If you bought a puppy in NSW recently, you are dealing with two time-sensitive jobs at once. You need a clear first month training plan, and you need to confirm the breeder and microchip details under NSW’s updated dog breeding rules.
Since 1 December 2025, NSW has strengthened requirements linked to breeder identification numbers (BINs) and identification details used when dogs are advertised, especially for dogs born on or after that date. NSW Pet Registry guidance for buyers is straightforward: verify the breeder’s BIN and check the puppy’s microchip details using the NSW Buyer Search.
Now the training part. Your puppy’s first month shows all the behaviors they have and what will you live with for years. The goal is not perfection for your dogs, The goal is simple for training plan for puppies: make a simple and stable routine, train your dog for toileting, and a puppy that can settle and play and feels more comfortable with you.
What NSW Buyers Should Check First
Before you get deep into training, spend 5 minutes confirming the basics:
- Check the breeder’s BIN using the NSW Pet Registry Buyer Search, and confirm it is active.
- Check the microchip number and confirm it matches what you were given and what was shown in any listing or paperwork.
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The First 48 Hours at Home
This is where most people accidentally create bad habits.
Set up the environment before you “train”
Pick one main puppy area (pen, gated room, or crate plus pen). You want fewer chances for mistakes, not more space “to explore.” Your puppy should always be in 1 of 3 states:
- supervised
- confined safely
- outside for toileting
Start your routine immediately
A predictable rhythm reduces stress and biting.
- Walk your dog and teach them to use the outdoors for the toilet, and teach them to use the toilet after waking, after eating and after playing.
- Short play, short training, then enforced rest
Training Plan for First Month (Week by Week)
The fastest way to get results is to train your dogs several times a day, using treats makes your dog to follow all your commands.
First Month Schedule at a Glance
| Week | Main Goal | Daily Focus | What “Good” Looks Like |
| Week 1 | Routine and toileting | Toilet schedule, name response, settle, gentle handling | Fewer indoor accidents, puppy follows you for rewards |
| Week 2 | Biting and house rules | Bite inhibition plan, “leave it,” leash basics indoors | Biting reduces, puppy redirects faster |
| Week 3 | Calm behavior and social exposure | Short outings, sound exposure, alone-time practice | Puppy can settle, handles new sights calmly |
| Week 4 | Proofing and reliability | Add distractions, longer settles, consistent recall games | Training works outside the living room |
Week 1: Toileting, Name Response, and Calm Settling
Toilet training that actually works
Do not “wait and see.” Run a schedule.
Take your puppy out:
- when they wake up
- after meals
- after play
- after any excitement
- before bed
Reward immediately after they go outside. If you catch an accident mid-stream, calmly pick them up and take them outside. Do not punish. You will only teach your puppy to hide when they need to go.
RSPCA guidance on toilet training aligns with reward-based timing and supervision.
Name response in 60 seconds a day
Say the puppy’s name once. The moment they look at you, reward. Repeat 10 times. Do this twice daily. That is enough to start building attention.
Teach “settle” early
Several times per day, reward calm behavior on a bed or mat. Do not wait for calm to magically appear.
Week 2: Biting, Chewing, and House Rules
Puppy biting is normal. The question is whether it gets reinforced.
Simple bite inhibition plan
When biting starts during play:
- freeze for 2 seconds
- redirect to a toy
- reward when they take the toy
- end the session if they keep biting
Keep your sessions short. Long play creates manic biting.
Start leash skills inside
Do not begin outside chaos. Clip the leash indoors and reward your puppy after he follows your commands.
Week 3: Exposing in Outdoors That Builds Confidence
A lot of owners misunderstand socialization. It is not “let everyone pat the puppy.” It is controlled exposure where your puppy stays under threshold and associates the world with good outcomes.
Focus on neutral confidence
Practice:
- walking past people without needing to greet
- hearing household sounds and light outdoor noise
- being handled calmly by you
Introduce alone-time properly
Start with 30 seconds while you are in another room, then return before your puppy panics. Build slowly. This is one of the highest ROI skills you can teach.
Week 4: Proofing and Making It Stick
Now you keep the skills and raise the difficulty.
Add small distractions
Practice sit and name response:
- in the yard
- near the front door
- at quiet parks at a distance
Upgrade your settle
Ask for 30 to 60 seconds on the mat while you move around. Reward calm. This becomes your “off switch.”
Keep toilet habits consistent
Most backsliding happens because owners relax too early. Keep the same schedule until toileting is boring and reliable.
When to Get Help (And Why It Saves Time)
If any of these are happening, you should get professional support:
- daily biting that breaks skin
- panic when left alone
- repeated toileting regression despite tight supervision
- fear responses to normal sounds or visitors
Puppy to Dog School works with owners on 1 on 1 training that builds the first month foundations properly, then extends them into real-life reliability. The biggest benefit is speed and clarity. You stop guessing, you stop reinforcing bad habits by accident, and you get a plan that fits your puppy’s temperament and your household routine.
Conclusion
Some owners delay help because they want to “see if the puppy grows out of it.” It is better to plan for puppy costs early, including training and vet visits. Our client is a reputable lender that supports responsible budgeting, so you can spread out planned costs like puppy classes and checkups instead of dealing with a last minute money crunch.
Your puppy’s first month at home sits on top of a new legal framework in NSW and a very practical reality in your living room. When you confirm the breeder’s BIN and microchip details, set up a clear routine, and follow a simple training plan, you remove a lot of risk and confusion early.
