If you’re trying to live a dog friendly lifestyle, then you know how important training is. Training helps your dog understand your expectations and boundaries. It keeps them safe in new situations, and it strengthens the human/animal bond.
Good training teaches more than just “sit” and “stay” and handing out treats. Good training is about your behaviors too. That’s why we offer our Signature Training Program. Our all-inclusive training program starts before you even bring your dog home. Interested? Keep reading to learn more!
The Dog Friendly Living Signature Program
The signature program is a 6-week+ program that not only teaches your dog basic obedience skills but helps train them to apply them in real-life settings. You will be learning right along with your dog and will have access to helpful video resources. You and your dog will meet with us for 5 in-person training sessions to gauge their progress and help tweak any behaviors that need help. Along the way, you’ll have the ability to text or email us with any questions you might have.
We’ve provided an outline of our training program so you can see what you can expect week by week!
Getting Started
Our program is great for every dog parent but is especially perfect for new ones. Our courses start with a pre-program, where you will learn what you need before beginning training, how to set up your client portal, and contact information if you have any questions.
The first few days after you bring your dog home are some of the most difficult, so our course teaches you what to expect. You can bring your dog home armed with information about crate training, potty training, and a list of resources you can refer to.
Week 1
The first part of our training program focuses on training you! Your first week focuses on the basics. We’ll start with the foundational knowledge you need to correctly train your dog. We’ll teach you all about how your dog learns, how to understand your dog’s body language, and how to use training tools like a clicker word.
You’ll learn all about Dog Friendly Living’s 5 Golden Rules. Keep it positive, redirect, reinforce, say it once, and have fun! These are the rules we follow to make training stress-free for both you and your dog. We’ll teach you why we find these rules so important, and we’ll go into depth about why they’re effective.
In your first week, we will start teaching your dog basic manners. Your dog will start learning “sit’, "down", and "touch". You’ll learn how to redirect behaviors like nipping and how to make sure your dog only chews on approved items.
Week 2
Good training can’t be rushed, so in your second week, you and your dog will start to build off of the skills you’ve already learned. You will start working on impulse control with your dog and expand on basic obedience.
Week 2 is where you start learning how to apply the skills your dog is learning to real life. We will also check in to make sure your dog is adjusting well. We can help you address any issues that are starting to occur and work with you to nip them in the bud.
Week 3
This is the week when your dog will really learn impulse control and how to refocus and relax. It might sound crazy, but this week we’re introducing your dog to Puppy Yoga.
Our Puppy Yoga builds off of the skills your dog learned in the first two weeks and uses them to help your dog desensitize. Your dog will learn how to ignore sounds and smells that usually act as triggers and how to not always be on high alert.
Week 4
By week 4, your dog should be starting to master at least a few of the skills you have been working on. If they have, then this week you’ll begin working on developing these skills for the real world.
We’ll start working on using manners in public through appropriate (non-jumpy) greetings and loose leash walking. To help your dog succeed, loose leash walking will start inside where there are fewer distractions.
You will start learning the things that trigger your dog. You will learn how to encourage your dog to respond correctly to different stimuli and how to recognize when your dog’s focus needs to be shifted.
Week 5+
Now is when you put your dog’s new skills to the test. Loose leash walking and even Puppy Yoga can move outside. We’ll teach you how to problem-solve any issues that may arise and give you the tools to keep making progress on your dog’s training.
Of course, some dogs aren’t quite ready and may still have some areas to work on. That’s normal! Every dog is different and learns at a different pace… especially if you have an older dog who has never been exposed to any kind of training. We’ll continue to work on those areas that need some help and keep working with you to help you feel more confident as you work with your dog.
Consistency is key to learning anything, and if you stick with it, you are well on your way to living your best life with a well-adjusted and happy dog by your side.
As a reference, here is a quick overview of the Signature Program:
Pre-Program
WELCOME PACKET
Expectations
How to prepare for sessions
Portal information
CURATED RESOURCES
Product Recommendations
Discount Codes
Dog Friendly Guide
WELLNESS RECOMMENDATIONS
Socialization How-To + Checklist
Fulfilling Your Dogs Daily Needs (Mental + Physical Stimulation / Enrichment)
Reinforcements Guide
Setting Boundaries
ADAPTATION + TIME MANAGEMENT
Crate Training Handout
Potty Training Handout
Schedule Templates
Module 1
FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE
How Dogs Learn
Intro to Positive Reinforcement
Understanding Dog Body Language
TRAINING RULES
PREVENTION + MANAGEMENT
Redirecting Chewing
Managing Puppy Mouthiness / Teething
Applying Techniques to Daily Life
INTRO TO BASIC MANNERS
Sit
Down
Puppy Push Ups
Name Recognition / Recall
Touch
Module 2
LEVEL UP SKILLS
Skill Improvement Exercises
Impulse Control
BASIC MANNERS
Go To Crate
Wait
Leave It
Go to Bed / Place
SKILL APPLICATION
Difference Between Wait & Stay (How and When to Use Which)
Leave Do's and Don'ts
Schedule Check-In
Module 3
PUPPY YOGA
Levels 1 - 5
APPLICATION
Understanding Desensitization + Counterconditioning
Relaxation Exercises
Puppy Yoga Checklist
Module 4
LIFE SKILLS
Appropriate Greetings
Stay
Indoor Loose Leash Walking
APPLICATION
Understanding Triggers + Trigger Stacking
Encouraging Good Decision Making
Module 5
LIFE SKILLS
Outdoor Puppy Yoga
Outdoor Loose Leash Walking
Custom trouble shooting / problem solving for your specific needs