Workbook 30 Days To Puppy Perfection

30 Days to
PUPPY PERFECTION
WORKBOOK
30 Days to Puppy Perfection™ Workbook
Copyright © 2021 by How To Train A Dream Dog™
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be transmitted, shared on

social media, or printed for profit without written permission from How To
Train A Dream Dog™.
This workbook is intended to be used solely by the students who purchased

the 30 Days to Puppy Perfection™ course. Permission is not granted for
distribution or sharing.
Students of 30 Days to Puppy Perfection™ are permitted to print the

workbook in full or any part of the workbook for themselves only and can
use it along with the course.
Additional Notice and Disclaimers

Any results depicted or implied in this document are atypical of most
results. No guarantees, promises, or suggestions of any results are made,
whether implied or stated. Individual results may vary from those depicted
in the workbook.
While How To Train A Dream Dog™ has done our best to make sure you
enjoy this workbook, certain grammatical and typographical errors may still
exist. Any such error, or any perceived slight of a specific person or
organization, is purely unintentional. This workbook was created with the
hope that the user finds its contents useful and not analyzed for the
purposes of grammatical perfection.
© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

Table of Contents
2 Introduction
3 Getting Started
15 The Training Schedule
20 Unwanted Behaviors
28 Potty Training
37 Crate Training
42 Skills & Cues
51 Exposure Training
55 Appendix

1
Introduction
Welcome to the 30 Days to Puppy Perfection Workbook. We created this workbook
to help guide you through our course and help you track progress along the way.
The most successful puppy parents are those who stay consistent with their
schedule, track their progress, and examine what works and what doesn't in order
to make adjustments. We encourage you to consider both your experience as your
pup's teacher as well the progress of your puppy. It's important to remember to
keep an open mind as your puppy grows and develops- their energy levels,
training progress, and preferences for enrichment and exercise will change
throughout this process.
Included in this workbook are informational pages that you can refer to when you
need a quick refresher on a concept or skill. The trackers and progress reports are
for you to fill out to assess and reflect on your puppy's progress. These are located
in the back of the book. We also have a section for you to write out notes you would
like to remember from a course video or Zoom call. Don't forget to jot down any
questions you may have throughout the week so you can ask our team.
Our program is named 30 Days to Puppy Perfection, but in no way do we expect

you to finish this program in 30 days. In fact, we encourage you to go at your pup's
pace, reassessing, and repeating the modules as needed.
We are confident that through this reflective training process, you will develop and
deepen the bond with your dream dog. You will have successes as well as
setbacks, but it is all a part of the journey. We hope you find this workbook helpful in
your effort to become your dog's best advocate, trainer, and friend.

2
Getting Started

3
Puppy Pics
Time to play Pup-arazzi! Insert pictures of your puppy before and after going
through our course.
First Day Graduation Day
Name: Name:
Age: Age:
Date: Date:
4
Puppy Training Expectations
Starting Point Goal
A B
What we think it What it actually

should look like looks like
You can expect

Setbacks Biting
Bumps along the way Something getting
Crying (from both destroyed!
human and puppy) Revisiting the basics
Small wins and big wins Snuggles and licks
Accidents Compliments
Unwanted behaviors Unconditional love
Stay patient, consistent, and keep moving forward.

You've got this!
s
thing i
Any ible!
s
paw
© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021 2020

5
Age-Appropriate Expectations
Here's what you can expect from a puppy during these mile markers. Each puppy is different and
progresses at their own pace. At every stage you are required to provide positive training techniques
and consistency. Any time you call your dog 'stubborn' or 'bad' you are judging their potential based on
your limitations as their trainer.
3-5 Days After Arrival

Puppy is scared and overwhelmed, needs time to adjust to the new environment
(including people, objects, routines)
May not eat, drink or want to respond while on a leash (or off leash)
May shut down while inside and outside (lays down flat, doesn't want to move)
Testing limits and boundaries
Biting and accidents are normal and training is still needed to get to success
Puppy is NOT stubborn or bad!
3-5 Weeks After Arrival

Less overwhelmed, starting to come out of their shell
Getting into a new routine and learning the ropes
Setbacks are to be expected and require revisiting foundational skills often
Biting and accidents are normal and training is still needed to get to success
Behavioral issues may start to arise... and need to be worked through with
positive training techniques
3-5 Months After Arrival

Comfortable in their new home but when anything changes in the
environment there may be setbacks
Trust and the relationship is getting stronger
Setbacks are to be expected and require revisiting foundational skills often
Biting and accidents are normal and traning is still needed to get to success
Behavioral issues may start to arise... and need to be worked through with
positive training techniques

6
The Road to
SUCCESS
Requires You to
PRE-TRAIN
When you're experiencing a 1. Identify the problem

problem or unwanted behavior 2. Determine what your goal is
there isn't a quick fix if you 3. Create the steps and slowly work
want lasting solutions. through them (# of steps may
What needs to happen is... vary depending on skill level,
distraction levels, and dog's
abilities)
We can think of the steps to teaching a new behavior like performing a dance at a recital.
Example: Puppy jumps on guests when they come through the door.
Step 1: Teach the Dance

Teach our puppy what we want him to do instead of jumping on our guests
("place" or "sit" are common alternative behaviors to choose)
Step 2: Add Dancers

Add in low-level distractions such a family member moving
Step 3: Add Dance Music

Add in more distractions such as two family members and be closer to the door
Step 4: Dress Rehearsal

Duplicate the arrival environment as much as you can including ringing the
doorbell and answering the door
Step 5: Opening Night

Guests arrive! Performance time!
Take it slow and do not move on until the last step is done perfectly with the distractions. If
your pup is not mastering the dance, go back one step and keep practicing. Practice the
dance in between performances. Keep his skills sharp. Our pups learn the most when we
praise and reward them for doing the right thing. Be prepared with treats on opening night!
Enjoy the training session. End it if you or the pup become frustrated. Frustrated brains are not
open to learning new things.

7
What Is Your Puppy Telling You?
In addition to teaching your puppy what your words mean, it’s important for the humans to learn
canine body language, to further the communication and relationship with your dog. These
behaviors are often misinterpreted by the human brain so it’s important to pay close attention. To
further understand what your dog might be feeling, examine the environment and context of the
situation. Remember that canine body language can be very subtle!
Body Language

8
What Is Your Puppy Telling You?
“Puppies don’t have batteries!”. They don’t, but that doesn’t mean their energy levels remain consistent throughout the day.
Just like with humans, puppy behaviors can vary depending on how tired they are, or how rested they are. You’re likely to see
more frustrating behaviors at both ends of the energy spectrum. Pay close attention to your puppy’s body language, keep a
log of the day’s activities and soon you’ll start to notice battery levels too. Once you notice the patterns you’ll be better able
to adjust the schedule for more peace and harmony in your home.
Behavior
Full After waking up in the morning Half After physical & mental exercise Drained After prolonged exposure to stimuli
After daytime naps in the crate Battery being out of the crate for 1-2
Battery After Zoomies or a romp session Battery After
hours
Full of energy - Biting & Calmer and More focused

needs to burn Nipping more relaxed- pup Overtired and Biting &
off energy Jumping you will have Easier time to overstimulated Nipping
Not able to Barking an easier time train - Pup needs a Jumping
focus 100% Digging interacting Less biting nap or bedtime Barking
May not be Pulling with puppy Less barking in the crate Digging
ready to play or ...and more Playtime and Best time to Pulling
train with you training engage in play ...and more
should go and snuggle
smoother sessions

9
Respecting a Puppy's Space
Puppies learn in terms of safe or unsafe, familiar or unfamiliar. When meeting a new
puppy, it is important to help them feel comfortable during the interaction. Here are
some things we can do to earn a puppy's trust:
Never touch or approach a puppy while they

are eating.
Always leave a sleeping puppy alone.
Never reach over a puppy's head to pet
them.
Always allow a puppy to approach you if
you want to say hello. (They may not want
to interact at the same time you do!)
Never touch a puppy that you don't know
when they have a toy or are chewing on a
bone.
Always listen to a puppy when they tell you
they are uncomfortable! (This may be a
growl or even an attempt to walk away.)
Never pick up a puppy that you don't know.

