20/10/2026
Training Isn’t Just for Puppies! 🐶
A lot of people understand the benefits of training their puppies, but what happens once they’ve learned the basics?
Training doesn’t have to stop once your dog can sit, stay and walk nicely on a lead!
And there’s some interesting research into the benefits of continuing to train our dogs throughout their lives.
A Danish study published in 2023 found that dogs who were trained more frequently tended to have fewer reported problems with fear, aggression and disobedience.
Another study published in 2025 found that dogs who had received training both early in life and during adolescence or adulthood were less likely to have reported fear or anxiety.
And it’s not all about obedience!
Research into scentwork has found that giving dogs opportunities to use their noses can have positive effects on their emotional wellbeing. One study even found that dogs who practised nosework became more ‘optimistic’ in a behavioural test!
Of course, these studies don’t mean that training guarantees a dog without any behavioural problems, but they do give us some great reasons to keep learning together.
Whether it’s Good Citizen training, scentwork, tracking or UK Dog Sport, there are so many ways to challenge your dog, develop new skills and enjoy spending time together.
And it’s such a joy when you find an activity that both you and your dog enjoy together!
After all, why should learning stop when puppy class finishes? 💙
📚 Research:
• Behavior problems in dogs: An assessment of prevalence and risk factors (2023)
• Does adolescent and adult training affect canine behavior problems? (2025)
• Let me sniff! Nosework induces positive judgment bias in pet dogs (2019)
