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.

You’ll begin by picking a clear, safe, and inviting location for your dog’s “place.” Whether it’s a mat, platform, or crate, the target should be consistent and comfortable for your dog to lie on.

Now we’ll teach your dog to approach and lie down on the target. This can be done with luring (leading with food) or shaping (rewarding step-by-step actions).

Once your dog is consistently going to the target, it’s time to add a verbal cue like “Place” or “Crate.” We’ll show you how to pair the cue with the behavior and fade out help.

In this lesson, we’ll build toward sending your dog to their place from a distance. You’ll learn how to gradually increase the challenge while keeping your dog successful.

This lesson helps if your dog leaves the mat early or seems confused. We’ll also share how to make the spot more appealing and support long-term success.

A review of what to work on before heading into Week #5.

Let’s start with defining what we mean when we say "Stay" and how it compares to “Wait.” We’ll look at how to choose the right word for your routine and what your dog is actually learning.

In this lesson, you’ll teach your dog the very first baby steps of Stay. We’ll build success with just 1–3 seconds at a time and reinforce heavily to prevent “breaking.”

Now that your dog is familiar with the “Place” cue, we’ll extend how long they stay on their mat, platform, or in their crate before being released.

It’s normal for dogs to pop up during Stay practice, especially when they’re excited, confused, or under too much pressure. This lesson gives you strategies to keep your dog successful.

Stay is built in layers over time. This lesson shows you how to add duration and distractions gradually while keeping your dog confident and clear.

This light-hearted training game helps your dog learn to hold a Sit, Down, or Place cue while you do weird, unexpected things!

A review of what to work on before heading into Week #6.

This lesson introduces the concept of relaxing behind a baby gate, x-pen, or crate door.

This lesson shows you how to build up your dog’s comfort with being slightly apart from you.

This is your game to build confidence in short absences. It's a game-like approach to separation that focuses on clarity and trust.

This lesson shows you how to use chews, food toys, and remote feeders to create positive associations.

This lesson outlines common mistakes and best practices to help your dog view the crate as a safe area, not a punishment.

Some dogs show signs of true separation anxiety, which goes beyond training. In this lesson, we’ll discuss how to spot the signs and when it’s time to call your vet.

A review of what to work on before heading into Week #7.

This lesson breaks down what a “loose leash” actually looks like and why it matters for comfort, safety, and trust.

This lesson covers practical tips and common mistakes, like why feeding by your side builds better habits and how to avoid reinforcing pulling without using harsh tools or corrections.

Before good leash manners can happen on a walk, we need to set the tone before the walk begins. This lesson focuses on helping your dog stay calm during the leashing-up process.

We’ll cover how to use high-rate reinforcement (feeding every few steps) to make walking beside you feel worthwhile.

Troubleshooting leash manners is all about timing, calm habits, and make walking beside you more rewarding than forging ahead.

A review of what to work on before heading into Week #8.

Choosing the right gear protects your dog’s body, promotes healthy movement, and sets the foundation for safe, effective leash training without relying on gimmicks.

This super simple pattern game helps dogs who are forging ahead, distracted, or overstimulated.

Potty training starts with understanding your dog’s body, brain, and environment. In this lesson, we’ll explore how dogs learn to eliminate in the “right” place, and what factors cause setbacks.

Dogs thrive on routine, especially when learning where and when to potty. This lesson lays out a sample schedule and helps you adjust it to your household.

You can teach your dog to go potty on cue by pairing a word or phrase with the act. This helps in travel, vet visits, and bad weather!

Dogs repeat what gets rewarded! Learn how and when to reward potty behavior to encourage faster learning.

Accidents are part of learning, but most can be prevented. This lesson teaches smart management strategies.

Potty training isn’t just a training issue, it can also be medical. This lesson helps you identify true setbacks vs signs something is wrong.

How you clean up accidents matters. Dogs return to marked spots! This lesson shows how to properly clean and reduce the chance of repeat accidents.