Dog training skills library

Each routine below is a weighted consensus of 126 trainer, kennel-club, shelter, veterinary and research sources. For every skill you get the ordered steps, when to move on, common mistakes, how difficulty changes from puppy to senior across 50 breed and size profiles, where sources disagree, and the full source list.

Foundations

Sit · Base difficulty 1/5 · Source agreement 5/5
Down (lie down) · Base difficulty 1/5 · Source agreement 3/5
Stay · Base difficulty 2/5 · Source agreement 5/5
Name response · Base difficulty 1/5 · Source agreement 2/5
Focus on you · Base difficulty 2/5 · Source agreement 3/5

Everyday manners

Recall (come when called) · Base difficulty 3/5 · Source agreement 5/5
Loose-leash walking · Base difficulty 3/5 · Source agreement 4/5
Leave it · Base difficulty 2/5 · Source agreement 4/5
Place / mat · Base difficulty 2/5 · Source agreement 4/5
Calm / off switch · Base difficulty 3/5 · Source agreement 4/5

Home & puppy life

House training (potty) · Base difficulty 2/5 · Source agreement 5/5
Crate & alone time · Base difficulty 3/5 · Source agreement 4/5
Puppy biting & gentle mouth · Base difficulty 2/5 · Source agreement 3/5

Tricks & games

Trick: paw / shake · Base difficulty 1/5 · Source agreement 2/5
Trick: spin · Base difficulty 1/5 · Source agreement 2/5
Trick: roll over · Base difficulty 3/5 · Source agreement 3/5
Fetch · Base difficulty 2/5 · Source agreement 4/5
Scent games / nosework · Base difficulty 2/5 · Source agreement 3/5

Sport & impulse control

Agility basics · Base difficulty 3/5 · Source agreement 4/5
Impulse control around movement · Base difficulty 3/5 · Source agreement 2/5

How plans are made →