Purina brand HiPro field consultant and trainer, Bob West, outlines basic commands to use with the adolescent puppy to guide your pup into becoming a cooperative hunting partner.
Most people refer to a dog of one year or less as a puppy.
Keep in mind, however, that a puppy's growth period can take up to two years or longer, depending upon the breed. For this discussion, however, let's target a sub-group within the first year and call it the adolescent months. For the average pup, this is from about four to six or seven months of age, and it can be an awkward time. These are the times when we slowly become more firm, but in no way are we ready to come down hard on the pup. A good deal of the commands learned by the pup during these times are acquired subconsciously through repetition and positive reinforcement.