Welcome to the AKC Virtual Home Manners & Foundations course!

A brief overview of how to submit for your AKC Virtual Home Manners title.

Some tips for filming your VHM title assessments quickly and easily.

This lesson explains the science behind how dogs learn through positive reinforcement. You’ll learn what reinforcement really means, how timing affects learning, and how to set up training so your dog is more likely to succeed.

A marker is a signal that tells your dog, “Yes! That’s what I wanted.” This lesson teaches you how to use a clicker or a verbal marker word (like “Yes!”) to build clarity and confidence in your training.

Every dog is different, so it’s important to use what your dog values most. This lesson helps you discover which rewards to use and when to use them.

Training should feel fun and doable and not overwhelming. This lesson shows you how to structure short sessions for success, and how to read when your dog needs a break.

Your dog’s name should mean “Look at me!” This lesson teaches you how to classically condition your dog to respond to their name using rewards.

This is your first real “trained” behavior! You’ll teach your dog to touch their nose to your hand on cue. This fun, simple skill builds confidence and is useful for recall, leash walking, and tricks.

A review of what to work on before heading into Week #2.

There’s more than one way to teach a new behavior and understanding how you're teaching can make training feel less confusing and more flexible. This lesson breaks down the three main methods used in dog training: luring, capturing, and shaping and when to use each one.

This lesson introduces Sit using two possible approaches: a food lure or a nose touch cue chain. You’ll learn how to choose the best method for your dog and how to use clear marker timing to capture the behavior.

Here, we’ll guide your dog into a Down position with a slow, clear lure or by building off a known Sit cue. We’ll also look at how to help dogs who resist lying down, especially on slippery or unfamiliar surfaces.

Once your dog is reliably following the lure, it’s time to fade it out and replace it with your verbal or hand signal. This lesson shows how to make that transition smoothly and without confusion.

Generalization (being able to perform a skill in new places) is one of the hardest parts of training. This lesson shows how to help your dog practice Sit and Down in new environments and what to do if they suddenly “forget.”

This final lesson of the week explains how Sit and Down form the foundation for behaviors like Stay, polite leash walking, and handling. You’ll learn how to build fluency over time and not rush perfection.

A review of what to work on before heading into Week #3.

Proofing means practicing a skill under different circumstances so your dog learns it really means the same thing every time. In this lesson, you'll discover why your dog “forgets” known cues in new places or situations and how to fix that by setting them up for success.

This playful proofing game shows you how to test your dog’s understanding of Sit and Down by changing your body language, posture, or position. It’s a silly way to help your dog think instead of just guessing, and to strengthen the cue for real-world use.

Before we jump into full recalls, we teach your dog that being near you and following you, is awesome. This game uses small treats dropped along your path (like a trail of breadcrumbs!) to build engagement and teach your dog to check in naturally.

Recall is one of the most important cues your dog will ever learn. This lesson shows how to build it with positivity, smart setups, and lots of celebration. You'll create a recall cue that your dog loves to respond to.

Long lines let you safely practice recall in open spaces without the risk of your dog running off. This lesson teaches you how to use them effectively and what to avoid to prevent tangles, confusion, or accidents.

You called your dog, and they came… then they chewed your shoe again. Frustrating? Yes. But if we scold a dog after they come to us, we damage trust and the cue. This lesson explains how to handle those moments while keeping your recall strong.

A review of what to work on before heading into Week #4.