The Scrolls of Wisdom
How training works — the principles behind the practice.
Marker Training
Why timing matters and how a marker bridges the gap between behavior and reward.
One marker = one treat. Always. The marker is a contract.
The 3 Ds
Duration, Distance, Distraction — the framework for making any skill reliable in the real world.
Only raise one D at a time. When you increase one, drop the others.
Reward Tiers & Treat Value
Not all treats are equal — matching reward value to task difficulty is one of the most important training skills.
New skill in a distracting environment? Bring the good stuff.
Session Length & Structure
How long to train, when to stop, and how to structure a session for an adolescent dog.
3–5 minutes per session. Multiple sessions per day > one long session.
Managing vs. Training
The critical difference between preventing unwanted behavior and teaching the behavior you want — and why you need both.
Management prevents bad habits from getting reps. Training builds good habits to replace them.
Generalization
Dogs don't automatically transfer skills between contexts — here's how to teach Bryn that 'sit' in the kitchen also means 'sit' at the park.
Dogs don't transfer skills automatically. 'Sit' in the kitchen ≠ 'sit' at the park.
Adolescent Regression
Why your well-trained puppy suddenly 'forgets' everything at 6-18 months — and what to do about it.
Adolescent regression is neurobiology, not defiance. Her brain is under construction.