Puppy weeks 11–12

Puppy weeks 11–12: Juvenile

By weeks 11–12 the socialisation window is starting to close, so what a puppy has met by now largely sets their baseline for “normal.” Learning is fast but attention spans are short — keep training to 2–3 minutes. Accidents are still normal; bladder control is improving, not finished.

When does this happen?

All breed sizes	Weeks 11–12

Not sure this is your puppy’s exact stage? Check the Puppy Stage Finder. Ready to start real training — sit, come, crate? See the full training timeline.

Common questions

How long should you train an 11-week-old puppy?

Keep sessions to about 2–3 minutes, high-reward, and end before the puppy loses interest. Focus on sit, name recall, come, crate training, and simply wearing a leash.

Is it normal for a 12-week-old puppy to still have accidents?

Yes — bladder control is improving but still limited at 12 weeks, so accidents are expected. Resource guarding or new fearfulness, though, are worth addressing early with a trainer.

Grounded in established canine behavioural science — see our sources.