The first months shape the dog your puppy becomes. Puppy Foundations starts with what every new owner should know about vaccines, safe socialization and the law, then gives you a simple daily routine for nipping, accidents, crate crying and not listening. Every exercise uses rewards. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends reward-based training only, and found no evidence that force, pain or fear (prong or shock collars, leash jerks, shouting) work better in any situation.
What you'll achieve
By the end of the course
Your puppy turns to you when you say their name
A sit on cue and a settle on a mat
Gentler play, with far fewer nips
A crate they walk into and a house-training routine that works
Part 1: Before you start
Your rights and responsibilities
Short reading lessons on what the law says about pets and service animals, and what's expected of you as an owner. Each ends with a quick quiz.
Pets, service animals and the law8 min read
What a trained pet is, and isn't, in the eyes of the law. This keeps you, your pet and our certificate on the right side of it.
Your responsibilities as a dog owner7 min read
The everyday rules that keep you, your dog and your neighbours safe: licences, vaccines, leashes, cleanup and bites.
Vaccines, vets and safe socialization7 min read
Your puppy's first months are the most important time for meeting the world. Here's how to do it safely while vaccines are still in progress.
Part 2: Training
6 training lessons, about 9 minutes each
Each lesson has an animated diagram of the steps, step-by-step practice, troubleshooting tips, a clear goal for moving on, and a quiz.
Their name means good things8 min
Before anything else, your puppy needs to learn that hearing their name is worth looking at you.
Sit, the easy way10 min
Use a treat to guide your puppy into a sit, then fade the treat so the word does the work.
Settle on a mat10 min
A mat gives your puppy a place to relax, and gives you a way to ask for calm anywhere.
Gentle mouths8 min
Puppies bite to play. We teach them that soft mouths keep the game going.
The crate is a happy place10 min
Build a crate your puppy chooses to go into, so it's never a punishment.
A house training routine9 min
Most accidents are about timing. A simple routine prevents them.
How you finish
The final skills checklist
When every lesson is done, you tick off each skill once your pet can do it reliably. Your certificate is issued as soon as the list is complete.
Your pet turns to look at me when I say their name
Your pet sits when asked, without a treat in my hand
Your pet settles on the mat for 30 seconds
Your pet greets a visitor without jumping
Treatwise Pet School
Certificate of Achievement
Certified Puppy Foundations Pet
Awarded for completing every lesson of a reward-based Treatwise training course and its final skills checklist.
This certificate was issued on completion of the Puppy Foundations course, after the handler confirmed their pet can perform each skill on the course checklist.
Skills trained
Name response, sit, settle on a mat, gentle mouth, crate comfort, house training
Date issued
October 16, 2026
Certificate no.
SAMPLE
Certificate of course completion. Verify it at treatwisepets.com/verify.
