By the age of 1, most breeds of dogs are considered adults and should have had some experience with training. However, some dogs this age require training for either behavioral problems or simply to learn tricks. In many cases, a 1-year-old dog can be trained without the help of a professional handler or obedience school. Positive reinforcement and clicker training are the most common techniques used by dog owners. No matter the method used to train a dog, patience is vital.
Things You'll Need
- Clicker
- Treats
Instructions
General Techniques
Use a clicker trainer to reward your dog's correct behavior. A clicker is a small plastic device that emits a specific sound when pressed. Each time your dog follows a command, press the clicker and reward your dog with praise or a small treat. Use only positive reinforcement when clicker training. Do not respond to negative behavior.
Exercise your dog before each training session to help relieve excessive energy. Young dogs and large dogs require a more intense exercise session. Exercise will enable your dog to concentrate on the training session.
Make sure the training sessions are short and light so your dog does not lose interest. Try using 10-minute training sessions two to three times a day. Train your dog before mealtime so it will be more motivated by treats. Training sessions should take place in your dog's home instead of an unfamiliar location such as a dog park.
Repeat the same verbal and physical command for a particular training exercise. Do not try to use multiple commands for a single trick or behavior because it will confuse your dog and make training less effective.
Tricks and Behavior
Train your 1-year-old dog to sit by squatting or kneeling next to it. Place your hand on your dog's lower back. Slightly press down and say, "Sit." Reward your dog each time it sits.
Teach your dog the down command after it has mastered the sit command. Place your right hand on your dog's right shoulder and gently push. Take your dog's left paw in your left hand and say, "Down." Reward your dog when it gets into the down position.
Teach your dog to relieve itself outdoors or on training pads. Feed your dog on a set schedule so you can better predict when it will need to relieve itself. Watch your dog for signs, such as sniffing or scratching the carpet, that indicate it may need a bathroom break. Take your dog to its designated bathroom area each time it exhibits such behaviors. Praise and reward your dog for relieving itself outdoors or on training pads.
Deter destructive chewing to protect both your dog and personal items. Give your dog chew toys to keep it from chewing other items. Make sure inappropriate chew items are placed out of the reach of your dog. Spray chewing deterrents on items that cannot be moved. If you catch your dog chewing an item it should not be, firmly say "No," take the item from its mouth and replace it with a chew toy.