Welcome your new dog with confidence, compassion, and clarity! Whether you’ve adopted a puppy or welcomed an adult dog into your home, this collection of courses puts you on the path to success together.
The New Dog Badge is a carefully curated learning path designed to help you start strong and build a healthy, joyful relationship with your new canine companion—whether you're a first-time dog parent or adding a canine member to your family.
This badge combines science-led insights, practical strategies, and relationship-building tools from world-renowned dog behavior expert Victoria Stilwell and her team. With this selection of courses, you’ll get everything you need to understand your dog’s needs, navigate the early days, and establish a foundation for lifelong harmony.
This badge will help you:
- Set your dog up for success from day one by creating a welcoming environment, predictable routine, and calm first experiences that build safety and trust.
- Understand the five essential elements that shape your dog’s behavior and wellbeing—Safety and Wellness, Enrichment, Socialization, Training, and Communication—so you can meet them with empathy and intention.
- Strengthen your relationship with your dog using a practical framework that fosters mutual understanding, reduces conflict, and supports both your needs.
- Learn to recognize and respond to your dog’s body language and signals, so you can deepen communication and build a more connected partnership.
- Discover how your dog’s biology, emotions, and social instincts influence behavior, giving you tools to support their wellbeing and bring out their best self.
- Build a reliable potty training routine that aligns with your dog’s natural rhythms, prevents setbacks, and turns everyday success into lasting habits.
- Solve common training challenges like jumping, barking, and leash pulling with kind, effective strategies that work with your dog—not against them.
- Teach your dog to focus on you in any environment, improving communication, training success, and your daily connection as a team.
Who should take this badge?
The New Dog Badge is for first-time puppy or dog parents and guardians, new dog adopters and fosterers, and anyone looking to understand their new dog better and build a great life together.
More about this badge
Bringing a new dog into your life is exciting—and it can also be overwhelming. The New Dog Badge empowers you to:
Understand your dog’s behavior, needs, and instincts
Create a safe and supportive environment from day one
Build habits and routines that reduce stress and prevent problems
Communicate clearly and effectively with your dog
Lay the groundwork for a lifelong bond based on trust, not fear
Each course is designed to be easy to follow, science-led, and packed with practical tips that make a real difference. You'll walk away with new skills, fresh insights, and a deeper connection with your dog.
The New Dog Badge is a powerful collection of courses that helps get you started off on the right paw!
