5 star rating

Very informative!!!

Amanda Hawkins

I learned so much today! Nose scents 3 million vs 500 million! Also treat your puppy how they act today, not yesterday or last week. And so much more!!!! Th...

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I learned so much today! Nose scents 3 million vs 500 million! Also treat your puppy how they act today, not yesterday or last week. And so much more!!!! This is the best study course I have taken all year.

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5 star rating

fantastic course!

Erin Cooney

i really like the focus on first getting the puppy introduced to many experiences, and learning skills like attention and touch -- before the usual sit, do...

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i really like the focus on first getting the puppy introduced to many experiences, and learning skills like attention and touch -- before the usual sit, down, stay. and i'm so excited to try the BAT leash skills for letting my puppy explore the environment

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5 star rating

Useful and fun

Rosa Roldán

Everything I expected and much more.

Everything I expected and much more.

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5 star rating

I really like the content of this course

Britta Reiland

I really like the course - our puppies need good support from us, but they especially need the right amount. Too often the natural area is forgotten - not he...

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I really like the course - our puppies need good support from us, but they especially need the right amount. Too often the natural area is forgotten - not here: I love the proprioceptive part in nature. That's what our dogs need to train their skills :) - yes, getting to know a wobbly ball is o.k. - but it never replaces nature and can be detrimental to puppies health. (PS: I am a physiotherapist for dogs, sports dogs and teaching therapists, trainers and dog owners in healthy movements and movement analysis).

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5 star rating

Great puppy program

Dani Drogue

I watched many of these videos a few times to really sit with the information. Thinking more and more about choices and consent right from the start and seei...

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I watched many of these videos a few times to really sit with the information. Thinking more and more about choices and consent right from the start and seeing the difference it makes in my handling skills!

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5 star rating

Puppy course

Alzbeta Vlkova

very well done

very well done

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5 star rating

really nice course

Catie Louwers

Lots of good tips and guidelines, even for adult dogs!

Lots of good tips and guidelines, even for adult dogs!

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A Holistic Approach to Puppy Training

Puppyhood is a delicate time, where puppies are learning what's 'normal' in their world, and what is scary or should be avoided.

This courses focuses on life skills versus the standard obedience-oriented approach. It can be taken as a stand-alone course or better, in conjunction with a well-run local puppy socialization and training course or private lessons from a trainer.

  • Essential skills for life with humans.

  • Socialization with dogs, people, and other species.

  • Environmental resilience.

  • How to stop and change unwanted behavior.

  • Text with videos, plus a 150-page eBook for reference.

  • Included with Diamond Membership!

  • We also have a Library Pass which lets you stream this course and a lot of other pre recorded content. Find out more on the Library Pass Page.

Especially for Puppies Under 6 Months

But most of this is also applicable to any dog in your life, especially a new rescue dog.

  • What is Empowerment?

    Empowered Puppy Raising is about giving dogs tools to thrive in human families. Exercises focus on helping puppies learn effective and healthy ways to meet their needs.

    By "healthy," I mean behavior that doesn't conflict with others (including people) also meeting their needs.

  • Who is This For?

    The how-to portion will be accessible to 'regular' puppy parents and the additional dog-geek discussions are meant for professional dog trainers and dog enthusiasts.

    This course includes BAT for puppies, empowered counterconditioning techniques, and clicker training, among other things.

  • Bonus: 150 page eBook

    Get a free copy of the Ahimsa Dog Training Manual with this course.

    Downloadable in 3 different formats, so it should work in pretty much any eReader (ePub, Mobi, and PDF). 3 CCPDT CEUs, IAABC 2.5 CEUs

Reviews

Great for new or experienced owners

Katey Aldred MSc, FdSc, RVN, MAPDT (01204), CBATI, PPG

"The way the course is run with video and written explanation means it is great for new or experienced owners. It is also suitable for dog trainers that want to join with a puppy. The format allows flexibility for the student to fit it in around life, and join a great community of trainers.”

”The content has really focused on important life skills and has introduced new exercises each week. The delivery is in a very easy to read format, and being able to upload videos is really great for self development. Grisha and the TAs are very helpful and supportive and have done an excellent job in sharing their knowledge. I would highly recommend this course for any level of handler."

What's Included?

