top of page
All Posts


First Steps to Freedom: Part 2 Moving Puppy Training Outdoors with The Good Dog Blueprint
Or 👉 Click here to schedule your Free in-home consultation today You've mastered the first steps indoors: your puppy happily wears the gear, and they understand that a loose leash means movement. Now comes the biggest challenge: moving that focused behavior outdoors, where distractions are everywhere. At The Good Dog Blueprint , we understand that a puppy's indoor skills often crumble outside. Our title-winning training requires that your dog's obedience holds up in any e
AJ Dekker
Nov 7, 20253 min read


First Steps to Freedom: Part 1 How to Get Your Puppy to Walk on a Leash
Or 👉 Click here to schedule your Free in-home consultation today Introducing your puppy to the leash is the first step toward creating a reliable, well-mannered companion. If done correctly, your puppy will see the leash as a signal for good things—like exploration and high-value rewards. If done poorly, they may resist, pull, or freeze. At The Good Dog Blueprint , we use a low-pressure, high-reward approach to build a positive association with the leash from day one. Our
AJ Dekker
Oct 29, 20253 min read


The Ultimate Sign of Trust: Why Your Dog Lays on Their Back
Or 👉 Click here to schedule your Free in-home consultation today There are few sights more heartwarming than your dog rolling onto their back, legs dangling, with a goofy, contented expression on their face. This seemingly simple position is actually one of the clearest, most profound acts of communication your dog can offer. At The Good Dog Blueprint , we teach owners to read their dog's subtle cues. When your dog is truly resting on their back, they are signaling a level
AJ Dekker
Oct 22, 20253 min read


Stop Dog Barking: The Good Dog Blueprint Method for Silence
Subscribe Here to see more Training Tips Or 👉 Click here to schedule your Free in-home consultation today Persistent, uncontrolled barking is one of the most common and disruptive frustrations dog owners face. Often, the go-to solution is simply punishing the noise, which rarely works and can sometimes create anxiety. At The Good Dog Blueprint , we believe that to stop unwanted barking, you must first teach your dog how to communicate on command , thereby giving you the ab
AJ Dekker
Oct 21, 20253 min read


The Harness Dilemma: Why They Can Work Against You
Or 👉 Click here to schedule your Free in-home consultation today A harness is a valuable piece of equipment, but it is engineered to allow a dog to exert maximum force with minimum discomfort. They Encourage Pulling: A harness works by distributing pressure across the dog’s chest and shoulders—the strongest part of their body. It is literally an 'encouragement device' for pulling, as it reduces the negative feedback the dog receives when they strain against the leash. If
AJ Dekker
Oct 20, 20253 min read


Winning is Normalizing Change: The Good Dog Blueprint for Competitive Travel & Environment Proofing
Learn More from The Good Dog Blueprint We believe education is the key to creating a truly Confident Dog. If you find this article helpful, explore our other posts for tips on socialization, leash manners, and achieving off-leash reliability. 👉 Read More Blueprint Philosophy and Training Tips Here 👉 Click here to schedule your Free in-home consultation today In competitive dog sports, your performance is only as good as your dog’s mental stability under pressure. If your
AJ Dekker
Oct 19, 20253 min read


The Ultimate Training Tool: Why Varied Exercise is the Foundation of The Good Dog Blueprint
Learn More from The Good Dog Blueprint We believe education is the key to creating a truly Confident Dog. If you find this article helpful, explore our other posts for tips on socialization, leash manners, and achieving off-leash reliability. 👉 Read More Blueprint Philosophy and Training Tips Here 👉 Click here to schedule your Free in-home consultation today We’ve all heard the phrase: A tired dog is a good dog. At The Good Dog Blueprint , we use this simple truth as the
AJ Dekker
Oct 19, 20253 min read


The Puppy Socialization Challenge: How to Achieve 250 People and 500 Dogs of Quality Exposure
Learn More from The Good Dog Blueprint We believe education is the key to creating a truly Confident Dog. If you find this article helpful, explore our other posts for tips on socialization, leash manners, and achieving off-leash reliability. 👉 Read More Blueprint Philosophy and Training Tips Here 👉 Click here to schedule your Free in-home consultation today The critical socialization window (roughly 3 to 16 weeks) is the foundation of your puppy's temperament, but the wo
AJ Dekker
Oct 18, 20253 min read


Freedom on a Leash: Effective Use of the Check Cord in Puppy Training
Learn More from The Good Dog Blueprint We believe education is the key to creating a truly Confident Dog. If you find this article helpful, explore our other posts for tips on socialization, leash manners, and achieving off-leash reliability. 👉 Read More Blueprint Philosophy and Training Tips Here 👉 Click here to schedule your Free in-home consultation today One of the biggest struggles for new puppy owners is finding the balance between allowing necessary exploration and
AJ Dekker
Oct 17, 20253 min read


Beyond the Walk: Challenging Your Dog's Mind with Puzzle Toys
Learn More from The Good Dog Blueprint We believe education is the key to creating a truly Confident Dog. If you find this article helpful, explore our other posts for tips on socialization, leash manners, and achieving off-leash reliability. 👉 Read More Blueprint Philosophy and Training Tips Here 👉 Click here to schedule your Free in-home consultation today We often focus on physical exercise, but to achieve a truly Confident Dog , you must also exercise their brain. Bor
AJ Dekker
Oct 17, 20253 min read


