency. There were several people in our house, and each of us had a different approach to interacting with Teddy. One of us might be strict and apply a training technique correctly, while someone else would look into his big, adorable eyes and give in! This inconsistency sent Teddy mixed signals, and he wasn’t always sure what we were trying to teach him.
Another struggle was simply the overwhelming amount of information out there. We tried getting advice from friends, family, and online videos. But honestly, we weren’t sure what worked best for us—or if we were even doing it right. The real game-changer came when we started working with a professional trainer. Having someone meet us in person, get to know our family and our dog, and tailor the training to our specific needs made all the difference.
Looking back now—Teddy’s just over a year old—I can see how far we’ve come. He’s still got a playful spirit, but he’s way more well-behaved, and our bond is stronger because of all the effort we put in.
If I could go back and do it all over again, here’s what I’d do differently and what I’d recommend to anyone thinking about getting a puppy:
