Dogs offer excellent companionship, but they also come with certain responsibilities such as training. Without training your dog, you may not enjoy the exciting experience it brings. However, many people often wonder how long it takes to train a dog to get the right behavior. Depending on several factors
Fundamentals of Dog Training
It usually takes six weeks to train a dog and teach it the fundamentals that will produce good behavior. For long daily training sessions, you will need four weeks while bi-weekly sessions will take 9 weeks. However, here are the basic things you should know about training a dog.
Different aspects affect the duration of training a dog. These factors include the dog’s breed, age, consistency, socialization experiences, previous training, and the methods used. Additionally, the owner’s commitment and training methods utilized also influence the time it takes to train a puppy.
When training a dog, you should set realistic expectations because every dog is unique, so you should not expect the same outcome from a single training method on different dogs. Some dogs respond quickly to training while others may need more time. To make dog training more manageable, here are the basic rules you should follow:
- Create an exciting experience
- Focus on positive reinforcement
- Avoid using punishment
- Create predictable outcomes
- Avoid complex commands
Delegating someone to train your dog is a good idea if you feel that you lack the expertise to handle the task.
When to Start Training Your Dog?
Different veterinarians, animal behaviorists, veterinary technicians, and trainers recommend that you should start training a puppy with no health issues from 7 to 8 weeks. This is the right age to begin socializing your puppy with other pets in the home and family members. Allow the new member to explore the house and surroundings so it familiarizes itself with the place. Ensure the puppy receives appropriate vaccines before it begins its first training session.
Begin the puppy training process at home and conduct about three short daily training sessions of about 5 to 15 minutes to avoid boredom. These short training sessions should be conducted at least once or twice per week. You must have at least one class training session per week. Remember to take short breaks in between training sessions. Puppies can easily get bored or distracted, so give them sufficient time to sleep.
At the age of 7 to 8 weeks, you must introduce your puppy to leash training around your home. From 8 to 10 weeks, your dog is old enough to undergo a full training session designed to yield the expected results. When a puppy reaches 10 to 12 weeks, teach them not to bite your hands or objects around your home. This session is very important because it teaches your dog good behavior when it meets new people or other pets.
Once your puppy is between 12 and 16 weeks old, offer it potty training. Create a schedule where you take your puppy to the toilet in the morning, during playtime, after a meal, or after a nap. Some dogs are quick to learn how to use a toilet, whereas others may take longer.
Basic Dog Commands
For your dog to be obedient, you must teach it specific skills and behavior. Be sure to establish a clear line of communication with your dog and provide basic obedience training commands including the following:
- Begin with sit and offer the dog a treat. Move it in an upward direction until the furry is in a sitting position. Once in a sitting position, praise the dog and reward it with a treat. Keep on repeating the process until the dog masters the art of sitting.
- Teach your dog the stay command to improve its impulse control where it remains in the same position. Offer it a reward when it understands the command.
- The down command is the next and it is often used when you want your furry friend to lie down.
- The ‘come’ command ensures your dog returns to you whenever you call it.
- Teaching your dog leash walking is vital because it gives you a wonderful experience when you walk side-by-side with your friend.
- Teach your dog the drop it or leave it to command so it leaves the items it has picked.
- Emphasize the stay command once it masters other basic commands.
When training your dog, always use positive reinforcement, such as affection, reward, and treats for good behavior. Remember to keep your training sessions short, consistent, and fun, to enhance engagement with your dog. Avoid yelling at your dog since this can cause aggression and other behavior-related problems.
Training your dog makes it a perfect companion. As your friend gets old, make sure she keeps learning so she does not forget her life lessons. However, as the dog gets old, it becomes impossible to teach her new tricks, but you can still enjoy the company.
Training your dog ensures your safety and its safety as well. By offering your pet basic commands, you can enjoy a wonderful experience in her company. It can take up to six weeks to train a dog, but remember that it should keep learning throughout its life. This timeframe just gives you a guide on what you should expect to offer to your dog to enjoy unlimited friendship. Dog training may seem overwhelming, but it is possible with the right knowledge. These tips can go a long way in giving you insight into what you should expect when you begin the journey of training your dog.