Reward-based practice
Training exercise library
Short, practical exercises built around reinforcement, gradual progress and the animal’s right to opt out.
Name response
Build a reliable, positive orientation to the handler when the pet hears their name.
1–2 minutes, several times daily · Dogs, Cats
Hand target
Teach the animal to touch a nose to an open hand for movement, focus and cooperative care.
2–3 minutes · Dogs, Cats, Rabbits
Settle on a mat
Create a portable relaxation station for visitors, cafés, travel or household routines.
3–5 minutes · Dogs, Cats
Loose-lead walking
Help a dog walk with a slack lead through reinforcement rather than pain or intimidation.
5–10 minute focused sessions · Dogs
Emergency recall
Build a special cue that predicts an exceptional reward and rapid return in urgent situations.
3–5 repetitions, twice weekly · Dogs
Comfortable carrier training
Make entering and resting in a carrier predictable and low-stress before travel or veterinary visits.
2–5 minutes daily · Cats, Rabbits, Small mammals
Cooperative nail care
Teach calm, consent-based paw handling and gradual acceptance of nail care.
1–3 minutes · Dogs, Cats, Rabbits
Leave it
Teach disengagement from food or objects without confrontation or guarding.
3–5 minutes · Dogs
Calm doorway pause
Teach a brief voluntary pause at doors and gates before receiving permission to move through.
2–4 minutes · Dogs
Trade and drop
Build safe, willing release of objects by exchanging them for something valuable.
2–3 minutes · Dogs
Cat station training
Teach a cat to choose a mat or perch for weighing, household routines and cooperative care.
1–3 minutes · Cats
Basket muzzle conditioning
Build a positive emotional response to a well-fitted basket muzzle without forcing it onto the dog.
1–3 minutes · Dogs
Rabbit recall
Teach a rabbit to approach a person or station on cue for enrichment and safer daily care.
1–2 minutes · Rabbits
Voluntary parrot step-up
Teach a parrot to step onto a hand-held perch or hand by choice for safe movement.
1–3 minutes · Birds
Crate comfort
Build a genuinely relaxing den the dog chooses to use, rather than a place they are shut into.
2–5 minutes, twice daily · Dogs
Polite greetings
Replace jumping at people with four paws on the floor by rewarding the behaviour you want.
2–4 minutes · Dogs
Handling for vet visits
Prepare the animal for routine examination so veterinary care is less frightening.
1–3 minutes · Dogs, Cats, Rabbits
Scent search game
Provide low-impact mental enrichment that suits all ages, including recovering and senior animals.
3–5 minutes · Dogs, Cats
Guinea pig handling confidence
Reduce fear of being approached and lifted by building voluntary contact first.
2–4 minutes · Guinea pigs, Small mammals
Charging a marker signal
Give the animal a clear signal that tells them exactly which choice earned the reward.
1–2 minutes · Dogs, Cats, Rabbits, Birds
Teaching bite inhibition to puppies
Teach a puppy to control the force of its mouth before teaching it not to mouth at all.
Woven into play, 1–2 minutes at a time · Dogs
Building a reliable stay
Teach the dog to hold a position until released, building duration, distance and distraction separately.
3–5 minutes, once or twice daily · Dogs
Heelwork foundations
Teach the dog to walk at your left side with a loose lead, choosing the position willingly.
5 minutes, little and often · Dogs
Litter training a rabbit
Teach a rabbit to use a litter tray reliably so it can enjoy more free-roam time.
Passive training over 1–2 weeks · Rabbits
Indoor flight recall for parrots
Teach a flighted parrot to fly to your hand on cue — a safety behaviour as much as a trick.
2–3 short sessions of 2–5 minutes · Birds
Redirecting scratching to a post
Move scratching from furniture to appropriate surfaces without punishment.
Passive training over 1–3 weeks · Cats
Teaching a rabbit to accept handling
Build a rabbit's confidence with being touched and briefly lifted for health checks and nail trims.
2–5 minutes daily · Rabbits
Introducing a nail grinder
Teach a dog to relax while its nails are ground, as an alternative to clippers.
3–5 minutes daily for 1–2 weeks · Dogs
Teaching a puppy to be alone
Build a puppy's tolerance for being alone gradually, preventing separation problems before they start.
Several short sessions daily over weeks · Dogs
Harness training a cat
Teach a cat to accept a harness and lead for safe outdoor exploration.
5 minutes daily over 2–4 weeks · Cats
Teaching a relaxed down
Teach a dog to lie down calmly on a word or hand signal, using reward-based steps.
3–5 minutes, a few times a day · Dogs
Waiting politely for food
Teach calm waiting while the food bowl is put down.
At each meal · Dogs
Target stick training for birds
Teach a parrot to touch a stick with its beak, as a foundation for stepping up and moving calmly.
1–3 minutes · Birds
Recall for cats
Teach a cat to come to a sound, useful at mealtimes and emergencies.
1–2 minutes before meals · Cats
Harness walking for ferrets
Get a ferret comfortable in a harness for safe outdoor exploring.
5 minutes, daily for several weeks · Ferrets
Settling comfortably in public places
Build voluntary relaxed mat behaviour in gradually busier places while respecting the dog's need for space and an easy exit.
Brief sessions, ending before fatigue or distress · Dogs
