The other day at work, I spent 2 hours using our Cameo Silhouette (similar to a Cricuit) to cut bees for our spring decor! Atlas hungout in an “under” while I worked and the machine was loud above him. This wasn’t his first time (we’ve used this machine for the better part of our 3 years at our job) but it was the first time I decided to video it! He’s always so quiet and calm around it. I have never seen him care about it!

This first lesson is all about teaching your dog how to hold an object, not rushing to a full retrieve yet. We’re working on: - Where the object goes in their mouth - How much pressure to use (not chomping, not dropping) - Comfort with hands near the face and mouth This is also sneaky desensitization work — face touching, mouth handling, and weird new sensations. All good things for future retrieves and real life. Go slow. Break it into tiny wins. If your dog gets confused or silly, that’s normal — just reset and try again. Most important rule: don’t rush this part. A calm, confident mouth now = clean retrieves later. And yes… have fun with it. This should feel like a game, not a test 😄🐾

Hey all my favorite Cool Dog humans!! 🐶💙 I just have to say — I am in love with what this community is becoming. The energy, the creativity, the support — you guys are seriously the best. 🙌 I need a little insight (and help!) from you brilliant people. So here’s where we’re at: 🐾 Mission 1 was all about taking action — getting comfortable posting, sharing videos, and just jumping in to the community. 🎬 Mission 2 focused on training videos — picking something fun to teach your dog, recording it, and sharing your progress. 🌟 Mission 3 is all about momentum — continuing to post, edit your videos, share what you’re learning, and spread your knowledge. It’s where you start really owning your training journey and even posting on social media or sharing with friends and family. Now I’m brainstorming ideas for Mission 4, and I’d love your thoughts. 💡 Mission 3 kind of wraps up the “share and show what you’re learning” phase — so what should come next? Also, we’ll be adding more specific challenges soon (stay tuned 👀), but I’d love your feedback on: - What would make Mission 4 feel fun, motivating, and meaningful? - Is there anything you’d like to see done differently in the missions or the community? - Any words, structure, or ideas you think would make this space even better? I want this group to be the coolest space for learning, growing, and being inspired to do cool things with your cool dog. 🩵🐾 Drop your thoughts below — I’m all ears and super grateful for your input! 💬✨

Hey guys! I made a little video edit of @Stepho Wilson and I’s day at Epcot yesterday with Atlas! I know it’s super quick, I tried to include info about most things we did while keeping it short! If you gave any questions after watching, I’m happy to answer! A few things I wanted to include but couldn’t because I didn’t have enough clips: 1) When loading onto rides, I go in first then have him come after me, I loaded him wrong on Living with the Land and he decided he didn’t want to move so his mom had 0 footspace 😂🙃 2) We use the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) for the boat ride in Mexico because it doesn’t have a huge step between the floor and the seat, so Atlas gets confused and wants to sit on the seat (which they don’t allow). So I just ask for the WAV to avoid this, and he sits in the flat part where a wheelchair would go. I also do this for Small World at Magic Kingdom. P.s. I’m finally putting my video editing skills from my journalism degree into practice 🤣

🔊Volume down until 2:36! FYI The voiceover part at the beginning of the video is a bit louder than the rest - and that ends at 2:36 🙉 No matter what — whether you’re starting with an 8-week-old puppy or an older dog — this is always the very first place I begin when it comes to training. This exercise (shown in the video) focuses on the primary commands: stand, sit, and down. It’s the first step to get you comfortable with using a marker word or clicker and it sets the foundation for everything else. Not only is this a fun game, but it also: ✅ Builds strong foundational skills ✅ Helps your dog learn through offering behaviors ✅ Creates a positive training habit for both you and your dog What we’re looking for: - Mark and reward when your dog offers sit, down, or stand - Mark and reward for leaving it - In this video, we also introduced an “up” onto the KLIMB for extra fun and confidence building 👉 Be conscious of your hand positions as you train: - Sit → hover your fist above your dog’s head - Down → point directly toward the ground - Stand → hold your thumb at their nose, then pull your hand slightly back toward you Whether you’ve been training for years or are just starting out, this is a fantastic way to begin. And most importantly — your dog will have fun doing it with you! 🎥 Here’s a look at Sandy in her very first training session practicing this foundational game.