This week we made a big jump forward in training. We began layering in the e-collar over the obedience commands the dogs already know. This allows us to start building clear, consistent communication at a distance and gives us a way to reinforce commands in real-world situations—not just in a controlled environment. At the same time, we introduced distractions. This included new environments, added movement, and controlled exposure to other dogs. The goal here is to start teaching the dogs how to stay focused and responsive even when something more exciting or stressful is happening around them. This is where training starts to become more practical. It’s no longer just about knowing the command—it’s about choosing to follow through despite distractions. You’ll likely notice moments where your dog is working through hesitation or testing boundaries. That’s normal and expected at this stage. This week is all about building clarity, accountability, and confidence as we raise expectations. We’re setting the foundation now for reliable, real-world obedience moving forward.

Look at those good boys! They know their place!

What a weekend guys!

This was the end of the first week for these guys. Check em out, everyone is doing awesome!

I want to introduce you to Cash. He’s an interesting case, but also a good example of why trust and emotional conditioning come before obedience. Cash will take food from me, but eye contact, direct body pressure, and certain types of interaction are very triggering for him. Based on his history, my working theory is that people previously tried to intimidate him—likely attempting to create aggression instead of stability. The result wasn’t protection… it was conflict, anxiety, and compulsive behavior. What you’re seeing here (the spinning, tail biting, tension) is a dog who learned he had no control over what was happening to him. So the goal on Day 1 is not commands. It’s not corrections. It’s not “testing” him. The goal is predictability. Right now, every interaction I have with him needs to communicate one thing: When I engage with you, good things happen. That’s why all of his food is being hand-fed through the kennel. It’s safe, controlled, and emotionally clear. I’m intentionally squaring up, talking to him, and occupying space—without forcing eye contact or pushing him past his threshold. If he chooses to disengage visually, that’s fine. We’ll build that later. Dogs’ behavior follows their expectations. If Cash learns to expect calm, predictable, positive interactions with me, his behavior will start to reflect that. But because of his history, there’s no room for sloppy handling or rushed progression. One wrong move can set him back—or put someone at risk. Over the next 6–8 weeks, I’ll walk him through this process step by step: • Reconditioning his emotional response to people • Creating safety and predictability • Gradually expanding freedom and interaction • Only then layering in skills and structure This is what real rehabilitation looks like. Trust first. Clarity second. Skills come later. Stay tuned — I’ll keep documenting his progress and the decisions behind each step.