Foundational Obedience (NePoPo® Style)

BEFORE PURCHASING - Please review the trailer, course descriptions, and curriculum covered below.

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Foundational Obedience Trailer

Scope of Course

This program is designed for individuals driven to take a deep dive into canine psychology and language systems. Proper dog training requires conditioning of behaviors and gear so that the dog becomes an invested student in the process of long term learning.

  • Learn about canine psychology. Understand the "WHY" of dog training before diving into the "HOW"

  • Condition learning languages. Tap into motivation and draw out an invested student in your dog.

  • Learn how to properly condition and use training gear. Your dog should LOVE wearing and controlling their training equiptment.

  • Understand training culture : What is your roll as a handler and how can you make training dynamic, practical, and fun for both you and your dog.

Building Commands

You'll learn how to follow this pyramid. Create investment in training, build behaviors and condition certain behaviors into commands. This course will focus on five primary commands (see below).

The 5 Commands

This course will show you how to develop five commands that can be used to channel your dog in dynamic environments. Each position has structure and rules implied. The dog should execute the command with heart and soul until released. See the video below of the five commands.

The 5 Commands

Primary positions needed for navigating this modern world with your dog.

GEAR UP FOR TRAINING

You don't need anything to start watching this course and learning! However, when you are ready to start applying concepts with your dog we recommend having the following on hand:

  • FOOD

    High value food rewards. We strongly suggest using your dog's food for training. Too many dogs are overweight, have constant access to food, or are on bland uninteresting diets. Consider these factors if you want your dog's food drive to increase. Find a quality food, ditch the bowl on the floor, measure out a proper amount of food for the day, and have them hunt for it while training with you!

  • COT/PLATFORM

    A pet cot or platform of some kind will be needed for when you start teaching the "climb" behavior and command. Kuranda, Coolaroo, or 4 Legs 4 Pets are all great companies that make these platforms. Really, your "climb" command can be on anything - ideally you just want something with a defined edge (as opposed to a blanket or dog bed).

  • LEASH

    Use a simple leash that feels good in the hands. 5' to 6' leather or biothane leashes are popular choices with our students! Leash management is a skill to develop in time as you learn the art of training! Oh, and avoid having a bunch of "flair" on your leash : poop bag holders, rings, carabiners, knots, etc. The leash should be a streamlined communication device...not a loaded down pair of cargo shorts.

  • COLLAR

    Find a training collar that is neutral or novel to the dog so the conditioning process goes smoothly. If your dog has a history of pulling or tugging on a particular piece of gear it would be wise to change it up. We strongly recommend a Herm Sprenger prong collar (3mm fits most medium to large breeds. 2.25mm for small dogs). There are MANY misconceptions about prong collars and how to use them. Please watch the "Gear" and "The Leash Language" videos below for further clarification. If you need to order gear checkout rayallen.com and/or k9tacticalgear.com (WYP doesn't receive compensation for recommending these sites - we just like ordering from them).

GEAR

Course Sample Video

THE LEASH LANGUAGE

Course Sample Video

FAQ

  • What does foundational dog obedience training include?

    This course covers the 5 essential commands every dog needs to know, plus K9 psychology, reward systems, and leash handling techniques. We focus on building a solid foundation that makes advanced training easier later. Think of it as your dog's college prep course.

  • Is this course suitable for reactive or difficult dogs?

    Absolutely! Understanding K9 psychology is key to working with challenging dogs. We teach you how to read your dog's mindset and adjust your approach accordingly. The reward systems we cover work especially well for dogs that have been labeled 'stubborn' or 'difficult.

  • How long does it take to see results with foundational obedience?

    Most owners see significant improvement within 2-4 weeks of consistent practice (if not sooner). The key is understanding the psychology behind the training, not just going through the motions. We teach you why each technique works, which makes everything stick faster.

  • Do I need special equipment for this training course?

    We provide detailed gear recommendations in the course, but you can start with basic equipment. The focus is on technique and understanding your dog's psychology first, gear second. Good training beats expensive equipment every time.

  • Can beginners take this foundational obedience course?

    Perfect for beginners! We break down K9 psychology and explain the 'why' behind every technique. No prior training experience needed. Whether you're a first-time dog owner or looking to improve your current approach, this course builds the foundation you need.

Instructor(s)

Professional Dog Trainer Chris Williams

Chris is a seasoned dog trainer and the owner of Run Your Pack: Pet Training and Working K9s, based outside Missoula, Montana. He also runs Work Your Pack Productions and is the Co-Owner and Training Director of Dirty Bandana Working Dogs. With advanced certifications in pet and working dog training earned through hands-on experience with top schools and mentors across the country, Chris doesn’t just train dogs—he builds working partnerships. When he’s not helping students with their dogs in Western Montana, he’s out with law enforcement teams, competing in PSA, deploying his tracking dog for military evasion drills, or hitting the road to teach seminars nationwide. If he’s not behind a camera or brushing dog hair off his gear, Chris is with his wife, trying to figure out how their three young kids somehow run the household.

Professional Dog Trainer Caleaha Fugelseth

Caleaha is a professional dog trainer at Run Your Pack: Pet Training and Working K9s in Montana. Caleaha is a graduate of Tarheel Canine's Master Trainer course in North Carolina and most recently became NePoPo® Gold certified. She competes in PSA with her GSD, Boodah, and is developing her Doberman Pincer, Reuben, for tracking and detection. Fun fact: Caleaha ALSO trains her cat, Arlo, to do tricks and positions to assist with cat neutrality training for her dog clients in Montana.

