Resource library

Every free source this manual relies on, grouped by subject, with who publishes it and what it gives you. Verified on October 12, 2026.

Each link below was opened and read on October 12, 2026. The next full check is due on October 12, 2027. Pages move and guidance is revised; if a link here is out of date, the publisher's own site has the current version. No link carries a referral or tracking code, and we receive nothing from any publisher.

Publisher types, so you can weigh a source: veterinary bodies and references (AVSAB, AAHA, AVMA, ACVB, Merck, VCA, the university veterinary schools) write for veterinarians and owners; welfare organizations (ASPCA, Humane World for Animals, shelters) write from shelter practice; practitioner sites (Karen Pryor Clicker Training, AKC's training articles, CattleDog Publishing) give one trainer's method; journals report research with its stated limits. Chapters say which kind each claim rests on.

Position statements and guidelines

• Position Statement on Humane Dog Training (2021). American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (professional body). The core veterinary position on methods, with 21 references.
• Position Statements and Handouts (for the public), with the 2025 AVSAB Board Statement. AVSAB (professional body). The list of current statements; the board statement that an "outdated and since-rescinded" document suggesting aversive tools may sometimes be appropriate is circulating, and that the 2021 statement is AVSAB's most current and authoritative view; AVSAB endorses no trainer organization.
• Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of Animals. AVSAB (professional body). Definition of dominance and why it does not explain pet misbehavior.
• Position Statement: The Use of Punishment for Behavior Modification in Animals. AVSAB, 2007; copy hosted by Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative. The 2007 statement, kept as history only. Superseded by the 2021 Humane Dog Training statement..
• How to Choose a Trainer. AVSAB (professional body). Owner-facing green and red flags.
• Selecting a Behavior Consultant. AVSAB (professional body). Plain-language credential explanations and a go-and-stop checklist.
• 2015 AAHA Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines. American Animal Hospital Association (professional body); J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2015;51:205-221. Veterinary practice guideline on methods, puppy classes and referral.
• Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) Effective Behavior Intervention Policy. Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (standards body). The LIMA definition and the six-step Humane Hierarchy.
• Training Methodologies. Association of Professional Dog Trainers (professional body). APDT's LIMA text and the LIFE (Least Inhibitive, Functionally Effective) critique (Fernandez 2024).
• Standards of Practice. International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (professional body). IAABC's current method standard.

Learning theory

• Behavior Modification in Dogs (pet owner version). Merck Veterinary Manual (veterinary reference), Landsberg. Owner-level definitions of habituation, extinction (gets worse first), desensitization, counterconditioning, response substitution, shaping, flooding (professional-only, last resort); punishment's high failure rate and link to fear and aggression.
• Treatment of Behavior Problems in Animals (professional version). Merck Veterinary Manual (veterinary reference), Pankratz. Formal definitions of positive and negative reinforcement and punishment, counterconditioning, desensitization, habituation, flooding, extinction; rewards should follow immediately and consistently; punishment cannot teach a behavior and can create conditioned fear.
• Using Reinforcement and Rewards to Train Your Pet. VCA Animal Hospitals (veterinary reference), Horwitz and Landsberg. Reward timing, schedules and fading.
• Puppy Behavior and Training: Training Basics. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Feyrecilde, Horwitz, Landsberg. Lure, capture, shape, marker and session rules; a second VCA window figure.
• Fifteen Tips for Getting Started with the Clicker. Karen Pryor Clicker Training (practitioner), Karen Pryor. Click during the behavior, treat after; one click per behavior; several one-minute sessions beat one long one; add the cue once reliable; a non-response means the cue is not learned; never mix in scolding or leash jerks.
• What Is Clicker Training? KPCT (practitioner), Ken Ramirez. Definition of marker training; the marker need not be a clicker; why clicker trainers do not use punishment; advises against "always" and "never" language.
• Glossary Archive. KPCT (practitioner). Definitions of R+, R-, P+, P-, operant and classical conditioning, marker, bridge, shaping, capturing, luring ("fade the lure early"), rate of reinforcement (a high rate called critical), extinction, stimulus control, criteria.
• When Good Training Goes Badly: Troubleshooting Your Training. KPCT (practitioner), Chamberland. Roughly 10 to 15 clicks and treats per minute as a guideline, not a rule; four or five treat types in rotation; split stuck behaviors.
• Fading the Click? KPCT (practitioner), Karen Pryor. Prompts and lures are faded, the marker is not; prompt faded over two or three repetitions; shrink a gesture cue.
• Foundation Behaviors: A Practical Perspective. KPCT (practitioner), Ken Ramirez. A nine-step foundation order (approach and eat, follow, target, then the marker, station, follow a target, tactile, husbandry, capturing).
• Everything You Wanted to Know About Proofing, But Were Afraid to Ask. KPCT (practitioner), Lomonaco. Raise criteria at 80 percent success, split below 50 percent; one aspect per session; five 3-minute sessions over one long one; the four tests of stimulus control.

