Dog Training Unit Study - Lesson Plan- Notebooking
Great for Homeschool Kids & Teens
This year my friends got a new puppy. I went over and helped their kids learn to do some training with the new puppy, which was so much fun. This got me thinking about how much fun it is for kids to train dogs and how I could incorporate my over twenty years of dog training experience and put my diploma in Canine and Feline Behavioral Sciences into a fun homeschool project/ unit study.
Kids are thrilled when they see that they can train a dog. They get a huge smile on their face. They suddenly have a superpower they had no idea they had. It's not often kids get to be in charge and teach things, so I am not sure if it's the thrill of a new experience or if it's how fun it is to see an animal engaged solely with you, but whatever the reason, it's a great experience for most kids.
Here is the thing: dogs that like treats can be quickly trained to do all sorts of things. They can learn practical things like “sit” or “stay”, but they can also learn fun tricks like “shake”, “wave”, “take a bow”, etc. When kids see that they have the ability to train a todo dog a fun trick they are motivated to set and achieve harder goals, igniting their enthusiasm for further learning.
Remember, training is not about perfection, but about kids gaining confidence as they learn about responsibility, empathy, and other important life skills, like not giving up.
What I love about this unit study is that the whole family can be involved. Thirteen years old and up can usually complete all of the training on their own, whereas an eight-year-old will probably need help from an adult. I made my worksheets to complement the training and help them to dive in deeper and gain a better understanding of what they are learning, as well as provide samples for charter schools. There are goal-setting pages, checklists and training logs, reading comprehension, learning reflection pages and more. There are a variety of worksheets (such as gaol setting worksheets) that achieve the same outcome but are designed differently to cater to teenagers as well as nine-year-olds. Pick and choose what worksheets suit your students best. You can learn about making your own unit study below or save yourself a lot of work by purchasing my complete unit study. It will walk you through the steps, including background information, choosing high-value treats, what positive reinforcement is, recommendations of YouTube videos, training logs, journal pages, and more. Purchase the Jr, Dog Trainer Unit Study through Etsy or TPT-Teacher Pay Teachers (some charter schools will provide funds for TPT).
To make your own Dog Trainer unit study, do some research on positive reinforcement training and learn why it is used widely by the majority of trainers not just with dogs and cats but with animals at the zoo as well. Research some trainers that use positive reinforcement (you can find a list at https://www.ccpdt.org/dog-owners/certified-dog-trainer-directory/ ). Take a training class, watch videos, or get books about training. Set goals, have the kids practice training their dog two times a day for 10-15 minute sessions. Then, have them write in a journal about what they learned being a trainer.
If your kids want to learn even more, here are some resources you can watch and activities you can do with your dog.
Nose work/Scent Work - Super fun - Have you ever seen a police dog demo when he searches for illegal substances? This is similar except that your dog searches for a special scent like Birch, Cypress, etc. (Caution! Never allow a dog to smell an essential oil without first spending time learning the safety precautions when using oils with dogs.) This is especially good for energetic dogs that are crazy for toys or are super treat-motivated. They have competitions all over the USA.
https://www.ukcdogs.com/nosework United States and other countries.
Agility - In this sport, you direct your dog as he runs through obstacles such as jumps, weave polls, tunnels, and more within a time limit.
Luring/ Fast Cat- Fast-speed sport where dogs chase mechanical lures. https://www.akc.org/sports/coursing/
Therapy Pet- You can bring your dog to visit others. Once certified, you can set up visits at nursing homes, hospitals, and libraries. https://petpartners.org/
Dog Diving/Dock Diving- Does your dog like to play in the water? This might be the sport for you. Dogs jump off docks into pools or ponds to see who can jump the furthest.
https://northamericadivingdogs.com
https://www.ultimateairdogs.com
Canine Freestyle- Aka Dog Dancing- In this sport, you blend obedience and dance as you and your dog perform choreographed routines to music.
Flyball - A fast-moving team sport where a relay team of dogs takes turns jumping hurdles to get a tennis ball.
Disk Dog- A frisbee-catching sport with dogs often involving high-flying tricks. Go watch an event and be dazzled. Both UpDog Challenge and Skyhoundz host lots of events.
https://updogchallenge.com/events/
Rally Obedience - A combination of agility and obedience where you and your dog work together as a pair you walk a course with signs that give you instructions of a skill to perform.
https://www.akc.org/sports/rally/
https://www.ukcdogs.com/rally-obedience. United States and other countries.
Service Dog Puppy Raisers - For those who like to give back, you can raise a puppy for a service dog group. You take the puppy with you everywhere and teach it basic obedience. When it gets about 16-18 months old, it goes back to the service dog group for advanced training and is placed with someone who needs a service dog.
See your local guide dog schools or service dog groups to learn more.
https://nfb.org/resources/guide-dog-resources
https://assistancedogsinternational.org/resources/member-search/
CaniCross- A mix of canine + cross country running. It is a team sport where a runner and a dog run together.
I am not affiliated with any of these organizations listed above. This list is just to provide you with some ideas of ways to have fun with your dog. Please do your own research about each organization.
About the Author: Teryn Jones has been training cats and dogs for over 20 years. She has a diploma in Advanced Canine Behavioral Sciences and Feline Behavior Science and Technology. She was a contract trainer for the ASPCA, trained police dogs, & volunteered for Guide Dogs of America. 4Pawstraining.com
Jr. Dog Trainer Unit Study
Shop on Etsy
I have sold over 3800 items on Etsy with a 5 start rating.
Shop on Teachers Pay Teachers
I just started selling on TPT after I found out that you can use homeschool funds from most charter schools on TPT.
