12 Weeks to a Better Dog — book cover by Darren Scahill

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Obedience Training Guide

12 Weeks to a
Better Dog

A Practical Obedience Programme for Everyday Dog Owners

by Darren Scahill

12 Structured Weeks

190+ Pages

30+ Years Experience

8 Core Commands

Order Your Copy — $25 Call Darren

Print Edition | Companion to the Obedience Programme

What This Book Is About

A Step-by-Step Programme Built for Real Life

Most dog owners don't want a competition dog. They want a dog that listens, walks nicely, comes when called, and makes daily life easier. 12 Weeks to a Better Dog was written specifically for that owner — the everyday handler with limited time and a dog that needs direction.

Written by Darren Scahill and used as the companion book to his obedience classes, it takes you from the basics of how dogs learn through to a complete 12-week training programme, week by week. No jargon, no unrealistic expectations — just a clear, structured system that builds real results.

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Structured

A week-by-week programme that builds progressively. You always know exactly what to work on next — no guesswork, no confusion.

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Balanced

Darren's approach uses the full range of training tools — reward, correction, and relationship — rather than being locked into a single ideology.

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Practical

Written for handlers with busy lives and real dogs. The programme fits around your schedule — and if you need a break, you simply pick up where you left off.

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Relationship-First

Training is built on bond, trust, and clear communication. The book explains why dogs do what they do, so you can work with your dog rather than against them.

Inside the Book

Everything You Need to Train Your Dog

The book covers the theory, the commands, the equipment, and the full 12-week programme — all in one place.

What balanced training actually means

How dogs learn — association, reward, repetition

Understanding your dog as an individual

Creating a genuine bond and engagement

Equipment guide — what works and why

Using your voice, food, and markers correctly

Sit, Stand, Drop — foundation commands

Recall — coming when called, every time

Heelwork — walking without pulling

Stay, Leave, and Place commands

12-week week-by-week training programme

Behavioural modification principles

The Programme

Week by Week — What to Expect

Each week builds on the last, moving from foundation skills through to real-world reliability. You don't need to rush — the programme works at your dog's pace.

Foundation

Marking behaviour, first exercises, building engagement

Basic Commands

Sit, Stand, Drop — teaching the core positions

Recall

Introducing the come command and building reliability

Heelwork

Walking correctly on the lead without pulling

Stay & Leave

Impulse control and duration on commands

Consolidation

Strengthening all commands before progressing

Distractions

Proofing commands in new environments

Distance & Duration

Building reliability at greater range and time

Real-World Training

Taking the work into everyday situations

Advancing

Off-leash reliability and stronger responses

Refinement

Tightening responses and handler technique

Completion

Full programme review and ongoing maintenance

Even though this is a 12-week programme, you do not need to follow each week consecutively. Take a break when life gets busy, then pick up exactly where you left off.

Who This Book Is For

Written for the Everyday Handler

This is not a competition manual. It is written for people who simply want a dog they can live comfortably with.

New dog owners

Starting from scratch and wanting a clear, structured foundation to work from — without having to piece it together from multiple sources.

Owners already in classes

Used as the companion book to Darren's obedience programme, so you always have the theory and the weekly plan in writing at home.

Owners with limited time

The programme is designed to fit around a normal life. Short, focused sessions work better than long, inconsistent ones.

Dogs with basic behaviour problems

Pulling, not listening, jumping, poor recall — the structured obedience programme addresses the root of most everyday behaviour issues.

"I am not after the perfect dog. I just want a well-behaved companion. That is what I had in mind when I wrote this book — a guide for people like me, who want a dog that listens, fits into their life, and is a pleasure to be around every day."

— Darren Scahill, Great Southern Training

Darren's Books

Two Books — Two Different Problems