Introduction
Is dog training once a week enough to properly train your dog and ingrain good behaviors? Many dog owners wonder if an hour-long weekly training session with their pup is sufficient for making progress and reaching training goals. It’s an important question to ask; dog training is a process that requires dedication, consistency, and an understanding of canine behavior principles.
Weekly lessons provide structure and focused time for training, but the real results come from the daily reinforcement pet parents provide at home. While professional guidance is invaluable, consistency outside of formal sessions leads to lasting change. Certain dogs may thrive with limited structure, but others require greater repetition and support.
In this article, we’ll explore the potential benefits and drawbacks of only training a dog once per week. You’ll learn the ideal frequency for lessons, the vital role consistency plays, and how to supplement periodic sessions. By understanding what your individual dog needs to succeed, you can tailor an approach that sets you both up for training success.
Benefits of Weekly Training
Attending weekly dog training classes provides many benefits for both you and your dog. One of the key advantages is the opportunity for socialization with other dogs and people in a controlled setting. Socialization is critical for a dog’s development, as it teaches them how to properly interact with others. In a class environment, your dog will be exposed to new sights, sounds, smells, and experiences in a positive way. With each exposure, your dog becomes more comfortable and confident around other dogs and people. This is especially important during the puppy and adolescent phases when socialization has the biggest impact.
The ongoing practice of commands and reinforcement of positive behaviors in a class setting also helps solidify what your dog learns. Having a weekly dedicated time to train establishes a routine and cements the human-canine bond. Additionally, training classes allow you to get expert feedback on any issues you may be having and help nip any emerging problem behaviors in the bud before they become ingrained habits.
Drawbacks of Weekly Training
While weekly dog training sessions can be beneficial, especially for reinforcing basic commands, there are some drawbacks to only training a dog once per week. One major downside is the lack of reinforcement between training sessions. Dogs learn best through consistency and repetition. With a full week between each lesson, dogs are likely to forget some of what they learned the previous week. According to pros at Four Paws, this can slow down the training process.
Without regular reinforcement between professional training sessions, owners need to dedicate time each day to practicing at home. However, many pet parents struggle to find time to train dogs consistently on their own. Though weekly lessons provide a solid foundation, dogs need daily reinforcement to truly master commands and skills. Additionally, waiting a full week between lessons gives dogs more opportunities to practice and reinforce bad habits at home.
For these reasons, most experts recommend dog training 2-3 times per week at a minimum. With only weekly sessions, progress can be inconsistent and slower compared to more frequent training. To get the full benefits of professional instruction, owners should supplement weekly lessons with mini training sessions at home for the best results.
Recommended Frequency
Overall, expert dog trainers and animal behaviorists recommend training a dog at least 2-3 times per week for the best results. According to the American Kennel Club, daily short training sessions of 5-15 minutes are ideal, but a minimum of 30 minutes of structured training 2-3 times per week works well for maintaining already learned behaviors (source).
Research by Companion Animal Psychology found that dogs trained once or twice a week learned new commands just as effectively as dogs trained daily. The key is consistency in the training schedule rather than daily sessions (source). However, for puppies and dogs learning brand new behaviors, daily short training sessions are recommended to reinforce the concepts.
Most experts advise at least 2-3 focused training periods per week lasting 15-20 minutes each to maintain obedience behaviors. Daily informal training can supplement formal sessions. Consistency in the training schedule is vital so the dog knows what to expect (source). The duration and frequency of training should be tailored to each individual dog based on their needs.
Consistency is Key
Consistency is crucial when training a dog. As the old saying goes, “practice makes perfect.” Reinforcing behaviors and commands with your dog on a consistent basis helps create clarity and structure for them. According to the AKC, “Dogs are not born understanding English. They are very good at learning words, but need to be taught word meanings very clearly and concisely.” https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/importance-consistency-training-dog/ Without consistency, your dog may become confused about what you expect from them. Consistent training helps cement the connection between a command and the desired behavior.
Additionally, consistency allows dogs to understand cause and effect relationships more easily. As explained by Advanced Canine Techniques, “Another example of inconsistency is rewarding your dog when he ‘sort of’ does something. If you are training your dog to lie down, you reward him when he crouches halfway down and call it good enough. Then the next time you ask him to lie down and he offers the halfway down, he doesn’t get a reward because this time you require him to fully lay down.” https://advancedcaninetechniques.com/2020/10/benefits-of-consistency-in-dog-training/ By being consistent in only rewarding the desired end behavior, dogs better understand what is expected of them to earn rewards or praise.
