CANINE INSTITUTEDOG TRAINING / OWNER COACHINGRIOS Canine Institute -- Free guides
30-Day Basic Obedience Plan
A free day-by-day home plan that builds name response, sit, down, stay, loose-leash walking, recall, leave-it, and polite greetings -- six teaching days a week with a Sunday recovery day.
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What you need
- Small soft training treats
- A flat collar or harness
- A 6-foot leash
- A mat or dog bed
- A marker word or clicker
Week 1 -- Foundations
Build the reward mechanics and first behaviors before asking for anything advanced.
By the end of this week: your dog turns to their name and offers sit, hand-target, and mat-settle with a lure or empty hand.
Day 1 -- Marker & Name Response
Teach that the marker word means a reward is coming.
Say the dog's name in a quiet room, mark and reward instant eye contact. 10 reps, low distraction.
Ready to move on when: Dog turns toward you within 1 second, 8 of 10 reps.
If it's not working: If your dog isn't hitting "Dog turns toward you within 1 second, 8 of 10 reps." yet, repeat today at yesterday's easier version and reward more often before adding anything new -- do not push forward on a skill that isn't holding.
Day 2 -- Sit (Lure to Position)
Introduce sit using a food lure.
Lure with a treat over the nose and up; mark the moment the hips touch down, then reward.
Ready to move on when: 4 of 5 reps with the lure.
If it's not working: If your dog isn't hitting "4 of 5 reps with the lure." yet, repeat today at yesterday's easier version and reward more often before adding anything new -- do not push forward on a skill that isn't holding.
Day 3 -- Sit (Fading the Lure)
Move from luring toward a hand signal.
Use the same hand motion with no food in it; reward from the other hand after the sit.
Ready to move on when: 3 of 5 reps with an empty hand.
If it's not working: If your dog isn't hitting "3 of 5 reps with an empty hand." yet, repeat today at yesterday's easier version and reward more often before adding anything new -- do not push forward on a skill that isn't holding.
Day 4 -- Hand Target
Week 2 -- Down, Stay, and First Leash Skills
Add a second position, duration, and the first leash and impulse-control skills.
By the end of this week: your dog holds a 5-second sit or down stay and takes a few steps of loose-leash walking.
Day 8 -- Down (Lure from Sit)
Introduce down using a food lure from a sit.
Lure the nose down and back until elbows touch the floor; mark and reward.
Ready to move on when: 4 of 5 reps with the lure.
If it's not working: If your dog isn't hitting "4 of 5 reps with the lure." yet, repeat today at yesterday's easier version and reward more often before adding anything new -- do not push forward on a skill that isn't holding.
Day 9 -- Down (Fading the Lure)
Move down toward a hand signal.
Use the same hand motion empty-handed; reward after the down from the other hand.
Ready to move on when: 3 of 5 reps with an empty hand.
If it's not working: If your dog isn't hitting "3 of 5 reps with an empty hand." yet, repeat today at yesterday's easier version and reward more often before adding anything new -- do not push forward on a skill that isn't holding.
Day 10 -- Stay -- Duration (Sit)
Add stillness before the release.
Ask for a sit, wait 3-5 seconds, then use a clear release word before rewarding.
Ready to move on when: 5 seconds still, no distance or distraction added yet.
If it's not working: If your dog isn't hitting "5 seconds still, no distance or distraction added yet." yet, repeat today at yesterday's easier version and reward more often before adding anything new -- do not push forward on a skill that isn't holding.
Day 11 -- Stay -- Duration (Down)
Week 3 -- Recall Foundations and Mild Distraction
Introduce recall safely and add the first easy distractions to existing skills.
By the end of this week: your dog comes when called across a room and holds a stay through one mild distraction.
Day 15 -- Recall Foundations (Indoors)
Build a rewarding recall in an easy setup.
Call the dog's name plus your recall cue from a few feet away; jackpot the reward on arrival. Never call the dog to something unpleasant.