10
The Training Dial
We have to slowly increase the training dial as we are teaching a particular skill so the pup has
a chance to absorb it. Puppies learn things in small steps. You will need to evaluate your
puppy's progress when deciding to press forward, stay where you're at, or drop down a level.
Press Forward The Next Level

At least 4 out of 5 successes
Stay At The Same Level
3 out of 5 successes
Drop Back a Level
2 or less out of 5 successes
Level 2
Level 1 Level 3
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

Distractions Distractions Distractions
No distractions Background noise Public events
Plastic bag crinkle Traffic
People walking by Kids playing
TV or radio on low Other dogs
Diversity Diversity Diversity*

One room inside Different rooms inside Hardware store
the house the house Busy streets
Backyard Parks
Garage Pet Store
Driveway
d
*A gradual exposure
ce an
Distan a part of training process will be
on a re ut
Durati dial, b necessary before training
aining r all
the tr b le fo
pplica in these environments.
not a
skills
Refer to the Progress
Report in the Exposure
Training chapter to track
this.

11
Canine Enrichment
Find what your dog loves to do! Consider your dog's breed preferences and
natural instincts. These may or may not show up in your dog's behavior, and may
change as your dog grows older.
Shredding
Busy box with paper
ch
to swit
mber
Reme en to
up oft
things
Head of lettuce provid
e n ovelty!
Sniffing
Busy box with fabric and treats
Snuffle Mat
Licking
Lickity Mat
Frozen-filled Kong
Digging
iDig
Outside sandbox
Designated dig spot in yard
Chewing
Nylabone
Benebone
Antlers (after the teething
stage)

12
Training Treats Levels
High Level
Smelly and Moist For
ult
diffic
Peanut butter Boiled chicken task
s
Hot dogs Natural

Balance Roll
Medium Level For

m - le v
el
Soft and Smelly d iu
m e a s ks
t
Zukes Natural
Blue Balance Mini
Wilderness Bits Rewards
Low Level r easy

Fo s
Dry task
Kibble Milk Bones
Biscuits Cheerios
Yes
!
Yum!

13
Distractions and Scenarios
Adding in distractions and exposing our puppy to new things does not always
mean people or other living beings. Consider new textures, noises, places and
things that move in your training.
Surfaces
Wood floors, tile floor, linoleum, pebbles, grass (dry and wet),
mulch or woodchips, carpet, metal walkway bridge, uneven
surfaces, rubber surfaces (treadmill), puddles, plastic bags, bubble
wrap, shiny and sparkly surfaces
Noises
Bags crinkling, babies crying, doorbells, kids playing,
washer/dryer running, cars, trucks, buses, clapping, dropping
pots and pans, vacuum cleaner, ice machine crushing ice,
knocking, lawnmower, hair dryer, trains, different voices (low/high
pitched)
Movement
Roller skates, strollers, bikes, scooters, basketball bouncing,
marching in place, sweeping the floor, people running,
wheelchairs, rocking chairs, people walking by, umbrella
(opening and closing), walkers, sprinklers, waving arms,
stepping away
People
Babies, toddlers, adults, elderly, men, women, tall people, short
people, people with glasses, people that wear hats, people
wearing large winter coats, people wearing face masks,
people wearing large clunky boots, people of all ethnicities,
people with disabilities
Places
All rooms inside the home, garage, basement, front yard,
backyard, crate, bathtubs, friends and family's home, parks, pet
stores, outdoor cafes, hardware store, outdoor events, dog parks

14
The Training Schedule

15
The Puppy Schedule
Puppies learn best from structure and routine. Structuring your dog's day is not meant to
control him, but to understand him and his needs and teach him. Following a schedule will:
help your puppy have better success with crate training and potty training
help him learn how to rest and relax on his own
adapt his day to the natural rhythm of your household
increase his confidence as a member of your family
help you get to know his habits better
allow you to predict when he has needs and therefore
help with training.
Puppies don't speak a language we understand at first, so it's up to the humans to shape the
day in order to help a puppy succeed in the home. Without your involvement, a "dream dog"
status is not achievable! This is a sample schedule, but it can be used to build one that works
for you. This schedule is a good place to start for any age.
We believe the following components are important for a dog's health and well being. It is
important to incorporate them into your daily schedule:
Potty training: Potty training involves time and training. It won't happen quickly but with a
routine, you'll soon notice patterns of behavior. Keep a written log! Use the potty chart we
provide.
Crate training: Crate training is a life skill for safety and well-being. Expect some protests
as your puppy learns to self-soothe. This is natural and can be worked through with the
appropriate training games.
Enrichment: All of your dog's activities should be enriching. Learn what brings your puppy
joy and incorporate those things into his day. Try a variety of activities.
Skills training: This includes teaching them new skills and behaviors that will affect their
manners and impulse control and teach them how to respond when you ask them to do
something.
Engagement: Dogs are social creatures and human engagement is critical!
Play: All dogs need time to play, both by themselves and with other beings - canine and
human. Canine interactions and play come with proper vaccinations and with the right
pre-training.
Social/Exposure: Exposing your puppy to new things every day, especially in the formative
first few months, is important!
Exercise (age-appropriate): Puppies need proper exercise in order to get good rest and
to learn new things. This includes mental and physical exercise multiple times throughout
the day.

16
Weekly Overview- SAMPLE
Stay organized and plan your pup's skill training, exercise, enrichment, and socialization/exposure ahead of time. We
encourage you to set goals for yourself at the start of the week and reflect on how things went at the end of the week.
Looking Ahead Week of: April 26th

Personal Goals
Remember to wait until Sadie has stopped crying before opening crate
Prep enrichment on Sunday
Practice visitor manners with mom when she comes to visit tuesday
Module: 1 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
CRATE GAMES Close to me Collar grab go zone Collar Grab Collar Grab Crate Games
Skill BUMP IT Bump It crate games Close to Me crate games Close to Me Go Zone
Collar Grab Visitor Go zone Bump It Go Zone Bump It Close to Me
manners
Game of Game of Obstacle puzzle Find it Game of Flirt

tug tug course toy Game tug pole
Exercise Decom- Decom- Decom- Decom- Decom- Decom- Decom-
pression pression pression pression pression pression pression
walk walk walk walk walk walk walk
Frozen
Frozen kong- Shredding Muffin TIn Lickity Mat- Head of
Enrichment PB and Busy Box snuffle
kong- Sweet iDig PB and lettuce
banana potato baby banana
puzzle food
Socialization The Vet The park The Vet The park The Vet The park The Vet
/Exposure Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 Level 1
Looking Back What was your favorite moment from this week?
Weekly Reflection How could you do better next week?
My favorite part of the week was watching Sadie go crazy for the Muffin tin Snuffle Puzzle. She loves
puzzle games!
I'm glad I took things slow with exposure training. It wasn't until the third trip that I started to see her
remain calm while in the car at the vet / Park
I think next week I could take her to a less busy decompression spot. There were too many cars passing by
where we were this week.

17
Daily Training Schedule- SAMPLE
This is just one example for a brand new puppy- you can create your own that works with your
personal schedule.
Nighttime Wake Ups: Accidents tracker:
Date:
April 26th 1am, 4am I I
6:00 am potty 2:30 pm potty
6:15 am exercise / play 2:45 pm Engagement / Play
6:30 am Breakfast / training time 3:00 pm
7:00 am
Enrichment activity 3:30 pm
exercise
7:15 am
Frozen kong 3:45 pm
Cool Down
7:45 am 4:15 pm
8:00 am 4:30 pm nap in crate
8:15 am 4:45 pm
8:30 am nap in crate 5:00 pm potty
8:45 am 5:15 pm Exposure field trip
9:00 am 5:30 pm Vet Level 1
9:15 am 5:45 pm Dinner / training time
9:30 am 6:00 pm potty
9:45 am potty 6:15 pm exercise / play
10:00 am Engagement / training 6:30 pm Obstacle course
10:15 am Collar grab 6:45 pm potty
10:30 am potty 7:00 pm playtime
10:45 am exercise / play 7:15 pm
11:15 am 7:45 pm nap in crate
11:30 am nap in crate 8:00 pm
11:45 am 8:15 pm Engagement / Play
12:00 pm potty 8:30 pm zoomies!!
12:15 pm playtime 8:45 pm cool down
12:30 pm Lunch / training time 9:00 pm Engagement / training
12:45 pm potty 9:15 pm Bump It
1:00 pm 9:30 pm potty
1:15 pm 9:45 pm playtime
1:30 pm nap in crate 10:00 pm cool down
1:45 pm 10:15 pm potty
2:00 pm 10:30 pm Bedtime in crate
2:15 pm 10:45 pm
18
Daily Reflection Questions
Jot down your questions for our staff
What was your favorite moment of the day? so you don't forget
When Sadie was playing bump it with me! It was so

