Internal tool — prototype with demo data. Not client facing.

Management viewMG

Reference · SOP v1.2

Lesson Grading Rubric

The product is a trained owner. Success means the owner can reproduce the training without the trainer standing next to them.

The ICA Teaching Loop

Every skill, every session, no skipped steps. Never stop at “together.”

  1. 1. Explain

    What we're doing and why it matters to their goal.

  2. 2. Demonstrate

    "I do." Model it, thinking out loud.

  3. 3. Together

    "We do." Owner's hands on; trainer coaches every rep.

  4. 4. Solo

    "You do." Owner alone, trainer silent.

  5. 5. Recap & check

    Trainer recaps, checks understanding and gives the owner room to answer.

Things to watch

Reported for coaching; never score-capping.

  • • Owner performed solo
  • • Recap & check
  • • Homework + support

A miss never caps the score or fails the lesson; it shows up as a coaching point. The graduation Skills Test counts as the solo.

The nuance rule

Keith, 9/30.

Dog training is nuance. A different approach is fine if the trainer explains why and it makes sense. Explained adaptations are credited; unexplained deviations lose points.

When in doubt, flag it.

7 categories · 100 points

Each scored 1–5 × weight. Every score cites timestamped evidence.

  • Setup & Check-in

    Spoken header (owner, dog, trainer, lesson #, program, topic), week check-in with homework video review, goal tied to last week, and the hand-off pre-framed.

    ×2 · max 10

  • Method Accuracy & Safety

    Judged against the lesson-type playbook(s) and the ICA Method. A safety Critical flag caps this at 2 (1 if the dog was put at risk).

    ×4 · max 20

  • Explaining the Why

    A plain why for each rule, analogies tailored to the owner's life, each skill tied to daily life, the dog's state named — without over-explaining.

    ×3 · max 15

  • Demo → Rehearse → Owner Reps

    Rehearse without the dog, errors previewed, owner hands-on ≥40%, one skill at a time (2 max), ~80% success rule, a SOLO rep. Cut content, never the loop.

    ×4 · max 20

  • Live Coaching of the Owner

    Timed cues, specific praise and corrections with reasons, teaches the owner to read the dog, asks the owner's perspective first.

    ×3 · max 15

  • Close & Homework

    Closing Ritual: solo demo, homework stated back by the owner, specific plan; priority item, video ask, portal, next lesson, calm exit.

    ×3 · max 15

  • Professionalism & Client Experience

    Client feels heard, off-topic ≤10%, no talk about other clients, stays in scope, clean admin. Profanity is never scored here.

    ×1 · max 5

Grade bands

Any Critical flag → Keith review.

ICA Standard
90–100
Solid
75–89
Needs coaching
60–74
Re-train / Keith review
<60

Closing Ritual

How every lesson ends.

  1. 1. Owner does a solo demo
  2. 2. Owner states the homework back — “so that I know I explained it well…”
  3. 3. Lesson wrap-up: verbal recap (what we did, 1–3 takeaways, this week's focus)
  4. 4. Specific plan: reps/minutes, times per day, where, success target
  5. 5. Priority item, video ask, portal, next lesson, calm exit

Banned phrase: “Good luck, see you next week.”

Lesson types

A lesson can have several; each has its own playbook.

  • L1_CALM

    Lesson 1–2 · Calm

    Sidekick, stationary calm, Zen Zone / place.

  • WALKING

    Sidekick Walking

    Big right circle first, then straight lines with turns.

  • ECOLLAR_INTRO

    E-collar Intro

    Palm test, working level, tap never continuous.

  • ECOLLAR_RECALL

    E-collar Recall

    Recall conditioning with tap and leash guidance.

  • ECOLLAR_DOWN_PLACE

    E-collar Down / Place

    Down and place with e-collar, tap to the bed.

  • OUTING

    Outing

    Downtown, park or restaurant; no on-leash greetings.

  • GRADUATION

    Graduation

    Skills Test; counts as the owner solo.

Critical flags → Keith review

Reported regardless of score.

E-collar safety

  • • Level raised significantly without announcing it or explaining why
  • • Vibrate/tone on the dog, or continuous button held
  • • Repeated taps on a fearful or panicking dog
  • • E-collar on reactivity as first resort with no reason given
  • • Leash clipped to the e-collar

Handling safety

  • • Back-tie or dropped leash with the nose piece on
  • • Heat distress not addressed
  • • Unsafe bite handling
  • • On-leash dog greeting (except the Skills Test greeting)

Teaching

  • • Owner barely handled the dog
  • • No homework
  • • Harsh or punishing-fear methods

Professional

  • • Disrespect toward a client
  • • Discussing other clients by name
  • • Out-of-scope advice

Review flags → Keith/Adrianah clear

Don't change the score.

  • • Profanity aimed at a dog/person, trainer swearing first or heavily with a reserved client, or crude comparisons (never scored)
  • • Deviation from the SOP or the trainer's usual approach without explaining why
  • • An explanation that doesn't make sense for this dog
  • • Contradicts what the same trainer told this owner earlier
  • • Unclear audio or speaker
  • • Anything the grader isn't sure about — when in doubt, flag it