Your 1 year old dog
Congratulations! It’s your puppy’s first birthday. With the first year behind you, life should start to get easier.
The year ahead
Keep up with the training
Your dog may look like an adult, but at times will still behave like a puppy so it’s wise to keep going with the training as they start to test their independence and build their confidence.
The end of teething
You’ll be relieved to hear that most dogs will have finished teething by their first birthday, but that doesn’t always signal an end to the chewing phase. Chewing is a natural dog behaviour, but some dogs may chew furniture or other items in the home because they are bored or lonely. Make sure your dog has plenty of toys and company to keep any unwanted chewing at bay.
Switch to adult dog food
Now’s the time to switch your dog from a puppy diet to an adult diet – some smaller breeds move to adult diet sooner than this, at around 9 months. Follow the guidance on your dog’s food packet or consult your vet for advice.
Watch the weight
Keep a close eye on your dog’s weight. Dogs can easily pile on the pounds, which can cause them health problems, just like humans. Make sure you know how to monitor your dog’s weight to keep them fit and healthy.
Find the Perfect Puppy Class Near You
Discover small, friendly classes across the UK led by our expert, professional Puppy School Tutors. Get hands-on advice and support, to ensure your puppy gets the best start with positive, reward-based training.
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Testimonials
What Clients say
about Puppy School
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“I wanted to share my gratitude towards my puppy school tutor in Chichester, Louise Williamson. She has really gone above and beyond to help me giving me lots of support, advice and positive encouragement.”— Emma
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“We are very grateful to Pen for helping us through a testing period with Zef, our boisterous 5-month-old labradoodle puppy, who was mouthy and jumpy and had difficulty settling.”— Wendy
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“I can highly recommend Puppy school. I have owned dogs for over forty years but I still learnt lots of invaluable information to help with life with my new puppy. Puppy School was fun as well as informative. Betty and I both enjoyed them so much, thank you Puppy School and Frankie. ”— Debby
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“Excellent puppy classes we really enjoyed them and could see Oscar developing. Claire took the time to cover class that we missed due to illness which was greatly appreciated and was always patient with Oscar. Would recommend to anyone with a puppy ”— Louise
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“Catherine went out of her way to make sure we all understood how dogs should treated in their early life, she always tried to include every puppy in every exercise and made sure we all fun. ”— Serena