As the author of "25 Ways to Raise a Great Puppy,"Iteach the principles addressed in the book.

This course is the first part of a daily journal of my growing German shepherd puppy, lasting four weeks. It will demonstrate (with the help of my border collie Til and two chihuahuas, Jack and Este) how to instill confidence, obedience and good manners in a dog, without using force or punishment. The idea is just to have a well-mannered dog that you can live with, while not necessarily engaging in formal obedience training or even puppy classes. I will say that socializing with people and other dogs outside of the home is very important for puppies, and has been a challenge during these quarantine times, besides which Ilive in an isolated area in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. However, thanks to the confidence based training, we are covering the socialization aspect in an opportunistic way. This type of training works with adult dogs too.

While the course is structured, the power of the ad-lib is part of the appeal, as the pup is learning during the actual filming. The behaviors will change and evolve, but since comprehension is cyclical rather than linear, this will lead to a more realistic approach of how dogs learn. The German shepherd puppy Gusto will demonstrate his lessons during walks with other dogs, and normal distractions that occur in the outdoors. Our classroom, instead of an obedience ring, consists of the backyard, the woods, and the beach.

The course will address common behavior problems such as jumping up and barking, and preventative measures for others such as food or toy aggression.

As a bonus, we will demonstrate how to properly use a clicker.

There are a number of behaviors we will work on. These will include, in order of importance;

1)Attention and focus

2)Coming when called

3) Crate training

4) Early lessons in retrieving

5) Safely and politely giving up toys

6)Beginning "Stay"

Meanwhile, drink in the backdrop; our beautiful northern Lake Huron. Thank you for looking in and Ihope you enjoy training with Gusto!