A good puppy is physically healthy (bright eyes, clean coat, good appetite) and has a balanced temperament (curious but not overly fearful, playful but not aggressive, confident enough to investigate new things but settles easily). They are often friendly, enjoy interaction, learn quickly, and have a moderate energy level, showing resilience to new experiences.
Breathing: should be quiet and effortless with no snoring, coughing, grunting or wheezing. Skin: should be clean, dry, with no signs of soreness or folds that can become infected. Mouth: should be clean, with white teeth and pink healthy gums. Fur: should be shiny and soft with no sign of fleas.
The 777 Puppy Rule (or Rule of 7s) is a guideline for puppy socialization, suggesting that by seven weeks old, a puppy should experience seven different Surfaces, seven different Sounds, seven different Objects, seven different People, seven different Locations, seven different Containers, and seven different Challenges, all in positive, short, and safe ways to build confidence and resilience. It helps prevent fear and reactivity by creating positive associations with novel experiences during the critical socialization window (around 4-16 weeks).
A seller who hasn't bred or reared the puppy won't be able to give an accurate picture of the puppy's medical and socialisation history. More importantly, puppies from puppy farms are often sold via third-party sellers. Always buy a puppy directly from the breeder.
As for any red flags in a foster puppy that young, you look for signs of illness, diarrhea, coughing, vomiting, blood in urine or stool, lethargy etc. As for behavioural red flags, very intense and fixated staring, tense body language, meaningful growling.
The 10-10-10 rule for puppy potty training is a specific routine: 10 minutes outside in the designated potty spot, staying 10 feet away from the house/play area, followed by 10 minutes of focused supervision indoors to prevent accidents before the next potty break, creating a consistent cycle for success. This method ensures the puppy has ample time to eliminate and minimizes mistakes by closely monitoring them afterward, reinforcing good habits consistently.
The hardest months with a puppy often center around two key periods: 3-5 months (teething, regression, lack of impulse control) and 6-12 months (adolescence), when hormone surges bring boundary testing, stubbornness, and increased energy, making training and housebreaking challenging as they become "teenagers". Expect frustration with accidents, nipping, chewing, and defiance during these phases as their brains develop, requiring patience and consistent training.
The 3-second rule for puppies, primarily for greetings, means letting two dogs sniff each other for about three seconds, then separating them briefly before repeating, to keep interactions positive and prevent over-excitement or conflict; it's also used in training to reward or correct within three seconds of behavior for clear association, ensuring quick, calm interactions and giving dogs choice in petting.
Relaxed Exploration
A relaxed puppy will show interest in sniffing around their surroundings. Sniffing is a natural calming behaviour for dogs, so if your puppy is casually walking around sniffing everything in there environment they will be pretty relaxed.
To select a healthy puppy, it is important to do your research:
Puppies are capable of learning basic obedience commands from as early as eight weeks old, essentially the moment they're through your front door they can begin their training. It's common for puppy owners to overlook this - thinking that the only training their puppy needs is house training.
Well-socialized puppies are more likely to grow up to be friendly adult dogs who are easy to handle and not overly frightened or stressed. The best time to socialize a puppy is from 3 to 14 weeks of age. This is when puppies are most open to new experiences and thirsty to learn.
Lack of Parental Health History. Responsible breeders should be transparent about the health history of the puppy's parents and provide documentation of health screenings. If the breeder is unable or unwilling to provide this information, it could be a red flag.
Instead of giving your puppy time-outs for hard biting, start to give him time-outs every time you feel his teeth touch your skin. The instant you feel your puppy's teeth touch you, give a high-pitched yelp. Then immediately walk away from him. Ignore him for 30 to 60 seconds.
Here are ten of the easiest dog breeds to train, known for their intelligence, willingness to please, and adaptability.
Red flag puppy behaviors signal serious issues beyond normal puppy antics, including aggression (growling, snapping, biting, lunging), extreme fear/anxiety (intense cowering, hiding, refusing treats, constant escape attempts, shutting down), resource guarding (guarding food/toys with aggression), and severe separation anxiety (destructive behavior when alone). Recognizing these early and seeking professional help from a trainer or vet is crucial, as these often stem from trauma or lack of socialization and won't just disappear with age.
Saint Bernard
Saint Bernards are one of the very calmest dog breeds—which explains how they stay cool, calm, and collected during the avalanche search-and-rescue missions they're known for. These chill dogs are often called “nanny dogs” because of their affinity for children.
Crate Training Can Help With Separation Anxiety:
Crate training can be beneficial for puppies who suffer from separation anxiety. Indeed, separation anxiety is becoming more common because pet owners were spending more time at home and are now returning to a more standard work schedule that their pets are not used to.
The most commonly surrendered dog type is the "pit bull type" (including mixes), often due to negative stereotypes, breed-specific legislation, and high energy levels, followed by other popular breeds like German Shepherds, Huskies, and Labrador Retrievers that may not fit owner lifestyles. Breeds like Staffordshire Bull Terriers (especially mixes) also top surrender lists in some regions like Australia.
The "5-minute rule" for puppies is a popular guideline suggesting 5 minutes of structured exercise (like on-leash walking) per month of age, up to twice a day, to protect developing bones and joints from injury, meaning a 3-month-old gets 15 mins, twice daily, and a 4-month-old gets 20 mins, twice daily. While it's a useful guide to prevent over-exercising, some sources note there's no hard scientific proof, and it's more about managing intensity (avoiding jarring impact) rather than strict time limits, with sniffing and mental stimulation being as vital as physical activity.
Puppies Less Than 6 Months Old
Once weaned, puppies should get three scheduled feedings a day. Make sure you know the total amount of food he needs per day based on his weight and divide that amount among the three feedings. Our puppy feeding chart offers a more in-depth look at feeding amounts.
Adult dog teeth start to grow in when your puppy is 12–16 weeks old, and your puppy's gums may be a bit sore during this time. Because of this, puppy biting tends to hit its peak when a pup is about 13 weeks old.
Dogs bring love and joy to millions, but some owners struggle with common behavioral challenges like barking, chewing or separation anxiety. From easing fears to stopping destructive habits, we'll share tips to help your pup thrive.
I think sit, stay, reliable recall and drop it/leave it are the most important. The first two are pretty easy for dogs to learn, while recall and leave/drop can take forever which is why it's good to start teaching those commands ASAP.