Research

• Does training method matter? Evidence for the negative impact of aversive-based methods on companion dog welfare. Vieira de Castro et al., PLOS ONE 15(12): e0225023 (journal, open access). Aversive-group dogs showed more stress behaviors, a larger post-training cortisol rise and more pessimistic bias; no efficacy comparison; authors state the quasi-experimental design limits causal claims.
• Efficacy of Dog Training With and Without Remote Electronic Collars vs. a Focus on Positive Reinforcement. China, Mills and Cooper, Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7:508 (journal, open access). Reward group responded to a single "come" about 82.5 percent versus 71 and 72 percent, with shorter latency; disobedience rates did not differ; authors: no evidence e-collar training is necessary, even for recall; stated confounds (different trainers, four months later).
• The effects of using aversive training methods in dogs: a review. Ziv, Journal of Veterinary Behavior 19:50-60; read via the Purdue Center for Animal Welfare Science resource page. Narrative review of 17 studies; aversive methods can jeopardize physical and mental health; no evidence positive punishment outperforms positive reinforcement; reviewed studies had small samples.
• Dog training methods: their use, effectiveness and interaction with behaviour and welfare. Hiby, Rooney and Bradshaw, Animal Welfare 13(1):63-69 (journal; abstract page). Obedience correlated with the number of tasks trained with rewards and not with punishment; problem behaviors correlated with punishment.
• Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Morrill et al., Science 2022;376(6592):eabk0639; open-access copy at PubMed Central (journal). Breed explains about 9 percent of variation in behavior and offers little predictive value for individuals.
• Teenage dogs? Evidence for adolescent-phase conflict behaviour and an association between attachment to humans and pubertal timing in the domestic dog. Asher, England, Sommerville and Harvey, Biology Letters 16(5):20200097, CC BY 4.0 (journal, open access). Carers rated trainability lower at 8 months than at 5 and higher again by 12; the dip was carer-specific (less familiar trainers rated it higher at 8 months).

Professional help

• Dog Trainer Certification (CPDT-KA and CPDT-KSA). CCPDT (standards body).
• Dog Behavior Consultant Certification (CBCC-KA). CCPDT (standards body).
• Recertification. CCPDT (standards body).
• Certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant Directory. CCPDT (standards body).
• IAABC Credentials. IAABC (professional body).
• Find a Consultant. IAABC (professional body).
• Locate a Trainer. APDT (professional body).
• Position Statements. APDT (professional body).
• American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, Official Application Portal. ACVB via Prolydian (professional body).
• What is a veterinary behaviorist? American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (professional body).
• Certification Program for Applied Animal Behaviorists (updated June 2018). Animal Behavior Society (professional body).
• Animal Trainer Certification Program. Fear Free (course vendor, certifying body).
• Behavioral Help for Your Pet. ASPCA (welfare organization).
• Choose a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (Karen Pryor Academy (course vendor)). Named only: the publisher blocks automated checks, so we do not link it.
• The Guiding Principles (Pet Professional Guild (professional body)). Named only: the publisher blocks automated checks, so we do not link it.

Adjustment, age and household

• Adopting: Helping a Dog Adjust to a New Home. San Diego Humane Society (welfare organization, practitioner). A shelter's decompression advice.
• General Dog Care. ASPCA (welfare organization). Meals per day by age and the ten-percent line for extras.

