Puppy Foundations

Assignments

First Assignment

• Your puppy learns continuously throughout their waking hours, not just during dedicated training sessions. Incorporate training into play and daily routines to make learning fun and natural for both of you.
• Marker Word (Foundation Skills workbook – page 10)
  Use a clicker or a short word like “yes” to mark the behavior you want, always followed by a treat or praise.
  Reward Markers: 4Paws University – Lisa Mullinax
• Voluntary Attention (Foundation Skills workbook – page 11)
  Capture and reward your puppy for looking at your face or responding to their name.
  Eye Contact – Kikopup (Emily Larlham)
• Fading the Lure (Foundation Skills workbook – page 12)
  Gradually reduce dependence on treats:
  1. Start with the lure to guide your puppy.
  2. Make lure movements smaller over time.
  3. Switch to an empty hand signal.
  4. Finally, rely on verbal cues only.

  Demo: Fading a Lure – Kikopup

• Naming the Behavior (Foundation Skills workbook – page 13)
  Cues prompt your puppy to perform a behavior. They can be verbal, gestures, or environmental.
  Key principles:
  1. Give the cue before the behavior, not during or after.
  2. Keep cues short and clear.
  3. Add the cue only after your puppy 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 train your puppy/future dog.
• Hand Targeting (Touch) (Foundation Skills workbook – page 15)
  Teaching your puppy to target your hand is a valuable training tool for a variety of exercises.
  Hand Targeting – Smart Dog University
• Sit (Foundation Skills workbook – page 16)
  Lure a sit, immediately say “Yes,” then reward. Quickly release your puppy with “Free” or “Okay”.
  Teach Your Dog to Sit – AKC – Nancy Field
• Stay – Level 1 (Foundation Skills workbook – page 19)
  Ask for a sit, feed your puppy 3–5 treats in a row as they sit, then release with “OK”. If your puppy stands up with each treat, try counting to three before releasing.
  Teach Your Dog to Stay – Zak George
  Building Duration to Stay – Kikopup
• Place (Foundation Skills workbook – page 24)
  Create the contrast: give lots of treats for lying down on the mat, none for standing up.
  Teaching Place/Stay – Laura Nalven
• Leash Manners (Foundation Skills workbook – page 29)
  Practice indoors: lure your puppy to your side, treat, and walk away. Use your voice and body language to encourage your puppy to stay with you.
  Leash Manners Video Playlist
• Name Game (Foundation Skills workbook – page 17)
  In a quiet area, say your puppy’s name. When they turn to you, mark and reward.
• Crate Training
  Practice crate training so your puppy enjoys being in their crate and doesn’t bolt out when you open the door. Use treats or a Kong for positive associations.
  Crate Training Video Playlist

Second Assignment

• Puppies look more grown-up but still have short attention spans!
• Voluntary Attention (Puppy Foundations workbook)
  Voluntary attention is essential—reward your puppy for any attention, especially when offered on their own, and especially outdoors.
• Attention in New Locations
  Acclimating to a New Place – Denise Fenzi
  
  Let your puppy acclimate to new environments before asking for focus.
• Attention to Handler, Outdoors
  Visit a park or safe area and reward your puppy for focusing on you amid distractions.
  Attention to Handler Playlist
• Consent for Petting and Handling
  Allow your dog to “opt in” to interactions. Watch for relaxed, willing body language and never force petting or handling.
  Consent Test Movie – DogKind – Kelly Lee
• Place, with a default down (Puppy Foundations workbook)
  Touch the mat with your treat hand, wait for your puppy to go down, then reward. If needed, lure into a settle, and reward when both back feet are on one side. Use “OK” to release.
• Stay – Level 2 (Puppy Foundations workbook)
  Begin to move away during the stay. Stays, waits, and “leave it” teach self-control. Notice self-control moments outside training too.
• Leash Manners (Puppy Foundations workbook)
  Reward where you want your puppy’s head to be. If they pull, you become a post—don’t let them reach what they’re pulling toward.
  Leash Manners Playlist
• Recall (Come When Called) (Puppy Foundations workbook)
  Use silly noises to get your puppy’s attention and move backward to draw them in. Only use your recall cue when you’re sure they’ll respond. Create a unique recall cue, and don’t use it in everyday conversation.
  Off-leash Reliability Article – Thomas Aaron
  Come When Called Playlist
• Recall Games (Puppy Foundations workbook)
  Play recall games with your puppy—fun makes learning stick!
• Meet and Greet at Home
  Teach your puppy to run to their crate for a Kong when visitors arrive. Reward calm greetings and practice with and without guests.
• Meet and Greet in the Neighborhood
  Remember, your puppy is not public entertainment! Teach your puppy calm greetings, advocate for them, and move away when needed.
  Be Your Dog’s Advocate – Lisa Waggoner
  10 Thoughts About On-Leash Greetings – Jennifer Thornburg
  Protecting Your Dog From Well-Meaning Dog Lovers – Lisa Mullinax
• Play with your puppy often this week. Help them experience new surfaces, objects, and gentle challenges. Always go at your puppy’s pace.

