Calm communication, real-life skills, and trust-based training — guided one-on-one by me, Theo.

This course is designed for dogs and guardians who want practical, humane training that actually translates to real life. Using positive, force-free methods, we focus on helping dogs feel safe, confident, and motivated — while giving humans clear tools and understanding.

Whether your dog is young or fully grown, this program builds the foundational life skills and emotional resilience needed for long-term success living in our society.

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EXAMPLE Course Overview

Duration: 6 weeks
Format: One-on-one sessions with personalized homework
Delivery: In-person or virtual
Support: Ongoing guidance between sessions

Each week builds on the last, allowing skills to grow at your dog’s pace without pressure or overwhelm.

 

Week 1 — Understanding Behavior & Building the Foundation

Goal: Create clarity, predictability, and emotional safety.

Focus Areas:

• How dogs learn and why behavior happens

• Understanding your dog’s individual needs and motivations

• Reading body language and early stress signals

• Setting up your home and routine for success

Key Skills Introduced:
✔ Marker word or clicker basics
✔ Calm engagement games
✔ Reinforcing relaxed behavior

At-Home Practice:
✔ Establish daily training routines
✔ Practice calm check-ins throughout the day

 

Week 2 — Engagement, Focus & Communication

Goal: Help your dog choose you willingly, even with distractions.

Focus Areas:

• Building attention without pressure

• Name recognition and voluntary check-ins

• Reinforcing calm focus

• Setting realistic expectations around distractions

Key Skills Introduced:
✔ Attention cue (“look” / name response)
✔ Orientation to handler
✔ Rewarding choice-based engagement

At-Home Practice:
✔ Short focus games in low-distraction settings
✔ Practicing engagement during daily walks or routines

 

Week 3 — Core Life Skills

Goal: Teach foundational cues that support calm behavior and communication.

Focus Areas:

• Teaching sit and down as communication tools

• Duration and follow-through (without force)

• Beginning impulse control

• Building clarity and confidence with cues

Key Skills Introduced:
✔ Sit
✔ Down
✔ Beginning “stay” through duration, not pressure

At-Home Practice:
✔ Daily short training sessions
✔ Gradually increasing duration and calmness

 

Week 4 — Loose-Leash Walking Foundations

Goal: Reduce pulling by teaching skills — not correcting behavior.

Focus Areas:

• Why pulling happens

• Equipment guidance for force-free walking

• Reinforcing proximity and slack leash

• Creating calmer, more enjoyable walks

Key Skills Introduced:
✔ Leash orientation
✔ Reinforced check-ins
✔ Calm walking patterns

At-Home Practice:
✔ Structured practice walks
✔ Reinforcing moments of slack leash

 

Week 5 — Impulse Control & Everyday Challenges

Goal: Help your dog pause, think, and make better choices.

Focus Areas:

• Understanding impulse control vs suppression

• Teaching alternatives to jumping, grabbing, or rushing

• Addressing behaviors like barking, over-excitement, or frustration

• Environmental management to prevent rehearsal of unwanted behaviors

Key Skills Introduced:
✔ “Leave it” foundations
✔ Waiting calmly
✔ Choice-based decision making

At-Home Practice:
✔ Impulse control games
✔ Reinforcing calm choices throughout the day

 

Week 6 — Real-World Application & Long-Term Success

Goal: Bring everything together and create a sustainable plan moving forward.

Focus Areas:

• Generalizing skills to new environments

• Troubleshooting plateaus or setbacks

• Building confidence around mild stressors

• Creating a long-term training plan that fits your lifestyle

Key Skills Strengthened:
✔ Cue reliability in real-life situations
✔ Calm responses under mild distraction
✔ Confidence and resilience

At-Home Practice:
✔ Guided real-world practice
✔ Continued reinforcement of calm behavior

 

What You’ll Walk Away With

✔ Clear communication with your dog
✔ Foundational skills that work in everyday life
✔ A deeper understanding of behavior
✔ Reduced frustration for both ends of the leash
✔ A confident path forward

 

Why This Approach Works

This course is built on:
✔ Positive reinforcement
✔ Emotional safety and trust
✔ Teaching skills instead of punishing behavior
✔ Progress at your dog’s pace

Training isn’t about control — it’s about cooperation, clarity, and confidence.

 

Course Logistics

• Weekly one-on-one sessions

• Personalized homework and guidance

• Support between sessions

• Available virtually or in person

• Designed to adapt to your dog’s individual needs

 

Is This the Right Fit?

This course is perfect if:

• You want calm behavior without fear or force

• Your dog needs clearer communication and structure

• You’re ready to understand the why behind behavior

• You value thoughtful, personalized training