Body language, stress and thresholds

• Canine Body Language. ASPCApro (welfare organization). Body-part signal guide.
• Canine Body Language Tips. ASPCApro (welfare organization). Adds slow blink, "helicopter tail", shedding and wet pawprints as stress; the arousal cluster; defensive versus offensive postures; teeth do not always mean aggression.
• Poster Download. CattleDog Publishing (practitioner, publisher of Dr. Sophia Yin's work). The free download page for "Body Language of Fear in Dogs", "How To Greet A Dog", "How Kids SHOULD and Should NOT Interact with Dogs" and others.
• Understanding Your Dog's Body Language. CattleDog Publishing (practitioner), Zurlinden. Text version of the fear-poster signals (lip licking, facial tension, raised hair, ears back, wide eyes, averted gaze, tucked tail, lifted paw, hypervigilance; then pinned ears, closed mouth, whale eye, bared teeth, growl, snap, bite).
• Dog Bite Prevention: How Kids and Adults Should Greet Dogs Safely. CattleDog Publishing (practitioner), Sophia Yin. The greeting rules behind the poster (ask the owner, stay outside the dog's space, back of a closed hand, pet under the chin if the dog approaches relaxed, never hug an unfamiliar dog).
• Dog Body Language 101. Fear Free Happy Homes (course vendor; free video). A free video; the page text names no signals, so this manual links it without citing specifics.
• Body Language Gallery. iSpeakDog (practitioner; unattributed educational site). A labeled photo gallery (ears, play bow, hard eye, whale eye, paw raise, tucked tail).
• Canine Communication: Interpreting Dog Language. VCA (veterinary reference), Horwitz, Landsberg, DePorter, Joswich. Appeasement versus assertive signals; the graduated scale and that a dog may skip steps; a "submissive" dog can still bite.
• Dog Body Language Basics. University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Ryan Veterinary Hospital Behavior Medicine (veterinary reference). A 30-item signal list and approach rules.
• Canine ladder of communication. PDSA (UK veterinary charity). Kendal Shepherd's ladder, rungs from yawning, blinking and nose licking through looking away, turning away, walking away, creeping with ears back, crouching with tail tucked, lying down, stiffening and staring, growl, snap, bite; dogs may skip rungs if mild signals are ignored; do not punish growling.
• Aggression in Dogs (fear versus aggression). VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Martin, Buzhardt. The escalation list; bite risk rises with high arousal, pain, ignored early signs or punished warnings; consult a veterinarian immediately at any aggressive posture, then a veterinary behaviorist.
• Introduction to Desensitization and Counterconditioning. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Feyrecilde, Horwitz, Landsberg. Definitions; control intensity by distance, volume and speed; sessions 5 to 45 minutes, at least twice weekly; raise intensity only after two or three successful sessions; stop if the pet stops taking treats; consult a professional if stalled.
• Overcoming Fears with Desensitization and Counterconditioning. VCA (veterinary reference), same authors. Four prerequisites (safe control, a motivating reward, control over the stimulus, a gradient); stay below the threshold of fear; punishment worsens fear.
• Fears and Phobias in Dogs: Animals and People. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Martin, Horwitz, Landsberg. Signs, causes (inadequate socialization in about weeks 3 to 14, trauma, punishment, medical), prevention (socialize at least twice weekly until 16 weeks, then weekly for a year), treatment outline; veterinarian first; refer to a DACVB or CAAB.
• Behavior Problems in Dogs (pet owner version). Merck Veterinary Manual (veterinary reference), Landsberg. Aggression types and drivers; fear, anxiety and phobia defined; elimination problems (habits form at 8 to 9 weeks; voluntary holding from about 8.5 weeks; out 15 to 30 minutes after eating); separation-anxiety signs most severe in the first 15 to 30 minutes; physical punishment worsens aggression; seek veterinary help at the first sign of aggression.
• Diagnosing Behavior Problems in Dogs (pet owner version). Merck (veterinary reference), Landsberg. What a veterinary work-up involves (health first, a behavioral history, antecedent-behavior-consequence, video); a diagnosis cannot be made from a one-time event.
• What is situation-stacking? Dogs Trust, vet-clinic resources with the British Veterinary Behaviour Association (welfare organization). Trigger stacking defined (short situations following one another with no time to calm down; threshold varies by dog).
• Trigger stacking in dogs. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home (welfare organization). A worked example (motorbike, then a growl at a dog it usually ignores) and management (quieter routes, move away, higher-value food). Its pheromone-product suggestions are not used.
• Dog Aggression Toward Unfamiliar Dogs: Diagnosis. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Horwitz, Landsberg. Leash reactivity as a display, not a motivation; freezing and staring precede lunging; do not correct a lunging dog; never remove a barrier to test; veterinary exam plus a behavior specialist.
• Aggression Towards Unfamiliar Dogs, Part 2: Treatment. VCA (veterinary reference), same authors. Management (route and time, no dog parks, no on-leash greetings, basket muzzle if a bite is possible), stay under threshold, do not punish growls, do not "socialize" a fearful dog by more exposure before a behaviorist is consulted.
• Treating Fear of Storms and Fireworks in Dogs. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Horwitz, Landsberg. The noise-fear referral note (settle on a mat first; train off-season; medication is a veterinarian's decision).

Guarding and aggression

• Food Guarding. ASPCA (welfare organization). Signs, and the stop rules (never with anyone under 18; do not start if the dog has bitten or is likely to; stop at any sign of aggression and get a CAAB, ACAAB, Dip ACVB or aggression-experienced CPDT). The seven-stage exercise is referenced, not reproduced.
• Food Bowl Aggression in Dogs. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Feyrecilde, Horwitz, Landsberg. Subtle signs (eating faster, gulping, stiffening, staring); management; the "all good things" walk-by; do not remove the bowl mid-meal, do not hand-feed as a fix, never test the dog; a growl, snarl, snap or lunge near the dish means a behavior professional before any exercise.
• Aggression. ASPCA (welfare organization). Types, escalation, risk factors, medical causes, see a veterinarian first; no alpha rolls, scruff shakes, prong or shock collars; work with a CAAB, ACAAB, Dip ACVB or a CPDT with aggression experience.
• Aggression: Diagnosis and Overview. VCA (veterinary reference), Horwitz and Landsberg. Medical rule-outs (hypothyroidism, epilepsy, pain, dental disease, arthritis, sensory loss, others); dominance as the most common misdiagnosis; plan best handled with a veterinary or applied animal behaviorist.
• Aggression: Getting Started, Safety and Management. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Horwitz, Landsberg. What an owner does while waiting for help (list and avoid triggers, confine during meals and visits, leash held by an adult, basket muzzle supervised) and what is left to a professional (risk, plans, household dog-dog aggression, keep or re-home decisions).
• Muzzle Comfort. The Muzzle Up! Project (practitioner), Backman. Basket muzzle, not cloth, for anything beyond brief use; a muzzle is not training, not a bark stopper, not punishment; introduce gradually.
• Muzzle Training for Dogs. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Feyrecilde, Horwitz, Landsberg. Uses, fit (pant, take treats, not on nostrils or eyes, not removable), steps from sniff to 10 seconds; early sessions 1 to 2 minutes; fearful dogs need a behavior professional.