Click sections to expand

  • 1

    Getting Started

    • How to View This Course

    • Syllabus: What You'll Learn

    • Ahimsa Dog Training Manual eBook Download

  • 2

    Section 1: Philosophy

  • 3

    Section 2: Social Skills

    • Section Overview

    • Reducing Excitement

    • Other Dogs

    • Other Species

    • Play, Conflict Resolution, and Social Consequences

    • BAT Leash Skills

    • Training Recommendations: Touch & Name

    • Pause to Practice

  • 4

    Section 3: Needs

    • Section Overview

    • What Does Your Puppy Need? And How Do You Know?

    • How Needs Lead to Problems

    • Food Puzzles and Enrichment

    • Targeting and Crate Training

    • Pause to Practice

  • 5

    Section 4: Cooperation

    • Section Overview

    • What Cooperation Looks Like & How to Get It (More Please Signals)

    • Grooming

    • Vet Care

    • Gearing Up for a Walk

    • Training: Head Through, Restraint, Paw Target

    • Pause to Practice

  • 6

    Section 5: Environment

    • Section Overview

    • Surfaces

    • Proprioception ("I Have Back Legs?")

    • Training: Stop/Stay/Wait and Targeting Head Into Objects

    • Pause to Practice

  • 7

    Section 6: Problem Solving

    • Session Overview

    • How All of This Ties Together to Solve Problems

    • Training: Bring/Drop and Food Bowl

    • Training: Recall (Coming When Called)

    • Pause to Practice

    • Next Steps

About the Instructor

Dog Trainer, Author, Singer-Songwriter

Grisha Stewart MA, CPDT-KA, KPACTP

I'm a collaborative dog trainer, author, international presenter, singer-songwriter, and keynote speaker of European ancestry (best guess based on DNA and some genealogy is Scotland, "England & Northwestern Europe," Wales, "Germanic Europe," Ireland, and Norway). I've been helping people and dogs professionally since 2003. My passion projects are grief tending, community singing, and woodturning.

I'm fascinated by animal behavior (including humans), somatic awareness, spirituality, psychology. My work is directed at wholehearted living for all beings, including dogs with a history of aggression, frustration, or fear as well as puppies and my other favorite species: humans.

My Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT 2.0 book and BAT 3.0) is used worldwide to help dogs gain confidence and social skills. Well over 200,000 people have learned about BAT so far.

Diane Redding and I co-host a podcast called The Lesson is Love.

As an outgoing introvert, I refresh my batteries by singing, expressing grief in community, and savoring life with my husband (Tom), Labrador (Joey), cat (Garbanzo aka "Adventure Kitty" and "Baby Panther"), and Little Brown Dog (Zuki). I identify as a queer (pansexual), neurodiverse, middle age, white, raised in poverty and now of middle class, and US citizen, spiritual non-Christian leaning toward neo-Druid (but raised in Christian culture). My pronouns are she/her. I am still wrestling with living on the stolen river watershed of the Siuslaw people, who are part of the CTCLUSI.

Ready to empower your puppy?

It's your choice: buy this course individually or get it (and a lot more) for FREE as a Diamond Member.

  • $99.00

    $99.00Empowered Puppy Raising (self-study course)

    One-time payment to add this course to your library. Your access will not expire and the files are downloadable.
    Buy Now
  • $19.99 / month

    $19.99 / monthGSA Library Pass

    A great value option for dog lovers who want to watch webinars on demand, but don't need the full benefits and community of a Diamond Membership.

    Access pre recorded content and Grisha's eBooks for one low price per month. [Learn more].
    Go Library
  • $39.99 / month

    $39.99 / monthDiamond Membership All Access Pass

    Great value! Access to ALL live and on-demand streaming content on the site, including this course.

    Diamonds are also part of a thriving, supportive community that loves to dig into every aspect of dog behavior. You'll get help from over 85 emotionally intelligent dog training and animal behavior classes, taught by my favorite experts from around the world. Diamonds also get special events, student coupons, and other perks. [Learn more].
    Go Diamond

If you choose a Diamond Membership or Library Pass, it will go for a month from the start date or end of the trial period and then renew automatically each month after that. You can easily cancel renewal at any time and your access to the content will just expire on your renewal date.