Third Assignment

• Voluntary Attention (Puppy Foundations workbook)
  This is your weekly reminder—reward all unprompted attention, especially outside.
• Look At That
  Teach your puppy they can look at things, but not leave their space to explore them. Reward looking back at you after noticing something.
  
  LAT (“Look at That”) – East Bay SPCA
  Engage Disengage / Look at That – Andre Yeu
• Interest in birds, squirrels, rabbits, deer, etc.
  It’s natural for dogs to chase moving things. Be patient and reward attention on you.
  Teaching My Hound NOT To Hunt – Karen Baragona
• Place with a default down (Puppy Foundations workbook – page 24)
  Hold the treat, touch the mat as you cue, wait for down, and then reward. Increase time and take steps away if your puppy is settled. Only work on one of Distance, Duration, or Distraction at a time.
• Leash Manners (Puppy Foundations workbook)
  Reward calm walking, wait out distractions, and make walks fun.
  Leash Manners Playlist
• Back Off the Hand (Puppy Foundations workbook – page 27)
  Hold a treat in your fist—reward your puppy for backing off. This is a foundation for “leave it.”
• Recall (Come When Called) (Puppy Foundations workbook – page 21)
  Good recall is about setting your puppy up for success—never call when you know they can’t respond.
  Come When Called Playlist
• Meet and Greet
  Reward calmness around visitors; don’t let your puppy be handled if they don’t want to be.
• Enrichment
  Try three new enrichment activities from the Enrichment Now! e-book and record what works.
• Keep exploring new surfaces, objects, and experiences with your puppy. Use an upbeat, can-do attitude!

Fourth Assignment

• Attention
  If your puppy can’t give attention, they may be stressed. Pick environments where your puppy can succeed.
• Look At That
  Continue LAT exercises. Resources:
  LAT (“Look at That”) – East Bay SPCA
  Engage Disengage / Look at That – Andre Yeu
• Place or Go to the Mat (Puppy Foundations workbook – page 24)
  You may no longer need treats in hand—reinforce down on the mat, and don’t send your puppy then walk away.
• Tips for Stay (Puppy Foundations workbook)
  If your puppy lies down during the stay and you don’t mind, that’s okay! Go at their pace.
• Recall (Come When Called) (Puppy Foundations workbook)
  Recall demonstrates your bond. If your puppy struggles, don’t let them off leash until more reliable.
• Calming Chin Rest
  When your puppy rests their head in your hand, mark, pause, and treat.
  Easy Chin Rest – Kikopup
  Collaborative Chin Rest – Terrie Hayward
• Leave It (Puppy Foundations workbook)
  Take “leave it” on the road—practice in new places and with new items. Reward with something even better!
• Leash Manners (Puppy Foundations workbook)
  Practice in easy environments first; add new ones as you and your puppy progress.
  Leash Manners Playlist
• Fading Food Reinforcers (Puppy Foundations workbook)
  Use non-food rewards when possible (like opening a door for sitting). If behaviors break down, reinforce more often.
• Have a great week, and get out and about with your puppy!