Children and bites

• Preventing dog bites. American Veterinary Medical Association (professional body). Owner, family and body-language rules; after a bite, wash, see a doctor, exchange rabies details, obey local reporting rules.
• National Dog Bite Prevention Week (April 12 to 18): AVMA emphasizes protecting children. AVMA press release (professional body).
• Dogs (Healthy Pets, Healthy People). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (agency). Bite rules for children and adults; after a bite, wash, see a provider if deep or rabies status unknown or a tetanus shot is over 5 years old, report to local animal control.
• Dog Bite Prevention. ASPCA (welfare organization). Owner and child rules; after the first aggressive incident, even without injury, seek a CAAB, Dip ACVB or CPDT; "license your dog as required by law".
• Aggression: Children. VCA (veterinary reference), Horwitz, Landsberg, DePorter, Alexander. Sourced statistics (about 800,000 seek care yearly, half children, per CDC; family pets cause about two-thirds of bites to children); never leave young children alone with any dog; the rules to teach from 18 months.
• Children and Pets. VCA (veterinary reference), Horwitz and Landsberg. Baby-arrival planning; no face-to-face greetings even with a familiar dog; stay away from any dog showing fear.
• Resources. Family Paws Parent Education (practitioner). Free handouts offered "for everyone to share and post" (Dog & Baby and Dog & Toddler tip sheets, The 5 Types of Supervision, Success Stations); Dog & Baby Support Line 877-247-3407.
• The 5 Types of Supervision (poster). Family Paws (practitioner). Absent, passive, reactive, proactive, active supervision defined.

Treats, calories and toxic foods

• 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. AAHA (professional body); Cline et al., J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2021;57:153-178. The ten-percent statement (main diet at least 90 percent of intake; treats and other items at most 10 percent of daily calories); AAFCO requires a calorie statement on dog food labels including treats but not chews, bones or toys.
• Energy Requirement Calculations (Box 1 of the 2021 guidelines). AAHA (professional body). RER = 70 × BWkg^0.75; MER = RER × factor; worked example (4.5 kg neutered dog: RER 216 kcal, MER at 1.4 = 302 kcal); canine factors: neutered adult 1.4 to 1.6; intact adult 1.6 to 1.8; inactive or obese-prone 1.0 to 1.2; weight loss 1.0; growth under 4 months 3.0, 4 months and older 2.0; work light 1.6 to 2.0, moderate 2.0 to 5.0, heavy 5.0 to 11.0; sedentary pets may need less.
• Basic Calorie Calculator for Dogs and Cats. Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, Nutrition Support Service (veterinary reference). RER = 70 × kg^0.75; factors: neutered adult 1.6, intact adult 1.8, inactive or obese-prone 1.2 to 1.4, puppy 0 to 4 months 3.0, puppy 4 months to adult 2.0, active working 2.0 to 5.0; individual needs vary by as much as 50 percent.
• Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual (veterinary reference), Sanderson. RER = 70 × BWkg^0.75; linear alternative 30 × kg + 70 for dogs 2 to 45 kg; MER multiples: intact adult 1.8, neutered 1.6, obesity-prone 1.4, puppy under 4 months 3, over 4 months 2.
• Calorie Calculator. Pet Nutrition Alliance (professional body coalition). A vet-facing calculator that keeps treats within 10 percent and cuts the meal by 10 percent when treats are on.
• Feeding treats to your dog. WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee (professional body). Treats less than, or no more than, 10 percent of daily calories; per-item calories (peanut butter 1 tbsp 81 kcal; cheddar 28 g 120; chicken breast 28 g 47; rawhide bone 190 g 700); unsafe chews and the toxic-food list.
• Calorie Ranges for an Average Healthy Adult Dog in Ideal Body Condition (updated July 2020). WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee (professional body). Active adult 130 × kg^0.75, inactive adult 95 × kg^0.75 (NRC 2006), with a chart by weight.
• Dog Treats. VCA (veterinary reference). Owner-facing ten-percent rule; one large commercial biscuit about 85 calories; part of the ration can serve as treats.
• Helping Pets Live Healthier, Thinner Lives: AAHA Nutritional Assessment Guidelines. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (agency). Treats as uncounted calories; body condition targets.
• People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets. ASPCA Animal Poison Control (welfare organization, veterinary reference). The never-as-a-treat list (alcohol, yeast dough, chocolate and caffeine, grapes and raisins, onion, garlic, chives, macadamia nuts, xylitol, raw bones, salty foods and others); APCC (888) 426-4435.
• Paws Off Xylitol; It's Dangerous for Dogs. FDA (agency). Hypoglycemia within 10 to 60 minutes; check nut-butter labels before using as a treat.
• Xylitol Is Toxic To Dogs. Pet Poison Helpline (veterinary reference; commercial helpline). Product categories (gum, mints, toothpaste, chewable vitamins, some nut butters).

