Hero Vs Villain Training Plans: How Clear Structure Creates Clear Behaviour

Jody Harrington
2 days ago
3 min read

At IdaBoss Dog Training, we talk a lot about Hero Plans and Villain Plans. It's a simple way to explain something very important:

👉 Dogs learn best when the training picture is consistent, clear, and predictable.

👉 Mixed messages create mixed behaviour.

A Hero Plan is the structured, intentional way we teach new behaviour.

A Villain Plan is everything that falls outside that structure - your dog’s normal life where old habits can easily sneak back in.

Both have a place. But they must be kept separate, so your Hero training stays clean, strong, and effective.

Let’s break it down.

🦸‍♀️ What Is a Hero Training Plan?

A Hero Plan is when we are actively reshaping behaviour with purpose and clarity.

✔️ Example: Fence Running and Barking

If your dog rehearses backyard chaos - racing the fence line, barking at every sound - we create a Hero Plan with:

A specific door you always use for Hero training
A consistent cue word to start the training session
Treats already on you before you step outside
A clear plan of action (rewarding calm behaviour, interrupting rehearsals, guiding alternative choices)

During a Hero Plan, you’re not just “letting the dog out.” You’re stepping into the yard with intention: “I’m here to help you succeed.”

This consistency helps your dog shift from reactive habits to thoughtful behaviour.

😈 What Is a Villain Plan?

A Villain Plan isn’t “bad.” It’s simply everything that’s not structured training.

A Villain Plan looks like:

The dog has free access to the backyard
Humans are not going out with them to train
The dog can rehearse old behaviours without guidance

And that’s perfectly fine, as long as it’s kept separate from the Hero Plan.

To protect the training picture, we simply use:

A different door for Villain (non-training) access
No cues
No treats, no structure

Why? Because blending Hero and Villain moments accidentally teaches the dog:

🤷 “Sometimes the rules matter, sometimes they don’t.”

We want the Hero moments to stay crystal clear.

🦸‍♂️ When Humans Become Heroes or Villains

A common challenge is when:

Human 1 follows the trainer’s instructions and sticks carefully to the Hero Plan
Human 2 goes back to old habits because it feels easier or more familiar

This doesn’t mean Human 2 is “bad” - but it does make the training picture confusing for the dog.

Dogs thrive on:

predictable patterns
consistency
clear expectations

When multiple humans follow different rules, the behaviour takes longer to change or gets stuck in old loops.

A strong Hero Plan needs everyone in the household on the same page or at least managing Hero vs Villain moments separately, so the dog understands what game they’re playing.