Do i need to use a
fun to engage with her like that.
harness to take
her out potty?
How has you puppy improved since yesterday? How can I help her
She was settling in the crate sooner than last get down the
week. stairs?
When can I expect

her to ring the
Where is there still room for improvement? bells
She still had two accidents and chewing at the automatically?
leash when we go out to potty
What did you plan for that didn't happen?
I wasn't able to get her Decompression walk in

this evening and it took a lot to calm her down
at night
What do you want to remember for tomorrow?
Ring the bells each time you take her out to

u c an
potty Yo is!!
th
have a toy to redirect her from biting the do
leash when you take her out to potty
Overall Rating:
1 2 3 4 5
HELP Back to the Room for Cautiously
We got this!
videos improvement optimistic

19
Unwanted Behaviors

20
Frustrated with Your Puppy?
Unwanted behaviors don’t get better with time. They
get better with time, tools and the right training!
Addressing unwanted behavior just with tools will eliminate approximately 10% of
the problem. Add in time and you can address another estimated 30%. In order to
tackle the issue entirely you need time, tools and training!
TIME:
Your puppy needs time for his brain to develop so he can understand
what you expect of him and have the impulse control to do it instead of
the default behavior. He also needs time for muscles to develop, including
bladder muscles that grow stronger with time.
TOOLS:
Make sure you are using all the tools you have available to better teach
your puppy what you expect and help him learn. Examples: leash,
harness (front clip is better to resist pulling), snuggle puppy, managing
the environment with gates, a puppy pen or enclosed area for a potty
break and high value treats.
TRAINING:
The most important part of this equation is training. Your puppy doesn’t
know what you want him to do until he is taught. Consistent and sufficient
reinforcement is what builds the behaviors that you want to see from your
puppy. However, learning is constant and successful training will be
accomplished over TIME and with the right TOOLS.

21
Just How Long Does It Take To Stop All This?!
These behaviors will not stop within a few days of bringing a puppy home.
Puppies need training, guidance, and consistency to learn how to stop these behaviors.
%52 %52 Your puppy can't stop unwanted

Biting sgod fo %05 sgod fo sgod fo behaviors unless you first teach
them what to do.
There's no such thing as a

stubborn puppy.
%52
Potty 75% of dogs sgod fo
Any time you call your dog
Accidents 'stubborn' or 'bad' you are
judging their potential based on
your limitations as their trainer.
%52
Crying in sgod fo %57 sgod fo
the Crate
s s s ks ks ks ks
week week week weeks 0 wee eks weeks
8 10 12 16 2 24 wee 28 we 32 36 wee 40 wee
*Age when unwanted behaviors tend to stop

(each dog is different, results may vary and are based on positive training guidelines)

22
Unwanted Behavior Flowchart
Apply this flow chart to the unwanted behavior and discover the next steps.
I've watched the Youtube and course videos on Unwanted Behavior
Yes No
Puppy is still displaying
unwanted behavior. Watch the YouTube Video!
Is your dog’s behavior being

reinforced accidentally?
Have you managed the

Manage the environment until the
environment so your dog cannot
unwanted behavior has been
continually do the unwanted
eliminated with time and training.
behavior?
Have you taught your dog what Teach the alternate behavior
you want him/her to do (sit, stay, go to your place,
instead? down, etc).
Increase value of the
Is he/she getting enough
rewards according to your
rewards for the alternate
puppy’s preferences.
behavior?
Have you practiced the

alternate behavior hundreds of Keep on practicing!
times, outside of the time the
unwanted behavior has been
occurring?
Have you slowly increased the

dial of distractions, duration Increase the dial, slowly,
and difficulty so your puppy according to your puppy’s
can perform the alternate ability to be successful.
behavior under any
DON'T
circumstances?
Use fear to stop an unwanted
behavior.
Have you evaluated your Expect it will go way with time
puppy's batteries to see if they and no training.
Get frustrated if the process
are overtired and need a nap
takes awhile.
in the crate, or they are full of Expect more than your puppy’s
energy and need outlets to developmental capacity.
release pent up energy?

23
Puppy Biting
Your puppy wasn’t born speaking your language and they don’t understand
the rules of your home just yet. All these things have to be taught to your
puppy. The more consistent you are, the faster you can stop your puppy
from biting you, others or your belongings!
Why Puppies Bite

Exploring: Puppies explore the world with their mouth, after all they don't
have thumbs to pick things up and investigate new and interesting
objects...instead they use their nose and mouth (and teeth) to check
things out.
there
Natural Urge: Puppies have a natural urge to chew and bite. If you do not
give them the right things to chew on they will chew on you and your
furniture.
Teething: Puppies who are teething (3-6 months) will want to chew and
bite even more because they have sore gums and their adult teeth are
trying to pop through their gums and push out the baby teeth.
Movement: Puppies are naturally drawn to movement. They may nip or

bite when you attempt to pet them or when you are walking.
Bite Inhibition: Puppies usually learn how soft or hard they can bite (bite
inhibition) from their litter mates or mother during play interactions. When
they bite on you, they are also learning how soft or hard is acceptable.

24
Quick Tips To Stop the Biting hello
there
#1 - Always have the right toys for your puppy to chew on. Nylabones,
antlers (deer, moose or elk), marrow bones (beef bones) and Kongs filled
with a frozen mixture are great toys to have on hand for a biting & teething
puppy. Don't waste money on stuffed toys that can easily be chewed apart
and ingested. Those kinds of toys can be very dangerous!
#2 - Puppies are drawn to movement. If you reach to pet your pup or try to
walk away and your puppy nips and bites at you, you'll want to plan ahead
next time. The best thing to do is always have a toy in hand when
approaching your puppy or when your puppy comes near you. Immediately
redirect to the appropriate item and help make it fun and engaging. Don’t
approach a land shark without a toy in hand! (You will need to repeat this
redirection many many times!)
#3 - Yelping “OUCH” may work but only if you immediately end your
interaction with your puppy each time they nip. If you stay and engage with
your puppy, your puppy will continue to bite and then you’ll overuse your
yelp.
#4 - Encourage forms of play that do not include touching your puppy such
as fetch or gentle games of tug. (Don't play dug rigorously as your puppy
can loose their puppy teeth prematurely!)
#5 - Rotate the toys. Every couple of days, switch out the toys so they seem
new and interesting. Keeping all the toys out will lead to your puppy to
become bored with them easily.
#6 - Supervise your puppy. Most puppies can't be trusted to be alone until

they are older than 7 months, some even older. If you have to leave your pup
for even a split second to make dinner or switch over the laundry, put them
in their crate or pen. Puppy pens are a great place to keep your pup safe
when you can't supervise closely!

25
Quick Tips To Stop the Biting (cont.)
#7 - Exercise your puppy! Your puppy should be getting mental and

physical exercise multiple times a day. A puppy that has a lot of pent up
energy will be more likely to bite. They need an outlet to release all that
energy otherwise they take it out on you or your home. For each month of
age, you can exercise your dog for 5 minutes. If your puppy is 3 months old
they should be getting 15 minute exercise sessions 2 times a day. Some dogs
require even more!! Decompression walks are recommended until leash
skills are practiced sufficiently for neighborhood walks.
#8 - Don't get on the floor. When you drop your body posture your pup may
get overly excited and want to bite you even more. If your puppy is a biter, sit
in a chair or stool to engage and play with your puppy.
#9 - Use the 3 strikes and you're out rule. If you've corrected and redirected
your pup 3 times, and you've moved away from your biting pup and he still
continues to bite, it might be time to quietly and calmly give him some crate
time for a rest. (Crates are never used as punishment, but they can be used
to help your pup rest and better control impulses.)
#10 - Never play the "I'm going to get you" game where you reach for your
puppy and quickly pull away. They will think this is an invititation to chase
and bite.
This too
shall pass!