Equipment, enrichment and weather

• Which Type of Dog Collar is Best for Your Dog? Humane World for Animals, formerly the Humane Society of the United States (welfare organization). Flat collar two-finger fit; martingale for dogs that slip collars; head halter only fitted and introduced gradually; choke, prong and shock collars "shouldn't be used".
• Collar and Harness Options for Training Your Dog. VCA (veterinary reference), Horwitz and Landsberg. Head halters and chest-clip harnesses described; choke, pinch and prong collars linked to tracheal damage and raised intraocular pressure and can increase fear.
• Head Halter Training for Dogs. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Feyrecilde, Horwitz, Landsberg. Ten-step conditioning; never jerk; never with a long line or retractable leash; always with a backup collar or harness; not a muzzle.
• Behavior Management Products for Dogs. VCA (veterinary reference), Horwitz and Landsberg. Any device that causes pain should not be used; bark collars not until the cause is known and can worsen anxiety barking.
• Canine DIY Enrichment. ASPCA (welfare organization). Household food puzzles and scent games; supervise and remove anything the dog tries to swallow. The page carries an affiliate disclosure; cited as a reference only.
• Using Predictability, Scheduling, and Enrichment to Train Your Dog. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Feyrecilde, Horwitz, Landsberg. Settle sessions; enrichment walks where the dog sets the pace; food toys counted against calories.
• Dog Behavior and Training: Play and Exercise. VCA (veterinary reference), same authors. No routine jogging on hard surfaces until fully grown (under 12 months for tiny breeds, 18 to 24 months for large); a long leash up to 50 feet until recall is reliable.
• Healthy Exercise for Dogs. VCA (veterinary reference), Barnes, Weir, Downing. A short walk every day beats a long one on Sunday; puppies in short self-paced spurts.
• For Dog Owners: Environmental Enrichment. Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative (veterinary reference). Five enrichment categories (food, sensory, novel objects, social, positive training); the animal must engage and not be made fearful.
• Warm weather pet safety. AVMA (professional body). Walk in cooler hours; hot asphalt burns paws; carry water; never leave a pet in a car; heat-stress signs (excessive panting, drooling, unsteadiness, abnormal gum color, collapse). No temperatures or hand test on the page.
• Cold weather animal safety. AVMA (professional body). Shorten walks in very cold weather; short-haired, very young, very old and ill pets more susceptible; check paws; wipe off de-icers.
• Walking or running with your dog. AVMA (professional body). Build up with short frequent walks; sniff breaks; hot sidewalks burn pads; a fitted collar or harness and ID.
• Pet ownership. AVMA (professional body). The "ask locally" line: obey local ordinances including licensing, leash and noise rules; rabies and license tags; no rule stated.

Socialization and vaccines

• Position Statement on Puppy Socialization. AVSAB (professional body). The class-entry rule.
• 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines, with Recommendations for core and noncore canine vaccines. AAHA (standards body). The core puppy series.
• Balancing Puppy Socialization with Infectious Disease Prevention. The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine (veterinary reference), Herron DACVB and Stull DACVPM. The most precise class-entry condition and series summary.
• Socializing Your Puppy (PDF). ASPCA via ASPCApro (welfare organization). The tightest statement of the window: most accepting between 3 and 12 weeks; from about 12 to 18 weeks each week gets harder; after 18 weeks very difficult; tone down any exposure that frightens; follow every exposure with praise, play or a treat; quotes AVSAB's class rule.
• Puppy Socialization: Why, When, and How to Do It Right. American Kennel Club (professional body, breed registry). An owner-level checklist and class timing (classes once the series has started; after the full series wait 7 to 10 days before a dog park).
• Puppy Fear Periods: Why Is My Puppy Suddenly Afraid? AKC (professional body), Patterdale CPDT-KA. Fear period one 8 to 11 weeks; fear period two 6 to 14 months (trainer-stated, no veterinary citation on the page); let the puppy move away, no forcing.
• AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy: Test Items and Pledge. AKC (professional body). The 20 items (owner behaviors, puppy behaviors, pre-CGC items such as 15 steps on leash, come from 5 feet, distraction at 15 feet, stay while the owner walks 10 steps); a six-week class; the Responsible Dog Owner's Pledge in four sections.
• Puppy Behavior and Training: Socialization and Fear Prevention. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Feyrecilde, Horwitz, Landsberg. Sensitive period given as 3 to 16 weeks; stay with the litter until 7 to 10 weeks; classes require 10 days in the new home, current vaccines and no intestinal parasites; new places at least twice weekly; adolescence 6 to 18 months.
• When should you start puppy classes? VCA (veterinary reference). VCA's restatement of the AVSAB rule (7 to 8 weeks; one set of vaccines and first deworming at least 7 days before).
• Puppy Behavior and Training: Handling Exercises. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Feyrecilde, Horwitz, Landsberg. Handling goals broken into small steps paired with lickable treats; if the puppy wiggles wait three to five seconds then loosen; stop and consult a professional for refusing treats, freezing or growling. The title mentions food-bowl exercises but the page no longer contains them.
• Normal Social Behavior in Dogs (pet owner version). Merck (veterinary reference), Landsberg. 3 to 8 weeks oriented to dogs, 5 to 12 weeks to people; most open to new situations until about 16 to 20 weeks; adopt at about 8 weeks, not before 7.5; social maturity 12 to 36 months; communication channels.
• Social Behavior of Dogs (professional version). Merck (veterinary reference), Borns-Weil. Developmental stages: socialization period 3 to 12 weeks; juvenile 12 weeks to sexual maturity at 6 to 9 months; social maturity 12 to 36 months; rehoming at 8 to 10 weeks.
• Puppy Socialization (Croney Research Group). Purdue University Center for Animal Welfare Science (university). Sensitive period 3 to 14 weeks; fear period on average 8 to 10 weeks with individual variation (read behavior, not the calendar); "more is not always better", neutral is not good enough; a single negative event can create lasting fear.
• Chapter 7: Puppy Care & Socialization, Leader Guide (4-H Dog project). Colorado State University Extension (extension service). Stage ages in an extension curriculum (socialization 3 to 14 weeks); positive, gradual experiences only.

