We took Saffy to a local park for a walk and worked on heeling in a very stimulating environment. We came across someone playing with a very big remote control car and James just had to go see it!😂 When we got close James put Saffy in a sit stay to watch as it come closer. We got an added distraction of a small girl on a foot scooter go by with the owner of the car. Saffy only quietly whined once and immediately corrected after a quiet. She did so good! The experience was much longer than the little video I got. She was very excited after so James had her a down stay with a leash distance walk away and I was able to get some cute leave pictures!😊 She was able to decompress in a calm way.

I had an appointment today that I need James’ support for and was expecting a REALLY long wait that he has a hard time with. They turned out to be good luck charms. The waits in the lobby, exam room and for labs were all short!🤪. And my blood pressure was lower than normal at Dr’s so Saffy works for everyone😂 Anyways, when we got to the clinic Saffy was a little wound up so James worked with her outside. We can’t blame her, there is a lot of strong energy for her to pick up on and we don’t like having to be at this specialty clinic either. When he got her calmed down, she did good in the lobby for the very short wait. In the exam room she happily chewed her bone and stayed down when there was traffic by the door and then went back to her bone. During the appt she just kept right on chewing🤣 I had to labs and she stayed in her down by James when I approached. We then went to dinner and she aced it when a fire truck went by maybe 200 ft away. Caught just the end on video. We took a whimzie treat with us expecting a long wait at the dr so she got that as a reward at dinner. She then just laid there watching the comings and goings. She did so good! Her maturity level is really improving! Not to make this longer but we almost had our first “dogs aren’t allowed” experience!. The hostess said that and then saw Saffy’s vest and asked another employee if SDs could enter the building which of course the answer was yes. We thanked her!! Even though Saffy passed her public access test, she is still sporting her in training badges for a bit longer for those embarrassing puppy brain moments she sometimes has.

We went for a walk to the mail box today. When we got to the mail box, a truck delivering a dumpster unexpectedly arrived. Saffy did a really good sit stay (1st video) and went into a down stay (2nd video). She started to whine but stopped with a quiet. She was scared and shaking a little but stayed like a champ!🤩 So proud of how well she did especially since she has been off duty recovering from her spay surgery.

We got Saffy Rex Specs Ear pro ear protection after the New Years Eve fireworks upset her and so she can safely enjoy music or movies with Dad. She wasn’t liking them so much when not distracted. After a side conversation with @Anissa Stark and @Sherry Smith , I thought about using our Rex Spec goggles without lenses (Thank you @Amanda Taulborg for that tip in an old video) with her ear protection while on an enjoyable walk. The goggles helped keep the ear protection in place when she shook. I think the ear protection is a little big still but she has more growing to do so 🤞🏻. She did really well on the walk and made me SSSOOO proud when we came across a lawn mower. We walked for a tiny bit until I found a spot that was safe and we stopped to watch. She was a rock star checking in with me and then watching and then checking back in, with no fear or nervousness. Of course treats were a big help!! 🥳🤩🎉. When we got in our yard, she got lots of praise and free dog with no gear!

A contractor was using a piece of equipment in the yard that usually scares Saffy. We were out playing and Amanda’s advice of playing during scary moments helps desensitize came to mind. So we carefully threw her ball in the vicinity of the machine, far enough away to be safe but push her scary boundary. She would go get her ball while keeping an eye on the machine, which we were too.