Unexpected but Essential: Puppy Training Beyond “Sit” and “Down”

When most people think of puppy training, their minds go straight to basic obedience cues like sit, down, and stay. While those are certainly helpful, there are many other skills that often go overlooked—but can make a huge difference in your dog’s comfort, health, and safety throughout their life.

In fact, training these “life skills” during puppyhood is often more important than perfecting a sit. Why? Because puppies are at their most open and adaptable stage. Exposing them early to the sometimes-weird things they’ll encounter as adult dogs helps prevent fear, stress, and even injury down the road.

Here are some surprising but essential skills to start working on with your puppy right away:

1. Using Pet Steps or Ramps

Jumping off couches, beds, or cars may seem like no big deal, but repeated impact can cause joint strain and long-term orthopedic issues—especially in puppies still developing. Teaching your pup to confidently use steps or a ramp protects their growing body.

• Why early matters: Puppies are naturally curious and will try to follow you everywhere. Teaching steps when they’re small prevents them from learning unsafe habits like leaping off furniture.

2. Accepting Ear and Eye Drops

Most dogs will need ear cleaning or eye medication at some point. But without practice, many dogs find the process scary or uncomfortable. A squirming or resistant dog can make treatment stressful—or even impossible.

• Why early matters: Puppies who learn that handling around their eyes and ears leads to calm, positive experiences are far less likely to fight, nip, or hide when it really counts.

3. Putting on a Harness Willingly

A harness is one of the safest ways to walk your dog, but many puppies view it as a confusing, restrictive contraption. Training your pup to step into their harness happily prevents future leash struggles.

• Why early matters: A cooperative dog is a safe dog. Teaching harness acceptance early builds positive associations before bad habits like bolting, mouthing, or avoidance can set in.

4. Wearing a Recovery Cone (a.k.a. “Cone of Shame”)

Whether it’s a spay/neuter surgery, injury, or skin condition, chances are your dog will need to wear a cone at some point in their life. Most dogs despise them—unless they’re introduced slowly and positively.

• Why early matters: A puppy who sees cones as just another funny “hat” is less likely to panic, freeze, or try to chew their way out of one during recovery.

5. Wearing Booties

Booties protect paws from extreme heat, cold, salt, or rough terrain, but dogs often walk like their legs are made of springs the first time they try them. Training early makes booties no big deal.

• Why early matters: Puppies are in their most adaptable learning phase. By making booties fun and normal now, you won’t be struggling with an adult dog who refuses them when you really need paw protection.

6. Grooming Habits

Brushing, nail trims, and even baths can feel scary or strange to a dog who wasn’t prepared for them. Grooming cooperation is essential for keeping your dog healthy and comfortable.

• Why early matters: Puppies who learn that grooming means treats and relaxation are easier to care for and less likely to need stressful, forceful handling at the groomer or vet.

7. Common Vet Care Tasks

Things like having their temperature taken, being weighed, standing on a scale, or having a paw or tail gently held may not sound like “training” tasks, but they make vet visits far less stressful.

• Why early matters: Teaching puppies that medical handling is safe and rewarding helps prevent fear-based aggression and makes them easier patients—keeping everyone safer.

8. Learning to “Be Helped”

Sometimes your dog will need help—whether it’s being lifted into the car, guided off slippery floors, or held still for a splinter check. Many dogs resist or panic when humans try to assist them.

• Why early matters: Puppies who learn to relax while being held, supported, or guided grow into cooperative dogs who trust their humans when help is truly needed.

9. Muzzle Training

Muzzles are an incredibly useful safety tool—not just for dogs with reactivity, but also for vet visits, emergency care, or if your dog ever gets hurt and needs handling while in pain. Unfortunately, most dogs panic if a muzzle is forced on them suddenly.

• Why early matters: Puppies can learn to see the muzzle as a “treat dispenser hat” when introduced gradually with positive reinforcement. By normalizing muzzle use now, you give your future dog a skill that could one day save their life—and keep others safe, too.

Why These Matter More Than “Sit” and “Down”

Yes, obedience cues are useful—but they’re not what will make or break your dog’s comfort and safety in daily life. Your dog will get by just fine if their “down” isn’t perfect. But refusing medication, panicking at the vet, or resisting grooming? That can impact their health, safety, and wellbeing.

Puppyhood is your golden window to normalize these unusual but practical skills. The investment you make now pays off for a lifetime—making vet visits, recovery, grooming, and daily living far less stressful for both of you.

Pro Tip: Keep training sessions short, positive, and fun. Use treats, praise, and play to help your puppy build happy associations. Think of these skills as “insurance” against future struggles.

Because at the end of the day, the goal of puppy training isn’t just obedience—it’s setting your dog up to be a confident, cooperative partner in everyday life.