By Laurie Zurborg, Owner of Wags & Wiggles Dog Daycare
Hi, I’m Laurie, the owner and founder of Wags & Wiggles Dog Daycare. I’ve spent decades helping dogs and their owners build strong, happy relationships through training — and one of the questions I hear most often is:
“How long will it take to train my dog?”
Honestly? It depends.
Every dog learns at a different pace. Your puppy’s genetics, personality, and environment all play a big role in their training journey. If you’re lucky, you might end up with an “old soul” dog — the kind who just gets it from day one. But most of us? We get the goofy, distracted, curious puppy who needs time, patience, and consistency. And that’s perfectly normal!
A Tale of Two Pomeranians
Let me tell you a story from my own life that perfectly shows how different each dog’s training timeline can be.
Chuckles, my older Pomeranian, came into our lives at about 5 months old. He had that typical Pomeranian sass, but also an impressive natural recall — he’d come when called right away! He was trustworthy off-leash during pack walks almost immediately, rarely straying more than a few feet from me. Potty training came quickly, he focused beautifully in class, and he blended into our home like he’d always been there.
Then came Comic, my younger Pomeranian. He joined us at three months old and, at almost nine months now, he’s still keeping me on my toes. We joke that he has the focus of a gnat!
Comic still needs to be on leash when we go outside because freedom often means chewing or marking where he shouldn’t. At this age, most of my dogs can hold a sit-stay while I walk 10 feet away for 20 seconds or more. With Comic, we’re celebrating if he holds still long enough for me to take a picture or touch the doorknob!
Just this weekend, though, we finally trusted him off-leash on a pack walk — and he did amazing. He recalled for treats every time I called. It’s progress like that which reminds me why I love what I do.
Even Dog Trainers Use Dog Trainers
Even though I own Wags & Wiggles and have trained countless dogs, I recently enrolled Comic in our Puppy Raising Program. Normally, I prefer to train my own dogs, but this little guy needed more structure and repetition than my busy schedule allowed.
Using my own business’s program gave me a fresh perspective and reminded me that every dog, no matter who trains them, benefits from teamwork, consistency, and a solid plan.
So, How Long Does It Take to Train a Puppy?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some puppies learn the basics in weeks; others take months. The key is to train the dog in front of you, stay patient, and celebrate small wins.
And please — never settle for “this is just how my dog is.” You can always make things better with commitment and the right approach.
Laurie’s Rules for Your Puppy’s First Off-Leash Adventure
If you’re ready to start recall (coming when called), here are my personal pro tips from years of dog training:
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Let them burn off energy first. A tired puppy listens better.
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Bring high-value rewards. Use treats that your puppy really loves.
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Set them up for success. Call your puppy when they’re already heading toward you.
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Learn from failure. A missed recall isn’t bad; it’s feedback for next time. (Comic’s biggest distractions right now? Acorns, brooms, and friendly people!)
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Use other dogs to help. Well-trained dogs can lead your puppy back to you.
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Get help from people. If your puppy hovers near someone, ask them to shoo your pup back your way gently.
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Always train safely. Start in a fenced or secure area to avoid the risk of escape.
Above all, reward good choices. No matter how small or slow they come, training doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be consistent.