Depending on the breed restrict your dog to playing in the garden and away from other animals until it is three months old and fully vaccinated. Be mindful of its developing joints. Puppies don’t want to be over exercised or over fed. (You don’t want a fat dog!) Get toys which are suitable for your dog – when Manny, my English Bull Terrier was a pup all the toys were indestructible and made of rubber! Remember they can have teeth like needles. Also remember a puppy is a baby who gets tired and needs rest afterwards so be sensitive to its needs.

When your dog is about ten weeks old, put a collar on it just to get used to the feel. The dog must look forward to it so reward with a treat. Stop, ideally before the dog loses patience. Do the same with a lead and let your pet get used to it. After a week, use this to take it for a walk around the garden with a lead, always keeping the dog on the left hand side. Let the dog get used to being on a lead by repeating this once or twice a day for a week.

Then train your dog to walk to heel. Stand and say heel and hold a treat by your left knee so they come to your left knee. You can do this initially around the house off the lead. And, of course, offer a reward.

Obviously when you start going for walks your dog isn’t trained. He needs to be introduced slowly to the hustle and bustle of ever day life i.e. traffic, people, cars, shouting in the street. The aim is to acclimatise and socialise the dog to your life so that it can be with you whenever you want it to be. Use words of reassurance all the time so that your dog feels safe and comfortable. For the first six months only take your dog for a few hundred yards – walking, for them, has to be fun. Increase the exercise gradually. Don’t make the exercise about what you need but what your dog needs.