Goal: Make Halloween a positive, confidence-building experience! A social, confident dog can be taught to ignore — rebuilding a scared dog is much harder. 🐾 Big Ideas: ✨ Desensitization > Discipline. This is not an obedience exam — it’s a confidence field trip! 🎯 Positive Association. Costumes, masks, noises = treats, praise, fun! 💡 Avoid Fear Rehearsal. If your dog looks worried, increase distance and make it easier. We do not want “Halloween = scary.” 🧡 Before Halloween: 🐶 See the spooky stuff early: Visit a dog-friendly store like Lowe’s. Don’t activate everything — start far away, let your dog look, mark confidence (curious look, step forward, sniff) and treat! 🎭 Costumes at home: Have familiar people wear hats or simple props first, then masks later. Pair each new look with treats and praise. 🔔 Doorbell warm-up: Play a soft doorbell sound on your phone; treat for calm. Gradually increase volume. If not ready, silence the real bell for Halloween night. Have a Halloween Night Game Plan: 🏡 Set the scene for success: - For green dogs/puppies, hang out outside (driveway/yard). Fewer doorbell surprises and more space! - Keep sessions short (3–5 minutes), then take breaks. 🍬 Treat partners: Give trusted, costumed friends a few treats. Ask them to crouch sideways and let your dog choose to approach. Approaches/sniffs = mark & reward! ➡️ If unsure → more space: See hesitation? Quietly step back a few feet, reset, and try an easier rep. No forcing greetings. 🐾 What to Reward vs. What to Redirect: ✅ Reward: soft eyes, tail neutral/loose, steps toward, sniffing, taking food, curiosity. 🚫 Redirect: freeze, lean away, tucked tail, scanning, refusing food. Add distance, breathe, make it easier, then reward the next bit of confidence. 💬 Simple Handler Scripts: 🗣 To a friendly neighbor in costume: “She’s in training—could you crouch and offer her this treat? Let her come to you.” 🧍‍♀️ If you need space: “We’re giving her a little distance while she learns—thanks!”

This is from yesterday monring but I kept being too impatient for the app to load it to post so trying again 😂🤦🏼‍♀️ Got some direction from @Amanda Taulborg on how to ilproce Joy’s nudge accuracy since she was having a hard time nudging my hands in the spot she’s supposed to (when they get close to my face). We took her suggestions and this is the result! A great little nudge practice session!

This is Sandy’s first time working on a SPOT in public, and she is absolutely nailing it! 🙌 Her and her awesome puppy raiser Kyden are doing fantastic with rear-end movement, which means Sandy is learning how to move those back legs left and right — a skill that will eventually lead into a perfect heel position on the left side. This exercise is great for target training, confidence building, and strengthening, and it’s also a very valuable foundational skill for future service dogs in training. 💪🐶❤️

We had a fantastic training session at Lowe’s with our little potato, Sandy! 🌟 She was an absolute rock star during her food training and desensitization session with her new best friend Colton! At this stage, the focus is all about positive exposure to new scenarios and experiences. Obedience will come as the dogs grow and mature, but the most important thing you can do with your puppy at this young age is socialize them appropriately. This helps them grow into confident, happy dogs who are excited to be part of our big exciting world! 🌎🐶 We’re also thrilled to introduce Sandy’s new puppy raiser family: Colton and his brother and sister Kyden and Kenzie and super mom @Holly Westcott . Colton is already showing he’s a rock star too, and tomorrow Sandy will be officially placed with her new foster fam!!🎉 We can’t wait to watch their journey together and share all of their progress inside Cool Dog School.🐾💙

Thank you @Amanda Taulborg for inviting me out to group class to work with Joy yesterday! I appreciate everyone for their kind words, encouragement, and overall just being so welcoming! Joy is such a special girl, and I look forward to working with her more 🩷 Hope to see you all next week!