How Dogs Learn & Develop

Understand the four learning phases, classical and operant conditioning, reinforcement, canine developmental stages, and much more.

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 map, mark, and lay effective training lines, use electronics with purpose, 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 course in the HUNT DIY series - but it also stands strong on its own. Whether you're preparing for a full training regimen or just want to think more clearly and train smarter, PRIME gives you the core knowledge most handlers never learn. From how dogs think, learn, and develop, to how scent works, to the nuts and bolts training technique and handling - this course bridges the gap between a hobbyist and a handler. 

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, Chair of the Test Program, and Certified Judge for the American Blood Trackers Association. I'm excited to share what has worked very well for me and others and help you achieve your training goals with your dog. Join me in this course, and let's become better handlers, trainers, and dog owners!

Curriculum

18 Chapters · 232 Lessons

  1. 1

    Start Here

    1. Welcome Free preview
  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

    HUNT DIY Terms

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Train Dance

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Motion Activated Dog

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Task

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Task Avoidance

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Escape Behavior

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Shutting Down

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Line

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Line (modifiers)

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Feedback System

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Refusals

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Crittering (Partial-Send)

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Trashing (Full-Send)

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Side Questing

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      Check In

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      Neutral Handling

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      Playing Dumb

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      Pushing Rope

    19. (Included in full purchase)

      Handler Dependency

    20. (Included in full purchase)

      Lost In The Sauce

    21. (Included in full purchase)

      Anchoring

    22. (Included in full purchase)

      Gear Breaking/Manners

    23. (Included in full purchase)

      HUNT DIY Training Terms Quiz

  7. 7

    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

  8. 8

    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

  9. 9

    Scent Theory & Canine Olfaction

    1. Chapter Brief Free preview
    2. Canine Olfaction Free preview
    3. Olfactory Receptors Free preview
    4. Vomeronasal Organ (Jacobson's Organ) Free preview
    5. Olfactory Epithelium & Turbinates Free preview
    6. Stereo Olfaction Free preview
    7. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Free preview
    8. Odorant Molecules Free preview
    9. Pheromones Free preview
    10. Animal Odor Signature Free preview
    11. Scent Cone Free preview
    12. Scent Plume Free preview
    13. Thermals (Thermal Air Currents) Free preview
    14. Turbulence Free preview
    15. Scent Pool Free preview
    16. Eddies and Dead Air Free preview
    17. Humidity Free preview
    18. Temperature Free preview
    19. Wind Free preview
    20. Vegetation (Ground Cover) Free preview
    21. Terrain Free preview
    22. Surface Free preview
    23. Scent Aging Free preview
    24. Oxidation Free preview
    25. Microbial Degradation Free preview
    26. Evaporation & Dissipation Free preview
    27. Contamination Free preview
    28. Scent Discrimination Free preview
    29. Tracking vs. Trailing Free preview
    30. (Included in full purchase)

      Scent Theory & Canine Olfaction Quiz

  10. 10

    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

  11. 11

    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 Pollution

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Odor Discrimination

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Trail Application Methods

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Summary

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Target Odor Quiz

  12. 12

    DUAL Purpose Tracking

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Two Ways To Be Right

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      What Dual Purpose Means

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Refusal: Not Quitting - Communicating

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Refusal Types

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Building a Reliable Refusal

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Unreliable Refusal: How Dogs Learn To Quit

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      What Reinforces Refusals (For Better Or Worse)

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Conditions That Mislead

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Believing The Dog When It Says No

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Field Benefits

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Success Means Clarity

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      DUAL Purpose Tracking Quiz

  13. 13

    Training Lines

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Mapping

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      4 90s Mapping

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Field Proof: Mapping 4 90s

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      4 45s Mapping

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Field Proof: Mapping 4 45s

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      4590 Mapping

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Field Proof: Mapping 4590 Line

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Marking Training Lines: Overview

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Marking Training Lines: Purpose

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Marking Training Lines: A Learning Tool

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      yOu'Ll aCcIdEnTaLlY sTeEr yOuR dOg

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Setup and Record with Garmin Handheld

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Setup and Record With DogTracks

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      Recording with Electronics

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      Line Drills Part 1

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      Field Proof: Line Drills 1

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      Line Drills Part 2

    19. (Included in full purchase)

      Field Proof: Line Drills 2

    20. (Included in full purchase)

      Line Drills Part 3

    21. (Included in full purchase)

      Field Proof: Line Drills 3

    22. (Included in full purchase)

      Training Lines Quiz

  14. 14

    Train Smart By Playing Dumb

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Brief

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Foundations of Sound Judgement

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Distance-Based Neutrality (Dumb Zones)

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Dumb Zone Progression

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Playing Dumb

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Primary Tools for Communication

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Slow To Stop Demonstration

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      "No-Pop" In-Action

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Secondary Tools for Intervention

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Summary

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Train Smart By Playing Dumb Quiz

  15. 15

    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

  16. 16

    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)

      Handler-Delivered Rewards

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Rules For Execution

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Summary

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Creating Wins Quiz

  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

Enroll Now Free preview