What Puppy Foundations Covers
Puppy Foundations is designed to help puppies learn how to think, adapt, and feel safe in the world around them. Through simple, playful games, they learn how to make good choices and build concepts that shape their behavior for life.
Inside the course, you’ll focus on:
- calmness and managing emotions
- curiosity and optimism in new places
- focus around distractions
- recovery after excitement
- thoughtful exploration
- building trust and connection
- learning through play
- using daily food as a reward
With JJ, you’ll see the journey as he grows.
With Marley, you’ll see what that journey can become.
These important, early skills are taught with kindness and positive reinforcement. They influence everything that comes next — helping your puppy grow into a calm, confident family dog.
Module 1: A Calm Beginning
Lesson 1 — Creating a Calm Start
Lesson 3 — Reading Your Puppy’s Behavior
Lesson 1 — Creating a Calm Start
Creating a calm home environment where your puppy can relax, settle, and feel safe.
Lesson 2 — The First Few Days
Lesson 3 — Reading Your Puppy’s Behavior
Lesson 1 — Creating a Calm Start
What matters most during those first few days—and how to support your puppy as they adjust
Lesson 3 — Reading Your Puppy’s Behavior
Lesson 3 — Reading Your Puppy’s Behavior
Lesson 3 — Reading Your Puppy’s Behavior
Learning to notice what your
puppy is feeling—and how to
respond in a calm, supportive
way.
Module 2: Building the Foundations
Lesson 1 — How Puppies Learn
Lesson 3 — Balancing Play and Rest
Lesson 2 — Learning Through Games
Learning to notice when your puppy is ready to learn—and when they’re not—so you can support them in the moment.
Lesson 2 — Learning Through Games
Lesson 3 — Balancing Play and Rest
Lesson 2 — Learning Through Games
Simple, playful games that build connection and focus—giving your puppy a fun, meaningful way to learn with you.
Lesson 3 — Balancing Play and Rest
Lesson 3 — Balancing Play and Rest
Lesson 3 — Balancing Play and Rest
Helping your puppy move between play and rest so they can settle, recover, and stay ready to learn.
Lesson 4— Boundary Games
Lesson 3 — Balancing Play and Rest
Lesson 3 — Balancing Play and Rest
Introducing simple boundary games that help your puppy settle, wait, and begin making thoughtful choices.
Module 3: Exploring the World
Lesson 1 — Exploring the World Safely
Lesson 3 — Field Trips and Real-Life Practice
Lesson 2 — Novelty Games for Confidence
Introduce new environments, textures, and sounds in a way that builds trust and optimism.
Lesson 2 — Novelty Games for Confidence
Lesson 3 — Field Trips and Real-Life Practice
Lesson 2 — Novelty Games for Confidence
Turn new or surprising experiences into playful opportunities for curiosity and confidence-building.
Lesson 3 — Field Trips and Real-Life Practice
Lesson 3 — Field Trips and Real-Life Practice
Lesson 3 — Field Trips and Real-Life Practice
Help your puppy build confidence in everyday places like parking lots, garden centers, and real-world outings.
Module 4: Adolescence
Lesson 1 — When Things Change
Lesson 3 — When Reactions Happen Faster
Lesson 2 — Big Feelings in Real Life
In this lesson, we’ll talk about what’s really happening during adolescence — why behavior can shift so suddenly, and why your puppy may seem different almost overnight.
Lesson 2 — Big Feelings in Real Life
Lesson 3 — When Reactions Happen Faster
Lesson 2 — Big Feelings in Real Life
Excitement, frustration, barking, pulling, and impulsive choices can suddenly appear in everyday situations.
This lesson helps you understand why big feelings show up during adolescence and how to support your dog through them.
Lesson 3 — When Reactions Happen Faster
Lesson 3 — When Reactions Happen Faster
Lesson 3 — When Reactions Happen Faster
Sometimes the first signs are easy to miss — quicker scanning, increased pulling, slower recovery, or difficulty settling.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to recognize the early signs of overwhelm before it takes over.
Lesson 4 —Finding their Way Back
Lesson 3 — When Reactions Happen Faster
Lesson 3 — When Reactions Happen Faster
We’ll look at how to support your dog through moments of excitement, curiosity, and uncertainty — and help them recover and find their footing again.
Module 5 - Growing Together
Building Independence
When Life Doesn’t Go to Plan
When Life Doesn’t Go to Plan
Building confidence, thoughtful choices, and independence without losing your connection.
When Life Doesn’t Go to Plan
When Life Doesn’t Go to Plan
When Life Doesn’t Go to Plan
Helping your puppy handle change instead of trying to avoid
it.
Looking Beyond Behavior
When Life Doesn’t Go to Plan
Looking Beyond Behavior
Learning how emotions can influence your puppy’s behavior and choices.
The Journey Continues
When Life Doesn’t Go to Plan
Looking Beyond Behavior
Celebrating how far you’ve come, what you’ve learned about each other, and all that is still ahead.
Why I Created Puppy Foundations
When I brought my previous boy Marley home, I wasn’t yet aware of games-based training. By the time we found it, he was already a year old and we were using more traditional training methods.
Games changed everything for us, and we developed a very special relationship.
But I often think about how much easier those early stages might have been if I’d had these tools from the very beginning.
Now, with my puppy JJ, I get to do things differently. And as he grows, this course will grow alongside him.
I created Puppy Foundations so new puppy families can start building confidence, trust, and the skills to handle new experiences thoughtfully — during those important early months.
Most importantly, you’ll be creating a calm, connected start together— because the real foundation isn’t just what your puppy learns…it’s the relationship you build together along the way.
Come Join Us
Puppy Foundations
If this feels like the kind of beginning you’d like to share
with your dog, we’d love to welcome you.
Enrollment is open 💛
If you’d like to join, just reach out—I’m happy to help
you get started.