How Dogs Learn & Develop

Understand the learning phases, reinforcement strategies, and how to match your training to your dog's actual maturity.

The Science Behind the Nose

Grasp scent theory, canine olfaction, thermoregulation and what impacts working ability, and how these shape training and real-world trailing. 

Train Like a Pro From the Start

Learn how to handle your dog appropriately during training and build meaningful reward events - so your dog walks away with the exact skills you want. 

About the Course

PRIME is the first phase of the HUNT DIY system - a structured no-fluff course built for handlers who are serious about training a reliable tracking dog.  This course doesn't teach drills. It gives you the mental framework to make better decisions in training and in the field. You'll learn how scent behaves, how dogs process it under pressure, and how to shape a dog that can trail accurately, detect health status reliably, and recover more game with less wasted time.  Whether you're training your first dog or rebuilding after hard lessons, PRIME gives you the systems most trackers never learn: 

Meet Your Instructor

Hi, I'm Ethan Young, I train dogs professionally to trail wounded game. Not only do I train, but I also track full-time during season as well as serve as an Admin for the Arkansas Blood Trailing Network, and serve as a Board Member, Operations Director, and Certified Judge for the American Blood Trackers Association. This isn't guesswork - it's a field-tested framework that's helped handlers build better dogs, avoid wasted training time, and recover more game. If you're serious about tracking, PRIME will change the way you train forever. 

Curriculum

18 Chapters · 196 Lessons

  1. 1

    Start Here

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Welcome

  2. 2

    Overview

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Process over Perfection

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      What is PRIME?

  3. 3

    Shared Learning

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Shared Vocabulary: The Words We Use Matter

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Shared Philosophy: Decisions Should Come From Principles

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Shared Approach: Systems Require Consistency

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      One Language, One Standard

  4. 4

    Philosophy

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Philosophy: Overview

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Pillar 1: Be a Great Handler

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Own The Outcome

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Ongoing Skill Development

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Pillar 2: Sound Judgement

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Sustained Engagement

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Independent Problem-Solving

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      "tRuSt yOuR dOg"

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Pillar 3: Conditions for Success

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Clear Communication

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Sufficient Motivation

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Physical Ability

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      It's Usually You

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      Philosophy Quiz

  5. 5

    Approach

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Approach: Overview

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Prong 1: Access as a Motivator

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Awesome Stuff

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      From an Awesome Handler

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      By Making Awesome Decisions

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Prong 2: Routine-Based Management Systems

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Box-To-Box

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Crate-to-Crate

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Prong 3: Simple Communication

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Feedback System

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Verbal Cues

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      oBeDiEnCe WiLl rUiN mY tRaiLiNg dOg

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Approach Quiz

  6. 6

    How Dogs Learn

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Four Phases of Learning

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Four Phases of Learning: Overview

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Phase 1: Acquisition

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Phase 2: Fluency

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Phase 3: Generalization

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Phase 4: Maintenance

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Putting the Four Phases to Work

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Classical Conditioning

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Operant Conditioning

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Primary Reinforcer

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Secondary Reinforcer

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Conditioned Reinforcer

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Markers

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      Learned Irrelevance

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      Extinction

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      Luring

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      Shaping

    19. (Included in full purchase)

      Free Shaping

    20. (Included in full purchase)

      Fading

    21. (Included in full purchase)

      Reinforcement Schedule

    22. (Included in full purchase)

      Overshadowing

    23. (Included in full purchase)

      Premack Principle

    24. (Included in full purchase)

      Engagement

    25. (Included in full purchase)

      Responsiveness

    26. (Included in full purchase)

      Biddability

    27. (Included in full purchase)

      Handler Sensitivity

    28. (Included in full purchase)

      Superstitious Associations

    29. (Included in full purchase)

      Clever Hans Effect Part 1

    30. (Included in full purchase)

      Clever Hans Effect Part 2

    31. (Included in full purchase)

      Clever Hans Effect Part 3

    32. (Included in full purchase)

      How Dogs Learn Quiz

  7. 7

    How Dogs Mature

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Dog Developmental Stages Overview

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Neonatal Period (0-2 weeks)

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Transitional Period (2-4 Weeks)

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Primary Socialization Period (3-12 Weeks)

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Juvenile Period (3-6 Months)

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Early Adolescence (6-12 Months)

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Late Adolescence (12-18 Months)

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Young Adult (18-36 Months)

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Mature Adult (3-7 Years)

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Senior (7 Years +)