Training Duration Matters
When it comes to dog training, shorter but more frequent training sessions are generally more effective than one longer weekly session. According to one source, dogs trained with brief daily sessions make faster progress and need fewer total training sessions than dogs trained only once per week (source).
This is because dogs have short attention spans and can only focus for a few minutes at a time. Short 5-15 minute training sessions allow you to get in multiple productive repetitions each day. Frequent reinforcement helps a dog retain what it learns. One longer session per week cannot provide the same level of repetition. Additionally, in a long session the dog may get tired and have trouble focusing toward the end.
Daily short sessions also allow you to be more consistent with the dog’s training. Consistency helps a dog develop good habits and obedience skills faster. With weekly sessions, there are larger gaps in between training, which can hinder the dog’s retention and progress. The optimal approach is short, positive sessions every day if possible.
Making It Work
For pet owners who can only dedicate time for dog training once a week, there are ways to maximize the benefits of the limited training time. Here are some tips on making the most out of weekly dog training sessions:
Choose a designated training time and stick to it consistently. Dogs thrive on routine, so keeping the same weekly schedule will help the lessons sink in better. Training after a walk when your dog is calm and focused is ideal.
Keep training sessions short, around 5-15 minutes. It’s better to end on a positive note after a short successful session than drag on too long and frustrate you both. You can always mix in short training interludes throughout the week as well.
Focus on mastering one or two behaviors or commands per session. Repetition in each session leads to better retention over the week. Reinforce training with mini-sessions on different days.
Use positive reinforcement, treats, and praise to make limited training time fun and rewarding. Up the excitement and enthusiasm on your once-weekly training to keep your dog engaged and motivated to learn.
Incorporate training into your dog’s routine, like practicing simple commands during walks, playtime, or feedings. Integrating basic training repetitively builds good habits.
Invest in interactive puzzle toys to keep your dog’s mind active on their own time between sessions. Rotate through different puzzles to provide mental stimulation.
Refresher courses, group classes, or private lessons can supplement periodic training. An experienced trainer can observe your dog’s progress and provide expert guidance.
While more frequent short sessions are ideal, with creativity and commitment, owners can make the most of limited weekly training to improve their dog’s behavior. Above all, patience and keeping it positive is key.
Additional Considerations
When determining the ideal frequency of dog training, it’s important to consider factors like the dog’s age, breed, and any specific behavior issues.
Puppies and younger dogs generally require more frequent training as they have shorter attention spans and need more opportunities to reinforce lessons. Older dogs may only need weekly or less frequent training to maintain skills. Some breeds like Border Collies and Poodles thrive with daily training, while independent breeds like Shiba Inus may only need a couple sessions per week.
Dogs with behavior issues like aggression, anxiety, excessive barking, or housetraining difficulties may need daily training at first to establish good habits. The frequency can decrease once the dog reliably demonstrates the desired behavior. It’s best to consult a professional trainer or behaviorist for programs tailored to the dog’s unique needs if behavior problems persist beyond basic training.
While factors like age, breed, and behavior challenges play a role, each dog has individual needs. Paying attention to the dog’s progress and abilities helps determine the ideal training frequency for that particular pup.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to dog training, once a week is often not enough to see significant, lasting results. For most dogs, training 2-3 times per week for at least 10-15 minutes per session is ideal. This allows your dog to retain what they’ve learned and continue making progress. Consistency with training is key – be sure to reinforce behaviors every day, even if you can’t fit in a full training session. While once weekly training is better than nothing, aim for more frequency if you want your dog to truly master commands and correct problem behaviors. With a commitment to regular training, you’ll be rewarded with a better behaved, happier dog.
References
Lue, Sue. “How Often Should You Train Your Dog?” American Kennel Club, www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-often-should-you-train-your-dog/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2023.
Mikkelsen, Tracy. “How Much Training Does My Puppy Really Need?” American Kennel Club, www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-much-training-does-my-puppy-really-need/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2023.
Coren, Stanley. “How Often Should You Train Your Dog?” Psychology Today, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201404/how-often-should-you-train-your-dog. Accessed 15 Feb. 2023.
Horwitz, Debra. “How Often and How Long to Train a Dog for Best Results.” AKC Gazette, May 2021, www.akc.org/akc-gazette/training-your-dog/how-often-and-how-long-to-train-a-dog/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2023.