In this video I’m working with Aura, my 7-week-old foster puppy, and I’m showing you three things I start teaching right away—because honestly, any dog can learn these at any age. I keep sessions super short (under 5 minutes), use a clicker, and I’m big on high-value rewards (I used Organic Valley cream cheese spread here, but you can absolutely use their food). The first thing I’m capturing is “manding”—when Aura calmly offers a behavior I like (like sitting instead of jumping, barking, biting, or climbing on me to get what she wants). When she asks nicely, I mark it and reward it. Next I teach the Touch cue (nose to hand). This is one of the most useful cues because it’s clear, easy for puppies to “get,” builds confidence fast, and it can become an emergency backup recall. It’s also amazing for positioning in training and even leash work—like getting your puppy back into heel when they’re distracted. Finally, I do a simple shaping/enrichment game using a BarkBox box: I reward any tiny choice Aura makes toward interacting with the box. No pressure, no luring—she guides the session. Shaping builds confidence, adds mental enrichment, and helps your puppy actually want to learn with you.