House training

• Housetraining. Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative (veterinary reference). One hour for each month of age, give or take an hour; adults out about every four hours when possible, can generally hold 8 hours or longer; out after eating, naps, play; if the dog must be alone longer than the rule allows, a pen or gated room, not a crate; a 6-foot tether for previously confined dogs.
• Tips on Housetraining Your Dog. University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Ryan Veterinary Hospital Behavior Medicine (veterinary reference). The same hold rule; reward as the dog finishes, so go out on leash; say the cue only while the dog is eliminating for the first week or two, then earlier; do not crate beyond the hold rule.
• How to Potty Train a Puppy: A Step-by-Step Guide. AKC (professional body). Puppies can generally hold the bladder about as many hours as their age in months, up to about 9 months to a year; out first thing, last thing, after naps, meals, drinking, play; every one to two hours while awake; persistent soiling warrants a veterinary evaluation.
• How to Potty Train a Puppy. Humane World for Animals (welfare organization). Out at least every two hours and after waking, play, eating, drinking; about one hour per month of age; most puppies can sleep about seven hours; house training typically takes 4 to 6 months; pads can lengthen outdoor training; never punish accidents.
• House Training for Puppies and Dogs. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Feyrecilde. The most detailed outing schedule: every half hour during play, every 1 to 2 hours awake, at least every 4 hours even resting; overnight outings may be needed until 5 months; a puppy left no more than 3 hours can usually be crated, longer needs a sitter or a pen with a toileting surface; interrupt mistakes with a neutral noise, never punish; a lapse in a trained dog warrants a veterinary visit.
• Dog Behavior Problems: House Soiling. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Horwitz, Landsberg. The medical causes a veterinarian rules out (kidney or liver disease, infection, diabetes, Cushing's, corticosteroids, parasites, pain, cognitive decline); sudden onset means a veterinary check first; a healthy adult holds urine about 3 to 4 hours when inactive.
• Housetraining Your Puppy (Clinical Animal Behavior Service handout, written by veterinary students). UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (veterinary reference). Elimination breaks per day by age: 6 to 14 weeks 8 to 10; 14 to 20 weeks 6 to 8; 20 to 30 weeks 4 to 6; 30 weeks and older 3 to 4.
• House Training Your Dog or Puppy. ASPCA (welfare organization). Supervision and no-punishment principles; pre-potty signs; interrupt in the act and go outside; never scold for past accidents.

Crate, alone time and separation anxiety

• How to crate train your dog or puppy. Humane World for Animals (welfare organization). Puppies under 6 months not crated more than three or four hours at a time; adults no more than 4 to 5 hours in the day; steps (introduce, feed meals in the crate, sit nearby 5 to 10 minutes then out of sight to about 30 minutes, then short departures); never for punishment; not a fix for separation anxiety.
• Everything You Need to Know About Crate Training Your Dog. AKC (professional body), Gibeault. Treat every 5 to 10 seconds with the door open; remove the collar; never for punishment, never longer than the dog can hold its bladder, never if it causes panic (pacing, shaking, biting the door, prolonged howling, drooling); a gated area for separation-anxiety dogs.
• Crate Training and Confinement for Puppies and Dogs. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Feyrecilde. Introduction protocol; stop and consult a veterinarian for salivating, persistent vocalizing, escape attempts or failure to settle; monitor early separations by camera.
• Crate Training. Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative (veterinary reference). Limit confinement to about one hour per month of age, give or take an hour; end sessions before stress (panting, yawning, drooling); frantic behavior means stop and get help.
• Separation Anxiety. ASPCA (welfare organization). The mild versus moderate-to-severe split (mild: a food puzzle lasting 20 to 30 minutes at departures; moderate and severe: a graduated-absence program guided by a CAAB, ACAAB or Dip ACVB, from seconds upward); always consult a veterinarian before medication; most dogs need medication plus behavior modification; medical rule-outs; never leave a dog in a car at 70 °F or above; crating helps some dogs and worsens others.
• Preventing Separation Anxiety (2020). ASPCApro (welfare organization). Alone-time practice for a new dog: a puzzle toy that lasts 10 to 20 minutes in another room; a short real departure at least once a day; start with a few minutes.
• Separation Anxiety in Dogs. VCA (veterinary reference), Horwitz and Landsberg. Signs; predictable routine; ignore the dog for 15 to 30 minutes before leaving and 10 to 15 after returning; mock departures from seconds; fluoxetine and clomipramine named as veterinary treatments; contact the veterinarian before any medication; rule out hearing or sight loss, pain, cognitive dysfunction.
• Calm a dog with separation anxiety symptoms. Humane World for Animals (welfare organization). Causes (routine changes such as a move, adoption or return to work); a safe room rather than a crate for dogs that may injure themselves; treatment can take months.

