First Assignment

Dogs learn continuously throughout their waking hours, not just during dedicated training sessions. While having a couple of 5-minute focused training periods each day is valuable, you’re constantly guiding them toward making good choices. Incorporate training into playtime and games to make the experience more engaging and enjoyable for you and your dog.

Marker Word (Foundation Skills workbook – page 10)

Your marker (clicker or succinct word such as “yes”) is your communication system with your dog. It is a word or sound that means “I like that! You’re right!” Whenever your dog does what you want, say “Yes” and follow immediately with food or praise. Ensure you incorporate it into your training and never say it without following with a food treat.
Reward Markers: How and Why to Use them in your Dog's Training – 4Paws University – Lisa Mullinax

Voluntary Attention (Foundation Skills workbook – page 11)

Remember to capture as much attention as you can. You will always get more of whatever you reward, and attention is one of your foundation behaviors based on which all other training is based. When your dog looks at your face or when you call their name, say “YES” and follow immediately with food or praise.
Eye Contact – Kikopup – Emily Larlham

Fading the Lure (Foundation Skills workbook – page 12)

Gradually reducing a lure prevents dependency on treats or lures. You don’t want your dog to behave only when they see food.
Typical process:

1. Use the lure to guide your dog into position
2. Gradually make the lure movements smaller
3. Eventually use an empty hand signal
4. Finally rely only on verbal cues when needed

Demo of Fading a Lure and Adding a Verbal Cue – Kikopup – Emily Larlham

Naming the Behavior (Foundation Skills workbook – page 13)

Cues are anything that prompts your dog to perform a behavior. They can be verbal, gesture, environmental, etc. If your dog can experience it, it can be a cue.
Key principles:

• Timing matters – give the cue before the behavior, not during or after
• Keep it simple – short, clear cues work better than complex ones
• Add the cue only after your dog reliably performs the behavior with a lure

Cue vs. Commands in Dog Training – Lisa Desatnik

Cue Planning Worksheet (Foundation Skills workbook – page 14)

Plan the cues for the behaviors you are training your dog.

Hand Targeting (Touch) (Foundation Skills workbook – page 15)

Teaching your dog to target your hand is a valuable training tool. It can help your dog walk next to you, teach a trick, or provide a distraction during stressful moments.
How (and Why) to Teach Hand Targeting – Smart Dog University

Sit (Foundation Skills workbook – page 16)

Lure a sit and immediately say “Yes” and follow with food or praise. Quickly release your dog from the sit by saying “Free” or “Okay.”
Teach Your Dog to Sit – AKC – Nancy Field

Stay – Level 1 (Foundation Skills workbook – page 19)

Ask for a sit, and feed your dog 3–5 treats in a row as they sit. Then say “OK” and encourage your dog to get up. If your dog stands up every time you give a treat, instead ask for a sit, count to three, then release with “OK.”
Teach Your Dog to Stay in 3 Easy Steps Force Free – Zak George's Dog Training Revolution
Building Duration to Stay – Kikopup – Emily Larlham

Place (Foundation Skills workbook – page 24)

Creating the contrast between many treats when down and none when standing will make down on the mat a desirable position.
Teaching Your Dog Place/Stay – Atta Pup – Laura Nalven

Leash Manners (Foundation Skills workbook – page 29)

A great way to practice loose-leash walking is inside the house without a leash: lure your dog to your side at your knee, treat, then turn and walk away. Repeat.
Leash Manners video playlist

Name Game (Foundation Skills workbook – page 17)

In a quiet area, say your dog’s name. When they look at you, mark “Yes” and treat.

Crate Training

To acclimate your dog to their crate, put a long-lasting treat or frozen Kong inside. Sit by your dog, then open the door just as they finish the treat so they don’t barrel out.
Crate Training video playlist

Second Assignment

Voluntary Attention (Foundation Skills workbook – page 11)

Reward any unasked-for attention generously, especially outside. Volunteered attention is more valuable than requested attention.

Attention in New Locations

Brito Acclimating to a Brand New Place – Denise Fenzi
Watch how the handler lets her dog explore before work, noting the “shake off” and air-sniff signals.

Consent for Petting and Handling

Respect your dog’s choice to opt in: invite approach, pause mid-petting, and watch for relaxed body language. Never force handling.
Consent Test Movie – DogKind – Kelly Lee

Attention to Handler, Outdoors

At a park, as distractions approach, “stuff the puppy” with rapid treats until the distraction passes.
Attention to Handler video playlist

Place, with a Default Down (Foundation Skills workbook – page 24)

Touch the mat, wait for the down, then reward. Release with “OK” when both back feet are on one side.

