What is Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps about?
It’s a step-by-step guide to raising and training a puppy using positive reinforcement. It walks you through puppy prep plus seven core training steps, from bringing your puppy home to leash walking and coming when called.
Who wrote Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps?
The book is written by Mark Van Wye, CEO of Zoom Room Dog Training.
What age puppy is this book best for?
It focuses primarily on puppies between two and six months old. It’s especially aimed at people bringing home a puppy around eight weeks old.
Is this book good for first-time puppy owners?
Yes, it’s written for first-time puppy owners and for anyone who wants a refresher on the basics. It emphasizes supervision, consistency, and positive reinforcement from day one.
Does Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps use positive reinforcement or punishment-based training?
It uses positive reinforcement training methods. The book repeatedly advises against punishment, dominance-based approaches, and aggressive handling.
What are the “7 easy steps” covered in the book?
The steps are: Bringing Your Puppy Home, Crate Training, Potty Training, Preventing Food Aggression, Socializing Your Puppy, The Six Key Commands, and Leash Walking and Coming When Called.
Will this book help me prepare my home before my puppy arrives?
Yes, it includes a puppy supplies checklist and a puppy-proofing chapter. It covers practical prep like crates and gates, cleaning supplies, and removing hazards like electrical cords, poisons, and choking risks.
Does it cover crate training in detail?
Yes, it lays out a multi-step crate training plan, including how to introduce the crate, feed meals in the crate, build duration, and handle overnight crating. It also explains how crate training supports potty training and prevents destructive chewing.
Does the book explain potty training schedules and what to do about accidents?
Yes, it provides a daily potty-training schedule and explains how often puppies need breaks. It also includes troubleshooting for accidents, including what to do if you catch your puppy in the act and why enzyme cleaners matter.
Can this book help with nipping and destructive chewing?
Yes, it explains why puppies nip and chew (including teething) and gives practical redirection strategies. It emphasizes not punishing and instead teaching what to chew and how to end play when biting gets too hard.
Does it address barking, including barking when you leave the house?
Yes, it discusses normal barking, nuisance barking for attention, and “exit barking” that can be related to early separation stress. It suggests using long-lasting food toys or chews during departures and keeping exits and returns low-key.
How does the book handle socialization before my puppy is fully vaccinated?
It explains the key socialization window up to 16 weeks and gives safety guidance for reducing infection risk. It recommends avoiding dog parks and day care before full vaccination and suggests safer options like controlled playdates and outings where your puppy stays off the ground (such as riding in a cart at a hardware store).
What commands does the book teach?
It teaches Name Game (name recognition and focus), Sit, Down, Off (four paws on the floor), Wait (with a release word like “Free”), and Leave It. It also teaches Drop It earlier in the food aggression section and covers Come (recall) in the final step.
Does Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps help with leash pulling?
Yes, it teaches loose leash walking in phases: first off-leash practice at home, then adding a leash, then applying the skill on real walks. It also recommends using a front-clip harness to reduce pulling by avoiding the oppositional reflex.
Does the book cover preventing food aggression and resource guarding?
Yes, it explains how food aggression can develop and offers prevention strategies like hand-feeding some meals early on. It also teaches Drop It as a “barter system” approach and warns against prying items out of a puppy’s mouth.
If I have kids at home, does the book give guidance for puppy-and-child safety?
Yes, it includes “Puppy Rules for Kids” and stresses that children and puppies should always be supervised together. It also advises keeping kids away from puppies while they’re eating or chewing.
Will this book be enough if I adopted an older puppy (around 6 months) with behavior issues?
It can help you understand training fundamentals and provide helpful tips, but it notes that a six-month-old puppy with neglect or trust issues may need professional help. The book recommends working with a qualified trainer in those situations.