The Most Important Command: How to Master Puppy Recall with the Blueprint Game
Learn More from The Good Dog Blueprint We believe education is the key to creating a truly Confident Dog. If you find this article helpful, explore our other posts for tips on socialization, leash manners, and achieving off-leash reliability. 👉 Read More Blueprint Philosophy and Training Tips Here 👉 Click here to schedule your Free in-home consultation today Of all the commands your puppy will learn, Recall ("Come!") is the one that guarantees their safety and grants the
AJ Dekker
Oct 16, 20253 min read


The Lunge and Bark: How The Good Dog Blueprint Solves Leash Reactivity
Learn More from The Good Dog Blueprint We believe education is the key to creating a truly Confident Dog. If you find this article helpful, explore our other posts for tips on crate training, socialization, and achieving off-leash reliability. 👉 Read More Blueprint Philosophy and Training Tips Here Few situations are more stressful than walking your dog only to have them explode into barking and lunging at another dog, person, or bicycle. This behavior, known as leash reacti
AJ Dekker
Oct 15, 20253 min read


Build a Confident Dog: Why Our Title-Winning Blueprint Focuses on the Mind
Learn More from The Good Dog Blueprint We believe education is the key to creating a truly Confident Dog. If you find this article helpful, explore our other posts for tips on socialization, leash manners, and achieving off-leash reliability. 👉 Read More Blueprint Philosophy and Training Tips Here Every dog owner wants a confident, resilient companion —a dog that takes new experiences in stride rather than dissolving into fear or anxiety. Achieving this requires more than ju
AJ Dekker
Oct 14, 20253 min read


Top 5 Benefits of Personalized Dog Training: Why Customization Creates a Better Companion
Learn More from The Good Dog Blueprint We believe education is the key to creating a truly Confident Dog. If you find this article helpful, explore our other posts for tips on socialization, leash manners, and achieving off-leash reliability. 👉 Read More Blueprint Philosophy and Training Tips Here Every dog owner dreams of a well-behaved companion, and the path to achieving this goal is rarely one-size-fits-all. Personalized, one-on-one dog training transforms the traditiona
AJ Dekker
Oct 14, 20253 min read


Zero Accidents: The Good Dog Blueprint for Fast, Reliable Puppy Potty Training
Learn More from The Good Dog Blueprint We believe education is the key to creating a truly Confident Dog. If you find this article helpful, explore our other posts for tips on crate training, socialization, and achieving off-leash reliability. 👉 Read More Blueprint Philosophy and Training Tips Here Potty training is often the most frustrating hurdle for new puppy owners. However, when done correctly, it should be fast, simple, and nearly accident-free. At The Good Dog Bluepr
AJ Dekker
Oct 13, 20253 min read


The Confidence Corner: Why Crate Training is a Cornerstone of The Good Dog Blueprint
Learn More from The Good Dog Blueprint We believe education is the key to creating a truly Confident Dog. If you find this article helpful, explore our other posts for tips on crate training, socialization, and achieving off-leash reliability. 👉 Read More Blueprint Philosophy and Training Tips Here For many new puppy owners, the crate can feel like a cage or a punishment. At The Good Dog Blueprint , we view the crate as the exact opposite: it is your puppy’s personal Safe Zo
AJ Dekker
Oct 13, 20253 min read


Introducing Your Dog to Cats and Other Household Pets with The Good Dog Blueprint
Learn More from The Good Dog Blueprint We believe education is the key to creating a truly Confident Dog. If you find this article helpful, explore our other posts for tips on crate training, socialization, and achieving off-leash reliability. 👉 Read More Blueprint Philosophy and Training Tips Here Bringing a dog into a home with existing pets like cats, rabbits, or birds presents a unique challenge: managing the dog's natural predatory drive and ensuring the absolute safety
AJ Dekker
Oct 12, 20253 min read


Walk with Confidence: How The Good Dog Blueprint Stops Leash Pulling for Good
Learn More from The Good Dog Blueprint We believe education is the key to creating a truly Confident Dog. If you find this article helpful, explore our other posts for tips on crate training, socialization, and achieving off-leash reliability. 👉 Read More Blueprint Philosophy and Training Tips Here Few things are more frustrating than a dog relentlessly dragging you down the street. Leash pulling is not just bad manners; it’s a breakdown in the relationship and a clear sign
AJ Dekker
Oct 11, 20253 min read


The Confident Dog Blueprint: Teaching Your Dog How to Think, Not Just Obey
Learn More from The Good Dog Blueprint We believe education is the key to creating a truly Confident Dog. If you find this article helpful, explore our other posts for tips on crate training, socialization, and achieving off-leash reliability. 👉 Read More Blueprint Philosophy and Training Tips Here Training a dog to reliably listen can feel complex. Most methods focus on just two simple steps: "Do this, get a reward," or "Don't do that, get a correction." But if the goal is
AJ Dekker
Oct 10, 20253 min read


Essential Commands for Every Puppy: Building a Foundation for Life
👉 Click here to schedule your FREE in-home consultation today! Learn More from The Good Dog Blueprint We believe education is the key to creating a truly Confident Dog. If you find this article helpful, explore our other posts for tips on crate training, socialization, and achieving off-leash reliability. 👉 Read More Blueprint Philosophy and Training Tips Here Bringing a new puppy home is a rewarding journey filled with love, laughter, and a crucial responsibility: setting
AJ Dekker
Oct 10, 20253 min read
bottom of page