🐾 Training Fun with Sandy! - Foundational Basics Game

🔊Volume down until 2:36! FYI The voiceover part at the beginning of the video is a bit louder than the rest - and that ends at 2:36 🙉

No matter what — whether you’re starting with an 8-week-old puppy or an older dog — this is always the very first place I begin when it comes to training.

This exercise (shown in the video) focuses on the primary commands: stand, sit, and down. It’s the first step to get you comfortable with using a marker word or clicker and it sets the foundation for everything else.

Not only is this a fun game, but it also:

✅ Builds strong foundational skills

✅ Helps your dog learn through offering behaviors

✅ Creates a positive training habit for both you and your dog

What we’re looking for:

Mark and reward when your dog offers sit, down, or stand
Mark and reward for leaving it
In this video, we also introduced an “up” onto the KLIMB for extra fun and confidence building

👉 Be conscious of your hand positions as you train:

Sit → hover your fist above your dog’s head
Down → point directly toward the ground
Stand → hold your thumb at their nose, then pull your hand slightly back toward you

Whether you’ve been training for years or are just starting out, this is a fantastic way to begin. And most importantly — your dog will have fun doing it with you!

🎥 Here’s a look at Sandy in her very first training session practicing this foundational game.

6:44

13 comments