Training plan: 1-2 months
Your puppy is basically just an eating, sleeping, pooping machine until it is two months old. Nevertheless, there are still two things you can start teaching your puppy right now:
1. House training
Your puppy should begin to learn the rules of the house as soon as he is introduced to it. Giving a little puppy the lay of the land in your house is not a good idea. Puppies are best kept in small areas with limited opportunity for damage or injury. You basically need a room that is large enough for a sleeping area, a peeing/pooping zone, and a hanging area. Anything between 50-200 sq ft. of space works.
You should know that access to beds, couches, chairs, cushions and the like that is given now, is understood to be given for life. Any changes to this later in life, will require time and effort to enforce. So think about whether you are okay with this adorable thing in bed when he is 40 kgs and sometimes smells a little like poop.
If you plan to travel with your dog, getting her introduced to a crate now is a good idea. Crates also make the setting of a toilet routine much easier. Puppies generally avoid soiling their sleeping space, so will keep their crate clean. Most puppies will alert you when they need to go, making the job of teaching her where to go much easier. Simply carry her to the right spot when she squeals to go.
For the most part, toilet training is about knowing when your dog needs to go. Two month old puppies need to pee every 90-120 minutes. They also need to pee
a) as soon as they wake up, everytime
b) 5-15 minutes after their meal (will move towards 15 minutes as they get to the 2 month age mark)
c) after any activity (this is also a good way to get them to poop)
Your job is to take them to the right place at such times, so that he can do his thing. When he does, praise him to the moon. That's it.
2. Bite inhibition
Bite inhibition is not optional if you are raising a companion dog. And, if your dog shares your living space and meets your guests, you are raising a companion dog. He cannot also double up as your guard dog. Such an arrangement would make for either a terribly unhappy companion dog, or a plain terrible guard dog.
You need to start teaching your puppy not to bite as soon as she starts biting. You do this by doing two things: first, pretend to be grievously injured by your little beast's bite; second, ignore her for 10-15 seconds immediately after said bite. I use the word bite loosely here. Do not wait for a full fledged snapping of the jaw to start complaining. The slightest contact between her teeth and your skin should be enough for you to exclaim in pain, and to start ignoring her. Do this every time she attempts to use her mouth on you, and you will have stopped her biting altogether.
Other than these two essential behaviours, you can start your puppy on the right track by using your attention to reward calmness. This means that you do not give him attention / play when he jumps on you, grabs your leg or anything at all that may he seem unsavoury when he is big boy. Remember the 3kg puppy and the 35kg dog that he will be are the same animal. Anything you are okay with the little one doing, the adult will as well. If you keep this in mind, the most serious dog behaviour issues can be addressed at this tender age.
2. Bite inhibition
Your dog bites to get your attention.
Remember to go "Owww!!"