26
"Help, My Puppy is Biting!"
I've watched the YouTube and course videos on Biting
Yes No
Puppy is still biting Watch the videos!
I've redirected to a high value toy 3x
Puppy is still biting
I've evaluated my pup's energy level
My Pup has played for 20+ minutes My pup just came out of the crate a few minutes ago
I've put my pup in the playpen for I've taken my pup outside on a
self-guided play for 15-20 long leash for zoomies in the yard
minutes
My pup has been barking for I've brought my pup in and

more than 15 minutes in the started playing or worked through
playpen the training games with them
My pup needs a nap for 1-2 hours

in a crate My pup is still biting
I'm going to take my pup out to

potty before going in the crate Pup needs to go for a walk
(5 minutes for every month of
age)
I have covered the front and sides
of the crate
My pup is still biting
The calming music is playing
I'm not going to give my pup any

attention if they are crying in the crate
for the duration of their naptime

27
Potty Training

28
Intro
Keep in mind that your puppy wasn’t born speaking your language and
doesn't understand the rules of your home just yet. All these things
have to be taught to your puppy. Your puppy’s system isn’t fully
developed until they are about a year old, but that doesn’t mean you
can’t potty train your puppy now. The more consistent you are with our
potty training methods, the faster you can help regulate your puppy's
system! Most puppies are potty trained by 6 months old. With these
tips, you should start to see results soon!
Potty Training Tips

How often should I take my Puppy should also be going
puppy out? outside to go potty
8 weeks: every 2-3 hours After getting out of the crate
10 weeks: every 2-3 hours About 10-15 min after playing
12 weeks: every 3-4 hours Immediately after waking up from a nap
14+ weeks: every 4-5 hours About 10 min after eating
Adult dogs: every 6-8 hours
Nighttime tips:
You may need to take your pup outside 1-2 times in the middle of the night. If he is sleeping,
don't wake him up. Use a baby monitor to hear if he stirs or moves, then take him out. Nighttime
outings should be boring - minimal eye contact, no playing, a quiet "yes!" and treat for going
potty and then back in the crate.
As the puppy grows and can hold his bladder for longer, increase crate time and lengthen time
between potty breaks in 15-minute increments.

29
Potty Supplies Checklist
Crate
Accident clean-up supplies (Nature's Miracle)
Leash
Collar/Harness
Treats
Treat pouch
Potty bells
Poop bags
Baby gate
Puppy pen
Baby monitor/pet camera
Alarm clock
Poop pail (bucket with a lid)
Pooper scooper/rake
Do NOT use: Stay

aw sitive!
Pee Pads p
Aversive Correction Techniques

30
Why Puppies Have Accidents
1. Inconsistent schedule
Puppies need a consistent schedule so their body can learn to self-regulate. Take
them out as soon as they wake up for the day, after naps, anytime they come out
of the crate, 10-15 minutes after meals, and right after they stop playing.
2. Forgetting to use a leash

You need to take your puppy out on a leash so they don't get distracted. Your
puppy needs to stay focused on going potty outside, not checking out every leaf
that blows or every bird that flies by. Keeping your pup on a leash helps them stay
focused. Puppies easily forget to go potty if they are running free. They come back
inside and go on the floor instead.
3. Forgetting to reward
Your puppy needs to know that they did the right task when they went potty
outside. Use a treat or piece of kibble to reinforce the right behavior; otherwise, the
message isn't clear that you want them to go potty outside. Be sure to reward them
outside, immediately after going potty.
4. Confused about potty location

If you don't want your puppy to go potty inside DO NOT use pee or piddle pads
inside. Using a pee pad in the house could confuse your puppy. Pee pads in the
house encourage your puppy to continue going inside on your floor instead of
outside where you really want them to go. Pee pads could likely become a chew
toy, which is hazardous.
5. Too much free roam indoors

If you give your puppy access to your whole house or too large of a space, they
could be running around constantly, and their internal system could be racing
nonstop. Free roam is a reward for puppies that go potty outside. Limit the space
you give your puppy to one room at a time until they have earned a second room
by proving they are trustworthy.
6. Not confined when unattended

Puppies need to stay in a crate when you can't watch them 100% of the time. If you
leave, even for a moment, they may panic and race around trying to look for you.
This could lead to an accident as their system could start racing too. If you keep
them safely in a crate they could more than likely lay down and rest since there
isn't anything else to do.

31
7. Using the wrong clean-up products
If you use the wrong products to clean up accidents, your puppy could still smell
the accident long after you've cleaned it up. Dogs have a keener sense of smell
than we do! You'll need to use a cleaner such as Nature's Miracle to neutralize the
ammonia that's in your pup's urine. This will help eliminate the smell completely.
Never use ammonia-based cleaning products!
8. Scolding puppy for going potty

Yelling at your puppy after they had an accident will not help your puppy
understand that they need to go potty outside. Yelling, hitting, or whacking your
puppy with a newspaper will only make your puppy afraid of you. They could also
think that you hate it when they go potty, even though this is a natural behavior,
so they may try to sneak away to go potty. If you don't catch your puppy before
they go, you can not scold them after they have already gone, we call this an
"owner error".
9. Free Feeding
Keeping food down at all times allows your puppy to snack throughout the day.
This will not help regulate their system. This could lead to more frequent accidents
since you won't know when they last ate or how much they ate. Puppies should
eat 3 times a day until they are about 6 months old. Keep food down for 10-15
minutes and pick it up. Your pup could not starve, I guarantee it!
10. Food and water left down too late

If your pup is having accidents in the middle of the night, you may be leaving
food and water down too late. Pick food and water up 3 hours before you go to
bed. This will give them a chance to empty out before you put them down for bed
at night, and they will be able to hold their bladder longer through the night. Some
pups may need to go out 1-2 times at night until they are about 3-4 months of
age.
11. Not taking pup out before company arrives

If you know company is coming, set your puppy up for success by taking them
out right before your guests come in. Allow your puppy to empty their bladder
before all the excitement begins. Meeting and greeting people or other dogs can
send our puppy's system into excitement-overdrive which leads to accidents.

32
12. Owner Error
Remember if you've followed all the rules above and your pup still has an accident,
you may have missed the signals your puppy gave to let you know they needed to
go. If you left your puppy unattended while switching over the laundry, checking the
mail, etc, just know they will get anxious looking for you. Help them avoid an
accident and put them in their cozy crate.
Note: When you take your puppy outside do not stay out there for more than 10
minutes at a time. We don't want to teach our puppies that they have all day to go.
If your puppy does not go, bring them back in, quietly put them in a crate, and
repeat the process in about 10 minutes. Remember free roam of a room is a
reward!
, no
ke s h appen
Mista r"
o "terrie
need t out it!
ou rs elf up ab
y
Puppy Potty Signals

All puppies give signals that they are about ready to go potty, but that doesn't
mean they are consistent about the signals they give off or that the signals are
clear to us. Learning to read your dog's body language or signals will come in
handy when it comes to potty training.
Sometimes puppies give off multiple signals at once which can be confusing for us
to interpret. The more consistent you are about taking your puppy out the minute
they show you one of these signals, the faster you can teach them the signal
worked, and you understood what they were trying to tell you.

33
Here are the most common signals puppies give when they need to go potty outside:
Sniffing
Circling near you or near a door (even though it may be the wrong door)
Barking
Scratching at the door, floor or you
Whimpering or crying
Quietly sitting by you or by the door
Scootching their butt across the floor
Puppies tend to try multiple signals at once which can make interpreting what they are
trying to tell you a whole lot more difficult. Be on the lookout for these signals or any
combination of these signals and immediately take your puppy out when you see your
puppy display these signals.
Note that by the time your puppy signals to you they need to go they are probably a split
second away from going, so it's best to have your coat, shoes, leash and treats ready to go
by the door. If you have to go searching and hunting for these things it will be too late and
your puppy will have already had the accident.
The Big NO-NO's

We want our puppies to be happy about working for us, not be feared into it. These
old-school tactics do not work and only scar and scare your puppy. These
techniques will not help you to quickly potty train your puppy! These methods will
make your puppy fear you and feel as if they have to sneak off to go potty far
away from you.
1. Never hit your puppy with a newspaper or any object if they had an accident
inside
2. Never take your puppy back over to the accident to scold them and then rub
their nose in it
3. Never take the accident or mess outside along with your puppy to try and teach
them where it should go
4. Never yell at them that they are bad and should know better
5. Never use pee pads or piddle pads in the house unless you are physically not
able to take your puppy outside. You can use a real grass alternative in a tray or
container if you can't head outside with your puppy.

