Ember Leash Basics

Basic training for household dogs.

Ready when you are

Ember Leash Basics

One-time course purchase

I'll see you halfway there.

Author

Price

COURSE LESSONS

Our approach What you’ll learn Inside the course Meet your trainer Questions

Learn how dogs learn, build a shared language, and discover how a few simple skills can help you teach all sorts of things you haven't even thought of yet.

Positive reinforcement · Practical foundations · Your own pace

An approachable course from Ember Leash Dog Training, taught by a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA).

01 / PARTNERSHIP

Train humane. Think clearly. Keep learning.

That's the idea behind Ember Leash Basics. We'll work with a small collection of reusable skills and spend some time understanding why they work. Once you know how to teach, mark, reward, and build on a behavior, you'll start spotting training opportunities everywhere. Yes, even when your dog is being a little weirdo.

Three little skills. A surprisingly big toolbox.

01 / TOUCH · MOVE WITH PURPOSE
Touch
One target. Lots of destinations.

An open hand becomes a place to go. Teaching it is wonderfully simple, and most dogs catch on quickly. Once your dog understands the target, you can use Touch to help teach recall, polite greetings, walking together, and all sorts of behaviors that involve movement or positioning.

02 / LEAVE IT · CHOOSE TO DISENGAGE
Leave It
Make a better choice worthwhile.

Your dog learns that walking away from something interesting can be a pretty great decision. We'll build that skill in small, rewarding steps, then use the same principle around food, distractions, and everyday temptations. The squirrel may have strong feelings about this arrangement.

03 / STAY · BUILD DURATION
Stay
Little by little adds up.

We'll help your dog understand how to remain comfortably in place as you build time, distance, and distractions. That foundation supports waiting at doors, settling while life happens around them, and teaching other behaviors to last just a little longer.

Take the skills with you

Training will start in familiar places and grow into the places you actually spend time.

We'll practice making these skills useful during walks, greetings, and the ordinary moments when you'd like your dog to know what you're asking. We will also talk about making those moments easier, so your dog has a fair chance to succeed.

Recall
Greetings
Movement
Waiting

Untraining unwanted behaviors

Your dog has a reason for doing that.

Jumping, barking, grabbing socks, and counter surfing all accomplish something for your dog.
Sometimes the payoff is obvious. Sometimes it takes a little detective work and a suspicious look at the treat jar.
We'll revisit the behaviors you noticed during Orientation and learn how to prevent rehearsal, figure out what's reinforcing them, and teach better options.
The goal is a practical way to approach new challenges with the tools you've already learned.

A dog practicing a trained behavior on a skateboard

Watch it.

You’ll have clear video instruction, real demonstrations, and printable references that bring the lessons back to something simple: what you need to know, and what to do with your dog.

Understand it.

01 Demonstration-based videos that show the skills in action and explain how to practice them. 02 Printable practice guides that stay useful when you close the laptop and grab the treat pouch.

Try it.

03 Short knowledge checks to help you notice what you've learned and revisit anything that's fuzzy. 04 Optional check-ins and a certificate of completion once you've finished the required course activities. All practice-guide images shown here are from the actual Ember Leash Basics resource library.

A look inside the library

Teaching Touch / 2 pages

Clear instructions for practice

Room for your dog

These are the actual guides: clear instructions, useful details, and room for your dog to be a dog while you practice.

Library guide

01 / GET ORIENTED

Understand the dog Start with learning capacity, management, enrichment, and communication.

02 / SEE IT

Watch a skill Follow demonstrations and see what a successful repetition looks like.

03 / TRY IT

Keep it manageable Use simple exercises and practice when your dog is ready to learn.

04 / KEEP BUILDING

Find the next step Revisit the guides and apply the same ideas to new challenges.

Hi. I'm Skylar.

I'm the founder of Ember Leash Dog Training and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed. Before building Ember Leash, I spent years working with shelter dogs and the people who love them. I've learned that good explanations can make a pretty remarkable difference at both ends of the leash.

I built Ember Leash Basics around the pieces of training I find myself teaching again and again: clear communication, thoughtful management, useful foundations, and a little curiosity about the dog in front of you. I want the process to feel approachable, even when your dog has opinions about your lesson plan.

Train humane. I'll see you halfway there.

Train humane.

Skylar McClellan / CPDT-KA

Is Ember Leash Basics right for you and your dog?

A good fit

For people who want a stronger foundation

You'll find approachable training exercises, clearer communication, practical ways to guide daily life, and a framework for figuring out what to teach next. The course works as a starting point for younger dogs and a useful refresher for adults, too.

Bring your curiosity, your dog's favorite rewards, and a willingness to celebrate small progress.

Some situations call for individual support

Serious fear, aggression, guarding, separation-related distress, or sudden changes in behavior deserve a personalized assessment. Pain or other medical concerns should be discussed with your veterinarian.

For support tailored to your dog, you can contact Ember Leash or find a qualified humane trainer through IAABC.

GOOD TO KNOWA few common questions.The practical stuff, before you fill your pockets with treats.

Do I need any training experience?

No. We'll start with how learning works, build the foundational skills step by step, and explain what to watch for as you practice.

Will this work for a puppy or an adult dog?

The concepts apply to dogs at many life stages. You can adjust the exercises to your dog's comfort, experience, and current abilities. Puppies and adult dogs may need different setups and expectations.

How much time should I set aside?

The course is self-paced, and you'll get the most from short, manageable practice sessions that fit into your real life. Progress will depend on your dog's readiness and the skill you're teaching.

Can I come back to lessons after finishing?

Yes. The course is designed for revisiting material, and the academy currently has no course access expiration or due date configured. You can use the videos and printable guides as references.

Will I receive a certificate?

Yes. Students who complete the required course activities can claim a Certificate of Completion for Ember Leash Basics. The certificate recognizes finishing this foundational learning program.

What if my dog needs help beyond the course?

You can reach out to Ember Leash for individual training guidance, including virtual support. For significant behavior concerns, a veterinarian and a qualified behavior professional can help you develop a personalized plan.

Let's meet them halfway.

Ready to begin? Start with a handful of simple behaviors, learn why they work, and build the confidence to teach what comes next. The learning can be wonderfully ordinary, a few minutes at a time, with your dog right there beside you.

$99
One-time course purchase

I'll see you halfway there.

Enrollment and payment take place through Ember Leash Academy.

View course enrollment ↗

Training starts with understanding.
Train humane.

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Ember Leash Basics