Dog Training Age Ranges and Stages Explained

As a dog owner, you're likely eager to start training your furry friend, but did you know that different age ranges require different approaches? Puppies under 16 weeks old are still learning basic survival skills and shouldn't be trained for obedience until they're a bit older.

Between 16 and 52 weeks, puppies enter a critical socialization period where they learn to interact with their environment and people. This is a great time to introduce basic commands and housebreaking. In fact, research shows that puppies who receive proper socialization and training during this period are less likely to develop behavioral problems later in life.

As puppies enter adolescence, around 6-12 months, they may become more challenging to train due to their natural curiosity and energy levels. However, with consistency and positive reinforcement, you can still teach them new skills and reinforce good behavior.

For another approach, see: Dog Training Basic Obedience Lesson Plan

Dogs typically begin police dog training around 8-10 weeks old, depending on the breed. This is when they start the first step of training, which is closely monitored to check for special characteristics.

Puppies are evaluated from birth to determine their potential for completing training. They're watched for how they eat, their intensity during play, and their temperaments.

By 6 months, your growing puppy should be well-versed in several lessons, including basic commands like sit and stay.

At 3-6 months, your puppy is old enough to learn new skills and behaviors, such as playing gently and politely around other dogs and people. This is a great time to reinforce positive behavior when playing with your puppy.

You should start teaching your puppy basic commands like sit and stay, and also teach them to come to your call in a timely manner. Recall and impulse control are essential skills to teach at this stage.

Crate training can be an effective way to get your puppy comfortable with being alone, and it provides them with their own personal space. I've seen many puppies thrive with crate training, it's a great way to give them a sense of security.

By 6 months, your puppy should be well-versed in several lessons, including playing nicely with others and basic commands like sit and stay. This is a result of consistent training and socialization.

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At 6-8 months old, your puppy is still developing their basic behaviors, but they're getting closer to mastering them. You can start teaching your puppy to sit and stay even in distracting situations.

It's essential to continue a regular puppy training schedule to prevent behavioral issues from arising. This age is a great time to practice basic commands in various environments.

Your puppy is now old enough to learn more advanced commands, such as coming when called and "drop it" or "leave it". These commands will help you manage situations where your dog might get distracted or tempted by something they shouldn't have.

At 7-8 years old, your puppy is likely to be fully grown and well-established in their training. You can start walking them on a leash outside, but make sure they don't walk where other dogs have been until they've received all their vaccinations.

You can start by letting them wear the collar or harness for short amounts of time while providing treats, just like you did when they were 7-8 weeks old. Increase the duration slowly to help them get used to it.

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It's also a good idea to get your puppy used to being touched, especially in areas like their ears and paws. Gently rub these areas while rewarding them, just as you did when they were young. This will make veterinary visits and nail trims less stressful for them.

You can refer to the following table for a quick reminder of the steps to follow:

At 8-10 years old, it's essential to maintain a schedule to ensure your puppy's potty training stays on track. Take your puppy out first thing in the morning, after eating, and after playtime and naps throughout the day.

Reward your puppy with a treat every time they go to the bathroom outside, just like you would when they're younger. This positive reinforcement will help them associate going outside with good behavior.

Crate training can still be beneficial for older puppies, helping them see their crate as a safe and calm place. Start by bringing them to their crate for short periods, then gradually increase the time they spend inside.

By following these simple steps, you can help your 8-10 year old puppy maintain good habits and stay on the right path.

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By 6 months, your growing puppy should be well-versed in several lessons. This is a crucial time for socialization, and you should continue to expose your puppy to new environments, people, and dogs.

At 6 months old, puppies are old enough to learn how to play, spend time alone, and control their impulses. They should also be spending time around other dogs and people, but you need to teach them to play gently and politely.

A different take: 5 Month Old Dog Training

At 8-10 weeks old, your puppy is ready to start basic obedience training and leash training. Shorter training sessions are typically more effective at this age, as puppies can get easily distracted.

You can start by introducing your puppy to new environments, such as the vet, neighborhood, and park, to help them become confident and calm in new settings. This will also help prevent anxiety and behavioral issues when they're away from home.

Puppies at this age need socialization to get used to being around other people and dogs, which can help prevent barking and reactive behavior in public. Early socialization is key to a well-behaved dog.

Getting your puppy to respond to the command "come" is also important at this stage, even if they don't have a strong recall yet. The goal is to make coming to you a positive experience for your puppy.

