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Five Comfortable Skills to Practice with a Young Dog

Choose short sessions that suit your puppy’s development and comfort.

  1. Attention. Reward a response to a familiar attention cue.
  2. Comfortable handling. Pair gentle, brief handling with rewards and pause when needed.
  3. Exploration. Let the puppy investigate safe objects without forcing interaction.
  4. Settling. Reward brief relaxed moments on a comfortable mat.
  5. Following along. Practice a few loose-leash steps in a safe setting.

Gradually increase difficulty and provide rest, toileting, and play. Do not expect a young dog to hold long positions or remain calm in every environment. Supervise any tether closely, or use a suitable pen or gate.

A dog in training does not gain ADA public-access rights simply from the training label. Check applicable state or local provisions before using pet-restricted spaces.

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