She’s not 100% perfect on her yet because we haven’t really worked in a couple weeks but I’m trying to teach her how to walk without a leash so when I’m in my wheelchair, she can walk beside me. We’re working on it but I think she’s doing very well. Here’s a clip.

We are starting to focus more on nudge so we can start working on scent training. She does well with the nudge command for the wand or hand on the leg. She does a gentle hold, not hard repetitive nudging. She is not as strong as with one finger, still aims more for the finger than the leg. So we need to work more on pointing and rewarding.

I haven’t shown any training sessions with my big boi, so here he is! He knows “back up”, but being over 100lbs, he could definitely use some more rear end awareness! It’s always so interesting seeing the differences in training him vs. Dexter! Dexter is very praise motivated and eager to please. Negan is super food motivated and easily excitable. So too much high energy praise or high reward food and he won’t be able to focus! I included Dexter’s session here too. I did some spot training with him as a puppy, so he had an advantage 🤭

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!!

🔊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.