WWD Academy

BLOCK 2 Outline:

Strengthening Obedience & Expanding Horizons

In Weeks 5 to 8, we advance your puppy’s training by focusing on refining obedience skills and reinforcing commands in real-world settings. This phase is crucial as your puppy begins to test boundaries and explore their independence. We will solidify their understanding of key commands like SIT, DOWN, and COME, while introducing the STAY command to enhance their ability to hold positions amidst distractions.

As we progress, your puppy will practice these commands in increasingly challenging environments, boosting their confidence and focus. This block not only reinforces good manners but also prepares your puppy for more advanced training, ensuring they are well-equipped for future challenges and social interactions.

Throughout the Rising Star Puppy Program, your puppy will progress in obedience commands, gradually increasing in difficulty and complexity:

Weeks 5-6: In these weeks, we build on the skills established earlier while introducing advanced commands. Your puppy will solidify their ability to focus, practicing commands such as SIT, DOWN, and LEAVE IT in the presence of distractions. We will gradually fade lures, allowing your puppy to respond with greater independence. Additionally, leash walking will be refined, enhancing their behavior during outings. The introduction of STAY will further develop their ability to maintain focus, ensuring they can hold commands even in challenging situations.

Weeks 7-8: During the final weeks of this block, we reinforce and refine all previously learned commands while continuing to introduce complexities. Your puppy will practice commands like SIT, DOWN, and COME over greater distances and in more distracting environments. We will also emphasize real-world applications of these commands, ensuring your puppy can respond reliably in various settings. This phase culminates in reinforcing good manners and social interactions, helping your puppy navigate different scenarios with confidence.

In the Rising Star Puppy Program, crate training continues to play a vital role in your puppy’s development. During Weeks 5-6, we focus on staying ahead of your puppy’s needs while allowing them to become more comfortable in their crate environment. Your puppy will learn to communicate their needs more consistently, signaling when they need to go outside or require a break. This stage is essential in building their confidence and understanding of appropriate bathroom behaviors.

As we progress into Weeks 7-8, we reinforce crate training by ensuring your puppy can remain calm and relaxed during longer confinement periods. We will gradually extend the time spent in the crate while emphasizing positive associations with the space. This approach helps your puppy feel secure and reduces anxiety, allowing them to thrive during training sessions and family interactions.

In the Rising Star Puppy Program, house training is an ongoing focus that evolves as your puppy grows. During Weeks 5-6, we emphasize staying ahead of your puppy’s needs while they are loose in the home. By anticipating their signals, you can help prevent accidents and reinforce positive bathroom habits. Your puppy will begin to show more consistency in indicating their needs, whether through vocalization or behavior, making it easier for you to guide them to the appropriate potty spots.

As we transition into Weeks 7-8, we build on this foundation by reinforcing the understanding of where and when to go. Your puppy will become more adept at holding their bladder and will show improved self-control. We will also work on reinforcing their understanding of appropriate versus inappropriate potty areas. This stage is crucial in helping your puppy gain confidence in their ability to communicate their needs and understand their environment, laying the groundwork for successful house training.

In the Rising Star Puppy Program, we prioritize your puppy’s personality and temperament to ensure they are thriving as they adapt to their new home environment.

Weeks 5-6: During these weeks, we continue to focus on socialization by introducing your puppy to new and different types of people and animals. This helps them become more comfortable in diverse situations and builds their confidence. We also expose them to various forms of transportation, ensuring they can adapt to being in a car or other modes of travel. Additionally, we start to introduce elements of separation and isolation, allowing your puppy to learn how to be comfortable when alone for short periods. Exposure to various household sights, sounds, and surfaces further enhances their adaptability, creating a well-rounded puppy.

Weeks 7-8: As we move into the final weeks of this block, we continue reinforcing socialization by providing experiences with new environments and stimuli. Your puppy will encounter different types of people and animals, as well as more complex situations that test their adaptability. This thorough approach ensures that your puppy becomes confident and well-adjusted, perfectly suited for your family’s lifestyle by the end of Block 2.

Leash training becomes more structured and reinforced as the weeks progress:

Weeks 5-6: In the first two weeks, the focus shifts to refining leash walking skills. Your puppy will practice walking calmly beside you while managing distractions. This structured approach ensures that your puppy learns to maintain focus, eliminating pulling and encouraging good behavior during walks.

Weeks 7-8: As training continues, the complexity of the environment increases. Your puppy will practice leash walking with added distractions, reinforcing the importance of attention and control in more active settings.

Socialization is an essential part of building a confident, well-adjusted puppy:

 Weeks 5-6: During these weeks, socialization expands to include exposure to new and different types of people and animals. This gradual introduction helps your puppy become comfortable in various environments, fostering confidence and adaptability.

Weeks 7-8: The focus on socialization continues, with opportunities for your puppy to encounter diverse situations, such as transportation and unfamiliar household sights and sounds. This exposure ensures your puppy remains calm and well-adjusted, even in distracting scenarios.

Your puppy’s behavior and temperament are closely monitored throughout the program to ensure successful progress:

Weeks 5-6: During these weeks, we continue to assess your puppy’s adaptability and temperament. Increased socialization and exposure to new environments allow us to evaluate how well your puppy handles challenges and interacts with various stimuli.

Weeks 7-8: As we progress, we further evaluate your puppy’s temperament and personality. This ongoing assessment ensures that your puppy remains a great fit for your family dynamic, adapting well to your household’s needs.

We focus on shaping good behavior and reinforcing manners:

 Weeks 5-6: In this phase, we continue addressing common puppy behaviors such as jumping and mouthing. Through positive reinforcement techniques, your puppy will learn to interact politely with both people and other pets.

Weeks 7-8: As training progresses, we refine these behaviors, ensuring that your puppy demonstrates good manners in more challenging environments. This helps establish a well-mannered adult dog, ready for social interactions.

We introduce grooming routines and reinforce familiarization with handling and equipment:

 Weeks 5-6: In these weeks, grooming becomes a regular part of your puppy’s routine. We emphasize the importance of being comfortable with activities like brushing, nail trimming, and handling, ensuring your puppy learns to enjoy these experiences.

Weeks 7-8: As the grooming routine continues, we reinforce familiarization with handling and equipment, such as collars and leashes. This helps your puppy remain calm and cooperative during grooming sessions and outings.

We provide ongoing support to ensure a smooth training experience:

Throughout Block 2: Regular check-ins will help us assess your puppy’s progress and address any challenges. You will receive updates on your puppy’s development, along with guidance for continued practice at home.

Family Involvement: We encourage family participation in training sessions, as this fosters a strong bond between your puppy and all household members. By involving everyone in the training process, we ensure that your puppy receives consistent guidance and reinforcement.