34
Medical & Behavioral Concerns
Potty Training
If you have exhausted all of the options mentioned previously and you are still
experiencing accidents, you may want to rule out any medical or behavioral
concerns.
Sometimes no matter how hard you've tried to potty train your puppy it just seems
as if they haven't picked up on the training. As a last resort, you may need to rule
out any medical or behavioral concerns.
Medical Concerns
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
Bladder Infections
Rapid Growth (brain and bladder aren't syncing, this sometimes occurs with
giant breed dogs)
Behavioral Concerns
The previous dog in the home left their urine scent (maybe even before you
moved in). You may need to have your home professionally steam cleaned.
Poor care by breeder or mother dog - If the area was dirty where the pups were
kept, the pups may have learned poor hygiene habits and feel comfortable
going potty where ever they want, including in their crates. You will need to work
extra hard to change their mindset about where to go potty.

35
POTTY BELLS
STEP 1 Ring the bells, use potty phrase, and
reward outside when pup goes potty
Let's go
potty!
STEP 2 Lure treat near bells to get pup to bump

them, reward outside when pup goes potty
Let's go
potty!
STEP 3 Stand near bells, use potty phrase, wait for pup to
ring bells, reward outside when pup goes potty
Let's go
potty!
o
This may take 3 we sson als
eks Video Le
or 3 months or mo und in the
fo
re ... rter Kit!
every pup is differe ppy Sta
nt! New Pu

36
Crate Training

37
Crate Training Supplies Checklist
Plastic or metal crate

Large, flat board for the top of the crate (for
metal crate only)
Cover (sheet or blanket)
Training treats
Accident clean-up supplies (Natures Miracle)
Leash/collar (for the games)
Baby monitor/pet camera
Calming Aids
Use as necessary:
Snuggle Puppy
Adaptil plug-in
Dog calming music
Diffuser with lavender
Fillable Kong or West Paw Toppl
Nylabone
I love
Do NOT use:
my crate!
Bedding
Soft toys
Water

38
Crate Training Quick Reference
Not all dogs naturally seek out a crate. Some puppies have to be taught that the crate is a
positive place to be. This takes time, training, and the use of the right tools. But it's worth it
because the crate is a lifetime arrangement your puppy will have to use. Grooming, medical
appointments, travel and when you are not at home all require the use of the crate.
During crate training we are working through two concepts at the same time in order to
make the crate a positive place for puppy to relax and rest. The first is the crate training
games and the second is the extinction burst.
It's important to help your pup build a positive association with the crate outside of the time
he has to use it. This means fun games in and around the crate. At the same time, pups
need to learn that the crying or barking behavior doesn't get you to come running like their
mother would have done. Puppies may have to cry for a period of time in order to learn to
self-soothe (extinction burst). As long as our dogs are not in a panic, learning can still take
place and they can settle on their own. If they tip over the threshold and panic, they will need
to be removed from the crate and taken outside for a potty break and a brain reset.
Teaching your pup to love the crate can take a couple of days to a couple of weeks. Be sure
to always make crate training fun, upbeat and positive.
What to Do
Keep your dog in a crate when you can't supervise them
Use the crate when traveling with your dog (even to the vet's office or groomer)
Use the crate for nap/sleep time
Use the crate for down time when your dog is overstimulated or getting into mischief
frequently
Give your dog appropriate items to chew on inside their crate
Make sure your crate is securely closed when you leave
Play fun training games with the crate as often as possible as your pup is learning to
love it
What NOT to Do
Never use the crate as punishment ("bad dog, get in your crate"...slam the door)
Never leave your dog in the crate for longer than their physical needs can tolerate
Never leave stuffed toys that can easily be chewed or shredded in the crate
Never leave collars or harnesses on your dog while they are in the crate (these items
can become caught on the crate bars and cause serious injury)
Never force a dog into a crate

39
Crate Training Quick Reference
Step 1: Introduction Step 2: Meal Time
Place the crate in a quiet Use part of meal time to create a
part of the house. Encourage positive experience in the
your puppy to check out the crate. Feed your puppy parts of meals in
crate. Reward your puppy the crate with the crate door closed if
when they go near or check your dog can tolerate it. If the door
out their crate. Toss treats closing creates panic, work up to this step
into the crate, reward if slowly.
they step inside.
Step 3: Nap Time Step 4: Separation
Make sure your dog is well Start leaving your dog in their crate
exercised before putting them in for short periods of
their crate. Never put your dog in the time and gradually add
crate when they are full of energy. more time as they get more
When you start to see your dog comfortable with their
getting sleepy, put them in their crate.
crate.
Pro Tip: You can apply the same crate training skills and lessons to the puppy pen. This will help
your puppy have a positive association with the puppy pen. Your goal is to be able to leave pup
in the pen when you can't supervise fully but are still at home.
Crate Training Progress Report
Track your pup's progress with crate training using this tracker. Be sure to practice the Crate Games
Lessons from Module 1 for the best results.
Week of: Sample

M T W T F S S
Training Games
Part of Meal in Crate

Frozen Kong in Crate
Naps in Crate
Duration Until Settled 5 min 7 min 4 min 4 min 4 min 3 min 3 min
Longest Time in the Crate
Without Panic
20 min 24 min 30 min 27 min 28 min 30 min 35 min
Distance Away From Crate 10 ft 10 ft 15 ft 15 ft 20 ft 20 ft 20 ft

40
"Help, My Puppy is Crying in The Crate"
I've watched all of the YouTube videos and lessons in the course on crate training
Yes No
Puppy is still crying in the crate Watch the lessons in the

course and the YouTube
The crate is covered (front and
Videos
sides).
The calming music is playing.
I'm using the Adaptil calming plugin.
The heartbeat dog is being used.
I'm not near the crate.
I haven't reinforced the behavior by

returning to the crate to let pup out
when they are crying or barking.
I've exercised my pup before going in

the crate.
My pup went potty before going in

the crate.
During the day I give my pup a busy

toy like a frozen filled Kong while in
the crate (nothing at night)
I feed my pup part of their meals in

the crate.
I practice crate games throughout

the day when it's not crate time.
I'm letting pup fuss (not panic) for

the duration of their nap if working
through the extinction burst.
© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021 2020

41
Skills & Cues

42
Trigger Tracker
Distance
The amount of distance your puppy can be from a trigger before tipping over into
panic/overexcitement is dependent on their personal distance threshold. To gauge where
your puppy's threshold is, you must examine your puppy's body language. The threshold can
vary based on the trigger. The Safe Zone, or the zone where training will be most successful,
is where your pup can remain calm and focused on you. It may take a few field trips to find
the environment where your pup will find the most success. As the training progresses, you
can move closer to the trigger.
Zone 1: Zone 2: Zone 3: Zone 4:

Safe Zone Hot Zone
Threshold
Closer Even
to Trigger Closer
Trigger
Training starts here
Duration
The duration of time your puppy can fixate on a trigger before tipping over into
panic/overexcitement is different for each puppy. Some puppies can fixate for 5
minutes while remaining calm, and others can last only 5 seconds. Figuring out their
duration threshold allows you to know when to redirect their attention to you before
they lose their composure.
Redirect!
4 seconds
If more than one trigger is present, the distance and duration thresholds should be reduced.

43
Trigger Tracker
Date: april 14th, 2021 Time: 7am, morning walk

Trigger: Another dog Reaction: Frantic lunging
Environment: Suburban neighborhood
Distance Threshold: 25 ft
Duration Threshold: 4 seconds
Treat Value: Medium level- Zukes
Reflection: I could have thrown a more exciting party for sadie to grab her attention sooner.
I also might bring chicken on my walks instead of zukes. I now know that we need to
be at least 30 feet away.
Date: april 14th, 2021 Time: 6pm, Evening Decompression

Trigger: Bird Reaction: Barking
Environment: Park
Treat Value: Medium level- Zukes
Reflection: Note to self: Sadie loves birds. I need to scan the environment for them the same
way i would with dogs.
Date: april 15th, 2021 Time: 12pm, lunch break

Trigger: someone walking to their car Reaction:Barking and Lunging
Environment: Suburban neighborhood
Treat Value: high level- boiled chicken
Reflection: It doesn't help when they are saying hello to Sadie in a high-pitched tone.
Remember blocking and focus technique for next time!

