1. Lure your dog on the box
2. Praise your dog and REWARD them a couple of times
3. Give them a BREAK and REWARD
4. Repeat

In this exercise, we want to reward the dog for hopping onto the box and building a positive association with the box. Over time, your dog should know that the box is a comfortable place where they get to engage in a fun activity with you.

1. DOWN your dog and have them STAY
2. Walk away while maintaining eye contact
3. RECALL your dog to the FRONT position
4. BREAK & REWARD
5. Repeat!

Down & Recall is one of the most important commands you can give your dog. In this exercise, put them on a DOWN position to keep them stationary, then walk away far enough to recall them to the front position. Once they've arrived at the front position, we give them a BREAK and treat them with the reward and praise.

1. Lure your dog onto the box
2. Say "FOCUS" as you lure your dog to make eye contact
3. Wait until they make eye contact with you
4. BREAK and REWARD
5. Repeat

The criteria for a good FOCUS command is that the dog makes unbreaking eye contact.

When we train, we want to make sure that we train with excitement and good energy, so that the dog is engaged throughout the whole session. Over time, your dog learns that you have something it wants (whether that's a treat or toy), and has the expectation that it might get something good from you! We always want to start and end a training session with good energy.

Verbal cue: "FOCUS"

1. Get your dog on the box
2. Step to the end of the leash and turn around
3. RECALL your dog to the FRONT position
4. BREAK and REWARD
5. Repeat

In this exercise, we're practicing a very short and basic recall to the front position. Over time, you can add distance and distraction to this exercise.

Criteria for a good repetition:

• The dog stays until called
• The dog maintains engagement with you
• The dog goes to the FRONT position and sits

Verbal cue: "COME" or "HERE"

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1. Get your dog on the box
2. Say "STAY"
3. Circle around your dog
4. BREAK and REWARD
5. Repeat
   Mix it up by circling around the other way

In this exercise, we're conditioning the dog to stay in place by placing them on the box and circling around them while the leash is on. We're showing them that it's no big deal as you orbit around the box. As you get more advanced, you can go towards the end of the leash or even drop it as you go around.

To sustain this behavior, you can reward them while they're on the box as you circle.

Verbal cue: "STAY"

Criteria for a good repetition:

• The dog stays in place as you circle
• The dog maintains eye contact
• The dog only gets off the box when you give a BREAK

1. Get your dog on the box to the HEEL position
2. Say "STAY"
3. Walk out towards the front of your dog to the end of the leash
4. Turn around
5. Walk back to the HEEL position
6. BREAK and REWARD
7. Repeat

In this exercise, we are showing the dog that it's no big deal that you are walking away. This assures the dog that you'll come back, possibly with a reward!

Criteria for a good repetition:

• The dog stays as you walk away
• The dog maintains eye contact
• The dog does not leave the box until you give them a BREAK

Adding Distance and Duration

• You can stretch out each rep by going further and taking longer to come back and give them a BREAK

Verbal Cue: "STAY"