5 Brain Training Exercises for Puppies Under 6 Months
When I brought home my puppy, I was so focused on the basics — potty training, crate training, chew toys — that I didn’t realize how important it was to start working her brain early on. The truth is, puppies under 6 months are little sponges — and brain training at this age helps shape their confidence, focus, and future behavior.
In this post, I’ll share 5 simple but super effective brain training exercises for puppies under 6 months — and how they helped my pup become a well-behaved, focused young dog. If you want the full brain training program I used (and still use), here’s my personal link:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
Table of Contents
Why Start Brain Training Early?
Early brain training helps your puppy:
- Build confidence
- Develop impulse control
- Learn to focus on you
- Handle new experiences calmly
- Reduce future behavior problems
- Strengthen your bond
- Set the stage for faster learning as they grow
And trust me — a little bit goes a long way at this age!
My 5 Favorite Brain Training Exercises for Puppies Under 6 Months
1. Focus on Me Game
Teaching your puppy to look at you on cue is HUGE. It builds focus and makes later training so much easier.
2. Name Recognition
Play simple games where you say their name and reward them for turning toward you. It’s fun and teaches attention.
3. “Leave It” Foundations
Even young puppies can start learning impulse control with basic “leave it” games — a skill that prevents so many future problems.
4. Scent Work
Hiding a few treats around the room and letting your puppy “hunt” teaches problem-solving and builds confidence.
5. Puppy Puzzle Toys
Using age-appropriate puzzle feeders gives your puppy an early outlet for mental energy — keeping them calm and happy.
Here’s the exact program that taught me how to safely work my puppy’s brain at this age:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
The Results I Saw
After adding these brain training exercises:
- My puppy learned faster in other areas
- She became calmer during crate time and alone time
- She focused better on walks
- Barking and nipping decreased
- We built an amazing bond early on
Final Thoughts
If you’ve got a puppy under 6 months, now is the BEST time to start brain training — even just 5–10 minutes a day makes a huge difference!
For us, this was the program that really helped:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
Start now, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly your puppy grows into a focused, calm, and happy companion!
Before I started adding brain games to our routine, I noticed that my puppy would get overexcited very quickly — and that led to behaviors like jumping, barking, and mouthing. What I didn’t realize at first was that she wasn’t being “bad” — she was just full of untapped mental energy.
Once I began doing short brain training sessions every day, her behavior started to shift in a really positive way. She became more focused, more settled, and better able to handle new experiences without getting overwhelmed.
If you’re wondering how to structure early brain training, this is the exact program that guided me — and it works beautifully for young puppies:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
One thing I love is that early brain games are not only fun — they also prevent future problem behaviors. A puppy who learns how to focus, wait, and think things through is much less likely to develop impulse control issues later on.
And the best part? You don’t need long sessions. Just 5–10 minutes of the right mental work each day can set your puppy up for success.
Another tip that helped me: keep sessions super positive and end on a win. At this young age, it’s all about building confidence and curiosity — not perfection.
It was amazing to watch my puppy go from easily distracted to focused and eager to learn — and brain training made that transformation possible.
I also noticed that crate training went smoother once my puppy’s brain was being worked regularly — she was much more content to settle after a good mental workout.
And when you pair brain games with basic manners (sit, stay, leave it), your puppy starts learning how to control their impulses — which leads to better behavior across the board.
If your puppy tends to get nippy, barky, or over-aroused, mental stimulation is one of the best ways to help — it teaches them to self-regulate and stay calm.
This is the program that showed me how to build those early skills the right way:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
Now, I love how easily my young dog focuses on me in public, greets people calmly, and handles new situations with confidence — all thanks to the brain games we started early.
If you want to avoid common behavior problems later on, early brain training is one of the smartest things you can do — and this program will walk you through it:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
You’ll be amazed how quickly your puppy learns when you give their brain the right kind of workout — and how much more enjoyable puppyhood can be for both of you!
One thing I didn’t expect was how much brain training also helped with my puppy’s socialization. Because she had already learned how to focus and handle small challenges, she was more confident meeting new people and other dogs.
If you want to give your puppy the best start possible, this is exactly the program that helped us:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
I also noticed that teaching early patience through brain games made handling everyday situations — like grooming, waiting for meals, or visiting the vet — so much easier.
And once you make brain training part of your puppy’s routine, it builds the foundation for faster learning in obedience, manners, and even fun tricks later on.
If you want to raise a well-behaved, happy, confident dog, this is one of the smartest ways to start:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out