Stage 2: Juvenile to Adolescent (4 months to 1 year) - Basic Obedience
Goals:
• Strengthen basic obedience commands
Improve impulse control and focus
• Manage teenage energy and testing behaviors
Tips:
• Increase training session length to 10-15 minutes.
• Practice commands in more distracting environments such as parks and around other dogs.
• Introduce leash training and loose-leash walking.
• Teach polite greetings (no jumping) and waiting at doors.
• Practice recall (“come”) often, making it highly rewarding and reliable.
• Use consistent cue words or phrases for each command.
• Prevent unwanted behaviors like biting and chewing by providing appropriate chew toys.
• Stay calm and consistent with rules as adolescent dogs often test boundaries.
• Continue socialization to maintain confidence and good manners.