Course

Obedience Training

Sit, down, stay, place — the foundation cues.

Five-minute training sessions, twice a day, beat one long weekly drill. Keep it fun and end before your puppy gets bored.

8 modules ~38 min
0% complete

Modules

  1. 01The Mechanics of a Training SessionBefore any specific cue, master the session structure that makes every cue stick.5 min·Beginner
  2. 02SitThe first cue most dogs learn and the foundation behavior of impulse control.4 min·Beginner
  3. 03DownHarder than sit because it's a vulnerable position. Patience pays.5 min·Beginner
  4. 04StayDuration before distance before distraction. Never all three at once.6 min·Beginner
  5. 05Leave ItPossibly the most useful cue you'll ever teach. Saves lives around dropped pills, chicken bones, and squirrels.5 min·Beginner
  6. 06Place / Mat TrainingTeach the dog to settle on a mat. Solves doorbell madness, dinner-time begging, and most over-arousal problems.5 min·Intermediate
  7. 07Proofing in Real LifeA cue that works in your living room isn't a cue. Here's how to make it real.5 min·Intermediate
  8. 08Graduation ChecklistWorking benchmarks for a fully trained pet dog.3 min·Beginner

The plan

  1. 01Sit — lure with a treat above the nose, mark and reward
  2. 02Down — lure from sit straight down between paws
  3. 03Stay — duration first, then distance, then distraction (never all at once)
  4. 04Place — reward for going to a mat, build duration
  5. 05Touch — nose to hand, the most useful cue you'll teach

Common mistakes

  • Repeating cues ('sit, sit, SIT')
  • Increasing duration, distance, and distractions simultaneously
  • Training when frustrated

FAQ

When should I start?
The day your puppy comes home. Eight-week-old puppies absolutely can learn sit, name, and crate basics.