Choose rewards
Try tiny pieces of chicken, cheese, or a favorite treat. Keep a second option for easy practice and higher-value rewards for distractions.
Your first successful week
Start here before you teach a single cue.
Set up rewards, learn how to mark the right moment, and run a five-minute session your dog actually enjoys.
Start small
Three minutes, one skill, and an easy ending beat a long session every time.
The essentials
Four things to decide before training
These small setup choices prevent most early frustration.
Charge a marker
Say “Yes” once, then immediately give a treat. Repeat ten times. Your marker will soon mean “that exact moment earned a reward.”
Quiet the room
Close doors, move food bowls, and put other pets behind a gate if needed. New learners need an environment where success is likely.
Plan the ending
Finish after one easy win, not after the first failure. Put the treats away calmly and let your dog rest.
Simple actions
Try one tiny action today
Pick one card, repeat it three times, and stop while your dog still looks interested.
1 min
Sit
- Hold a treat at your dog’s nose.
- Move it slowly back over the head.
- Mark and reward when the hips touch.
1 min
Down
- Start with your dog sitting.
- Move the treat from the nose to the floor.
- Mark and reward when the elbows touch.
1 min
Come
- Say your dog’s name, then “Come.”
- Take one step backward.
- Reward when your dog reaches you.
1 min
Stay
- Ask for a sit.
- Wait one second, then reward.
- Say “Free” and let your dog move.
1 min
Leave it
- Hold a treat in a closed hand.
- Wait for your dog to look up.
- Say “Yes” and reward from the other hand.
2 min
Settle
- Toss a treat onto a mat.
- Reward a relaxed body while on the mat.
- Repeat quietly three to five times.
1 min
Off
- Toss a treat onto the floor.
- Say “Off” as the paws move down.
- Reward four paws on the floor.
1 min
Drop it
- Hold a safe toy with your dog.
- Offer a higher-value reward.
- Mark when the item leaves the mouth.
1 min
Wait
- Stand at a closed door.
- Open it one inch, then pause.
- Say “Free” only after the wait.
1 min
Touch
- Offer a still, open palm.
- Mark when the nose touches.
- Reward from the other hand.
2 min
Crate
- Toss a treat inside the crate.
- Let your dog enter and leave freely.
- Reward calm behavior inside.
1 min
Gentle
- Start with a closed hand.
- Open the palm only after a pause.
- Reward a soft, calm take.
Keep it accurate: guide with rewards, never push or hold your dog in position, and use one action per session.
The session formula
Warm up. Teach. Finish with a win.
Use a timer if it helps you stop before attention fades. Your dog’s interest is part of the training plan.
Rule of thumbMove on when your dog succeeds about 8 out of 10 tries.
- 1 min
Easy warm-up
Repeat a skill your dog already knows. Deliver quick, cheerful rewards.
- 3 min
One new criterion
Add only one small challenge: a little more time, distance, or distraction.
- 1 min
Easy finish
Return to a guaranteed win, use your release cue, and end.
Keep it simple
A starter kit that fits in one drawer
You do not need a shelf of gadgets. Start with gear that is comfortable and lets you reward quickly.
- 014–6 foot leash
Easy to manage indoors and outdoors. Skip the retractable leash while teaching.
- 02Flat collar or fitted harness
Choose the option your dog wears comfortably without pressure points.
- 03Pea-sized treats
Soft enough to eat quickly. Count part of them within the daily food allowance.
- 04Treat pouch
Keeps your hands free and makes reward delivery fast enough to explain the behavior.
- 05Mat or bed
A predictable settle spot for calm practice and future relaxation work.
Your first week
A gentle plan for week one
Keep the training area quiet and change only one thing at a time.
| Day | Focus | 5-minute assignment |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Attention | Charge your marker word and play the name game. |
| Day 2 | Sit | Lure one sit, mark the moment the hips touch the floor, then reward. |
| Day 3 | Attention | Practice the name game in two different quiet rooms. |
| Day 4 | Sit | Add a hand signal to sit and begin hiding the treat behind your back. |
| Day 5 | Down | Lure a down from sit, then alternate easy sits and downs. |
Use the first two minutes of every session for a quick warm-up. If your dog needs more than a week, repeat the week without adding difficulty.
When to pause and ask for help
Stop training and contact a veterinarian or qualified force-free behavior professional if you see pain, sudden behavior changes, severe fear, repeated growling or snapping, bite injuries, or a dog who is not recovering between sessions.