Grade Level

Middle-School

Out, Flip to Heel, off-leash work, grooming and object desensitization.

In Middle-School, dogs advance their training with specialized commands and skills that enhance their ability to navigate more complex environments. This level focuses on precise obedience, grooming tolerance, and desensitization techniques.

This is also where structured off-leash work and longer-line exercises begin — your dog earns more freedom by demonstrating consistent obedience.

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Who This Level Is For

Is Middle-School the Right Fit for Your Dog?

Dogs who have completed Elementary and are ready for off-leash work, grooming desensitization, and a first taste of agility equipment.

Middle-School — What You'll Focus On

In Middle-School the dog will focus on Out, Flip to Heel, off-leash work, grooming and object desensitization.

Middle-School Syllabus

The Middle-School Curriculum

Every manner, behavior, trick, and tool introduced at this level — each tracked individually in PD360 with explicit success indicators.

Introduced New skills your dog meets for the first time at this level. Reinforced Carried over from the previous level and strengthened with reps. Proofed Tested against real-world distraction, distance, and duration. Maintained Kept sharp from earlier levels so the foundation never slips.

Introduced 3 New skills your dog meets for the first time at this level.

Objects Desensitization Introduced

Calm response to novel objects (umbrellas, vacuums, strollers).

Mastery: Dog stays calm when exposed to novel everyday objects.
Grooming Introduced

Tolerate handling — paws, ears, mouth, brushing, nail trims.

Mastery: Dog tolerates full body handling without stress.
Car Socialization Introduced

Calm, safe behavior in and around vehicles.

Mastery: Dog loads, rides, and unloads calmly.

Reinforced 4 Carried over from the previous level and strengthened with reps.

Calm Reinforced

Default to settled instead of revved up.

Mastery: Dog defaults to a relaxed posture during downtime.

First introduced in Elementary
Boundaries Reinforced

Respect for off-limits zones in the home and environment.

Mastery: Dog stays out of designated off-limits areas without correction.

First introduced in Elementary
Greetings Reinforced

Polite, four-on-the-floor introductions to new people.

Mastery: Dog greets new people without jumping or mouthing.

First introduced in Elementary
Appropriate Play Reinforced

Read other dogs and adjust play style to match.

Mastery: Dog matches play style to play partner and disengages on cue.

First introduced in Elementary

Proofed 5 Tested against real-world distraction, distance, and duration.

Play Guidance Proofed

Structured rules of engagement during play sessions.

Mastery: Dog can settle on a cue during high-arousal play.

First introduced in Kindergarten
Hand Off Proofed

Calm transfer of the leash and the dog's focus between handlers.

Mastery: Dog accepts a new handler without anxiety or reactivity.

First introduced in Kindergarten
Desensitize Proofed

Gradual exposure that reduces over-arousal to specific stimuli.

Mastery: Dog can be exposed to a known trigger without reactivity.

First introduced in Kindergarten
Impulse Control Proofed

Wait before acting on a temptation — the building block of obedience.

Mastery: Dog can hold a Sit with food in front of them.

First introduced in Kindergarten
Thresholds Proofed

Pause at doorways and transitions instead of bolting through.

Mastery: Dog waits at thresholds for a release cue.

First introduced in Kindergarten

Maintained 5 Kept sharp from earlier levels so the foundation never slips.

Confidence Maintained

Build a baseline of confidence so your dog can engage with the world calmly.

Mastery: Dog approaches novel sights and sounds without flight or freeze.

First introduced in Pre-School
Etiquette Maintained

Learn the day-to-day etiquette that makes your dog a great neighbor.

Mastery: Dog greets calmly without jumping or mouthing.

First introduced in Pre-School
Socialize Maintained

Structured exposure to other dogs and people in a controlled setting.

Mastery: Dog can be near other dogs without overreacting in either direction.

First introduced in Pre-School
Cues Maintained

Build awareness that handler cues mean something is about to happen.

Mastery: Dog orients toward the handler when a cue is given.

First introduced in Pre-School
Gentleness Maintained

Soft-mouth taking food and toys without snatching or nipping.

Mastery: Dog takes treats gently from hand.

First introduced in Pre-School

Introduced 4 New skills your dog meets for the first time at this level.

Recall to Front Introduced

Come and sit squarely in front of the handler.