First behaviors, leash, recall, settle

• How to Teach Your Dog to Sit. AKC (professional body), Gibeault CPDT. Lure-reward sit; fade to an empty hand rewarded from the other hand; add the word just before the signal once the empty hand is reliable; never push the hindquarters.
• How to Teach Your Dog to Lie Down. AKC (professional body), Gibeault. Down by lure, shaping and capturing; reward while still down.
• How to Teach Targeting to Your Dog. AKC (professional body), Patterdale CPDT-KA. Hand target steps; uses for steering and refocusing.
• How to Teach Your Pet to Target. KPCT (practitioner), Luck. Target about a quarter inch from the nose; sessions no more than 3 to 5 minutes; following the target.
• How to Successfully Fade the Lure in Dog Training. AKC (professional body), Patterdale. Test for lure dependence; four fading steps; then a variable schedule; treats are never eliminated.
• How to Stop Your Dog From Pulling on the Leash. AKC (professional body), Gibeault. Stop when the leash tightens, move when it is loose (a "J"); treat at your side; thin treats later; the sniff as a reward; no equipment advice.
• How to Train Your Dog to Come When Called. AKC (professional body), Gibeault. Name game; collar-grab "gotcha"; staged recall from a few feet to a 20- or 30-foot long line; round robin.
• Training a Steadfast Recall. KPCT (practitioner), Alexander. Click the first step toward you; add the cue once reliable; no distance or distraction until immediate; two people 8 to 10 feet apart; call once, and go get the dog if it does not come; never punish a recall.
• How to Teach Your Dog to Stay. AKC (professional body), Gibeault. Release word first; duration from 1 to 2 seconds; distraction once the dog holds 30 seconds; distance last; don't punish breaks.
• How to Train a Dog to Stay. KPCT (practitioner), Alexander. Boundary-based stay; keep records of reliability per location, duration, distance and distraction.
• The Three Ds of Dog Training: Duration, Distance, and Distraction. AKC (professional body), Gibeault. Start duration at about one second; one D at a time, distraction last; when raising one D drop the others.
• How To Teach Your Dog To Go to Their Place. AKC (professional body), Gibeault. Mat with release word; add the down; duration, then distance, then distractions; add the cue last.
• Teach Settle on a Mat. KPCT (practitioner), Luck. Shaped mat settle, one paw to four, wait for a voluntary sit then down.
• "Leave It": Training Your Dog to Ignore Food and Other Items. AKC (professional body), Gibeault. Four stages from a closed fist to food on the floor to a leashed walk past items; never cue when failure is likely.
• How to Teach Your Dog to Drop It. AKC (professional body), Gibeault. Trade-based drop; return the item; never chase or pry the mouth.
• Protocol for Relaxation: Behavior Modification Tier 1. Karen L. Overall, from the Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats (veterinary behaviorist, author's site). The legitimate host; structure (15 task sets; a 15-second sit prerequisite; 15 to 20 minutes once or twice a day; rewards relaxed body signals, not the sit). © 2013 Mosby/Elsevier, no reuse license: link, describe the shape, never reproduce tasks.
• Teaching Relaxation Exercises to Dogs (client handout, July/August 2025). Today's Veterinary Practice (veterinary reference). Mat, settle and breathe exercises; sessions 2 to 5 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day; cue added at 8 of 10; duration raised in 5- to 10-second steps; links the Overall protocol.

Everyday problems

• Barking. ASPCA (welfare organization). Barking types; veterinarian rules out illness first; "go to your spot" with numbers (spot at least 8 feet from the door; stays from 1 second; 8 of 10 before raising; 30-second stay before distance and distractions) and "quiet" (allow 3 to 4 barks, cue, pay; delay 2, 5, 10, 20 seconds; get help if 10 to 20 attempts fail). Aversive sections (bark-collar comparison, startle-noise fallback) are not cited.
• How to Get Your Dog to Stop Barking. Humane World for Animals (welfare organization). Identify the cause; remove the reward; ignore attention barking; desensitize from a distance; an incompatible behavior for the doorbell; a certified positive-reinforcement trainer for reactive barking.
• How to stop your dog from jumping. Humane World for Animals (welfare organization). Manage first; pet only with four paws down; an incompatible sit; everyone follows the same rule; don't force a dog to greet someone who frightens it.
• Greeting Behavior: Jumping Up. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Feyrecilde, Horwitz, Landsberg. Causes; reward four-on-the-floor before the jump, feeding low; no startling corrections; don't stop a behavior without teaching a replacement; never let anyone touch a dog showing avoidance.
• Stealing and Stay Away. VCA (veterinary reference), Horwitz and Landsberg. Food raiding is self-rewarding, so prevention comes first; "leave it", "take it" and "drop"; never reach for the dog in anger, never chase. Aversive sections (booby traps, taste aversives, motion alarms, shake cans, spray collars) are not cited.
• How to Get Your Dog to Stop Digging. Humane World for Animals (welfare organization). Digging by cause (entertainment, prey, comfort, attention, escape) and the fix for each; a digging zone; don't punish after the fact.
• Dogs and Destructive Digging. VCA (veterinary reference), Horwitz and Landsberg. Cause list including separation anxiety; determine the reason first. Aversive sections (shaker cans, water sprayers, citronella collars, booby traps) are not cited.
• Mouthing, Nipping and Biting in Puppies. ASPCA (welfare organization). The only durations: yelp no more than three times in 15 minutes; ignore 10 to 20 seconds after a hard bite; walk away 30 to 60 seconds for any tooth contact; seek a CAAB or Dip ACVB for stiff body, pulled-back lips, growling or painful bites; no slapping or scruff shaking.
• How to Stop Puppy Biting and Train Bite Inhibition. AKC (professional body). End the game, redirect, check for tiredness or hunger; consult a trainer or behavior specialist if biting is not moderated by 6 months (Dr. Jerry Klein).
• Puppy Teething and Nipping: A Survival Guide. AKC (professional body), Meyers. 28 baby teeth, falling out around 3 to 4 months, gone by 6 months; retained teeth need a veterinarian.
• Play Biting in Puppies. VCA (veterinary reference), Horwitz and Landsberg. Mouthing is social play, not teething; end play immediately, walk away, leave the room; physical methods not recommended.
• Destructive Chewing. ASPCA (welfare organization). Teething chewing usually ends by six months; causes; rotate chew toys; confinement while owners work should not exceed six hours; never punish after the fact.
• How to stop your dog's destructive chewing. Humane World for Animals (welfare organization). Manage the environment; swap a forbidden item for a toy or treat with a "give" cue; never pull items from the mouth or chase; the "guilty look" is appeasement.

