The moment your poodle sets paw into your house, he starts learning. You and your family members should spend plenty of time indoors interacting with the puppy. He should be included in the daily routine of the house. Even while you're housetraining (see Chapter 7), don't isolate him in his crate in another room too often. Putting an ex-pen in the room where the family spends the greatest amount of time is a great way to involve the puppy without having to worry that he will get into trouble.

Make a special effort to expose your puppy to all sorts of sounds in the house, from the vacuum cleaner, to the television and stereo, to pots and pans clanging around. He should hear the lawn mower, the garbage disposal or trash compactor, and the various sounds the dishwasher and washing machine make. Basically, you should try to expose him as a puppy to anything he might encounter as an adult.

If your poodle startles at a new sound or sight, reassure him (“That's just the dryer”), perhaps patting the object or repeating the sound, but don't coddle him. Be upbeat and nonchalant about the thing that's scaring him. And make sure he hears it again.