This curriculum category is not a stand-alone program. Exposure training and socialization are the cornerstone of training and behavior and are intertwined throughout all of our programs.

Exposure training is a positive and deliberate gradual training process that helps dogs learn to handle to different sights, sounds, smells, touches, people, and other animals they will encounter in life.

Socialization helps dogs learn how to behave properly with people and other animals. It builds healthy relationships, prevents and can modify behavioral difficulties

This curriculum outlines the full range of puppy training for puppies 8 weeks and older. Puppy training is divided into several programs, with each program covering the curriculum that matches your puppy’s age, development, and your goals.

From teaching your puppy where to go to the bathroom and curbing jumping and nipping, to developing polite manners with all 4 paws on the ground, walking on a loose leash without pulling, staying quiet around everyday outside noises instead of barking, relaxing when left alone, practicing calm responses when excitement runs high, and moving with ease through new, unfamiliar, and unpredictable sights, sounds, smells, and textures both inside and outside the home, puppy training helps them navigate our world with confidence.

This program teaches puppies the practical and social skills they need to grow into balanced adults, supporting their ability to reach their potential and live happy, active lives.

Our robust puppy training curriculum includes among others:

• Housebreaking

• Socialization with exposure training

• Obedience Cues (release, watch, sit, stay, wait, down, off, drop it, leave-it, come, touch, place, settle, and more.)

• Loose leash and heel walking

• Home, greeting, and travel manners

• Cooperative Care

• Enrichment & Elective Activities

• Resolves common behaviors (puppy nipping, biting, chewing, barking, jumping, separation tolerance, lack of impulse control, fear, anxiety, and aggression disorders)

• And much more!

This Curriculum category is not a stand-alone program. Skills from this area may be included in different programs depending on your dog’s age, development, and goals.

Basic obedience helps dogs to listen to cues or gestures to do actions and offer behaviors.

Basic manners teaches dogs to apply their obedience to polite in everyday situations, in and outside the home.

Basic Obedience and manners training includes among others:

• Obedience Cues (release, watch, sit, stay, wait, down, off, drop-it, leave-it, come, touch, place, settle, and more.)

• Loose Leash Walking

• Heal Walking

• Home, Greeting, and Travel Manners

Behavior modification is a systematic process to help dogs change how they think, feel, and behave towards stimuli that cause them difficulties.

Behavior modification addresses fear, anxiety, stress, and aggression related responses, along with other challenges that interfere with daily life. This may include helping dogs stay calm when people come over and the doorbell rings instead of rushing the door, and jumping on guests, helping dogs feel calm and trust their guardian on leash when encountering dogs, people, or movement such as bikes, and cars, rather than barking, lunging, freezing, or fixating. It can also include helping dogs feel confident and adaptable in unfamiliar environments instead of shutting down or becoming overly alert, allowing people to approach when they are eating, resting, or interacting with toys instead of guarding valued items, building comfort and confidence when left alone instead of panicking, whining, barking, and helping dogs refocus and listen when something is exciting or stressful so they can relax, adapt to changes such as a new baby or a new dog, and avoid accidents in the home or conflict with new family members.

Our comprehensive behavior modification program targets a wide variety of behavior challenges including but not limited to:

• Intolerance to People and Animals

• Leash Reactivity

• Separation Intolerance

• Resource Guarding

• Destructive Home Behaviors (Chewing, Digging, Barking)

• Noise Phobias

• Physical Handling Intolerance

This curriculum category is not a stand-alone program. It is part of exposure training and socialization, and related skills may appear in different programs based on your dog’s age, development, and goals.

Cooperative care uses positive reinforcement and voluntary techniques to teach dogs to accept and participate in being physically handled.

These voluntary and accepting behaviors include among others:

• Medication Administration (oral, eye and ear drops, injects, thermometer)

• Veterinary Care

• Wearing body equipment (collars, harnesses, head halters, boots, coats, muzzles)

• Grooming (teeth cleaning, nail trimming, hair cut, brushing, blow and towel

• Being handling in social encounters

Transition support helps newly adopted dogs adjust to their new home by replacing stress driven behaviors with clear, confident skills. This includes learning to feel secure and relaxed when left alone instead of barking, whining, or chewing furniture, understanding where and when to eliminate instead of having accidents during periods of adjustment, and walking on a loose leash while responding to their handler when something feels exciting or overwhelming rather than pulling, freezing, lunging, or barking. This training focuses on creating comfort, confidence, and predictability so dogs can settle into their homes after periods of instability and begin building a secure, successful routine.