What is a dog training plan?

A dog training plan is a written schedule that says what to practise, for how long, and when to move on. It turns "train my dog" into short daily sessions with a clear goal for each week.

How long should a dog training session be?

Five to ten minutes is plenty for most dogs, once or twice a day. Puppies do best with 3–5 minute sessions. Short, successful sessions beat long, frustrating ones.

How long does it take to train a dog?

Many everyday behaviours improve noticeably in about four weeks of consistent practice, but every dog is different. Keep going at your dog's pace and repeat a week if needed.

Do I need a different training schedule for a puppy?

Yes. Puppies need shorter sessions built around naps, meals and potty breaks. See our week-by-week puppy training schedule for 8 to 24 weeks.

Is this dog training plan really free?

Yes. The plan is free, needs no email, and you can print it or save it as a PDF.

Free Dog Training Plan & Schedule Generator

Answer four quick questions and get a free, printable four-week dog training plan: a day-by-day dog training schedule built for your dog's breed, age and the behaviour you're working on, grounded in Dr. Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods's canine cognition research at Duke.

Step 1 of 4

What breed are you working with?

Breed shapes which cognitive strategy works, not how smart your dog is.

How this dog training plan works

Every plan is a day-by-day, four-week schedule built around your breed's cognitive profile, your dog's life stage and the behaviour you're actually working on. Week one removes rehearsal of the old habit, week two builds the replacement, week three adds distraction, and week four fades the rewards. It's free, printable, and grounded in canine cognition research from Dr. Brian Hare's team at Duke.

Sample four-week dog training schedule

Here's what a generated plan looks like. Yours is tailored to your breed, stage and goal.

Week 1: Stop the old habit
Manage the environment so your dog can't rehearse the problem. Two 5-minute sessions a day building attention: name games and eye contact.
Week 2: Teach the new behaviour
Reward the behaviour you want instead (for example, sit for greetings) in a quiet room. Aim for 8 out of 10 correct before moving on.
Week 3: Add distractions
Practise in new rooms, the yard and on walks. Make it easier again if your dog struggles.
Week 4: Fade the treats
Reward every other success, then occasionally. Swap in praise, play and real-life rewards like going outside.

Training a young puppy? Use the puppy training schedule by age.

Dog training plan questions

What is a dog training plan?: A dog training plan is a written schedule that says what to practise, for how long, and when to move on. It turns "train my dog" into short daily sessions with a clear goal for each week.
How long should a dog training session be?: Five to ten minutes is plenty for most dogs, once or twice a day. Puppies do best with 3–5 minute sessions. Short, successful sessions beat long, frustrating ones.
How long does it take to train a dog?: Many everyday behaviours improve noticeably in about four weeks of consistent practice, but every dog is different. Keep going at your dog's pace and repeat a week if needed.
Do I need a different training schedule for a puppy?: Yes. Puppies need shorter sessions built around naps, meals and potty breaks. See our week-by-week puppy training schedule for 8 to 24 weeks.
Is this dog training plan really free?: Yes. The plan is free, needs no email, and you can print it or save it as a PDF.