Mastery: Dog recalls and finishes in a square front-sit.
Flip to Heel Introduced

Move from front position to heel position cleanly.

Mastery: Dog flips from front to heel without forging.
Off Leash Introduced

Maintain reliability without a physical leash connection.

Mastery: Dog completes a working sequence reliably off-leash in a controlled space.
Out Introduced

Release a held item or location on cue.

Mastery: Dog releases item or position the moment Out is cued.

Reinforced 7 Carried over from the previous level and strengthened with reps.

Reset Reinforced

Return to a calm, focused state on cue when energy spikes.

Mastery: Dog drops arousal and re-engages handler within 5 seconds.

First introduced in Elementary
Auto Sit Reinforced

Default Sit when the handler stops walking — no verbal cue needed.

Mastery: Dog automatically sits when the handler stops.

First introduced in Elementary
Recall Reinforced

Come when called from a distance.

Mastery: Dog comes when called from 15 feet with distraction.

First introduced in Elementary
Done Reinforced

Disengage from an activity or item completely.

Mastery: Dog disengages from a fixation when Done is cued.

First introduced in Elementary
Back Up Reinforced

Walk backward in a straight line — body awareness builder.

Mastery: Dog backs up at least 3 steps on cue.

First introduced in Elementary
Off Reinforced

Get off furniture, people, or counters when cued.

Mastery: Dog gets off the moment Off is cued.

First introduced in Elementary
Leave It Reinforced

Ignore a tempting item or scent and look back at the handler.

Mastery: Dog disengages from a tempting target and looks at handler.

First introduced in Elementary

Proofed 5 Tested against real-world distraction, distance, and duration.

Heel Proofed

Walk at your side, matching your pace.

Mastery: Dog maintains heel position for at least 10 steps.

First introduced in Kindergarten
Turns Proofed

Maintain heel position through left, right, and about turns.

Mastery: Dog stays in heel through directional changes.

First introduced in Kindergarten
Stay Proofed

Hold a position until released — duration over distance.

Mastery: Dog holds Stay for 30 seconds with mild distraction.

First introduced in Kindergarten
Place Proofed

Go to a designated spot (mat/bed) and settle there.

Mastery: Dog goes to Place from across the room and settles.

First introduced in Kindergarten
Free Proofed

The release cue — your dog is officially off-duty.

Mastery: Dog clearly distinguishes Free from a continued command.

First introduced in Kindergarten

Maintained 5 Kept sharp from earlier levels so the foundation never slips.

Name Maintained

Your dog learns that hearing their name means look at you.

Mastery: Dog turns head and makes eye contact when name is said.

First introduced in Pre-School
Sit Maintained

The foundational position command — rear on the ground.

Mastery: Dog sits within 2 seconds of verbal cue without lure.

First introduced in Pre-School
Markers Maintained

Marker words (Yes / Good / No) that tell your dog exactly what worked.

Mastery: Dog clearly responds to marker words by holding or releasing behavior.

First introduced in Pre-School
Crate Maintained

Calm, quiet acceptance of crate as a safe resting place.

Mastery: Dog enters crate on cue and settles within 5 minutes.

First introduced in Pre-School
Down Maintained

Elbows on the ground — the second foundational position.

Mastery: Dog goes down within 3 seconds of verbal cue.

First introduced in Pre-School

Introduced 2 New skills your dog meets for the first time at this level.

Crawl Introduced

Move forward in a down position.

Mastery: Dog crawls at least 6 feet on cue.
Rollover Introduced

Full body roll on cue.

Mastery: Dog completes a clean rollover on cue.

Reinforced 1 Carried over from the previous level and strengthened with reps.

Touch Reinforced

Nose-touch a target — the building block for many advanced behaviors.

Mastery: Dog reliably nose-touches a target hand or stick on cue.

First introduced in Elementary

Proofed 1 Tested against real-world distraction, distance, and duration.

Shake Proofed

Lift a paw to shake hands on cue.

Mastery: Dog offers paw within 2 seconds of cue.

First introduced in Kindergarten

Maintained 1 Kept sharp from earlier levels so the foundation never slips.

Spin Maintained

A full rotation on cue — your dog's first trick.

Mastery: Dog completes a 360° rotation on hand or verbal cue.

First introduced in Pre-School

Introduced 6 New skills your dog meets for the first time at this level.