Ready to move on when: Dog comes immediately, 4 of 5 reps.
If it's not working: If your dog isn't hitting "Dog comes immediately, 4 of 5 reps." yet, repeat today at yesterday's easier version and reward more often before adding anything new -- do not push forward on a skill that isn't holding.
Day 16 -- Recall on a Long Line (Yard)
Extend recall distance safely.
Repeat the recall at greater distance using a long line in a secure yard. Do not go off-leash yet.
Ready to move on when: Reliable recall at 15-20 feet on the line.
If it's not working: If your dog isn't hitting "Reliable recall at 15-20 feet on the line." yet, repeat today at yesterday's easier version and reward more often before adding anything new -- do not push forward on a skill that isn't holding.
Day 17 -- Stay + Mild Distraction
Add one easy distraction to sit/down stay.
Introduce light movement or a quiet sound during the stay. If the dog breaks, return to yesterday's easier version.
Ready to move on when: Stay holds through one mild distraction.
If it's not working: If your dog isn't hitting "Stay holds through one mild distraction." yet, repeat today at yesterday's easier version and reward more often before adding anything new -- do not push forward on a skill that isn't holding.
Week 4 -- Proofing -- Distance, Duration, and Real Life
Add one difficulty at a time and start rehearsing real household moments.
By the end of this week: your dog holds a stay at distance, recalls with a distraction present, and waits at the door.
Day 22 -- Stay -- Add Distance
Build distance into sit/down stay.
Take one step back before returning to reward; add a second step only after success.
Ready to move on when: Stay holds at 3-5 feet of distance.
If it's not working: If your dog isn't hitting "Stay holds at 3-5 feet of distance." yet, repeat today at yesterday's easier version and reward more often before adding anything new -- do not push forward on a skill that isn't holding.
Day 23 -- Stay -- Add Duration
Extend stay toward real-life length.
Extend to 30-60 seconds with calm handler movement nearby.
Ready to move on when: 60 seconds still with mild handler movement.
If it's not working: If your dog isn't hitting "60 seconds still with mild handler movement." yet, repeat today at yesterday's easier version and reward more often before adding anything new -- do not push forward on a skill that isn't holding.
Day 24 -- Recall -- Add Distraction
Combine distance and distraction on recall.
Practice recall on the long line with a mild distraction present, such as a toy or another person.
Ready to move on when: Reliable recall with one distraction present.
If it's not working: If your dog isn't hitting "Reliable recall with one distraction present." yet, repeat today at yesterday's easier version and reward more often before adding anything new -- do not push forward on a skill that isn't holding.
Week 5 -- Integration and Assessment
Confirm the full skill set together and set the maintenance plan.
By the end of this week: every skill in this guide holds up together in one real outing.
Day 29 -- Full Walkthrough
Run every skill once in normal home/yard context.
Practice sit, down, stay, recall, loose-leash walking, leave-it, greeting, and mat settle in one session; note the weakest skill.
Ready to move on when: Every skill performed at its trained level.
If it's not working: If your dog isn't hitting "Every skill performed at its trained level." yet, repeat today at yesterday's easier version and reward more often before adding anything new -- do not push forward on a skill that isn't holding.
Day 30 -- Real-Life Test & Maintenance Plan
Confirm the skills hold up on an actual outing.
Practice the full set during a real errand or walk. Write down which skill needs continued practice and at what difficulty to keep advancing.
Ready to move on when: Skills transfer to the real outing; maintenance plan written.
If it's not working: If your dog isn't hitting "Skills transfer to the real outing; maintenance plan written." yet, repeat today at yesterday's easier version and reward more often before adding anything new -- do not push forward on a skill that isn't holding.
Where you land
Your dog now has a working set of everyday obedience -- name response, sit, down, stay, loose-leash walking, recall, leave-it, and polite greetings -- and you have a written note on which skill still needs the most practice.
Keep it, or level up