The window that matters
Most puppies are especially open to new experiences in the first few months of life. Missing that window does not ruin a dog — it just means you go slower later.
Follow your vet’s vaccine schedule. Carry the pup through busy streets, sit outside a café, and invite calm vaccinated dogs to meet on lead — skip chaotic off-lead parks until your vet agrees.
A simple weekly mix
- People: hats, prams, kids at a distance, delivery drivers — always with an escape route.
- Surfaces: grass, concrete, metal grates, wet pavement.
- Sounds: traffic, thunder recordings at low volume, vacuum at the far end of the house.
- Handling: paws, collar, ears — pair with food so vet visits are easier.
- Other dogs: one calm adult at a time is better than ten excited puppies.
Australian extras
Include heat awareness (hot paths burn pads), wildlife at a distance, and council lead rules. Puppy class with a reward-based trainer is worth it if the class is small and well run.
Not a training course. Your vet remains the guide for vaccines and when public spaces are appropriate.