I’ve been asked recently for my puppy training plan, the behaviors that I think are the most important for puppies to learn. I train behaviors in a certain order, mostly grouped by the conceptual training categories. Each behavior builds off the concepts learned by a previous behavior.
This is by no means a concrete plan. Every single one of my puppies has deviated from this map at one point or another. Typically, if my puppy is struggling with a behavior, I don’t push it. I focus on teaching a different behavior that shares the same concept and come back to the original behavior once I feel like my puppy has a solid grasp of the concept. For example, if my puppy is struggling with a down stay, I’ll go back and work on mat work, crate games or perch work and then come back to the down stay a few weeks later.
Here is my puppy training plan. Understand that certain terms or phrases may be different from what other people use, this is just what I call them!
- Hand touch –> chin rest (duration) –> object hold –> retrieve
- It’s your choice by Susan Garrett (duration, impulse control, reverse luring)
- All four paws in (object operance) –> all four paws on
- Front paws on –> pivot in circle (rear end awareness) –> pivot in heel position –> pivot into basic –> precision heel work
- Rear paws on (rear end awareness) –> back up –> handstand on wall –> agility contacts (2 on/2 off)
- Shape down (self operance) –> go to/stay on mat (object operance, duration, stays)
- Crate games (impulse control, drive building) –> perch stays –> stalls on handler
- Agility table
- Linear heel (position is rewarding) –> pace changes (choose to stay in position) –> serpentines
- Capture sit –> front position
- Spin/Twist (verbal discrimination)
- Leg weaves (spatial operance)
- Wrap object –> sends to agility obstacles
- Stay on one side of handler (handler awareness) –> rear crosses on the flat (agility, heel work, disc work)
- Dog catch (trust of handler/handling) –> rebound (when old enough)
Hope this helps those who asked for it! Feel free to ask any questions.