Level Two · Structure · Skills · Discipline
APCA Puppy Foundation Training
A structured four-week intermediate obedience program for APCA registered puppy buyers, designed to build duration, distraction resistance, confidence, control, and reliable behavior in real-world situations.
Elevating the Standard
Obedience Is the Foundation
Responsible placement goes beyond sending a puppy home. Every APCA registered puppy buyer makes a $400 investment in structured intermediate training that builds a confident, disciplined, and well-balanced dog.
The APCA Approach
We elevate your skills. We elevate your discipline. We elevate their future.
Consistent, elevated training develops practical skills, confidence, and discipline for everyday situations.
Here’s What You’re Getting
Four Weeks of Intermediate Training
Week 1 · Make Them Stay Longer
Obedience Mastery & Duration
- Sit and down: hold for three minutes while the handler walks around
- Place: remain on a bed or cot for 15–30 minutes during meals or television time
- Heel foundations: walk on the handler’s left and auto-sit when the handler stops
- Threshold manners: sit at doors, crates, and vehicles until released
Week 2 · Listen When It’s Distracting
Distraction Proofing & Leash Mastery
- Heel with left turns, right turns, and U-turns while keeping the leash loose
- Loose-leash walking in public, changing direction when the puppy pulls
- Recall on a 15–20-foot line while the puppy is distracted
- Advanced leave-it work around dropped food
Week 3 · Stay Calm Around People
Confidence & Control Under Pressure
- Public outings with calm behavior around passing people and dogs
- Crowd neutrality: keep four paws on the floor when greeting people
- Crate-to-place transitions performed calmly and in sequence
- Impulse control around food, toys, and people
Week 4 · Real Life Ready
Off-Leash Foundations & Real-World Readiness
- Long-line recall from approximately 20 feet outdoors
- Distance sit and down commands from 10 feet with hand signals
- Real-life practice around vehicles, veterinary handling, and restaurant settings
- Calm, consistent responses to adolescent boundary testing
Daily Practice
Complete two focused sessions each day, approximately 10 minutes per session, to build repetition without overwhelming the puppy.
Graduation Routine
Demonstrate a continuous five-minute routine: heel, sit, down-stay, come, place, and leave it, including control around people outdoors.
The Standard
The goal is reliable behavior built through structure and guidance—not theory, hope, or luck.
Structured Three-Minute Practice Routine
Heel Sit Down-Stay Come Place Leave It
Structure. Guidance. Results.
Ready to raise the standard
Build the Foundation Together
Contact the APCA for current program participation and training information.