Foundations Course
Lay the Foundation for
All Of Your Training
Get instant access to kickstart your dog’s success with our free Training Foundations Course! This course provides you with a step-by-step system for building communication, motivation, and consistency.
Why Start with
The Foundations Course?
Every paid course requires marker training. Without it, your dog won’t understand “Yes” (reward coming), “Get it” (go find the treat), or “Break” (you’re done). These markers are how you communicate clearly, and they’re the foundation for loose leash walking, recall, and every skill you’ll ever teach.
This course teaches you how to deliver treats with purpose, how to time your markers perfectly, and how to structure 10-minute daily sessions that actually stick.
This Course Is
Perfect For...
Owners New to Training
You've never used marker-based training and need to start with the absolute basics before tackling leash pulling or recall.
Dogs Who Don't Listen
Your dog looks at you blankly during training sessions because they don't understand what you're asking - they need a clear yes/no system.
Owners With Busy Schedules
You have 30 minutes per day max and need a system that works in your living room before progressing outside.
Anyone Purchasing Our Courses
This is the required prerequisite - our paid courses won't work without marker training skills.
Welcome To The Course
Course Overview
The Foundations Course teaches you how your dog learns, how to deliver treats with purpose, and how to communicate using Marker Training.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- Purpose of the course.
- Why Foundations matter.
- Key success tips.
Meet Natasha
Natasha Johnson is a professional dog trainer with years of experience helping overwhelmed owners transform their chaotic pups into calm, reliable companions.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- Natasha’s background.
- Natasha’s experience as a kennel owner.
- Why Canine Gains was created.
Required Equipment
In this lesson, we’ll walk you through all the essential equipment that you’ll need to get started with the course!
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to train in the comfort of your home.
- How to choose the best training treats.
- How to select the right treat pouch.
The Canine Gains Methodology
Canine Gains Method Introduction
Welcome to the Canine Gains Method - where we train dogs the same way we build muscle: through repetition and trackable progress.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How lessons are structured to build skills
- Why repetition builds results.
- Why our workout inspired method works!
Your 3 Training Tools
To help you stay focused, consistent, and clear in your training, we’ve provided three key tools you’ll use throughout the course: Drill Sheets, Progress Tracker, and Training Journal.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- The basics of Drill Sheet application.
- How to track training consistency.
- How to journal insights and progress.
How To Follow The Workouts
To help you stay on track, we’ve organized your training homework by day into what we call “Drill Sheets.” Each Drill Sheet outlines everything you need to know for each training session so you always know what to practice and when.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to use your daily Drill Sheets.
- How sets and reps guide your sessions.
- How to adjust reps based on focus.
All About Training Treats
WATCH: How To Go Beyond The Bowl
If you want to make a huge impact on your dog’s behavior without adding anything extra to your schedule, then you need to ‘Go Beyond The Bowl,’ & turn mealtime into training time.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to turn mealtime into training time.
- How to use kibble as rewarding reps.
- How to add the “WOW!” factor to training.
WATCH: Choosing The Right Training Treats
In this lesson, we’ll help you choose the right high-value training treats for your dog.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to pick treats that motivate.
- How to find your dog's treat hierarchy.
- How to choose safe, effective treat bites.
WATCH: How To Hold & Deliver Your Treats
Learn how to hold and deliver your training treats to avoid finger nibbles & awkward deliveries.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to ‘tuck the treat.’
- Move your hand without losing the treat.
- How to deliver smoothly & safely.
WATCH: The 7 Treat Delivery Methods
How you deliver the treat can be just as powerful as the treat itself. In this lesson, we’ll teach you 7 unique Treat Delivery techniques to boost your dog's motivation.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to turn treats into engagement.
- How to use rewards to reset focus.
- How to make training fun & motivating.
How To Communicate With Your Dog
WATCH: Speak Your Dog's Language
Marker training gives your dog clear feedback so they know exactly what earned a reward. Instead of guessing, they learn a shared language with you, making training faster, easier, and less frustrating.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to build trust through clarity.
- What is Marker Training.
- How markers improve clarity and timing.
WATCH: What Are Reward Markers?
Reward markers tell your dog exactly when they got something right and what to do to earn their treat.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to apply treat delivery techniques.
- How “Yes,” “Get it,” and “Catch” work.
- How markers boost clarity and confidence.
WATCH: What Are Communication Markers?
Communication markers guide your dog between rewards, helping them know when to keep going, when they’re finished, and when to try again.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to guide behavior between rewards
- How “Good,” “Break,” and “Nope” work.
- How communication builds clarity.
LEARN: "Yes!" = Success
This lesson teaches your dog that “Yes!” means they got it right and should come collect their reward.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to teach “Yes!” = reward.
- How to pair markers with food.
- Tips for applying “Yes!” correctly.
LEARN: "Get it!" To Reset
“Get it!” tells your dog to go find a tossed treat, adding excitement and movement to your training. It’s perfect for quick resets between reps and boosting engagement.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to “Get it!” for fun resets.
- How to deliver tossed or scattered treats.
- How movement boosts engagement.