Stay – Level 2 (Foundation Skills workbook – page 23)

Your dog remains in position while you begin to move away, building self-control.

Leash Manners

Reward where you want your dog’s head; become a post if they pull so they cannot reach the distraction.
Leash Manners video playlist

Left and Right Turns (Foundation Skills workbook – page 30)

Lure left and right turns to teach your dog to follow your body.
Heelwork Left Turns – Kikopup – Emily Larlham

Recall (Come When Called) (Foundation Skills workbook – page 21)

Build big recalls from small, successful repetitions.
Off-leash Reliability from a Positive Gun Dog’s Perspective – Thomas Aaron
Come When Called video playlist

Recall Games (Foundation Skills workbook – page 22)

Make recall fun with games—dogs and humans learn best when we’re having fun!

Meet and Greet at Home

1. Send your dog to their crate for a Kong three times daily.
2. When visitors arrive, keep your dog crated until excitement subsides.
3. Leash your dog, treat at a distance, then ask for a sit before greeting.
4. Repeat 4–5 times until your dog settles.

Meet and Greet in the Neighborhood

Politely ask neighbors to respect your dog’s training: “My dog is in training—please wait to be invited.”
Be Your Dog’s Advocate – Cold Nose College – Lisa Waggoner
10 Thoughts About On-Leash Greetings – Good Human Dog Training – Jennifer Thornburg
Dogs Love Me: Protecting Your Dog From Well-Meaning Dog Lovers – 4Paws University – Lisa Mullinax

Play a lot and practice briefly every day—consistency is key.

Third Assignment

Voluntary Attention (Foundation Skills workbook – page 11)

Reminder: reward any unasked-for attention generously, especially outside.

Look At That

Teach your dog they may look at environmental triggers but must check back with you.
LAT (“Look at That”): A Training Exercise for Reactive Behavior – East Bay SPCA
Engage Disengage / Look at That – Dog Training – Andre Yeu

Interest in Wildlife

Teaching My Hound NOT To Hunt – Barks from the Guild/PPG – Karen Baragona

Place with a Default Down (Foundation Skills workbook – page 24)

Touch the mat, wait for the down, then reward. Begin adding hand signals and “stay” cues when settled.

Leash Manners

Show the treat, then move it to your chest—reward only calm walking.
Leash Manners video playlist

Stay – Level 3 (Foundation Skills workbook – page 26)

Work on one criterion at a time: Distance, Duration, or Distraction.

Leave It (Foundation Skills workbook – page 27)

Practice “Leave It” in varied locations—walls, different rooms, etc., rewarding generously.

Recall

Everything you do builds recall—if other dogs are more fun, recalls around dogs will never be solid.
Come When Called video playlist

Meet and Greet

When your dog is calm, let visitors offer treats. Ask visitors not to approach until invited to ensure positive experiences.

Enrichment

Choose three activities from Enrichment Now! (page 49). Note ease of use, effect on your dog, and enjoyment. Use the Enrichment Planner to personalize your plan.

Fourth Assignment

Attention

If your dog cannot give you good attention at this stage, the environment is too stressful. Choose a calmer setting.

Look At That

Continue LAT using the resources from the Third Assignment.

Place (Foundation Skills workbook – page 24)

No treats in hand: place treats between front paws to encourage the down.

Advanced Stay (Foundation Skills workbook – page 28)

The Advanced Stay, Part 1 – Smart Dog University – Laurie Luck
The Advanced Stay, Part 2 – Smart Dog University

Recall

Build the bond: timid dogs may need on-leash practice until confident off-leash.

Calming Chin Rest

When your dog rests their chin in your hand, mark “Yes,” pause briefly, then treat.
Easy Chin Rest – Kikopup – Emily Larlham
Teach Your Dog a Collaborative Chin Rest – Terrie Hayward

Leave It on the Road

Practice “Leave It” in varied locations—walls, different rooms, etc., rewarding generously.

Leash Manners

Explore new environments once indoor skills are solid.
Leash Manners video playlist

Fading Food Reinforcers (Foundation Skills workbook – page 31)

Use non-food rewards when possible (e.g., door opening). If behaviors break down, increase reinforcement frequency.