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Basic Obedience / Group course

Strong foundations.
For everyday life.

Attention, positions, recall, and leash handling. Learn to communicate clearly and keep building your training between lessons.

6 weeksUp to 5 dogs

What is included

  • 6 Saturday lessons · 75–90 min
  • Handler preparation session included
  • Tuesday evening practice included
  • Guidance for training between lessons

Motion Dogs Preparation

Before training your dog, we prepare you.

Around 60 minutes, for handlers only, without dogs. This session takes place before the six weeks of practical training.

Explore the preparation topics
  • How dogs learn
  • Clear communication
  • Attention and connection with the handler
  • Reinforcement and consequences
  • How to give a cue
  • When to help your dog
  • When and how to reinforce
  • The importance of timing
  • Using and handling the leash
  • Choosing and using equipment appropriately
  • The difference between teaching and strengthening a behavior
  • Consistency across family members
  • Structuring short training sessions at home
  • How group lessons work
  • Managing distance and space between dogs

A practical, accessible session. When helpful, we demonstrate leash handling, rewards, positioning, and communication.

The six weeks

Expand a week to see the exercises and training goals.

Week 1

Communication and foundations

We establish how we will work together.

We work on

  • Attention to the handler
  • Clear communication
  • Connecting behavior and consequences
  • Using rewards correctly
  • Introduction to leash work
  • Initial training criteria
  • Positioning and managing the dog
  • Working around the other dogs in the group

Dogs share the training space from the first lesson, with distances adapted to each dog and handler.

Week 2

Positions and self-control

We introduce basic behaviors and begin to develop the ability to wait.

We work on

  • Sit
  • Down
  • Initial stays
  • Release cue
  • Impulse control
  • Attention around mild distractions
  • A clear beginning and end to each exercise
Week 3

Leash handling

Your dog learns to move with you in a more organized way.

We work on

  • Following the handler
  • Appropriate position and proximity
  • Changes of direction
  • Changes of pace
  • Stops
  • Moving around other dog-and-handler teams
  • Appropriate use of the leash
  • Gradually reducing reliance on a visible reward
Week 4

Recall

We build a clear recall that is valuable to your dog.

We work on

  • Responding to the recall cue
  • Motivation to return to the handler
  • Using a long line when needed
  • Gradually increasing distance
  • Returning to and settling beside the handler
  • Progressively introducing distractions
Week 5

Generalization and distractions

We ask for familiar behaviors in less predictable situations.

We work on

  • Performing exercises around greater distractions
  • Dogs and people in motion
  • Controlled approaches and passing other dog-and-handler teams
  • Regaining attention
  • Different positions and working areas
  • Varying distance and duration
  • Neutrality
  • Continuing to work despite the environment

Distractions are present from the start. They increase progressively as the dog understands the exercises.

Week 6

Consolidation and assessment

We bring together the work developed throughout the course.

We work on

  • Combining exercises
  • Varying duration
  • Varying distance
  • Different distraction levels
  • Simple behavior sequences
  • Applying skills in situations close to everyday life
  • Identifying strengths and areas that need continued work

At the end, we review each dog-and-handler team’s progress and identify the most suitable next step.

Progression follows the learning pace of each dog and handler.

Progression with purpose

Weeks 1–2

Understand

Learn what each exercise means and how to communicate it clearly.

Weeks 3–4

Strengthen

Gradually increase movement, distance, and distractions.

Weeks 5–6

Generalize

Work with greater variety and in more demanding settings.

Motion Dogs Practice

Tuesday evening Motion Dogs Practice is included throughout the six weeks of both Basic and Advanced Obedience. Supervised training to repeat exercises, ask questions, and refine your work.

Attendance is optional and complements the main lesson. Missing a Tuesday session does not mean missing essential course material.

  • Practice the main lesson’s exercises
  • Discuss difficulties and correct small mistakes
  • More supervised repetitions
  • Work with different distraction levels
  • Adapt exercises to each team’s challenges

What we aim to build

  • Attention to the handler
  • Sit and down
  • Stays
  • Recall
  • Controlled leash handling
  • Self-control
  • Working around other dogs
  • Regaining attention around distractions
  • Understanding training rules and criteria

As a handler, you also learn how to ask, help, reinforce, and correct a response, so you can continue the work outside lessons.