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Challenge of the Month

October

Better Walks Month

Week 1- Check In and Focus​

Task: Practice getting your dog's attention on you.

  • Say your dog's name.

  • When they look at you, reward them.

  • Practice for 3–5 minutes a day.

  • Gradually practice around more distractions.

Challenge: Get 10 successful check-ins during each practice session.

Week 2- Loose Leash Walking

Task: Teach your dog that a loose leash makes the walk continue.

  • Start somewhere with few distractions.

  • Reward your dog whenever the leash is loose.

  • Stop or change direction when they pull.

  • Keep sessions short and successful.

Challenge: Complete 5 minutes of loose-leash walking without constant pulling.

Week 3- Leave It

Task: Practice ignoring something tempting.

Start with a low-value object and reward your dog for looking away from it. Gradually work up to more interesting distractions.

Challenge: Successfully "leave it" 5 times in a row.

Week 4- Real World Walk

Task: Put everything together.

Take your dog on a walk somewhere slightly more challenging and practice:

  • Name response

  • Check-ins

  • Loose leash

  • Leave it

  • Calmly passing distractions

Challenge: Complete a 15–20 minute training walk while focusing on quality rather than distance.

The Guardian Gauntlet Challenge

The Guardian Gauntlet is a progressive challenge system designed to keep you and your dog growing together long after your training sessions are over. Consistent practice at home is one of the most important parts of the training process — it reinforces what your dog learns during sessions, builds lasting habits, and helps your dog generalize commands to real-life situations. Each level of the Gauntlet is intentionally designed to challenge both you and your dog, building the confidence, communication, and leadership that form the foundation of a truly well-behaved dog. The more you practice together, the stronger your bond becomes — and the stronger your bond, the better your dog listens. Work through each challenge at your own pace, celebrate every milestone, and remember that every rep you put in at home is an investment in a lifetime of trust between you and your dog.

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As you and your dog work through each level and your confidence grows, you can schedule a rank evaluation with a Guardian K9 trainer to officially test for your next level. Successfully passing your evaluation earns you and your dog your official rank — along with exclusive Guardian K9 prizes and rewards that recognize the hard work you have both put in. Each rank you earn is a real achievement that reflects the time, consistency, and dedication you have invested in your dog. Whether you are working toward your first Handler evaluation or pushing for the prestigious Guardian Elite certification, there is always a next goal to chase, a new skill to master, and a reward waiting on the other side.

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