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Females In Heat

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Fear Periods

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      How Dogs Mature Quiz

  8. 8

    Scent Theory & Canine Olfaction

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Canine Olfaction

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Olfactory Receptors

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Vomeronasal Organ (Jacobson's Organ)

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Olfactory Epithelium & Turbinates

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Stereo Olfaction

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Odorant Molecules

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Pheromones

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Animal Odor Signature

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Scent Cone

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Scent Plume

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Thermals (Thermal Air Currents)

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Turbulence

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      Scent Pool

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      Eddies and Dead Air

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      Humidity

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      Temperature

    19. (Included in full purchase)

      Wind

    20. (Included in full purchase)

      Vegetation (Ground Cover)

    21. (Included in full purchase)

      Terrain

    22. (Included in full purchase)

      Surface

    23. (Included in full purchase)

      Scent Aging

    24. (Included in full purchase)

      Oxidation

    25. (Included in full purchase)

      Microbial Degradation

    26. (Included in full purchase)

      Evaporation & Dissipation

    27. (Included in full purchase)

      Contamination

    28. (Included in full purchase)

      Scent Discrimination

    29. (Included in full purchase)

      Scent Theory & Canine Olfaction Quiz

  9. 9

    Thermoregulation and Working Quality

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Canine Thermoregulation - The Five Cooling Systems Part 1

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Canine Thermoregulation - The Five Cooling Systems Part 2

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Environmental Impact on Cooling Ability

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Heats Impact on Scenting and Trailing

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Identifying Heat Stress and Overheating

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Field Cooling Techniques and Best Practices

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Structuring Training Around Heat and Recovery

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Why This Matters In Training and Tracking

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Additional Factors that Influence Performance

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Thermoregulation and Working Quality Quiz

  10. 10

    Target Odor

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      What is Target Odor?

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      The Standard For HUNT DIY

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Alternative Odors

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Introducing Target Odor

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Storage and Handling

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Non-Target Odor and Contamination

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Odor Discrimination

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Summary

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Target Odor Quiz

  11. 11

    DUAL Purpose Tracking

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Dual Purpose: Two Ways To Be Right

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Refusal: Not Quitting - Communicating

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Refusal Types

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Building a Reliable Refusal

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Unreliable Refusal: How Dogs Learn To Quit

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      What Reinforces Refusals (For Better Or Worse)

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Conditions That Mislead

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Field Benefits

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      DUAL Purpose Tracking Quiz

  12. 12

    Trailing Tendencies

    1. Chapter Brief Free preview
    2. Task Engagement Free preview
    3. Line Tendencies Free preview
    4. Distractions Free preview
    5. Handler Influence Free preview
    6. Chapter Summary Free preview
  13. 13

    Train Smart By Playing Dumb

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Distance-Based Neutrality (Dumb Zones)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Dumb Zone Progression

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Playing Dumb

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Primary Tools for Communication

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Secondary Tools for Intervention

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Summary

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Watch and Take Note!

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Train Wreck Session with All the Primary Tools

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Training Session with No-Pops, Good, and Playing Dumb

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      "Slow-To-Stop" In Action

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      "No-Pop" In-Action

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Train Smart By Playing Dumb Quiz

  14. 14

    Reward Event Mastery

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      The 3-Piece Combo: Building a Reward Event

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Tiered Value System

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Variable Reinforcement & Anticipation

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      The Dopamine Effect: Anticipation as a Reward

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Frustration-Tolerance Sweet Spot

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Learning History and Behavioral Chains

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Strategic Contrast and Value Inflation

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Task Enthusiasm Is Manufactured, Not Innate

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Reward Event Mastery Quiz

  15. 15

    Creating Wins

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Engagement or Problem-Solving ?

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Secondary Tools For Intervention

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Couples Counseling

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Therapy Tracks

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Alternative Approaches To Motivation

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Summary

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Creating Wins Quiz

  16. 16

    Training Lines

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Isolating Skills

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Isolating Skills: Stacking Reps

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Marking Training Lines: Overview

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Marking Training Lines: Purpose

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Marking Training Lines: A Learning Tool

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Unintentional Handler Influence

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Evaluating Training Sessions

  17. 17

    Field Proof

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Field Proof: Sound Judgement

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Field Proof: Box-To-Box

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Field Proof: Issue Check

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Field Proof: Starting Your Dog

  18. 18

    PRACTICE

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Structure and Content

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Training Outcomes

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Lace Up

Ready to Transform Your Dog's Skills?

Enroll now and start training your dog to track wounded game like a pro. Don't miss out on this opportunity to unleash your dog's full potential!

$299.00

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