Walk By Faith Dog Training blog
Welcome to our Training Blog, your go-to resource for all types of puppy training tips and advice! We're here to help new puppy owners navigate the exciting journey of raising a well-behaved and happy companion. Discover encouraging insights and practical methods to truly understand your new furry family member.
Puppy training tips for a happy start -
The Socialization Window
The Socialization window
There is a well-known “window of opportunity” when it comes to puppy socialization. This critical period typically begins around 3–4 weeks of age and extends through about 4 months old. Coincidentally, this overlaps with the time most puppies come home (around 8 weeks) and their first fear phase, which occurs between 8–12 weeks. Add in the fact that many puppies are not yet fully vaccinated, and socialization can suddenly feel confusing or even risky for owners.
The good news? While it may take a little extra planning, safe and effective socialization is absolutely possible.
Socialization does not mean your puppy must meet everyone or play with every dog. Instead, it’s about helping your puppy learn that the sights, sounds, and experiences in their world are normal—and therefore not a big deal. The goal is to take the novelty and intensity out of new experiences by giving puppies the time and space they need to process them calmly.
A “new thing” can be anything your puppy hasn’t experienced yet, or has only encountered briefly. This includes people, dogs, other animals, bicycles, skateboards, traffic, sporting events, and unfamiliar sounds. Sometimes it’s even as simple as a familiar person wearing a hat—something small to us, but brand new to a puppy.
When it comes to training, two of the words I use most often are casual and gradual. These concepts are key to helping dogs learn comfortably and confidently.
Approaching new experiences casually helps remove the excitement. If a loud garbage truck passes by and we remain calm and relaxed, our dogs are likely to follow our lead. If, however, we tense up or act worried about how our dog might react, they may interpret the situation as something worth being concerned about. The message we want to send is: “Yes, that truck is big—but it’s no big deal.”
Gradual exposure means starting with very short, positive experiences based on what your dog can comfortably handle. Maybe the first time your puppy sees the garbage truck, you observe it for just 10 seconds from a safe distance. If their body language shows stress—such as trembling, panting, or intense fixation—you simply increase distance until they can remain calm again. As your puppy gains confidence, you slowly build on those experiences.
It’s important not to lure or force a puppy closer than they’re ready for. We want curiosity—not pressure—to guide them forward. Rewarding calm observation teaches your dog that staying relaxed around new things is both safe and rewarding.
Sound desensitization is another powerful socialization tool, especially for puppies and sensitive dogs. If your dog reacts to certain noises, you can find recordings online or make your own and play them at a very low volume throughout the day. Reward calm behavior, then gradually increase the volume as your dog becomes more comfortable. This is an easy and effective way to practice socialization right from home.
But what about dogs who missed this early window—shelter dogs, rehomed dogs, puppies adopted later, or adult dogs with limited life experience? Some dogs have even had negative experiences, making the world feel overwhelming or unsafe. While early socialization is ideal, delayed socialization is not hopeless. The window doesn’t slam shut—it simply narrows. With patience, time, and gentle exposure, dogs of any age can learn that new sights, sounds, and situations are not something to fear.
One helpful approach is exposure from a distance, the idea is simple: give your dog enough space to stay calm while observing new things. Reward calm watching, move closer only when your dog can handle it, and increase distance if excitement or stress rises. This teaches dogs that calm behavior brings rewards, while overreaction results in more space.
With the right approach, dogs of any age can learn to view new experiences as normal parts of their world. It may take more time and patience once the early socialization window has passed, but it is far from closed. With thoughtful, gentle practice, confidence can still grow—one calm experience at a time. 🐾
Ages and Stages...
You have to train based on the stage and the age of the dog. Let's talk about the stage and the age and what that requires.
So I've broken down a dog's life stages to six categories.
You could maybe squish them into five, but let's say six. And let's assume you're getting a puppy, but if you get a rescue dog, it's very similar. The first little while in your home, that puppy or rescue dog is going to have somewhat of a honeymoon period.
It appears that they're doting on you, that they love you, that they're really attracted to you. But really they're seeking the safety level of this new environment, especially if they're a rescue dog. But for a puppy that's been taken from the litter, they're unsure of what's safe to do.
So what appears like the honeymoon period, which can last anywhere from a couple of weeks to maybe even a full month. So, if you get a puppy at eight weeks, it might go up to 11 or 12 weeks of age, where that puppy seems to do everything you want and they seem to follow you everywhere.
Because you're giving them attention, you're giving them reinforcement, and they still are seeking that psychological safety to know what they can do and what they can't do.
That's the honeymoon period. And when you get a rescue dog, it will be the same. But the honeymoon ends very quickly.
Let's call the next stage, the honeymoon is over, or the world is very interesting. And here's where that dog or puppy, if they haven't got a schedule of strategic reinforcement from you, where they understand and they have expectation of how their life is going to roll out. If you've done that, then things will just keep progressing.
That lifelong learner, that data processing little four-legged fluffball, they're just going to keep sopping up all that good information from you. But if you were fooled by the honeymoon and you go, wow, I got this great little dog, and I don't know what people were talking about, that dog loves me. Well, when you get to the honeymoon is over, and you don't have strategic learning happening on a regular basis, that's where the environment steps in.
Ooh, this shoe, it tastes so yummy. The couch, oh my gosh, feathers come out of the couch. I could dig holes in the backyard.
And there's so many other exciting reinforcers out there because we haven't given that puppy enough intentional learning processes. We haven't set up enrichment, engagement, relationship building, and learning. And so, the environment is happy to do that for you.
And that stage of the world is full of amazing things will go from when the honeymoon is over from 12 weeks all the way up to like 8, 9, 10 months. At some point, all of the misbehavior might drive you cray cray. Somewhere between 8 to 10 months and a year and a half is when most puppies end up getting turfed out or most owners go, I can't deal with this.
I need help. And that's when they look to train the dog. But the truth is puppies are amazing learners the moment you get them home.
Don't wait until they become such a frustration to you that you either have to get rid of them or do something with them. Training for puppies and dogs just like people happens throughout their lifetime