44
Beginning Leash Skills
These are the types of walks you will likely take with your puppy. Each one has different skills that can be worked on
simultaneously. Advance only as your pup is comfortable and under threshold (no barking, can calmly take treats).
Decompression Walks
with Let the dog s
ll
Still working on Cemetery, Baseba
leash skills Long leash niff Field, Parking Lo t,
Do as often as
p harne ss and exp etc.
back-cli lore possible
for
ery relaxing Reward
V g Perfect for for
the do before
check-
e
pup is fully
Quiet plac ins
vaccinated tions
No distrac
Loose/Short Leash Walks

Don't Not every
Requires Good for stimuli
Gradually rush the
pre-training neighborhood leads to
increase process
walks Training interaction
Dial
Let them
A healthy
Start with sniff
balance of
games
In the freedom and
course manners
Heel Walks
Working on Used in highly
A highly Not
impulse distracting
control advanced skill environments relaxing for
A controlled Pup stays
walk the dog
in
Use Go Zone
for safety

45
A Lesson On Leash Skills
Imagine baking a multi-layer cake. There are a lot of steps and a
lot of ingredients that make up this tasty and amazing creation. You
know what happens if you rush the process or you forget some of
the ingredients? It's going to be a flop! It may taste terrible and fall
over too. Believe it or not, this can happen with leash skills too. Let's
talk about how to avoid it!
Teaching leash skills to our puppies is like baking a cake. There are several steps that have
to be done very slowly and carefully before you can move on to the next set of steps. If
your ultimate goal is to walk down your neighborhood, we've got a lot of work to do! Let's
break this down and give you the full picture of that cake... I mean leash work!
Preparing the Ingredients

First, you'll want to introduce your pup to all the leash skill games in module 1 with limited
distractions in your house. These will be your foundation skills, much like the flour in our
delicious cake.
√Bump it (with collar and leash) √Collar Grab √Go Zone √Close to Me
Mixing the Ingredients

Once the foundation games are underway, turn up the dial a little bit at a time and add low- to
medium-level distractions to your training sessions. If at any time your pup is unable to perform
the foundation leash skills at this level, go back to lower-level distractions.
√Distracting noises √Movement √Change of environment √Change hands √Change humans
Adding More Ingredients

Now that you have a good mix of low- to medium-level distractions, you can add in more
skills from module 2 one at a time. Make sure you dial back down to no or low-level
distractions as you work on these newer skills. If at any time your pup is unable to perform
the foundation leash skills at this level, dial back down. These skills are an important part of
your recipe for a good neighborhood walk so don't skip any!
√Name Game √Blocking √Focus √Leave It √Finish √Vary those distractions
**Even before leash skills are solidified, it's important to exercise our puppies and introduce
them to the outside world. Exposing our puppies to new things through field trips to safe
outdoor areas, dog-friendly homes, and taking pleasant car rides is critical all throughout
this training process! Exercising our puppies during this time can be done through
decompression walks in safe, unused areas like parking lots. You'll want to do it in a way that
doesn't allow the puppy to practice poor leash skills but with a little creativity and some hard
work, you'll get there!

46
A Lesson On Leash Skills
Remember that in order for leash skills to work, all your pup's needs
should be met throughout the day. This means your pup will train
better when they've received the right amount of enriching activities,
naps, play, training, exercise, and more! While working on leash skills,
your puppy's primary outdoor exercise will likely be decompression
walks.
Baking
Now that those foundation games are solidified inside, you might be ready to take training
to the next level and move outside.. But you're not ready for the neighborhood walk just yet.
When we take training outside we need to practice on the driveway, back patio, or inside
the garage with the door open. The goal is to practice while exposing your pup to new
sights, sounds, and smells. These can be considered higher-level distractions and can be
overwhelming. A neighborhood walk at this point will surely lead to a major setback in the
training process and will be overwhelming for your pup. Remember, it may seem quiet to
you, but your puppy's sense of smell and hearing is much stronger than yours.
√Back yard √Driveway √Garage √New smells √New sounds
Checking
Mother taught us to stick a knife into a cake to check if it's done. In order to test if you're
ready for a neighborhood walk, check your pup's proficiency of the games in modules 1-4
(maybe even the BONUS section too), and verify that you have worked through low,
medium, and high levels of distractions. This means there is √no pulling while on the leash
√they can follow basic cues such as "leave it", and √they can return to your side when
they get to the end of the leash. If your pup is able to perform these skills, you're ready for a
neighborhood walk! Don't forget to take your treat pouch.
√Practice the games out of order √Vary the distractions √Vary the humans √Take treats
Critiquing your Creation

With any project, like baking a cake or puppy training, you want to evaluate if it was a hit or
a flop or maybe it needed a little more "baking time". Observe your pup's behavior before,
during, and after a walk. Take this time to determine if there's something that needs some
dialing down (back to the driveway) or if you should continue moving forward. A
neighborhood walk should be enjoyable for both of you. If at any time your pup is
uncomfortable, stop the walk and head back home. √No pancaking √Note where you
need more practice √Did you enjoy it? √Did your puppy seem relaxed? √Take it slow

47
Leash Skills Progress Report- SAMPLE
There are many skills that your pup will need to master in all levels of distraction in order to
be ready for a neighborhood walk. Track your pup's progress with this progress report. The
skills are meant to be done in consecutive order from left to right. Within each training skill
column, you will start from the bottom and shade in boxes as you move up the Training Dial.
Before you shade in a box, you should have completed the games in the distraction level
five times in a row successfully. The goal is to reach the star in the top right corner before
going on a short leash walk around the neighborhood. Remember, this is merely a guide and
you will have to repeat these skills as your pup grows to maintain the level of leash skills. Use
pencil for this reason.
Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4
Level 3
High-Level
Distractions
Training Dial
& Diversity
Level 2
Medium-Level
Distractions
& Diversity
Level 1 S
Low-Level T
Distractions A
& Diversity R
T
e
s
C o
r
ks
ng
ne
It
b
e
la
It
It
8'
h/ o T
am
It
cu
M
ra
s
ol
al
p
e
ki
Zo
re
p
tI
as tr
av
Fo
rG
m
to
lW
oc
G
ro
Le In
gu
Si
o
Bu
Le
e
D
se
lla
Bl
G
al
Fi
am
lo
W
o
C
C
't fo
rg e
D on your p g
t to
ro g
re s s Skills & Cues
ct o
n v in
mo l
r e f le e f o r e x t le v e
b n e
h e
to t
Updated April 2021

48
Stay Cue Progress Report- SAMPLE
Strengthen your "Stay" cue with this guided progress report. Within each distance column,
you will start from the bottom level of the training dial. Before shading in a box to advance to
the next level, your puppy should be successful five times in a row. The goal is to reach the
star in the top right corner. You can use this for both Down/Stay and Sit/Stay
interchangeably. Remember, this is merely a guide and you will have to repeat these skills as
your pup grows to maintain this skill. Use pencil for this reason.
Level 3
High-Level
Distractions
& Diversity
Training Dial
Hold for 30
seconds or
more
Level 2
Medium-Level
Distractions
& Diversity
Hold for up to
15 seconds
Level 1 S
Low-Level T
Distractions A
& Diversity. R
Hold for up to T
5 seconds
ay
ay
ay
t
ay
ay
ay
ay
ay
e
ay
gh
ay
nc
Aw
Aw
Aw
Aw
Aw
Aw
Aw
Aw
Aw
Si
Aw
ta
of
et
et
et
et
et
is
et
et
et
et
et
Fe
D
Fe
Fe
Fe
Fe
ut
Fe
Fe
Fe
Fe
Fe
o
O
15
45
50
25
35
30
40
N
20
5
10
't fo
t to
rge coker
rtat
Distance
Don fto r te ggress
eg
t nin't h o irno
co
refle foonreyom
D u vp g
r l
vleinve
bcet emxto
refle ethfoeren xt leve
l
tob e n e
h
to t
Updated April 2021

49
Come Cue Progress Report
Strengthen your "Come" cue with this guided progress report. Within each distance column,
you will start from the bottom level of the training dial. Before shading in a box to advance to
the next level, your puppy should be successful five times in a row. The goal is to reach the
star in the top right corner. Remember, this is merely a guide and you will have to repeat
these skills as your pup grows to maintain this skill. Use pencil for this reason.
Module 2 Module 3 Module 4
Level 3
High-Level
Distractions
Training Dial
& Diversity
Level 2
Medium-Level
Distractions
& Diversity
S
Level 1 T
Low-Level A
Distractions, R
Diversity T
o
.2
ne
ot
e
G
om
pt
Sh
to
o
ts
C
G
in
om
in
to
N
Fl
Sl
e
o
C
ed
om
tr
t to
rg e re s s
In
Fr
't fo ro g
C
D on your p g
ct o
n v in
mo l
b n e
h e
to t
Game
Updated April 2021

