FE145: First Things First - Puppy Foundations for a Bright Future

When you've got a puppy, there is a whole lot of excitement, so many hopes, dreams, and goals for the future... but also, SO MUCH to train! 

 Where do you even begin? How do you prioritize what will become the foundation for the rest of your little puppy’s life?

 This is the class that answers those questions and more.

Regardless of what you plan to do in the future, there are key skills, habits, and feelings every puppy should master right away. These foundational pillars ensure your puppy can handle whatever comes next with confidence, safety, and fun!

The curriculum centers on 4 main pillars:

• Reinforcer Cues: Develop precise markers for food and toy rewards to build enthusiasm, clarity, and a communication system for all future training.
• Handling: Create happy feelings around touch, gear like collars and harnesses, and begin cooperative care protocols so grooming and vet visits are as stress free as possible.
• Fitness & Body Awareness: Build good posture, introduce safe movement patterns, and build confidence around foot placement and balance to build appropriate functional habits that support a rapidly growing body.
• Life Skills: Soft skills like growing confidence, optimism and resilience and more concrete skills like crating, leash walking, turn taking, house training, greeting, and handler focus skills that allow your puppy to function in the real world, make socialization easier, and build your bond from day one!

Interwoven throughout the lectures and video demonstrations are strategies to help you discover your puppy as the unique individual they are—learning how to fulfill their specific ethological needs so they can truly blossom.

Who is this class for? This class is ideal for puppies ages 2 to 5 months, but it also provides a stellar framework for any older puppy or adult dog new to your household or experiencing structured training for the first time.

Note: this class has been updated and revamped for the October 2026 semester! 

Teaching Approach

Lectures are released at the beginning of each week. Written instructions for each exercise are accompanied by short video demonstrations. Video demonstrations are primarily with baby puppies in the learning process so- REAL learning happens in the demos! Occasionally, older puppies in the learning stages are also used to demo specific exercises. 

Many exercises build on skills learned in previous weeks as the class goes on, in a layered approach to learning.  Many exercises involve being able to get down to the puppy's level, bending to deliver reinforcement or play games.  

Feedback is detailed and is primarily written, but occasionally may contain photos, screenshots or diagrams for improved clarity. Gold and Silver students can expect to receive individual adaptations to exercises as needed to best suit the handler or puppy.  All students will find value in following the homework threads and in sharing experiences with each other through the discussion forum or student study group forum.  

***This class has a teaching assistant! ***

Instructor: Erin Lynes

Erin (she/her) is a lifelong dog enthusiast from Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada. Erin is certified as a Karen Pryor Academy Training Partner, a Certified Professional Canine Fitness Trainer, a Licensed Family Dog Mediator, and as a Cani-Fit Leader, ...(Click here for full bio and to view Erin's upcoming courses)