How long does it take for a dog to fully learn a command?

Watching your pup tilt their head when you say “stay” can feel like a mix of frustration and delight. You’ve got treats in hand, patience in spades, but when will that command finally stick? The truth is, there’s no magic number—how long it takes a dog to fully learn a command hinges on a handful of things, and every pup marches to their own beat.​

Age plays a big role. Puppies under six months have brains like sponges, but their attention spans? About as long as a squirrel darting by. A simple “sit” might click in a week of short, daily sessions, while “come” could take a month as they learn to tune out distractions. Older dogs, especially rescues, might need extra time if they’re unlearning old habits, but their focus often makes up for it. A mature dog could nail “down” in two weeks, then surprise you by taking twice as long with “heel” because it asks for more self-control.​

Breed matters too, but not in the way you might think. Border collies and poodles often pick up commands quickly, but that eagerness can backfire if they get bored—rushing through training sessions might make them sloppy. On the flip side, breeds like basset hounds or bulldogs, with their laid-back vibes, might take a little longer, but their stubbornness often masks a desire to please once they understand what you want. It’s less about speed and more about matching the training rhythm to their personality.​

How often you practice changes everything. Ten minutes a day, three times a week, works better than an hour-long marathon once a week. Dogs thrive on consistency, so repeating the same command in the same tone—“sit” always said firmly but kindly—helps their brains connect the word to the action. Skipping days? That resets the clock. A friend of mine swore her lab would never learn “leave it” until she started practicing while cooking, slipping in quick sessions between stirring and chopping. Three weeks later, he’d stop eyeing the dropped potato peels.​

The method you use matters just as much. Yelling or punishment might get a reaction, but it erodes trust—and slow, shaky trust means slower learning. Positive reinforcement, though? Treats, praise, a favorite toy—these make your dog want to try again. It aligns with the idea that training should be kind, something most places encourage through local guidelines that lean on reward-based methods. When your pup associates “stay” with a belly rub, they’re more likely to lock in that behavior faster than if they fear scolding for moving.​

Even with all that, there’s no finish line. A command “sticks” when your dog follows it reliably—at home, at the park, with kids running around, or when a neighbor’s cat saunters by. That might take a month for “sit” but six months for “heel” in busy streets. And that’s okay. Rushing leads to gaps; taking the time to reinforce in different settings makes the behavior solid. Plus, those training sessions? They’re how you build a bond that goes way beyond commands.​

What matters most isn’t the timeline. It’s the small wins: the first time they “come” without hesitation, the way they glance at you for approval before darting after a ball. Those moments mean more than any calendar check. So keep the treats handy, stay patient, and let your pup set the pace—they’ll get there, and you’ll both enjoy the ride.