Training schedule and outline: The purpose of the training outline is to help our clients better understand what their puppy is learning and why each phase is important. 

Pictures or Videos of training will be linked to Cue or Example Videos in tan color below:

Newborn - One month old:  Starting on Day 3, going till Day 16, performed once a day, the pups will start  Early Neurological Stimulation

The US Military developed this method, designed to improve the performance of future military working dogs, according to the Breeding Better Dogs program developed by Dr. Carmen Battaglia, esteemed breeder, judge, seminar presenter, and AKC board member.

ENS requires handling the puppies one at a time while performing a series of five exercises. Listed in order of preference, the handler starts with one pup and stimulates it using each of the five exercises. The handler completes the series from beginning to end before starting with the next pup.

 1 .Tactile stimulation - holding the pup in one hand, the handler gently stimulates (tickles) the pup between the toes on any one foot using a Q-tip. It is not necessary to see that the pup is feeling the tickle. Time of stimulation 3-5 seconds. 

2. Head held erect - using both hands, the pup is held perpendicular to the ground, (straight up), so that its head is directly above its tail. This is an upwards position. Time of stimulation 3 - 5 seconds.

3. Head pointed down - holding the pup firmly with both hands the head is reversed and is pointed downward so that it is pointing towards the ground. Time of stimulation 3 - 5 seconds.

4. Supine position - hold the pup so that its back is resting in the palm of both hands with its muzzle facing the ceiling. The pup while on its back is allowed to sleep. Time of stimulation 3 - 5 seconds.

5.. Thermal stimulation - use a damp towel that has been cooled in a refrigerator for at least five minutes. Place the pup on the towel, feet down. Do not restrain it from moving. Time of stimulation 3 - 5 seconds. 

At two weeks old, the litter's eyes and ears are opening, and they are becoming more mobile. This is also when the litter will have their nails clipped for the first time.

Week 3 -4: Your pup is 3-4 weeks old and is starting to eat blended puppy food, which begins the weaning process from their mother. This is when we introduce the food whistle.  What is the “food whistle” The “food whistle” is a training tool that pairs a distinct whistle sound with positive reinforcement to establish a reliable recall command.   

Why do we do it? Teaching a puppy the whistle at that age is particularly effective because puppies at this age have heightened auditory perception and are highly receptive to forming associations. Early training helps solidify the connection between the whistle and the reward, creating a deeply ingrained response. This early conditioning ensures the puppy will respond promptly to the whistle, even in distracting environments, enhancing their safety and control as they grow.

Two Months Old

Five - six weeks old :Your pup is enjoying exploring the reception room with littermates. Going out on short outdoor walks, weather depending, exploring mud, puddles, snow, and grass.  This age is also when we lightly introduce Sit.

We start introducing the “sit” cue at roughly 6-7 weeks of age in a familiar, low-distraction area.

We do this by using food to lure them back into a sitting position and using our clickers to mark the desired action. With enough consistent repetition, our puppies start to have this down within 3 to 4 training sessions. We then maintain this by cueing them to sit whenever we stop walking, when they come in or out of doors, and before they eat.

The “sit” command is the most important command. It's the gateway to all of the other commands. It teaches self-control and focus.

7-8 weeks old:  Your pup is continuing to work on sit lessons. We are also introducing eye contact and settling. 

Why is it important?  Eye contact while working with a dog is crucial because that’s how you connect and communicate. Just like with people, it shows that they’re engaged and paying attention to you. If your dog isn't looking at you, they're probably not listening to you. They’re not communicating with you. Teaching them to look to you for direction makes the learning process much easier and can be important for your dog's safety in emergency situations. It also teaches them how to settle and be ready for their next command.

How do you teach and maintain that? The process of teaching eye contact is simple and a rather fun exercise that can be maintained at all life stages. We start this after they learn the “sit” command. Once they know sit, we start clicking when they look at us. We use a verbal “Look” command, and then when we get the desired result, we click and then reward them for the desired behavior.

Your pup is learning intro to down. We start teaching the “down” command at roughly 8-9 weeks of age, after the pup has mastered the sit command. We do this by using treats to lure them into a down position and using our clickers to mark the desired action. With consistent repetition, our puppies develop this skill set within 3 to 4 training sessions. We maintain this by having them practice the skill set in everyday training. The Down command is important because it teaches the settle cue. 

Your pup is also working on Cup Drills. Cup drills are awesome for building precision, confidence, and focus. This drill involves placing treats on top of a cup or bucket, then letting your puppy go get them. Once they get the treats, we recall them back to us and reward them with a little more treats and lots of pets. This also helps teach the concept of lining by encouraging them to focus on a specific target in a straight line, improving their ability to follow directions and stay on course during retrieves.

Where can you successfully cue for this skill set?  In a known, low-distraction environment with high-value rewards.