Melon's 150-Day Training Program
Welcome to Melon’s Training Journey
A systematic 150-day program to build a high-performance dog from the ground up. Starting November 20, 2025 → April 20, 2026.
The Three Pillars
1. Daily Anchor: 3PM Courtyard Session
10 minutes every single day - Marker conditioning + engagement work. This non-negotiable foundation holds everything together.
2. Three Complete Cycles (90 Days)
Confidence → Regulation → Impulse Control - 15 games across 3 cycles building a thinking, responsive dog.
3. Foundation Skills
Down, Break, and Marker System - Progressively proofed from intro all the way through distance and distraction work.
Quick Navigation
Just Starting?
→ 90-Day Foundations Program Start with Cycle 1: Building Confidence (Nov 20 - Dec 20)
Want to Teach Down?
→ Teaching Down Complete Guide 7-phase progression from lure intro to distance/distraction proofing
Need the Big Picture?
→ Full 150-Day Timeline See how all pieces fit together over the entire arc
Want to Understand Daily Structure?
→ Daily Structure & Routines The schedule that makes everything sustainable
What You’ll Build
After 90 Days (Cycles 1-3 Complete)
✅ Marker Response - Bulletproof, automatic response to YES and GOOD ✅ Handler Engagement - Default check-in behavior ✅ Arousal Control - Go from 100 to 0 in 30 seconds ✅ Impulse Control - Rock-solid patience and self-control ✅ 15 Games - All 3 cycles mastered ✅ Confidence - Tries new things, explores fearlessly
After 150 Days (Full Program Complete)
✅ Everything above + ✅ Rock-Solid Down - Verbal cue, duration, distance, distractions all proofed ✅ Real-World Reliability - Works in parks, cafes, busy environments ✅ Advanced Ready - Foundation for formal recall, heel, sport work ✅ Training Habit - Sustainable daily practice you can maintain
The Daily Breakdown
| Time | Activity | Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00 PM | COURTYARD SESSION | 10 min | Marker + Engagement (ANCHOR) |
| 3:45 PM | BONUS TRAINING | 10-15 min | This week’s game |
| 4:30 PM | Exercise Outlet | 20-30 min | Walk/play + check-ins |
See full schedule: Daily Structure & Routines
Key Principles
Progress Over Perfection
Some weeks are great, some are harder. Both are part of the journey. Imperfect consistency beats perfect planning.
Only 10 Minutes Required
The 3pm courtyard session is the minimum. It’s short enough to be sustainable, powerful enough to compound over 150 days.
Flexibility Within Structure
If you need to repeat a week, that’s fine. If she’s ahead of schedule, that’s also fine. The timeline is a guide, not a prison.
Real-World Integration
Training isn’t separate from life. It IS life - meals become training opportunities, walks become training time, play becomes training.
The Programs at a Glance
90-Day Foundations Program (Weeks 1-15)
| Cycle | Dates | Focus | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cycle 1: Confidence | Nov 20 - Dec 20 | Building confidence, problem-solving, handler focus | 5 games |
| Cycle 2: Regulation | Dec 21 - Jan 20 | Arousal control, drive channeling, start/stop | 5 games |
| Cycle 3: Impulse | Jan 21 - Feb 20 | Patience, impulse control, precision | 5 games |
Teaching Down (Weeks 1-15 + Ongoing)
| Phase | Timeline | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2: Intro & Speed | Weeks 1-2 | Get the behavior, build reliability |
| 3-4: Fade & Verbal | Weeks 3-4 | Transition to hand signal & verbal cue |
| 5: Verbal Only | Week 5 | Responds to “down” with no hand signal |
| 6: Duration | Weeks 6-9 | Holds down for 2-60+ seconds |
| 7: Distance & Distractions | Weeks 10-15 | Holds while you move away or distractions occur |
Weeks 16-20: Advanced Applications
Real-world generalization, formal obedience prep, sport foundations.
Getting Started
What You Need
- High-value treats (small, soft, smelly)
- A quiet area for training (courtyard, living room)
- A way to track weekly reflections
- Realistic expectations (she’s already good, you’re building great)
This Week
- Read Daily Structure & Routines
- Read Cycle 1: Building Confidence
- Start the 3pm courtyard session tomorrow
- Pick this week’s game and go
That’s it. One 10-minute session every day. Everything else builds from there.
Key Links
Foundations & Structure
- Daily Structure & Routines - The schedule
- 90-Day Foundations Hub - Complete program overview
The Three Cycles
Teaching Down
- Teaching Down Hub - Overview & all phases
- Phase-by-Phase Guides - See hub for individual phase links
- Troubleshooting - Common problems & solutions
Supporting Protocols
- Adding Duration to Any Behavior - Used throughout all training
Big Picture
- Full 150-Day Timeline - See how everything fits together
Final Reminders
For Your ADHD Brain
- 🧠 You don’t have to invent the plan - it’s all here
- 🧠 You don’t have to decide what to train - the timeline tells you
- 🧠 You don’t have to track everything - just weekly reflections
- 🧠 Imperfect consistency beats perfect planning - just show up
For Melon
- 🐕 She’s already good - you’re building great
- 🐕 She’s not broken - you’re preventing problems before they start
- 🐕 She’s got high potential - you’re setting her up for excellence
- 🐕 She’s learning - trust the process
For You
- 💪 Progress, not perfection
- 💪 One day at a time
- 💪 One cycle at a time
- 💪 One game at a time
Let’s Go
150 days seems like a long time. It’s also not.
By April 20, 2026, you will have:
- Trained consistently for 150 days
- Mastered 15 games across 3 cycles
- Built a rock-solid foundation
- Created a working partnership with your dog
- Established a training habit that works for YOUR brain
It all starts with the 3pm courtyard session tomorrow.
One 10-minute session. Every day.
That’s it.
Ready? → 90-Day Foundations Program
🐾