Professional Dog Trainer Andrew Weidenbach

Andrew is a professional dog trainer at Run Your Pack : Pet Training and Working K9s in Montana. He graduated the Tom Rose School for Dog Trainers Program and most recently became certified NePoPo® Gold. Andrew loves pheasant hunting and competing in PSA with his GSD, Nisha. He also has a border collie, Tina Fay, who excels in tricks, shed hunting, and is currently in training to be a competition sheep herder!

Course Curriculum

    1. Intro to Part 1

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. PROGRAM TERMINOLOGY PDF

    3. Why Dogs Do What They Do

    4. How Dogs Process Information

    5. Markers

    6. The Leash Language

    7. Gear

    8. Behaviors & Commands

    9. COMMAND BUILDING PYRAMID PDF

    1. Part 2 Intro

    2. Charging Terminal Marker

    3. Charging Terminal Marker Trainer Session

    4. Charging Continuation Markers

    5. Charging Continuation Markers Trainer Session

    6. Luring

    7. Luring Trainer Session

    8. Building Behaviors

    9. Building Behaviors Trainer Session

    10. Naming Behaviors

    11. Naming Behaviors Trainer Session

    12. HOW TO FIT A PRONG COLLAR PDF

    13. Charging Activation Pressure

    14. Charging Activation Pressure Trainer Session

    15. Layering Pressure Into Behaviors

    16. Layering Pressure Into Behaviors Trainer Session

    17. Intermittent Stage

    18. Intermittent Stage Trainer Session

    19. Behavior Becomes Command

    20. Behavior Becomes Command Trainer Session

    21. THE 5 COMMANDS PDF

    1. Proofing Commands

    2. LOAD SCALE PDF

    3. PROOFING PDF

    4. Proofing Climb Trainer Session

    5. Proofing Sit and Down Trainer Session

    6. Proofing Structured Walk Trainer Session

    7. Proofing Come Command Trainer Session

    8. Leaving the Aquarium

    9. Leaving the Aquarium Trainer Session

    10. TRAINING CULTURE PDF

    11. Training Culture

About this course

  • $175.00
  • 41 lessons

Student Reviews

(2 legged with opposable thumbs students at least)

5 star rating

Best Dog Training Course Out There!

Erica Aarons

I can't say enough great things about this course. It's easy to digest, entertaining, and so informative. I took the course with my dog when she was young af...

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I can't say enough great things about this course. It's easy to digest, entertaining, and so informative. I took the course with my dog when she was young after Work Your Pack's Puppy Training, and it has provided the best foundation for all we've gone on to accomplish together. Whether you're training a pet or a working dog, you can't go wrong with this course or anything that Work Your Pack creates!!

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5 star rating

Great work as always!

Kristin M Bowers

Just reviewed the course again before bringing our new puppy home, and it's got so much great info and humor.

Just reviewed the course again before bringing our new puppy home, and it's got so much great info and humor.

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5 star rating

Best Dog Training Video EVER!

Alexa Walsh

I wish I could give this course more than 5 stars! The information is so insightful and easy to watch! I have purchased other courses by other people and hav...

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I wish I could give this course more than 5 stars! The information is so insightful and easy to watch! I have purchased other courses by other people and have fallen asleep! This course was easy to follow and kept my interest! I highly recommend this to anyone looking to kick off their dog training journey, even if you’re not new to dog training! You won’t regret this purchase!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

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5 star rating

Solid Introduction to Obedience

Ken Weadick

Easy to consume, and informational. Exactly what I was looking for, with the added bonus of great production quality and entertaining. I appreciated the ro...

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Easy to consume, and informational. Exactly what I was looking for, with the added bonus of great production quality and entertaining. I appreciated the role play to bring it home.

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5 star rating

Puppy & A Baby 5 Stars

Charley Spurr

In my postpartum haze. I demanded it was essential my baby grow up with a puppy and so my loving husband let me pick up a Bernese Mountain Dog. I quickly rea...

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In my postpartum haze. I demanded it was essential my baby grow up with a puppy and so my loving husband let me pick up a Bernese Mountain Dog. I quickly realized I needed help. Raising a baby and puppy at the same time is not ideal. Needing help from home, I found Work Your Pack and enrolled in puppy imprinting and then in foundational obedience. THE VIDEOS ARE FUN! And the steps are easy to follow. They do a wonderful job of explaining how dogs learn. Love the videos where the trainers act out scenarios. The course leads you through the fundamentals of training and shows you how to build consistency. Buttercup, our 7 month old Bernese Mountain dog is mastering her climb, sit and come. She also goes in her crate on command. It is her safe space.

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5 star rating

Excellent training course!

Carolyn Cabot

From the quality of information to the creative delivery style to the production value, this is hands down the best online video course for training your dog...

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From the quality of information to the creative delivery style to the production value, this is hands down the best online video course for training your dog! Everyone I've recommended it to, whether that's other professional trainers or pet owners, has nothing but great things to say about how engaging the material is in the way it's presented, how easy to follow the lessons are and what a difference working the system has made for them and their dog(s). I can't recommend it highly enough!

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