There’s this idea out there that “good dogs” or “well-trained dogs” shouldn’t be scared of anything… but that’s just not how real dogs work 😂 Every dog has fears. Even the confident ones. Even the goofy ones. Even the “nothing bothers me… oh wait, WHAT WAS THAT?” dogs. Fear is instinctual. It pops up out of nowhere sometimes — a loud bang, a weird noise, a new object, a cat that appears from the void. It’s just part of being a dog. 💛 The goal isn’t to make a fearless dog The goal is to make a dog who says: 👉 “Okay… that was weird… what should I do?” And that happens when you: - Notice the fear - Slow down - Take a moment to work through it - Show them they’re safe - Help them reset their brain instead of spiraling into “omg abort mission” mode This is how small startles don’t turn into big fears later. 🧠 When you work through fear with your dog, here’s what you build: - Confidence - Trust - Resiliency - A dog who thinks instead of reacts - A dog who can stay focused even when the world gets spicy 🔥😂 It doesn’t matter if it’s a vacuum, a skateboard, a plastic bag with too much attitude, or a random lawn ornament that looks suspiciously alive — fear moments happen to every dog. What matters is how we guide them through it. 🐶 Your daily reminder: Your dog doesn’t need to be fearless. They just need to know: 👉 “My human’s got me.” And that comes from training, communication, and literally just taking the time in those moments. 👇 Let’s make this fun — I want to hear from YOU! What is YOUR dog scared of? Big fears, tiny fears, hilarious fears — drop them below! Let’s normalize fear, celebrate progress, and help each other work through those moments so our dogs grow more confident every day. 🐾💪😊

Now that Bruno is settled in, I worked on some obedience with him this morning! Just ran through some heel, sit, and stay, and started introducing “down” too. Rewatching the video, I know I forgot to mark with “yes” a few times… 🤦🏼‍♀️ I’ve been a handler for 4 1/2 years and I still make mistakes! I already know how to fix that for next time which is the important part! I also tried luring him around me into a heel and also luring from a down to a sit, but I think we’re too early in the game for those skills so I won’t worry about that for now. Overall; he did great! He got distracted once because he could see my mom inside but he redirected well. Heel is hard for me to train since my left side is my blind side, so my mom is going to work on tbat with him. With Atlas, since his head is in a different spot than a non-mobility dog’s heel would be, I can see him and know he’s in the correct spot. The others get a little out of my peripheral vision. Did I do kind of the right thing for “down”? I remember watching @Sherry Smith and Mingo (omg I LOVE Mingo, Sherry please hug him for me) when Mingo was just a little baby working on down at a training class when Atlas na dI were in college, so my memory was 4 years old… I wasn’t sure when to stand up straight or if I should really be luring with food or just stepping on the leash and pointing… feedback welcome! Moral of the story: even experienced handlers mess up sometimes and it’s totally ok to make a mistake or not know what to do. Amanda is the bestttt and will give advice and tips!

Rockstar Ranger a.k.a. Ray Ray and his awesome handler Danni have been crushing it lately! 🙌 Not only are they multitasking with those cute little booties, but they’re also working on Spot and Touch at the same time—talk about skills!! 💪🐶 A huge thank you as well to @James Kelley for spending some extra time with Ranger. After a tough event a couple weeks ago, Ranger has been working through his discomfort around men. With patience, love, and training, he’s learning to be big and brave again. 💖✨ Keep up the PAW-SOME training, everyone—you’re all amazing!! 🥳🐾💯

Joy is looking pretty COOOL — becoming desensitized to wearing her new pink Rex Specs! 🐾 When introducing something new like this, it’s all about small steps and positive associations: 1. First, let your dog sniff the gear to get familiar with it. 2. Then, place it briefly on their face. 3. Finally, clip it on their head for a short moment. For now, we’re only working with the frames (no lenses) so Joy can get used to the feeling without too much change at once. Every step is paired with verbal praise, treats, and lots of positive reinforcement. 🐶 Training Takeaway You might notice your dog looking a little uncomfortable or unsure with new gear at first. That’s totally normal! What matters most is what they remember about the experience. At the end of this video, you can see how excited Joy was — and that’s intentional. The "after-training" experience is just as important as the training itself. When you wrap up with 2–5 minutes of fun, play, and “you’re the coolest dog ever” energy, your dog walks away remembering: ✨ “Training with my person is FUN!” ✨ That memory makes them more eager and excited to try again next time. It also helps them shake off any hesitation, bond closer with you, and look forward to learning. Key tip: Always finish on a positive note. Even if the session is calm or a little challenging, end with fun so your dog leaves happy, confident, and ready for the next round!!

What’s the funniest thing your dog does that never fails to make you laugh? 😂🐶