Most owners lose progress on weekends because routines disappear. I ALWAYS start my days with a cup of coffee from Noble Paw Coffee, and online catch up Make starting your weekends an easy to manage structure. Log onto Skool and catch up on all of the weeks Daily posts you missed just so you have that information in your arsenal of information. I As you go through the days remember, you don’t need more commands.You need anchor points in the day. Weekend Anchor Points - Morning Walk: 5–10 minutes, no wandering. - Mid-Day Engagement: Toy play or leash work in driveway. - Visitor Management: No jumping, calm leash control. - Evening Wind-Down: Place or kennel for 20–30 minutes. Weekends are not for perfection.They are for maintaining leadership without pressure. Consistency in small doses keeps behavior stable. Comment or Share below, how you are creating your weekend engagement and including your dog and training into your LIFESTYLE on the weekends?

Some days run long. Work stretches. Errands pile up.Before you know it, structured training time disappeared. That does not mean progress stops. What matters is finishing the day with clarity and leadership, even if you only have 5–10 minutes. Here’s how to do a fast, effective end-of-day brush-up: 1. Choose ONE Behavior Do not try to train everything.Pick Sit, Down, Place, or Leash Position — one skill only. Focused reps > scattered effort. 2. 3–5 Clean Repetitions You are not drilling.You are reminding. • Clear cue• Calm body language• Reward or praise when correct• Reset and repeat Quality matters more than quantity. 3. Add 30 Seconds of Duration Hold the position slightly longer than usual.This builds mental stamina without exhausting the dog. 4. Finish With Engagement End on something positive: • Toy tug• Short play burst• Calm affection• Structured heel for 20 steps The goal is connection, not exhaustion. 5. Close With Calm Have the dog settle on Place or beside you quietly for 1–2 minutes.This teaches that the day ends in stability, not chaos. Remember:Training is not only long sessions.Consistency in small windows builds reliable dogs. Five intentional minutes done correctly will outperform thirty distracted minutes every time. Busy days happen.Leadership still shows up — even briefly.

Toys are not just something to keep dogs busy. When used correctly, they become a powerful tool for engagement, motivation, and relationship building during training sessions. But here’s the key point most owners miss: Toys are a reward for engagement — not a replacement for structure. Why We Use Toys in Training. When a dog values a toy, play becomes: - A clear marker for correct behavior - A way to release drive and energy after focused work - A method to build connection between handler and dog - A reward that keeps training active and dynamic For many dogs, toys tap into instinctual drives that food alone doesn’t fully satisfy. The Right Way to Use Toys Toys should be: - Earned, not freely available - Used after obedience or engagement, not before. - Introduced with clear rules (start, stop, release) - Controlled by the handler at all times This teaches the dog: - Focus brings access - Calmness brings play - Engagement with YOU is what unlocks rewards Common Mistakes to Avoid > Letting the dog self-reward with toys > Using toys to distract instead of train > Overstimulating the dog with no off-switch > Using play to avoid addressing obedience gaps Play without structure creates chaos. Structure with play builds clarity. What We’re Building Long Term Our goal isn’t a dog that only works for toys. It’s a dog that: >Can engage deeply >Can turn drive on and off >Understands work first, reward second >Sees the handler as the source of everything valuable This is how training translates into real life — not just sessions. If you’re unsure when, how, or which toys to use with your dog, post below with: Your dog’s breed Age What motivates them most right now We’ll help you fine-tune it. — Marko

Don’t over do it when working with your dog ! Small sessions that end on a high note leaving your dog wanting more , helps to build engagement over all !

Take it slow ! Often when we begin training or when we are working on reinforcing training after a program, we think we need to address and focus on all aspects of training and all commands at once. Today. This is a message for you to slow down and really focus on fine-tuning and giving your dog solid attention to each individual thing. You're trying to teach them. Don't settle for less. If you are expecting a sit. Don't settle for a sit that then leads to them standing right back up or a sit that leaves them. Still not focusing on you. If you are struggling with being able to get results with your dog this very tip just might help you today! For more information, or to set up a one-on-one, zoom, or in-person session with me in the Coachella Valley, or to set up extended training with me in the Coachella Valley, send me a direct message here and I will gladly reply as soon as possible! If you are new to this platform and enjoying your free week training session, this gives you a little glimpse of what we do here in canine lifestyles. Marko Russell, Canine Lifestyle Specialist