This week was all about proofing — taking everything the dogs have learned and putting it to the test in the real world. Kayla loaded up the entire group and headed to a local park to work the dogs in a completely new and unfamiliar environment. New smells, new sights, new people, and plenty of distractions — this is where training either holds up… or falls apart. Up to this point, the dogs have been learning and practicing in a more controlled setting. Now we’re asking a different question: Do they actually understand the commands, or were they just performing in a familiar routine? Throughout the session, Kayla worked each dog through their core obedience: Heel with focus despite distractions Sit and Down with duration Place in an open environment Recall with competing stimuli You’ll see moments where the dogs succeed, and moments where they struggle — and that’s exactly what we want. This is how we identify gaps, build clarity, and start creating reliability. This phase is where training starts to become real. Not just obedience in the training room… but obedience that holds up in everyday life. We’ll continue building on this by increasing difficulty, reinforcing expectations, and helping each dog gain confidence and consistency no matter where they are.

Hey everyone! We have created a discussion board for just the dogs who will be in our residency program in January. Since all the dogs will be on the same track, for the most part, we thought it would be fun for you guys to kind of meet each other, share pup stories, follow along with everyone's progress, and provide encouragement to one another. Feel free to introduce yourselves and your dogs! @Tabitha Sargent @Edward Kovach @Christina Jones @Brad Centers @Beth Stewart