Week 1 – Getting Started

What We’ll Cover

• How puppies learn
• Building focus and attention
• Beginning leash skills

Skills

• Name recognition
• Eye contact
• Sit
• Gentle handling (ears, paws, mouth)

At-Home Practice

• Say your puppy’s name and reward attention
• Practice sit before meals
• Short leash walks indoors

Week 2 – Focus & Walking

What We’ll Cover

• Using rewards effectively
• Understanding puppy body language

Skills

• Sit with longer focus
• Down (laying down)
• Loose-leash walking basics

At-Home Practice

• Sit and down for short sessions
• 5-minute leash walks
• Introduce your puppy to new people or places

Week 3 – Coming When Called

What We’ll Cover

• Managing distractions
• Preventing common puppy problems

Skills

• Come when called
• Stand
• Leash walking with turns

At-Home Practice

• Play recall games
• Reward calm greetings
• Continue safe exposure to new environments

Week 4 – Polite Puppy Manners

What We’ll Cover

• Preventing jumping
• Encouraging calm behavior

Skills

• Sit to greet people
• Leave It (intro)
• Walking calmly near others

At-Home Practice

• Ask for sit before petting
• Practice Leave It with toys or treats
• Walk in low-distraction public areas

Week 5 – Real-Life Skills

What We’ll Cover

• Vet and grooming preparation
• Long-term training success

Skills

• Stay (sit or down)
• Come with distractions
• Handling for exam and grooming

At-Home Practice

• Short stays
• Gentle handling practice
• Calm settle time on a mat or in a crate

Week 6 – Review & Graduation

We’ll Review

• Sit, Down, Stay
• Come when called
• Loose-leash walking
• Handling and calm behavior

Graduation

• AKC STAR Puppy® Test
• Certificates and celebration!
• Information on next training steps