Foundations
The foundation skill
Teach your dog’s name and attention
A name is not a command to stop everything. It is a cheerful invitation to check in with you.
Open lessonThe training library
One skill. Clear steps. A better everyday life.
Start with foundations, then add life skills when your dog can succeed in a quiet room.
13practical guides
Foundations
Core positions
Teach sit and down without hand dependency
Lure the first version, then fade the food and add a spoken cue only after the behavior is reliable.
Open lessonLife skills
Recall
Build a stronger come-when-called
Make coming back predictably rewarding, then add distance and distraction slowly.
Open lessonLife skills
Walking skills
Teach a loose leash at home
Reward the position you want before adding the sidewalk, traffic, and other dogs.
Open lessonLife skills
Calm duration
Build stay and settle skills
Stay means hold a position; settle means relax on a mat. Teach them separately and reward the calm.
Open lessonPuppy
Puppy routines
Potty training without punishment
Prevent accidents with supervision and timing, then reward the location you want your dog to use.
Open lessonFoundations
Impulse control
Teach leave it with less frustration
Teach a pause and a check-in before your dog has a chance to grab the item.
Open lessonLife skills
Leave furniture
Teach Off without pushing
Teach your dog to move off furniture or people and keep four paws on the floor until invited back up.
Open lessonFoundations
Release an item
Teach Drop It with a fair trade
Build a calm release cue by trading for something the dog values more, then returning play sometimes.
Open lessonLife skills
Door safety
Teach Wait at doors
Build a pause at closed doors and teach the dog to wait for a clear release before moving through.
Open lessonFoundations
Nose to palm
Teach a hand target
Teach your dog to touch their nose to your open palm, then use that simple action to guide and redirect them.
Open lessonPuppy
Safe resting space
Build crate comfort
Create a crate that the dog chooses for rest, with gradual door practice and no punishment.
Open lessonFoundations
Polite mouth
Teach gentle treat taking
Teach your dog to take food softly by rewarding a pause, using a flat palm, and ending the hand game when teeth make contact.
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Recommended route
Follow the learning sequence, not the alphabet.
Attention and reward value come first. Positions and recall make daily cooperation easier. Leash, settle, and leave it build on that foundation.
- 1Attention
Name, eye contact, and a charged marker
- 2Positions
Sit and down without hand dependency
- 3Cooperation
Come, stay, loose leash, and leave it
- 4Real life
Settle, duration, distance, and distraction