The Rookie is a puppy or untrained dog who is still learning how to navigate everyday life.

 

They don’t exhibit major behavioral issues, but they lack manners, focus, and basic obedience skills, such as sit, stay, recall, and polite leash behavior. Training at this stage is about building strong foundations and teaching your dog how to learn, and teaching you both to communicate effectively.

 

Basic obedience, manners, life skills training, and STAR Puppy or CGC preparation are ideal because they provide structure, confidence, and consistency. These programs set your dog up for long-term success and help prevent small gaps in training from becoming bigger problems later on.