“First Steps” is a must-have for puppies and beginner dogs. In the course we learn calm leash walking, listening to your person, and confident behavior around people and dogs. The sessions focus not only on basic commands, but first of all on building a strong bond and trust between human and dog.
Where the sessions take place
Meetings are held in Berlin on an open training field with lighting and secure fencing. Quiet streets are nearby so we can practice skills right in a city environment.
5 minutes on foot from S-Bahn Johannisthal, 1 minute from the Benno-König-Str. stop (trams M17, 61, 62, 63). Free parking is available on site.
Who this course is for
- Puppies after quarantine and young dogs who are just starting to go out into the “big city.”
- Anyone who wants to safely train recall and self-control around other people and dogs.
- Owners who need a clear step-by-step plan and trainer support between sessions.
How the sessions are structured
- 8 weeks, 8 sessions of 55 minutes. Small groups so each “human + dog” pair gets attention.
- Practice on the field and in the neighborhood. We train commands in a safe, quiet place and then apply the skills in a calm city environment.
- Support between sessions. Homework, short guides, and answers to questions so progress doesn’t stall until the next meeting.
- Focus on safety. We work with fencing and distance, using safe scenarios for introductions and approaching distractions.
Eight weeks is a comfortable pace: the first four sessions build the foundation (engagement, recall, mat), and the next four transfer skills into real life—passers-by, other dogs, new places. This helps the skills become a habit rather than a one-time trick.
What’s included (8 sessions)
- Communication, attention, calm
We learn to engage the dog in work and build gentle contact, study early attention patterns, and introduce the mat as a place of calm.
- Self-control and working with arousal
We learn to pause, start building impulse control, develop the ability to “think in the moment,” and keep practicing the mat as a calming ritual.
- Recall and movement
We build the foundation for reliable recall, develop orientation to the handler’s movement, learn attention on walks, and take the first steps of “heel.”
- Impulse control and leave-it
We learn a safe refusal from a treat, reinforce self-control patterns, develop switching “stimulus → human,” and work with food on the ground.
- Leash and walk behavior
Loose-leash walking, walk rituals, and arousal management.
- Tricks
Tricks, body confidence and balance, and building motivation and engagement.
- City adaptation
We learn to calmly observe triggers (LAT foundation), build safe interaction with city stimuli, and practice reactions to passers-by.
- Final session
We bring everything you’ve learned together in a playful, practical format.
Ask questions throughout the course
After each session I stay in touch: you can send a video for feedback, clarify how to perform an exercise in specific conditions, or ask me to explain your dog’s behavior.
Price
The course lasts 8 weeks (8 sessions of 55 minutes). Available payment options:
- 319 € — standard price when paid in full
- 2 × 190 € — two-stage payment (before the start and before the 5th session), total 380 €
Payment is official by invoice — bank transfer or PayPal. After payment I add you to a chat with all course information.
Terms
- The course is a single sequential process of 8 sessions. If you choose installments, you commit to paying for and attending all meetings.
- The 4+4 option is a partial payment for one course, not two separate blocks.
- Withdrawal after the start is possible only with documented circumstances (illness of owner/dog, relocation, family emergencies). In this case the paid portion is recalculated individually or you are offered a place in the next cohort or an individual consultation.
Missed sessions
- Missed sessions are not refunded, but participants receive the session materials.
- If you miss a session due to illness, a short individual catch-up session may be possible (by arrangement).
- If a session is cancelled by the trainer or due to weather, it is rescheduled for another date.
What else is important
- I recommend arriving 10 minutes before the session so your dog can get used to the space.
- What to bring:
- a harness or wide collar and a 2–5 m leash (not a retractable leash);
- 2–3 types of high-value treats (if only kibble is allowed, bring wet and dry, with extra);
- a favorite toy you can hold together (tug toy, rope, not a ball);
- a non-slip mat / towel (the dog should fit on it).
- Do not let dogs off leash on the field without the trainer’s request. Enter the field only with the trainer’s permission.
Ready to take the first steps? Sign up via the form or write to me, and we’ll discuss whether the course is a good fit for your dog.