50
Exposure Training

51
EXPOSURE/SOCIALIZATION PROGRESS REPORT
Remember that socialization isn't just with dogs- it's with new people, sights, sounds and smells! It is
important that you take your pup to new places, like the ones listed here. You can also fill in places
you'd like to expose your puppy to that are unique to your life. Make sure to hold your puppy if they
are not up to date on vaccines yet. Remember that we don’t want all exposure to new things to
involve interaction. This could potentially be overwhelming and scary to a young pup, which is why
there are four levels of exposure. You should visit each exposure site at least three times with
success at each level before shading in the box and moving up to the next level. A successful visit
means a calm pup with positive reinforcement present.
Level 4
Inside
the Area
Exposure Levels
Level 3
Outside the
Entrance
Level 2
Around the
Surrounding
Area
Level 1
Inside the
Car
e
rk
es
t
e
ic
re
ek
e
or
er
us
Pa
lin
kr
to
uo
a
St
om
Ho
l
aM
tS
tC
h
e
eh
e
Th
s'm
ro
Pe
ar
's
Ve
s'r
T
nd
oM
w
e
rd
ie
mr
Ha
Fr
aF eh
T
t to
't fo
rg e re s s
ro g
D on your p g
Exposure Sites
ct o
n v in
mo l
b n e
h e
to t

52
Health and Wellness
Desensitization
Preparing your pup for health and wellness visits is an important part of puppy ownership. We want
our pups to have a positive experience, which requires counter-conditioning to the tools and body
handling they will experience. You can learn more about the counter-conditioning process on the
next page.
Bathing And Grooming

Tools Body Handling
Shower/tub Scissors Brushing the body
Shower head/faucet Electric timmer Combing through eye goop
Shampoo Nail trimmers Lifting the tail
White vinegar/water Cotton Ball/Ear Cleaner Holding the ear flap closed while
spray Towels/apron washing
Scrub Grooming dryer Ear cleaning
Comb and brush Tub restraint Nail trimming
Flea comb Lickity mat
Vet Visits
Tools Body Handling
Stethoscope Tooth scaler Examining ears, eyes,
Otoscope Nail clippers teeth, and other body
Thermometer Recovery Cone/Donut parts
Syringe High value treat Having temperature taken
Getting a shot
Restraint for blood draw
Nail trimming

53
Counter Conditioning
Counter conditioning helps a puppy overcome scary things. You can use this
technique to desensitize your pup to tools, sounds, sights, body handling,
and whatever else your puppy finds scary.
Before Conditioning
NOPE! YUP
STIMULUS
Natural response to scary stimulus Natural response to food
During Conditioning
Hmm...
STIMULUS
Present food second Stimulus = food
Pairing must occur many times

Stimulus must be presented
before the food appears
After Conditioning
YAY!
STIMULUS
2020
Positive conditioned emotional response to stimulus

54
Appendix

55
Notes Questions
Tips to remember
so you don't forget

56
Weekly Overview
Stay organized and plan your pup's skill training, exercise, enrichment, and socialization/exposure ahead of
time. We encourage you to set goals for yourself at the start of the week and reflect on how things went at the
end of the week.
Looking Ahead Week of:

Personal Goals
Module: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Skill
Exercise
Enrichment
Socialization
/Exposure
Looking Back What was your favorite moment from this week?
Weekly Reflection How could you do better next week?

57
Daily Schedule
Plug in your weekly goals and track your puppy's natural schedule for potty and naps. You will start to notice patterns. Keep
in mind their needs will change as they grow and develop.
Nighttime Wake Ups: Accidents Tracker:
Date:
6:00 am 2:30 pm
6:15 am 2:45 pm
6:30 am 3:00 pm
6:45 am 3:15 pm
7:00 am 3:30 pm
7:15 am 3:45 pm
7:30 am 4:00 pm
7:45 am 4:15 pm
8:00 am 4:30 pm
8:15 am 4:45 pm
8:30 am 5:00 pm
8:45 am 5:15 pm
9:00 am 5:30 pm
9:15 am 5:45 pm
9:30 am 6:00 pm
9:45 am 6:15 pm
10:00 am 6:30 pm
10:15 am 6:45 pm
10:30 am 7:00 pm
10:45 am 7:15 pm
11:00 am 7:30 pm
11:15 am 7:45 pm
11:30 am 8:00 pm
11:45 am 8:15 pm
12:00 pm 8:30 pm
12:15 pm 8:45 pm
12:30 pm 9:00 pm
12:45 pm 9:15 pm
1:00 pm 9:30 pm
1:15 pm 9:45 pm
1:30 pm 10:00 pm
1:45 pm 10:15 pm
2:00 pm 10:30 pm
2:15 pm 10:45 pm

58
Daily Reflection Questions
What was your favorite moment of the day? so you don't forget
How has you puppy improved since yesterday?
Where is there still room for improvement?
What did you plan for that didn't happen?
What do you want to remember for tomorrow?
u c an
Yo is!!
th
do
Overall Rating:
1 2 3 4 5
HELP Back to the Room for Cautiously We got this!
videos improvement optimistic

59
Crate Training Progress Report
Week of:
M T W T F S S
Training Games
Meal in Crate
Naps in Crate
Duration Until Settled

Without Panic
Distance Away From Crate
Week of:
M T W T F S S
Training Games
Meal in Crate
Naps in Crate

Without Panic
Week of:
M T W T F S S
Training Games
Meal in Crate
Naps in Crate

Without Panic
Week of:
M T W T F S S
Training Games
Meal in Crate
Naps in Crate

Without Panic

60
Trigger Tracker
Date: Time:
Trigger: Reaction:
Environment:
Distance Threshold:
Duration Threshold:
Treat Value:
Reflection:
Date: Time:
Trigger: Reaction:
Environment:
Distance Threshold:
Duration Threshold:
Treat Value:
Reflection:
Date: Time:
Trigger: Reaction:
Environment:
Distance Threshold:
Duration Threshold:
Treat Value:
Reflection:

61
Leash Skills Progress Report
Instructions: There are many skills that your pup will need to master in all levels of
distraction in order to be ready for a neighborhood walk. Track your pup's progress with this
progress report. The skills are meant to be done in consecutive order from left to right. Within
each training skill column, you will start from the bottom and shade in boxes as you move
up the Training Dial. Before you shade in a box, you should have completed the games in
the distraction level 5 times in a row successfully. The goal is to reach the star in the top
right corner before going on a short leash walk around the neighborhood. Remember, this is
merely a guide and you will have to repeat these skills as your pup grows to maintain the
level of leash skills. Use pencil for this reason.
Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4
Level 3
High-Level
Distractions
Training Dial
& Diversity
Level 2
Medium-Level
Distractions
& Diversity
Level 1 S
Low-Level T
Distractions A
& Diversity R
T
e
s
C o
r
ks
ng
ne
It
b
e
la
It
It
8'
h/ o T
am
It
cu
M
ra
ol
al
p
e
ki
Zo
re
p
ti
as tr
av
Fo
rG
m
to
lW
oc
G
ro
Le In
gu
Si
o
Bu
Le
e
D
se
lla
Bl
G
al
Fi
am
lo
W
o
C
C
Skills & Cues

o
et t s
n 't f o rg ro g re s
Do u r p
n y o o v in g
ct o m l
b
t h e ne
to
Updated April 2021

62
Stay Cue Progress Report
Instructions: Strengthen your Stay cue with this guided progress report. Within each
distance column, you will start from the bottom level of the training dial. Before shading in a
box to advance to the next level, your puppy should be successful 5x in a row. The goal is to
reach the star in the top right corner. You can use this for both Down/Stay and Sit/Stay
interchangeably. Remember, this is merely a guide and you will have to repeat these skills as
your pup grows to maintain this skill. Use pencil for this reason.
Level 3
High-Level
Distractions
& Diversity
Training Dial
Hold for 30
seconds or
more
Level 2
Medium-Level
Distractions
& Diversity
Hold for up to
15 seconds
Level 1 S
Low-Level T
Distractions A
& Diversity. R
Hold for up to T
5 seconds
ay
ay
ay
t
ay
ay
ay
ay
ay
e
ay
gh
ay
nc
Aw
Aw
Aw
Aw
Aw
Aw
Aw
Aw
Aw
Si
Aw
ta
of
et
et
et
et
et
is
et
et
et
et
et
Fe
D
Fe
Fe
Fe
Fe
ut
Fe
Fe
Fe
Fe
Fe
o
O
15
45
50
25
35
30
40
N
20
5
10
o
et t
Distance
s
Do u r p
n y o o v in g
ct o m l
b
t h e ne
to
Updated April 2021

