Alright doggo friends… I need to see your dogs living their BEST goofy, off-duty (aka “free dog”) life. Post a pic of your service dog (or pet) being a total happy potato! 😂🐶

There’s a pretty common misconception floating around that service dogs are supposed to be these elite, fearless, never-flinch, never-blink machines. But… yeah. No. That’s not real life. 😂 Just like humans — even the most confident, badass humans you can think of — every dog has fears. Fear is instinctual. So the goal with service dogs is not to create a dog that never gets scared. The goal is to create a dog that knows what to do when something does scare them… and that comes from training + communication + trust. 🧠 So what actually matters for a service dog? Not “fearlessness.” But how they handle fear when it pops up. A well-trained service dog, when startled, should have this instinct: 👉 “Check in with my human. What do you want me to do?” THAT is the magic. THAT is the safety. THAT is why training matters so much. Because the opposite reaction — the instinctual bolt/run/flee moment — is dangerous for the dog, the handler, AND the public. And that’s exactly what we want to prevent. 💪 Training creates the communication that replaces instinct. Training opens up a line of communication: - The dog learns: “When I’m unsure, I check in.” - The handler learns: “When my dog is unsure, I guide them.” That’s the whole game. It doesn’t mean your dog won’t ever spook at something dropping behind them. Humans jump too! It just means they recover quickly and look to you instead of relying on instinct. 🎯 Your job as a handler Your job is to: - Notice when they’re unsure - Take a moment to work them through it - Help them build confidence - Prevent small startles from turning into big fears That’s how you create a dog who is: 🐶 well-desensitized 🐶 safe in public 🐶 thinking instead of reacting 🐶 checking in instead of bolting 🐶 trusting their human instead of their instincts 💛 Bottom line Service dogs aren’t fearless superheroes. They’re dogs — with instincts, emotions, and the occasional “shaky boots” moment. The real strength is this: When fear shows up, they use their brain instead of their instincts, and they trust their handler enough to ask, “What now?”

Our friend @Kenzie Carlson over in the Cool Dog School group reminded us today how important it is for our Assistance Dogs to take breaks!! 🙌🐾 Service dogs are incredibly helpful and unbelievably beneficial. We are so lucky to have these loyal, loving, amazing beings who walk through life with us and help with tasks that make daily living easier. But as incredible as they are… they’re still dogs!! And that’s honestly one of the things we love MOST about them. They’re silly. They’re wiggly. They’re happy-go-lucky. They roll in the grass, they flop on their backs, they make ridiculous noises, and they make us laugh every single day. That’s the magic of dogs. 💛 So it’s super important that our working dogs get breaks — throughout the day, throughout the week, and yes, even throughout the year. Dogs deserve vacations too! They need decompression time, time to run, zoomies, sniffing, play, cuddles, massages… all the things that let them reset and be here now. They work SO hard for us, so giving them space to have fun is part of keeping them balanced and happy. So with that being said — What is YOUR dog’s favorite way to decompress? What’s their favorite silly thing that always makes you smile? And if you don’t have a dog yet but you’re planning on getting one, what do you think will make you laugh the most? What are some ways you plan to give your future dog breaks and let them just be a dog?! Can’t wait to read your answers! 🐶💛

Hey everyone! 👋🐾 I’ve been out of town and somehow managed to catch a bug from the cold Florida woods 😂🌲 — so thank you all so much for your patience while I recover and get back into the groove! But for now, let’s have a little fun and connection time! 💬 Question #1: For those of you who already have your service dogs — what’s your very favorite task, behavior, or thing your dog does for you? 💕 Maybe it’s the way they wake you up with kisses, perform deep pressure therapy, give that grounding touch, or simply make you smile just by looking into those sweet eyes. 🥹 And for those of you still waiting for your future service dog or currently in training — what are you most looking forward to about your partnership? Question #2 (Just for fun!): If you were turned into a dog 🐶 and could be any breed you wanted… what breed would you choose — and why? I can’t wait to read your answers and get to know everyone’s dogs (and imaginary dog selves 😂) a little better!

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!”