
Train your dog daily before meals, with 5–10 minute sessions and optional lunch sessions, keeping them energetic while teaching work and leadership, plus downloadable step-by-step instructions.
Required tools:
Clicker
Light Dog Leash
Regular Flat Collar
Herm Sprenger Prong Collar (and extra links if needed). 2.25 size for ALL dogs.
Long line/leash (15ft or 30ft)
Educator E-Collar [no longer offered on my website]
ET-300 Model for Single Dog
ET-302 Model for Two Dogs, with one remote
Educator Think Hair Contact Points - Optional
Treats (moist ideally)
Platform bed
Charge the clicker to deliver consistent, timely feedback linking the sound to the treat, then click and treat for desired behavior while ignoring unwanted actions and avoiding patterned responses.
Shape a new behavior by luring the dog into a sit with food, then click and treat, fade to an empty hand cue, and use variable reinforcement during warmups.
practice recall using the palm cue with the verbal cue come, then apply variable reinforcement by skipping some treats after a few clicks, while increasing distance.
Practice patient down position using clicker training and treats to shape the dog's behavior in a silent drill, starting kneeling and progressing to standing with higher value rewards.
Lead your dog to the down position, add the burble with delayed treats, then release with 'okay' after a brief pause, using the clicker as marks.
Teach leave it by throwing a treat, guiding with a leash, clicking when the dog pauses and looks to you, and using yes as a marker and reward.
Overlay the e-collar on eight behaviors in pairs, starting with place and come, then introduce vibrate outdoors at stage three, reinforcing with treats while building duration and release.
Practice recall with the e-collar in a park with few dogs, using the body cue, vibration/tap stimulation, and progressive increases until the dog reliably comes back.
Transition to an e-collar only heel by swapping the prong for a flat collar, using a leash, then test off leash safely, never clip the leash to the e-collar.
Shake, roll-over, and play-dead may impress dinner guests, but will not help you take them on hikes, nice walks, and share in public spaces without adding stress to you when pulling on-leash, running away, or risking their own safety.
Our dogs get more freedom when we know they will behave. Now they get to chase rabbits and sprint down streams while going outdoors. They will come when called and behave for their safety. In return, our relationships with them improve. There is less friction. They gain confidence as they know what to do instead of wondering what you are trying to communicate. In return, we get to experience more of their unconditional love and silliness at more times and in more places.
Discipline Equals Freedom - Jocko Willink
A true statement from this Navy Seal. It also applies to dogs, to enjoy more life doing dog things. Not limited to a backyard. Not limited to a shelter. Not limited to a leash. We believe dogs want to please us. Clear communication of expectations and properly reinforced behaviors for everyday life is where the 5 Functional Behaviors come in. When our dogs clearly understand these, it is all you need.
The 5 Functional Behaviors you will learn reliably
Functional Recall
Functional Walking
Functional Patience
Functional Restrain
Functional Leave It
4-Step Functional Framework
1. Learn all skills with no use of an e-collar. 5 minutes, twice per day
2. Overlap treats with an e-collar at levels they can barely feel. Levels YOU can barely feel.
3. Passive association. Repetition. They learn how the e-collar works & when it turns on/off while being motivated by treats and your praise.
4. Increase their freedom slowly as we confirm their understanding of e-collar sensations and fade-out treats.