Training The Adult Dog: How Much Training Is Required Now That My Dog Is All Grown Up?

Once your dog has reached his prime adult years, this is the time when all of his socialization, training, and domestication is paying off. Most of these sessions have come to a stopping point and both you and your dog are able to enjoy a strong bond, with a respected friendship.

It is at this point in which you can truly appreciate this animal for what he is, as well as all of the time you have invested into his training. You no longer have to babysit the young puppy that was, instead, you now have an adult dog that listens, can walk with you off-leash as you take a stroll outside, and obeys common commands such as sit, stay, or fetch.

However, even though your dog has reached an advanced level of his domestication process, this does not mean that all training must stop. It is advised from well-respected dog trainers around the world that your adult dog should have at least three weekly training sessions to keep his mind sharp and his habits in good standing. These training sessions do not have to be laborious or too long, 15 minutes for each session will do just fine.

Here is just a small list of the positive benefits that your adult dog will receive from a few short training lessons each week:

1. Your dog's body and muscles will stay strong and fit.

2. Regular training will keep your dog familiar with the rules as the years go by.

3. His mind will remain active, alert, and healthy.

4. Dogs need to be refreshed on everything that they have learned up to this point in their lives. Weekly training sessions will ensure that your pet does not forget all of the critical lessons you have taught him.

5. Boredom will not have a chance to set in with these training activities. And we all know that dogs can get bored and agitated quite easily without enough activity.

6. Both you and your dog will maintain a healthy relationship and enjoy each other's teamwork.

7. And most importantly, the bond that glues the companionship between you and your dog will forever remain intact by participating in weekly training sessions and activities.

Your Dog's Physical Needs
Up until now, your dog's physical needs were constantly being upgraded. Each week and month that went by, he got bigger and needed more and more exercise. Now that he has reached his full physical size, a limited amount of exercise will be all that is required to maintain his strength and health.

Depending upon his breed-type and size, daily walks and the occasional run should suffice adequately when it comes to your dog's physical needs. Playing ball, fetch, and swimming with your dog are all ideal activities that can stimulate his needs, as well as give you the pleasure of spending time with him and having fun.