Fundamentals
The building blocks of dog training. Every command on this site uses these concepts. You don't need to read them all first — start with any command page and it will link you here when you need a concept.
Markers and Timing
A marker is a precise signal — a click or a word — that tells your dog exactly which behavior earned the reward. Timing is everything.
Reward Value
What counts as a reward depends on your dog, the moment, and the environment. Food is one option — not the only one.
Associations
Your dog's brain builds connections automatically — between sounds, places, people, and feelings. These connections happen whether you intend them or not.
Proofing and Generalization
A command your dog knows in the living room is not a command your dog knows. It's a start. Proofing is how you build the real thing.
Release Cues
Every behavior that requires your dog to hold position needs a clear ending. Without a release cue, your dog decides when the command is over — and they will.
Arousal and Threshold
Arousal is your dog's internal intensity level. Above a certain point — threshold — your dog physically cannot learn. Training above threshold doesn't fail; it doesn't happen.
Management
Management means controlling the environment so your dog can't practice the behavior you don't want. It's not cheating — it's how you protect training while it's happening.