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Training your puppy is essential, and it's never too late to start.

You can teach basic behavioral skills to your puppy when they're young, making it easier to break habits later on.

Training your puppy helps you bond with them, creating a stronger relationship as they grow older.

Dogs that aren't properly trained may experience anxiety, but training your puppy can prevent these issues.

By the time your puppy is one year old, they should be making progress in learning polite behaviors for the rest of their lives.

By 6 months, your growing puppy should be well-versed in several lessons. At this age, you should continue with house training and start to add more advanced training. Your puppy is old enough to learn how to play, spend time alone, and control their impulses.

You should make sure your puppy is spending time around other dogs and people. This socialization is crucial to prevent behavioral issues later on. Reinforce positive behavior when you play with your puppy to teach them to play gently and politely.

You can start teaching your puppy more advanced skills, such as recall and impulse control. This means teaching basic commands like sit and stay, as well as teaching them to come to your call in a timely manner. Crate training can also be an effective way to get your puppy comfortable with being alone.

You can start teaching your puppy how to be alone during this time. This is essential for their development and will help prevent separation anxiety later on.

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At 10-12 weeks old, puppies are entering a critical stage of development. They become mouthy and start exploring their world by putting things in their mouths, which is why it's essential to teach them not to bite your hands or ankles.

Redirecting them to a toy is a great way to channel this natural behavior. Puppies are also entering adolescence, making this a challenging stage to begin training.

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House training should start immediately, but by 10-12 weeks old, your puppy should be having more success with potty time. Take your puppy outside to use the bathroom once per hour, and establish a schedule for when you let them out.

You can start by taking your puppy outside first thing in the morning and just before bed, and also after a nap, after crate time, after eating and drinking, and after playtime.

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Dogs should be making progress in learning polite behaviors by one year old. This is a crucial milestone in their development, as it lays the foundation for future training.

By this age, dogs should be able to sit, stay, and come when called. These basic commands are essential for a dog's behavior and well-being.

As a dog owner, you can expect to see significant progress in your dog's training by the time they're one year old.

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At this stage, recall is crucial. Even if your puppy doesn't have a strong recall, it's essential that they love coming up to you when called.

Getting your puppy to respond to the command "come" early on is vital, and it's not about having a perfect recall, but rather that they enjoy coming to you.

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At 10-12 weeks old, your puppy is starting to have more success with potty time, but it's still crucial to establish a schedule for taking them outside to use the bathroom.

You should take your puppy out once per hour, as well as after a nap, after crate time, after eating and drinking, and after playtime.

House training is teaching your puppy to go outside when they need to go to the bathroom, and it's essential to make this a priority.

You can start by taking your puppy outside first thing in the morning and just before bed, and remember to reward them for good behavior.

Puppies at this age are also entering the adolescence stage, making it a challenging time to begin training.

As they become more mouthy, redirect them to a more appropriate object to bite, such as a toy, to prevent biting at your hands or ankles.

Teaching your puppy to use their crate is also crucial during this stage, and will be a vital part of their training later on.

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At 8-10 weeks old, your puppy is starting to learn the ropes of potty training. This is a crucial part of their development, and with consistency and patience, you can help them become a pro in no time.

You should start by taking your puppy outside to use the bathroom first thing in the morning, after eating, and after playtime and naps throughout the day. This will help them learn to associate these times with the need to go outside.

Crate training is also an essential part of your puppy's development at this stage. By introducing them to their crate gradually, you can help them see it as a safe and calm place. Start by bringing them to their crate for 10-minute intervals while they are calm, then slowly increase the time they spend inside.

Reward your puppy for going in their crate and for using the bathroom outside. A treat every time they go to the bathroom outside will help reinforce good behavior.

As you're teaching your puppy to use the bathroom outside, remember to take them out once per hour. This will help them learn to hold it in and go outside when they need to.

In fact, some puppies as young as 8-10 weeks old are already being evaluated for police dog training. These puppies are closely watched for their temperament, intensity during play, and how they react to new sights and sounds.

By the time your dog is one year old, they should be making progress in learning polite behaviors that will serve them for the rest of their lives.

At this age, it's essential to focus on the mastery of basic behaviors, just like you would with a 6-12 month old puppy. A regular puppy training schedule can help prevent behavioral issues from developing later on.

You can start teaching your dog more advanced commands, such as coming when called and "drop it" or "leave it", which are crucial for situations with distractions. These commands will help your dog listen to you even when there are other tempting things around.