Welcome to your
102 Pet Parenting
team training COURSE!
Choose your Start Date & Time Below
WEEK 1 OF 5
1
Wow, your Pup is making great progress! Now that he has mastered the “sit” and “release” cues, he is now primed to learn the “down” cue. By the end of this session, your Pup will consistently offer a “down” at your side (reinforcement zone) and will stay until cued “release”. With fun and stimulating positive reinforcement techniques, you'll be able to gradually increase your Pup’s "implied stay" with distance, duration, and distractions. Your Dog is going to “get down” with this exercise and will be eager to please you with the positive reinforcement techniques you will take home with you to practice and master in preparation for Part 2 of the “down” cue!
2
How many times have you found your Pup chewing on inappropriate objects or food and/or playing “keep away”? That’s all about to change with the “drop” cue; and the “fetch” cue is a super fun way to introduce it while simultaneously teaching your Pup how to play appropriately with toys. After this training session, your Pup will immediately drop whatever he has in his mouth – happily. This could potentially be a lifesaving skill someday yet is super fun for both of you to play and practice on a regular basis to maintain the behavior. So, let’s “drop” what we’re doing and play fetch!
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WEEK 2 OF 5
1
Part 2 of the “down” cue is adding tempting distractions while your Pup works on impulse control for longer durations. We are going to add some typical household distractions that will really test your teammate’s ability to just chill out and watch the world go by for 10 minutes all while marking the behavior with tasty treats and lots of praise. Your Pup will learn that settling in a “down” position amongst stimulating distractions equals positive reinforcement, and that lunging for the distraction does not. We are delivering the message to your Pup that he is making excellent choices through positive reinforcement, and guiding him back into “down” position when he forgets.
2
Get ready to unleash the fun with search games! They're not just a fantastic way to give your furry friend some mental stimulation; they also create an amazing bond between you and your dog. With positive reinforcement training becomes an exciting adventure that strengthens your relationship while making enjoyable! The benefits are incredible! Search games boost your pup's confidence, ease behavioral issues, and enhance their overall-being. You'll work together as a dynamic duo, building trust and teamwork as you hunt for hidden treasures. Plus, these games mentally enrich your dog, providing satisfying challenges that can tire them out as much as a long walk! It's also a fantastic way to reduce stress and anxiety, allowing them to relax and enjoy life. Best of all, search games are perfect for dogs of any age, breed, or ability, including our beloved seniors!
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WEEK 3 OF 5
1
Welcome back! In 101 you learned how to use the leash like a steering wheel to guide your dog into the “heel” & “side” position, and your Pup learned to follow the leash rather than pulling ahead like a “sleigh” dog. Now, it’s time to add the verbal cues “heel” & “side”; crucial for navigating busy areas with distractions. The “heel” & “side” cues teach your Pup to walk closely along your left or right side with his head aligned with your knee or hip, maintaining this position while you move; not behind or in front of you but by your right or left side. These cues not only greatly assist with moving past distractions by swapping sides, but also help keep his focus and attention on you rather than the approaching distractions. This is one more giant step towards a lifetime of enjoyable and peaceful loose leash walks!
2
Puppy socials and other outdoor excursions are an important part of your Pup’s overall health and happiness, so it is crucial that you prevent bad habits like leash lunging/pulling and barking whenever a new and stimulating distraction comes within sight of your canine companion. In this lesson, you are going to give your Pup the tools to make positive choices in the face of new and distracting environments. Not only will your Pup master impulse control when faced with stimulating distractions, but will learn how to manage leash tension like a pro! Watch as your Pup engages with you, even amidst distractions! This is an invaluable skill that will ensure both of you a lifetime of fun and stress-free walks, outings, and meet & greets.
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WEEK 4 OF 5
1
The “Paws up" cue instructs your Pup to place his front paws on a designated object, like a platform, box, or even your hand, when given the verbal cue "paws up"; essentially telling him to target that specific spot with his front paws. This trick builds coordination and balance as well as helps your dog develop better control over his paws and body placement. The "paws up" command can be used in many situations, including: to get your dog's attention when you need him to focus on you; preventing jumping on people or furniture unless invited; to aid with basic obedience by teaching targeting; to aid with grooming; to help lift your dog onto tables or into vehicles; to help build confidence, and of course, for adorable photo poses. It’s also a fun trick that can be used as a stepping stone to teach other behaviors like jump, targeting or staying on a specific spot.
2
An "implied stay" means that your dog is expected to hold a position, like a sit or down, until given a “release” cue, without needing a separate verbal cue like "stay" each time. Rather, the act of asking your Pup to perform a stationary behavior automatically implies he should remain in that position until told otherwise. Instead of saying "stay" after giving a "sit" or "down" command, your Pup will understand that he should remain in that position until released without needing constant reminders. Implied stay training cultivates a mindset where your dog naturally waits for further instructions after performing a cue. By not needing to constantly say "stay," training sessions can flow more naturally and feel less repetitive for your dog.
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WEEK 5 OF 5
1
The “jump” cue has many applications starting with serving as the foundation for teaching the “car” cue. Another highlight of teaching a "jump" cue is taming that jumping energy! With a fun “jump” cue, you can channel your Pup’s excitement to specific & appropriate moments and places, keeping him from jumping on people uninvited. It’s also a confidence booster & good exercise! A well-taught "jump" cue empowers your dog to leap onto and over objects of various heights and distances with ease and clarity, making every jump an adventure! As always, using positive reinforcement to teach the "jump" cue transforms training into a joyful experience, with treats and praise when he jumps on cue! Plus, teaching tricks like jumping not only hones skills but deepens the connection between you and your canine companion through focused training and joyful moments together.
2
Wow! Look at the progress you and your teammate have made! Let’s keep challenging your Pup’s loose leash walking skills with even greater environmental distractions! Up until now, we have limited loose leash walking distractions to semi-stimulating ones at a distance. Let’s see how he does when one of your fellow teammates begins approaching him straight on; or the coach walks up to him while squeaking a ball. Will he break his “sit” or “down” position? If yes, that’s okay! He must fail sometimes to learn what you want him to do; exactly the reason for this exercise! Your Pup will get better and better at ignoring the world going by, instead, keeping his focus on you whenever you require him to do so & until you release him to do otherwise. Not because he must, but because he chooses to! It’s his choice! You’re simply going to help him make that right choice & reward him when he does! He will get to experience the pride & joy of mastering this skill and making his favorite human proud of him! We are gearing up for the final challenge so practice, practice, practice at home!
