New Client

So I LOVE my new client.

Her and her husband were referred to me by my previous training client. They have a young herding breed, with a lack of basic obedience who is fearful of some people and new situations. The pup spend a week with me for to get the basics down and now they are doing 3 days a week of daycare and train.

On his second day of D&T (daycare and train) I decided to take him with me on some dog friendly errands. We went to a few places and it became very apparent that the little guy was very afraid of mostly everything and would give a fearful bark at most people (mostly men). Luckily the bark was easy to correct.

When the owner came that evening to pick up the pup we talked for about an hour charting out a plan for the guy. She admitted that when they got him they took him straight to a 5 day a week doggie daycare. Which when I think about was very good for him, being naturally fearful, he does have very good dog skills. But he was only taken to the daycare and his home. The little guy never went anywhere else. So this already fearful guy was just not socialized enough with the outside world. Thankfully they got a trainer while he was still young.

I then decided that it will be very important that the pup gets out to as many places as possible while having as many good experiences in new situations, he can be corrected for the barking. But every adventure should be super positive with lots of treats : )

When I told this all to the client she was very excited, as most are, that was had a plan and she she would start taking him out. We talked about different places he could go, how he should meet people, and when to reward and how and when to correct. I have similar conversations with clients all the time. " This is what needs to be done, here's how to do it" , and when they come back the next day and I will ask what they did and most chickened out or were to busy so nothing was done. But this time was different! She took him out and did EVERYTHING RIGHT! I almost hugged her! Seriously it is so freaken refreshing to have a client that will actually do what I tell them to do!

I am so excited about everything having to do with this pups training, I bought a "IN TRAINING" vest ( been meaning to get one for a while) and DOOG Walkie Belt and I got a "in training, please ask to pet" bandanna that I will give her to use when they go out.