How long should it take to train my dog? That’s a popular question I get, so I’m covering how to set realistic expectations for every age and stage of a dog’s life. Dogs are lifelong learners and learn with all their senses, so we’re looking at how to create success with intention rather than letting things around your dog train them, so you can avoid the frustration of needing to untrain anything.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- Why age and stage play such an important role in dog training success.
- Why dogs are lifelong learners and how that affects your training expectations.
- What the "honeymoon period" is in dog training..
- What to do when the honeymoon phase ends and distractions become a challenge.
- How to handle the 8-18 month phase when hormones take over.
- Why dogs can’t learn “don’t,” only what we want them to do.
- How the first 8 months of a puppy's life are the bulk of the training work.
- Why ongoing maintenance of your dog’s education is crucial for long-term success.
Resources:
- Podcast Episode 197: Outsmarting Distractions: How To Use Environmental Reinforcement in Dog Training
- Podcast Episode 24: Distraction Intensity Index: Help For Dogs Who Chase Chipmunks, Bicycles, And Neighbor’s Cats #24
- Podcast Episode 218: Puppy Development Stages And Your Dog’s Behavior
- Podcast Episode 255: Rescue Dog Training: Priorities For Your First Week Together
- Shaped by Dog Podcast
- Article: Early Spay/Neuter, Desexing Risks by Dr. Karen Becker
- YouTube Playlist: Reactive or Aggressive Dogs: Key Insights with Susan Garrett
- Podcast Episode 62: 12 Keys to Helping My Dogs Live a Long and Happy Life
- Podcast Episode 48: Potty Train Your Puppy in a Week (Easy 3 Step Process)
- Podcast Episode 254: Why Your Older Puppy Or Dog Is Not House Trained And What To Do About It
- Podcast Episode 109: Project Calm Dog: Prevent Over Enthusiastic Greetings
- YouTube Playlist: Puppy Biting Help with Susan Garrett
- Podcast Episode 293: MRI: A Simple 3 Part Dog Training Formula To Fix Problems Like Counter Surfing, Reactivity And More
- YouTube Video: Susan Garrett’s 5 Games for Puppies
- Podcast Episode 302: The Recall Myth: Why Your Off Leash Dog Isn’t Coming When Called And How To Fix It
- YouTube Playlist: Loose Leash Walking with Susan Garrett
- Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube
THANK YOU! What a timely podcast for me. I have been frustrated recently in the slowed success I felt I was experiencing, Even though I have been an active member in many of your programs for awhile. But this helped to remind me of what my interpretation of “learning” is and what it SHOULD be. What did I take away:
1. I am training two dogs: one in adolescences and one who is just barely in middle age.
2. They DO have very good foundations and are well mannered well behaved dogs generally
3. They are still in elementary school so hoping they can do long division using complex numbers 100% accurately every day is unrealistic (meaning Distance/Duration/Distractions are on my list to improve upon)
4. This is a journey and I can just enjoy it with my dogs (and ALWAYS remembering their breed personalities are also a key factor)