Bark Collar Introduced

Anti-bark tool for nuisance vocalization in specific contexts.

Mastery: Dog reduces nuisance barking in target context.
Long Line Introduced

15-30 foot training line for bridging on-leash and off-leash work.

Mastery: Dog works confidently at the end of a long line.
Treat & Train Introduced

Remote treat dispenser for shaping duration and distance.

Mastery: Dog can be reinforced from a distance with the Treat & Train.
Agility Weaves Introduced

First exposure to weave poles for body awareness.

Mastery: Dog enters and exits a guided weave correctly.
Agility Tunnel Introduced

Tunnel obstacle introduction.

Mastery: Dog confidently sends through and recalls through a tunnel.
Agility Jump Introduced

Single bar jump introduction.

Mastery: Dog clears a low jump on cue.

Reinforced 4 Carried over from the previous level and strengthened with reps.

Muzzle Reinforced

Basket muzzle conditioning for safety and vet visits.

Mastery: Dog accepts muzzle voluntarily and tolerates it for at least 5 minutes.

First introduced in Elementary
Tab Reinforced

Short drag-line for quick handler intervention without a full leash.

Mastery: Dog works appropriately with a tab attached.

First introduced in Elementary
E-Collar Reinforced

Remote stim collar conditioned through a thoughtful introduction process.

Mastery: Dog responds to a working level of stim consistently and confidently.

First introduced in Elementary
Prong Collar Reinforced

Communication tool for leash pressure on strong pullers.

Mastery: Dog walks loose-leash in prong collar without lunging.

First introduced in Elementary

Proofed 3 Tested against real-world distraction, distance, and duration.

Training Collar Proofed

A flat or slip-style collar used during structured training sessions.

Mastery: Dog accepts training collar and works in it confidently.

First introduced in Kindergarten
Harness Proofed

Body harness for dogs who need different leash pressure than a collar.

Mastery: Dog walks comfortably and predictably in harness.

First introduced in Kindergarten
Treadmill Proofed

Indoor exercise tool for structured energy outlet.

Mastery: Dog walks calmly on treadmill at handler-set pace.

First introduced in Kindergarten

Maintained 3 Kept sharp from earlier levels so the foundation never slips.

Slip Lead Maintained

A simple looped lead used for quick, low-pressure leash work.

Mastery: Dog accepts slip lead and walks without panic.

First introduced in Pre-School
Martingale Maintained

Limited-slip collar that tightens gently to prevent backing out.

Mastery: Dog wears martingale comfortably during class.

First introduced in Pre-School
Treats Maintained

High-value food rewards used to mark and reinforce correct behavior.

Mastery: Dog takes treats gently and pairs them with marker words.

First introduced in Pre-School

Visual Syllabus

View the Middle-School Syllabus

Trouble viewing? Open the Middle-School syllabus in a new tab →

Where This Level Sits

Your Progress at Middle-School

Each row represents a grade level. The bar shows the cumulative number of behaviors your dog will have learned by the end of that level. Middle-School is highlighted below.

Total cumulative behaviors learned

Graduation Criteria

When Do Dogs Move From Middle-School to High-School?

Dogs graduate to High-School once they can perform off-leash recalls, flip to heel from a front position, and tolerate grooming handling without reactivity.

PD360 Pet Progress

Every Skill at Middle-School is Tracked in PD360

The curriculum is cumulative on purpose. A behavior taught at Elementary is reinforced in Middle School and proofed in High School, with each behavior moving through at least four stages of learning — introduced, reinforced, proofed, and maintained. You'll see exactly which behaviors your dog has been Introduced to, Reinforced on, and Proofed against. The same record follows them into DaySchool, Camps, private lessons, and grooming. One profile, one progress story, one team.

300+ Tracked variables per dog
8 Grade levels & curriculum tracks
120+ Behaviors across the journey
Years Of continuous progress data

Behavior-Level Detail

Every command, manner, and trick is tracked through Introduced → Reinforced → Proofed stages.
Programs Stay in Sync

Progress in Group Class flows into DaySchool, Camps, and private lessons. Trainers see the same record.
Honest Recommendations

Your dog moves up when the data says they're ready — not when a calendar says so.
Years of Continuity

Whether your dog is in Pre-School or Dogtorate, the full history travels with them.