12/19/2025
Foundations are everything. Once your dog has strong foundations, expanding on them to build more complex behaviors is easy!
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[Photo of black and tan kelpie with leash in mouth. Text reads: Think a leash retrieve is “just one task”? When you teach:
• holding objects
• picking things up
• delivering to a clear target You’re not training one behavior. You’re building a reusable skill set.
Keys. Phone. Wallet. Medications. Water bottle. Put toys away. If your dog understands pick up + deliver, these become simple variations — not brand-new behaviors.
Once your dog can:
• hold items calmly
• retrieve on cue
You can add give each item a name:
“Get leash.” “Get water.” “Get meds..”
Same skills. Clear labels.
A dog that understands where to bring an item:
• drops less
• mouths less
• disengages cleanly
Hold → pick up → deliver
becomes:
• retrieve → reposition → release
• retrieve → place in hand or lap
• retrieve → move with handler
Complex behaviors are just simple skills linked together!]
