Session Length & Structure
How long to train, when to stop, and how to structure a session for an adolescent dog.
Key Points
3–5 minutes per session. Multiple sessions per day > one long session.
Bryn should succeed 80% of the time. If not, make it easier.
End on a success. Always. Even if you have to make the last rep trivially easy.
Watch for fatigue signals: sniffing, yawning, looking away. Stop before you see them.
Shorter Than You Think
A formal training session for an adolescent dog should be 3–5 minutes. Not 15. Not 30. Three to five minutes of focused work, then a break. Multiple short sessions throughout the day are dramatically more effective than one long session. Bryn's adolescent brain fatigues fast — push past her attention span and you're training frustration, not skills.
The 80% Rule
Bryn should succeed at least 80% of the time during a session. If she's failing more than 2 out of 10 reps, the criteria is too hard. Make it easier. Training should feel like a game she's winning, not a test she's failing. High success rates keep motivation high and build confidence.
Session Structure
Start with something easy she knows well (warm-up). Work on the skill you're focused on (new learning or proofing). End with something easy and fun (cool-down on a high note). Never end a session on a failure — if she's struggling, make the last rep easy enough to succeed, reward it, and stop.
When to Stop
Stop when she's succeeding. Stop when she gets her first treat party. Stop BEFORE she checks out. Signs she's done: looking away frequently, sniffing the ground, moving more slowly, yawning, lip licking. These are stress or fatigue signals. If you see them, you've already gone a bit too long. Quit while you're ahead.
Reps Per Day, Not Per Session
Think about training in daily reps, not session length. 10 reps of recall scattered throughout the day (calling her in from the yard, before meals, randomly during walks) is better than 10 reps in a row in the backyard. Distributed practice leads to stronger, more generalized learning.
Rest Days
Bryn's brain processes learning during sleep and downtime. It's okay (and beneficial) to take rest days from formal training. Her brain consolidates what she's learned between sessions. You may notice she's better at a skill after a day off than she was at the end of the last session.