FIT-Foundations™ Level 4 is our Expert program, building on the manners, tricks and skills taught in our Level 3 program while adding in even more canine conditioning exercises to strengthen our dog's bodies while working their busy brains for the ultimate mental/physical combination. 

Like in our FIT-Foundations levels 1-3 programs where we used a variety of positive reinforcement training methods (luring, targeting, shaping, capturing) and implemented both a verbal reward marker and a clicker, we continue strengthening our communication skills while adding more behaviors to our toolbox in order to continue to improve the human-canine relationship and bond.

Our Level 4 program implements a variety of chained behaviors in order to perform more complex skills and tricks. 

By incorporating more physical and mental challenges, we can potentially lengthen our dog's life span while helping prevent injury and disease.

Some of the skills we will perform in this level include:

• Soccer / Intro to Triebball (send dog around ball from 15ft - dog pushes ball towards you) 

• Ladder (push ball through ladder / back up through ladder / review sidestepping paws & feet)

• Paw Pods (all 4's - independent limb placement)

• Distance (6 behaviors at 12ft) / Send to small target 20ft away

• Semi-Formal Retrieve over jump (a toy can be used in place of 'dumbbell')

• Subtle Cues - My dog can read! (Index Cards)

• Double Balance Beam

• Low Teeter

• Double Hoop Jump

• Review Shopping Cart

• Barrel Roll

• Scent Detection (6 container wintergreen search) 

As a BONUS, for those who EARNED their Do More With Your Dog! ATD (advanced trick dog title) in Level 3, we provide the opportunity for teams to EARN their ETD (expert trick dog title) in Level 4!