Similar to how humans train or study for a particular skill, dog training is also conducted in “sessions”. If you’re not exactly sure how a dog training session goes and how long should a dog training session should last, you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, we will discuss what makes a proper training session and how you can maximize your time and make the training more effective.
What is a Dog Training Session?
A training session is a limited period of time dedicated to teaching specific dog training commands, skills, or behaviors. Dog trainers usually structure sessions with a lesson, and set a particular amount of time to achieve a goal.
Training sessions will be used as you train your dog throughout its life. It can be used to introduce new commands and skills or reinforce other actions. It’s important to commit to regular training sessions– don’t change, cut them short, or cancel unless absolutely necessary.
How Long Should a Dog Training Session Last?
One of the most common questions about dog training sessions is how long should each one last.
Knowing that dogs have a limited attention span, each dog training session should not last more than 15 minutes. Puppies or young dogs, in particular, get distracted easily and may require even shorter sessions.
If you force yourself to run a long training session, your dog will just get bored and lose focus. Instead of learning the skill or command faster, it will just increase the likelihood of your dog making mistakes.
In order to keep the training short, limit yourself to teaching just a single command. Quick and intense lessons that focus on one command or skill at a time can help maintain your dog’s focus and promote better learning.
It’s fine to train your dog with more than one command throughout the day, but it’s important to stick to just one command for each session. You can only switch to another command when your session isn’t going well and you want your dog to practice something that it has already learned to end the session on a positive note.
How To Conduct Your Dog Training
When training your dog for the first time, the rule of thumb is to conduct the training in an environment with as few distractions as possible.
The same is true when introducing a new command to your dog. Too much activity or noise will make it more difficult for your dog to absorb the new information.
One of the best places to train your dog is inside your house, such as in the living room or in a quiet room. Work your way up from here until you are confident that you can continue the training outdoors or in dog parks where there are more major distractions like strangers and other dogs.
While there are different approaches to training such as clicker training, dog training is generally effective when positive reinforcements are used to encourage behavior. This may mean giving tasty treats, verbal praises, and belly rubs when your dog follows the command correctly.
Another important thing to remember is to always end the training session on a positive note so your dog will have positive associations with training. A good time to stop is when your dog gets a reward for doing the desired behavior or action.
Reinforcing Your Dog’s Training
Training sessions are a great way to train your dog, especially if your pet is new to obedience training. However, it’s important to note that these sessions are not the only time to train your dog.
There are plenty of opportunities that happen every day to reinforce your pet’s training. For instance, if you are teaching your dog how to perform the “down” command, you can have it lie down before it gets its meal or play a game of fetch.
While training sessions are good times to get your dog to focus on how to do a particular skill or follow a command, real-life scenarios can also give you the chance to put these lessons into actual practice.
Hiring the Best Dog Trainers
One of the most common mistakes that dog owners make is they expect their dogs to remember their training right away even without reinforcement. While this is possible over time, it is important to keep in mind that it is only through constant practice will your dog be able to enjoy the benefits of training.
So if you don’t have the time or patience to train your dog or you’re struggling with it, the best thing to do is to hire a professional dog trainer who can do this for you. Delaware K9 Academy is one of the most trusted dog trainers that offer private lessons, 2-week bootcamps, and puppy training to cater to the varying needs of dog owners.
Get in touch with us today to explore your options and learn more about our approach to dog training!
