Training Rex in the City, Basic Obedience for Dogs

What's Inside

Lesson plans
There is one lesson plan per week for eight weeks. The lessons proceed step by step in teaching your dog basic obedience, with each lesson building on what came before.

Optional exercises
You'll also find optional exercises that you might want to teach your dog. They're interesting, but not essential. They'll be in boxed sections.

Getting Started

Before you start the training program, some preparation is needed.

• First, read the Week 1 lesson plan, including the "Introduction to dog training," and follow all the instructions. It will give you some useful background and explain some of the theory behind the training. Completing Week 1 may not take the whole week, but be sure you have read and understood this section before you start training.
• There is one lesson plan per week for Weeks 2-8. Each builds on the skills of the previous week(s), so it's important to complete the preceeding lesson before advancing to the next.
• Spend a whole week on each lesson plan. Don't skip ahead.
• For best results, train your dog at least 30 minutes each day. Two 15-minute sessions are ideal.
• Read the whole lesson plan for the week before starting. As you read, visualize what you're trying to achieve. Try to picture what the exercises will look like - and how you'll teach the skill. It's very helpful to reread individual sections before starting to teach - or even go through the motions without the dog at first.