Curriculum
Informed by Dr. Ian Dunbar’s Evidence-Based Dog Training Guide | Practical Skills for Clear Communication and Everyday Reliability Dogs are always learning. Fast responses in the kitchen may disappear on the sidewalk. A dog may understand a hand signal but not yet understand the verbal cue. Food may be useful during training, but a dog should not need to see food in your hand before responding. This online course helps pet parents teach clear communication, measure progress, build reliable responses, reduce dependence on food rewards, and use everyday life as part of training. Rather than guessing whether a dog “knows” a cue, you will learn how to observe performance, identify what the dog understands, adjust the training setup, and build success step by step. Through guided lessons, practical examples, worksheets, and trainer-practice activities, you will learn how to: • Teach clear cues and useful everyday behaviors • Build reliable responses around real-life distractions • Reduce dependence on visible food while maintaining motivation • Use play, walks, sniffing, and other life rewards in training • Build comfortable handling and positive training routines • Redirect everyday behavior challenges with calm, clear instructions • Adjust training to support your dog’s individual needs This course covers practical everyday training, including: • Build reliable everyday responses • Use food, play, walks, and life rewards effectively • Improve handling comfort and calm behavior • Address common household behavior challenges • Guide behavior without fear, force, or frustration The goal is not perfection or unquestioning obedience. It is to help you build a dog who understands your instructions and can respond promptly, willingly, and reliably in everyday life. Let’s build clear communication.