Basic Dog Obedience Course

Lesson 1 • Reading Canine Body Language

Teaches interpretation of stress signals, relaxed postures, and arousal indicators. Accurate reading prevents training errors and supports dog welfare.

Lesson 2 • Canine Sensory and Cognitive Basics

Covers how dogs use smell, sight, and hearing to interpret their environment. This context shapes realistic expectations for training responsiveness.

Lesson 3 • Motivation and Drive in Training

Examines food, play, and social drives as training motivators. Matching motivator to individual dog maximises engagement and learning speed.

Lesson 4 • Reinforcement and Punishment Concepts

Defines positive and negative reinforcement and punishment with precision. Students distinguish effective from counterproductive consequences in training.

Lesson 1 • Collars, Harnesses, and Leashes

Compares flat collars, martingales, front-clip harnesses, and standard leashes. Students match equipment to dog size, behaviour, and training goal.

Lesson 2 • Setting Up the Training Environment

Identifies distraction levels, space requirements, and surface considerations for productive sessions. Environment management directly affects a dog's ability to focus.

Lesson 3 • Reward Delivery Tools

Covers treat pouches, clickers, and target sticks as precision reward tools. Proper use of each tool increases timing accuracy and training efficiency.

Lesson 1 • Luring vs. Shaping Comparison

Contrasts lure-based and shaping approaches for teaching new behaviours. Students choose the appropriate method based on behaviour complexity and dog experience.

Lesson 2 • Timing Precision in Marking

Trains handlers to mark the exact moment of correct behaviour. Precise timing prevents reinforcing incorrect positions or incomplete responses.

Lesson 3 • Capturing Natural Behaviours

Uses the marker to reinforce behaviours the dog offers spontaneously. Capturing builds a dog's confidence and introduces the concept of offering behaviours.

Lesson 4 • Shaping Behaviour Through Steps

Introduces successive approximation to build complex behaviours incrementally. Students plan shaping plans and adjust criteria based on dog progress.

Lesson 1 • Teaching Down

Builds the down command from sit using lure and shaping techniques. Down is foundational for stay duration and impulse control exercises.

Lesson 2 • Teaching Stay

Develops duration, distance, and distraction components of stay systematically. Students apply the three-D framework to build a reliable stay behaviour.

Lesson 3 • Teaching Leave It

Trains dogs to disengage from forbidden items on a single cue. Leave it directly supports impulse control and household safety.

Lesson 4 • Teaching Recall (Come)

Establishes a fast, reliable recall using high-value reinforcement and enthusiasm. Recall is the most critical safety behaviour in the obedience curriculum.

Lesson 1 • Understanding Why Dogs Pull

Explains the opposition reflex and environmental reinforcement of pulling. Understanding the cause guides selection of the most effective correction strategy.

Lesson 2 • Proofing Leash Manners in Public

Progressively exposes dogs to real-world distractions while maintaining leash manners. Proofing ensures skills transfer from training sessions to daily walks.

Lesson 3 • Loose-Leash Walking Techniques

Introduces stop-and-wait, direction change, and penalty yard methods. Students select and apply the technique best suited to each dog's pulling pattern.

Lesson 1 • Door and Threshold Manners

Trains dogs to wait at doors and thresholds until released by the handler. Threshold manners prevent dangerous bolting and reinforce handler leadership.

Lesson 2 • Settling and Relaxation on Cue

Conditions a calm, settled posture on a mat or designated spot on cue. Settling on cue is essential for managing dogs in public and social settings.

Lesson 3 • Food Bowl and Resource Manners

Teaches dogs to wait calmly before eating and to accept handler approach during meals. Resource manners reduce guarding behaviour and build trust.

Lesson 4 • Greeting People Politely

Replaces jumping with a sit or four-on-the-floor greeting behaviour. Polite greetings are among the most requested skills by dog owners.

Lesson 1 • Generalisation Across Environments

Trains behaviours in multiple locations to prevent context-specific responding. Dogs must perform commands in novel environments for training to be practical.

Lesson 2 • The Three Ds of Proofing

Applies duration, distance, and distraction as the three axes of behaviour proofing. Manipulating each variable independently prevents training gaps.

Lesson 3 • Variable Reinforcement Schedules

Transitions from continuous to variable reinforcement to build behaviour persistence. Variable schedules produce the most durable and resistant-to-extinction responses.

Lesson 4 • Generalisation Across Handlers

Ensures dogs respond to cues from multiple people, not only the primary trainer. Multi-handler reliability is essential for family and professional settings.

Lesson 1 • Real-World Scenario Practice

Applies all commands in simulated real-life situations including crowds and traffic. Scenario practice reveals remaining gaps and builds handler confidence.

Lesson 2 • Off-Leash Reliability Foundations

Builds the prerequisites for safe off-leash work through long-line training. Off-leash reliability requires a fully proofed recall and strong impulse control.

Lesson 3 • Maintaining Skills Long-Term

Designs maintenance training plans to prevent skill decay after course completion. Consistent low-frequency practice sustains reliability over the dog's lifetime.

Lesson 4 • Behaviour Chains and Sequences

Links individual commands into functional sequences such as sit-down-stay. Chaining demonstrates mastery and prepares dogs for complex real-world tasks.