LEARN: "Catch!" To Cash In
“Catch!” rewards your dog by letting them snag a treat in midair, adding playful excitement to your training. It keeps your dog mentally sharp and enthusiastic while offering a fun alternative to ground-based rewards.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to use “Catch!” as a bonus reward.
- How tossing treats builds focus and fun.
- How to deliver playful, engaging reps.
LEARN: "Good..." To Hold & "Break!" To Release
This lesson teaches your dog when to hold a position and when they’re free to move using two simple communication markers: “Good…” and “Break!”
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How “Good…” builds calm duration.
- How “Break!” releases your dog clearly.
- How timing creates clarity & confidence.
PRACTICE: Your Homework
Training Session Overview
This week focuses on teaching your dog what marker words mean by pairing them consistently with rewards in a calm, indoor setting. You’ll practice timing, clarity, and repetition so your dog begins to truly understand the markers.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to teach markers with timing.
- How to train indoors with low distractions.
- How to use meals for daily practice.
PRACTICE: Drill Sheets Days 1-3
This week, you’ll practice in real-time, teaching your dog the “Yes!” “Get it!” & “Catch!” markers.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- Equipment needed for daily sessions.
- How to teach clear marker words.
- How to run short, focused daily sessions.
PRACTICE: Drill Sheets Days 4-6
You’ll continue your “Yes!” & “Get it!” marker practice, and pair “Good…” with “Break!” to build duration and clear release cues.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- Equipment needed for daily sessions.
- How to build calm duration with “Good…”
- How teach your dog a release cue.
Train. Gain. Repeat!
WATCH: Final Tips
You’ve built a solid communication foundation - learning markers, treat delivery, and structured practice. Next, you'll refine timing and clarity while learning when to properly name behaviors for lasting results.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to sharpen timing and clarity.
- How to avoid naming behaviors too early.
- How strong communication helps learning.
WATCH: Refining Your Communication
This lesson helps you fine-tune communication by focusing on how much you talk, how precisely you time your marker words, and how intentionally you deliver treats.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How less talking improves clarity.
- How timing shapes behavior.
- How treat delivery guides action.
WATCH: Never Name A Trick Too Early
This lesson explains why you shouldn’t name behaviors too early. Your dog needs to reliably understand and repeat a behavior before a verbal cue is added.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to avoid naming behaviors too early.
- How to build reliability before cues.
- How clear timing makes cues meaningful.
WATCH: Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve built the communication foundation needed for all future training. You can repeat this course anytime, but the skills you’ve gained will carry forward into everything you do with your dog.
- WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
- How to stay structured using training tools.
- Where to go from here.
- Receive a course completion certificate!
Everything You Get For Free
We give you step-by-step tools to stay consistent and make training easy:
- Instant access to video tutorials that bring it all to life.
- Step-by-step Drill Sheets that use sets & reps to break down what you should practice and when.
- A Progress Tracker & Training Journal so you can document your wins!
- Extra tips and tricks to make sure these behaviors stick for life.
Real Owners. Real Results.
- Who we can help
- Owners who want to develop a deeper relationship with their dog by training together.
- Owners committed to training and willing to follow a structured, proven system.
- Owners who want more trust, freedom, and confidence with their dog.
- Anyone done hopping between methods and looking for lasting results.
- Who we can't help
- Owners expecting immediate change & who are unwilling to accept that progress is gradual, dog-dependent, and built over time.
- People unwilling to adjust how they handle or communicate with their dog.
- Owners who aren’t willing to consistently reinforce command follow-through and maintain clear, reliable boundaries.
- Dogs with significant behavioral challenges (reactivity or agression) that require individualized, in-person support.
Your Questions Answered
Foundations faq
What’s included in the free course?
Our Free Foundations Course gives you the groundwork you need before diving into more advanced training.
You will learn how Marker Training works, how to use Marker Words so your dog understands success, and 7 unique Treat Delivery Techniques that make your rewards more effective.
Because every paid course builds on these basics, this is the one course you do not want to skip!
I have a busy schedule, how long are the training sessions?
Most sessions are short and focused, usually under 10 minutes, and you can repeat them as needed based on your dog’s energy and progress. As you reach more advanced levels, some lessons will be practiced during a 30 minute walk to reinforce the skills in real world conditions.
Do I need any special equipment?
This course only requires a leash, collar, bed (or place mat) and treats. All equipment needs are also outlined in the course.
Can I train more than one dog with the same course?
Yes. Many owners use the same program for multiple dogs. You may need to modify the pace for each dog’s skill level.
What if my dog is older? Will this still work?
Absolutely! Dogs of any age can learn with structured, step-by-step training. You may just progress a bit slower with older dogs who have established habits.
Are these programs suitable for puppies?
Yes, the Foundations Course is a fantastic course for puppies!
Do I get lifetime access to the courses?
Yes! All of our DIY courses include lifetime access so you can revisit lessons whenever you need a refresher.
What if I get stuck or have questions?
You can access optional virtual coaching sessions with Natasha for personalized guidance. I recommend signing up for a FREE 15 minute Consultation Call before booking for paid sessions.