Foundational 5

Training is not about forcing behaviors—it’s about creating a communication system your dog wants to engage in. When your dog learns that working with you pays off, training shifts from something they “have to do” into something they love to do. That’s the way: pressure on, pressure off, with the reward shining brightly at the end.

 

These five foundational behaviors—sit, down, place, recall, and heeling—build more than obedience. They build a culture of clarity, trust, and reliability between you and your dog. Master these, and everything else becomes easier.

 

1. Sit: The Power of Default Control

Sit is not just about parking your dog’s rear on the ground—it’s about building impulse control and a reliable default behavior. A dog who automatically offers “sit” learns patience, stability, and how to wait for direction. 

 

2. Down: Calm, Clear, Collected

“Down” takes control a step further. It’s a grounding behavior, one that communicates relaxation and security. Teaching a powerful down teaches your dog how to be still in environments full of energy. A solid down means your dog can settle at the café, the vet, or on the trial field without conflict. Down becomes not just obedience, but an anchor—proof of clarity, trust, and confidence.

 

3. Place: The Boundary Game

Place is freedom within structure. When your dog understands place, they learn that boundaries are safe zones, not limitations. A cot, a mat, or a platform becomes their station in life—somewhere rewarding, calm, and clear. Place builds spatial awareness and teaches your dog to respect environments while feeling confident in them. It’s the ultimate marriage of control and freedom.

 

4. Recall: The Lifeline 

A recall isn’t just a trick—it’s survival. Whether your dog is sprinting toward distraction, temptation, or danger, a recall means they turn back to you without hesitation. We train recall as a black-and-white behavior: come when called, every time, because history has taught the dog that returning to you is the fastest way to win. A reliable recall is trust in motion.

 

5. Heeling: The Dance of Precision

Heeling is where teamwork shines. It’s not about being glued to your leg—it’s about rhythm, engagement, and joy in motion. True heeling is a dance, where the dog chooses to stay with you, not because they’re forced, but because they love the job. Heeling becomes a flow state: the dog drives forward, engaged and powerful, yet completely in sync with you. It’s the ultimate expression of partnership.

Building Culture, Not Just Commands

When these 5 behaviors are taught with clarity, consistency, and balance of pressure and reward, they create more than obedience. They create culture. Your dog learns that listening leads to winning, structure leads to freedom, and working with you is the most rewarding choice of all.

 

Every advanced skill—whether it’s protection work, agility, or service/therapy dog training—grows from these roots. 

 

Sit, Down, Place, Recall, and Heel Are Not Just Commands…

They’re The Foundation Of A Language That Lasts A Lifetime.