Starting Off On the Right Paw

Dog Adoption Quick Start Course

Everything you need to know to establish a great relationship with your new rescue dog!
Enroll for Free!
Watch Intro Video

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An introduction from your instructor

What You'll Learn

Here are just some of the key lessons you'll learn in this free course!

  • How to prepare for your new rescue dog's arrival and pup-proof your home.

  • How to create a Doggie Den that will serve as a safe, relaxing space for your dog to unwind and decompress from the shelter.

  • How to establish consistent routines and ground rules that benefit you and your dog.

  • What activities and bonding games to engage in with your new dog (and what NOT to do)!

  • What common behavior issues you might face, and how to get professional help if you need it.

Kayla Fratt CDBC

Meet Your Trainer:

Kayla Fratt is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and an ecologist. She's dedicated her entire adult life to working with dogs. Kayla spent years working in animal shelters with behaviorally challenging dogs before pivoting to training with conservation detection dogs. She now splits her time between her conservation detection dog organization, K9 Conservationists, and her dog behavior consulting business, Journey Dog Training. She shares her life with two crazy border collies who help protect wildlife by sniffing out scat, invasive plants, and more for scientists.

Kayla Fratt

Certified Dog Behavior Consultant

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome Message From Your Instructor

    1. Dog-Proofing Your Home

    2. Setting Household Rules & Expectations

    1. Getting Home Safely

    2. Introducing the New Dog to Resident Dogs

    3. Prepping Kongs and Chews

    4. No Guests Allowed (At First)

    5. Keep the Treats Coming!

    6. Giving Your Dog the Grand Tour

    7. Take Lots of Potty Breaks

    8. Watch Out for Anxiety

    1. Supervise & Contain

    2. Establish a Routine

    3. Keep Outings Brief

    4. Bonding Exercises

    1. Destruction

    2. Aggression & Excessive Fear

    3. Trouble Getting Along With Existing Pets

    4. Separation Anxiety

    5. Accidents

    6. Rescue Dog Blues

    1. Final Steps & Looking Ahead

    2. More dog training resources for you...

About this course

  • Free
  • 23 lessons
  • 1 hour of video content

FAQ

  • Is this course really free?

    YES! The Dog Adoption Quick Start course is 100% free. We created this free course to help better prepare new owners who are bringing home a rescue dog. Our hope is that this course will help new owners know what to expect and plan appropriately, reducing the number of dog adoption returns from folks who end up in over their head!

  • Can I trust you when it comes to dog training?

    Absolutely. Our course is led by Kayla Fratt, who is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through IAABC (the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants), one of the most reputable dog behavior programs in the world. Kayla has spent the past eight years working with dogs and has experience rehabilitating hundreds of rescue dogs through her work on the behavior staff at the Denver Dumb Friends League animal rescue.

  • What if I still need dog training help?

    We'll show you how to get into contact with a reputable, certified trainer in your local area. In addition, we also offer more in-depth paid courses that cover more practical training exercises in our 30 Things to Teach Your Dog in 30 Day class and our Puppy Raising Blueprint. Discount information for these paid classes is included in the course!