63
Come Cue Progress Report
Instructions: Strengthen your Come cue with this guided progress report. Within each
distance column, you will start from the bottom level of the training dial. Before shading in a
box to advance to the next level, your puppy should be successful 5x in a row. The goal is to
reach the star in the top right corner. Remember, this is merely a guide and you will have to
repeat these skills as your pup grows to maintain this skill. Use pencil for this reason.
Module 2 Module 3 Module 4
Level 3
High-Level
Distractions
Training Dial
& Diversity
Level 2
Medium-Level
Distractions
& Diversity
S
Level 1 T
Low-Level A
Distractions, R
Diversity T
o
.2
ne
ot
e
G
om
pt
Sh
to
o
ts
C
t to
in
om
in
to
rg e re s s
N
't fo
Fl
ro g
Sl
D on your p g
e
o
C
ed
om
tr
ct o
n v in
mo
In
l
Fr
b n e
h e
to t
Game
Updated April 2021

64
EXPOSURE/SOCIALIZATION PROGRESS REPORT
Instructions: Remember that socialization isn't just with dogs- it's with new people, sights, sounds
and smells! It is imperative that you take your pup to new places, like the ones listed here. You can
also fill in places you'd like to expose your puppy to that are unique to your life. Make sure to hold
your puppy if they are not up to date on vaccines yet. We don’t want all exposure to new things to
involve interaction. This could potentially be overwhelming and scary to a young pup, which is why
there are four levels of exposure. You should visit each exposure site at least 3 times with success at
each level before shading in the box and moving up to the next level. A successful visit means a
calm pup with positive reinforcement present.
Level 4
Inside
the Area
Exposure Levels
Level 3
Outside the
Entrance
Level 2
Around the
Surrounding
Area
Level 1
Inside the
Car
e
rk
es
t
e
ic
re
ek
e
or
er
us
Pa
lin
kr
to
uo
a
St
om
Ho
l
aM
tS
tC
h
e
eh
e
Th
s'm
ro
Pe
ar
's
Ve
s'r
T
nd
oM
w
e
rd
ie
mr
Ha
Fr
aF eh
T
o
et t s
Do r p
Exposure Sites
o u
ny v in g
ct o mo l
b
t h e ne
to

65
Leave It Cue
There are going to be tons of situations that pop up where it's imperative that your dog
follows the "Leave it" command immediately. We don't want to continue to yell "LEAVE
IT!!!" if they don't actually understand how to turn their head away. Make sure to visit the
video lesson to grab the exact steps to teach your dog this important skill!
Locations Distractions
Kitchen Rags, sponges, towels
Living room Paper products
Bedroom Shoes
Hallway Kids toys
Garage Under clothes and socks
Basement Purses, Backpacks
Patio Kids
Driveway Other pets in the home
Backyard Electronics (phones,

remotes)
Park
Furniture
Friend's house
Open dishwasher, fridge
Pet Store
Guests
On a walk
Poop (dog, bunny, deer)
At the Vet's
At the Groomer's
When guests come in the house

66
Blocking Game
You can block your dog from just about anything they go after including people, other dogs, kids,
food or garbage on the ground (while out walking). Make sure you start this game inside with
limited distractions and in a doorway or between 2 chairs. As your pup progresses through
training, practice away from the doors and chairs!
Kitchen People walking
Living room People sitting on the floor
Bedroom Object on the floor/ground
Hallway Door opening/closing
Garage Cars passing by
Basement Birds and squirrels present
Patio Garbage truck
Driveway Other dogs near by
Backyard Near food
Park Near water
Friend's house When another dog

approaches
Pet Store
Someone tossing a toy
On a walk nearby
At the Vet's When someone walks by

your house
At the Groomer's
While out walking
When guests come in the house

67
Name Game
When you practice Name Game, practice on a leash and go slowly. Increase
distractions and locations gradually. If your pup isn't responding, go back to the
last location they were successful. Remember that you have to be more exciting
than the distractions!
Kitchen People talking
Living room People sitting on the floor
Bedroom Crinkle bag
Hallway Door opening/closing
Garage Cars passing by
Basement Birds and squirrels present
Patio Train
Driveway Other dogs near by
Backyard Near food
Park Near water
Friend's house When it's raining, snowing etc.
Pet Store Someone tossing a toy nearby

68
Become a Dog Detective
Enhance Your Critical Thinking Skills
When you encounter a puppy problem or behavior you'd like to fix, refer
to this worksheet and work through the clues to get to the solution!
Category Questions Notes

-Who is involved
Who -Who is in the environment
-Who is not in the
environment
-What is going on around

you
-What have you tried already
-What do you want the
finished product to look like
-What has been reinforced
already - on purpose or
accidental (reinforcement
history)
-What triggers are present
(what excites pup or makes
What pup act differently)
-What behaviors should stop
-What state of mind is the
human in
-What is breed is your puppy
-What motivates your puppy
-What level are your
expectations at
-What is your dog’s body
language indicating
-What does your body
language communicate
-What is the function of this
behavior (why is your pup
doing this)

69
Become a Dog Detective (cont.)
Enhance Your Critical Thinking Skills
When you encounter a puppy problem or behavior you'd like to fix, refer
to this worksheet and work through the clues to get to the solution!
Category Questions Notes

-Where is this happening
-Where does it never happen
-Where is the threshold
Where (distance away from trigger)
-Where are you trying to train
to work on the problem
-When is the behavior

happening
-When it is not happening
When -When are you practicing
-When was the puppy last
exercised / napped / fed /
played with (batteries)
-When are you trying to train
or work on the problem
Why -Why is this a problem
-How does this effect you or

your dog
-How old is your dog
-How far away from the
How stimuli are you
-How long has pup been
home
-How long is the behavior
lasting
-How are the humans
reacting
-How much space does
puppy have
-How have you increased Ds

70
Facebook Groups: Need Supplies?
Puppy Training with Michele Lennon Check out our hand-picked favorites from
Free resource group for those interested in toys, to potty training supplies on our
learning more about our training methods, website:
techniques, and the 30 Days to Puppy https://www.howtotrainadreamdog.com/
Perfection online course. products/
Student Group- How to Train A Dream Dog

Pro-Level Students Read All About It!
Ask your questions and get personalized Our blogs are a great place to read about
feedback from our experienced trainers our favorite training tips:
Monday-Friday. https://www.howtotrainadreamdog.com/
blog/
Our zoom call schedule is:
Find Us on Social Media:

Tuesdays 8 pm-9 pm ET
Facebook:
Wednesdays 11 am - 12 pm ET
https://www.facebook.com/howtotrainadream
Fridays 11 am -12 pm ET
dog
Youtube Channel: How To Train a Dream Dog
Instagram: @howtotrainadreamdog
Pinterest: @howtotrainadreamdog
TikTok: @michele.lennon
Contact Us
Training questions can be answered in the Facebook Groups and on Zoom calls,
but if you have need technical support with the course, don't hesitate to email us:
support@howtotrainadreamdog.com

71

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Additional Notice and Disclaimers

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

15 The Training Schedule

42 Skills & Cues

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

Our program is named 30 Days to Puppy Perfection, but in no way do we expect

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

First Day Graduation Day

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

Starting Point Goal

What we think it What it actually

You can expect

Stay patient, consistent, and keep moving forward.

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021 2020

3-5 Days After Arrival

3-5 Weeks After Arrival

3-5 Months After Arrival

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

When you're experiencing a 1. Identify the problem

Step 1: Teach the Dance

Step 2: Add Dancers

Step 3: Add Dance Music

Step 4: Dress Rehearsal

Step 5: Opening Night

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

Full of energy - Biting & Calmer and More focused

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

Never touch or approach a puppy while they

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

Press Forward The Next Level

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

Diversity Diversity Diversity*

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

Hot dogs Natural

Medium Level For

Low Level r easy

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

Looking Ahead Week of: April 26th

Module: 1 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Game of Game of Obstacle puzzle Find it Game of Flirt

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

When Sadie was playing bump it with me! It was so

When can I expect

What did you plan for that didn't happen?

I wasn't able to get her Decompression walk in

What do you want to remember for tomorrow?

Ring the bells each time you take her out to

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

© How To Train A Dream Dog 2021

%52 %52 Your puppy can't stop unwanted

There's no such thing as a

*Age when unwanted behaviors tend to stop