Introductions

• Introducing Dogs to Each Other. ASPCA (welfare organization). Neutral outdoor meeting with a handler per dog, loose leashes, parallel walking; remove bowls and toys; feed apart; no unsupervised time together until a week with no tension; consult a professional before introductions if either dog has fought. Its fight-interruption tools are not cited.
• Introducing your new dog to your other dogs. Humane World for Animals (welfare organization). Start at a distance where both are calm; walk one behind the other, then side by side; a tall baby gate indoors; do not force interaction.
• Getting a Second Dog. VCA (veterinary reference), Lindell, Llera, Buzhardt. Meet somewhere new to both; don't scold growling; separate when no one is home.
• Introducing Dogs and Cats. Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative (veterinary reference). A refuge for the cat; gates; controlled meetings on a loose lead; reward the dog's calm; never punish the cat; never allow chasing; no fixed timeline.

Canine Good Citizen and extension

• CGC Test Items. AKC (professional body). The ten item titles (accepting a friendly stranger; sitting politely for petting; appearance and grooming; out for a walk; walking through a crowd; sit and down on cue and stay in place; coming when called; reaction to another dog; reaction to distraction; supervised separation); a 20-foot line for items 6 and 7.
• Responsible Dog Owner's Pledge (on the S.T.A.R. Puppy test-items page). AKC (professional body). 13 commitments in four sections (health, safety, not infringing on others, quality of life).
• Obedience Guidelines, Pima County 4-H Dog Project (rev. December 2023). University of Arizona Cooperative Extension (extension service). A first-year exercise ladder (heel on leash, figure 8, stand for examination, recall, long sit 1 minute, long down 3 minutes); six-foot leash.
• 4-H Dog Obedience Class Exercises. Purdue Extension 4-H (extension service), Pfrank. The class ladder with stay durations (sit stay 30 seconds in the first class; 1-minute group stays later).
• 4-H Dog Obedience Classes (Tazewell County class requirements). University of Illinois Extension (extension service). Beginner class content with a single phrase of praise allowed.

Paid courses we compared

Listed as references only, because this manual outline was checked against them. We receive nothing from any of them, and listing one is not a recommendation to buy it. Prices change and are not shown.

• The Essential Puppy Training Course; Top Dog Academy. Dunbar Academy (course vendor). Subscription five stages: household training (potty, crate, chew toys, alone time), confidence (socialization, handling, grooming), lure-reward training, motivation and reliability, life skills (distraction proofing); over 100 videos, printable trackers.
• LS605: Life Skills Combination Pack. Fenzi Dog Sports Academy (course vendor). Self-study one year of access; six lectures of about an hour: reliable recalls; sit, down, stay; stop jumping and polite greetings; dog on the go in public; stop leash pulling; cooperative care for vet and groomer. Site-wide: six-week classes .
• FE250: Life Skills, Real Life Skills for Performance Dogs. FDSA (course vendor), Branigan. 15-skill syllabus (equipment; the dance; soft hands; reinforcement history; emergency U-turn; real-life leave it; go sniff as reward; café settle; tables are for people; polite greetings; distractions; crowds; calm at home; hounds about town; multiple dogs).
• Dog Training (services page). PetSmart (course vendor). Puppy (10 weeks to 5 months) 6 weeks: leash manners, barking and nipping; Beginner (5 months and up) 6 weeks: leash manners, leave it; Intermediate stay, place; Advanced StartSmart workshop crate, socialization, vet and groomer visits).
• Online Puppy School, lifetime membership. Baxter & Bella (course vendor). Snippets describe 75+ lessons in modules (preparing for my puppy, the first week together, basic, intermediate, advanced).
• Dog Trainer Foundations (Karen Pryor Academy (course vendor)). Named only: the publisher blocks automated checks, so we do not link it.
• Home School the Dog; Recallers (DogsThat, Susan Garrett (course vendor)). Named only: the publisher blocks automated checks, so we do not link it.
• Petco Dog & Puppy Training Classes (Petco (course vendor)). Named only: the publisher blocks automated checks, so we do not link it.
• Ultimate Puppy Program Bundle (SpiritDog Training (course vendor)). Named only: the publisher blocks automated checks, so we do not link it.