Nakina earned her first AKC title this week — and we’re continuing to build focus, control, and thoughtful training for the road ahead.
🐾 Passed Classes
Nakina passed all three of her classes this week. Earning her Puppy STAR title gives her her first AKC title — she is now an AKC Puppy STAR.
Training
Nakina is doing very well with both her 14-day focus program and her 28-day obedience challenge. So far, we haven’t uncovered any major weak spots other than working through higher levels of distraction.
We enrolled in two short online sessions before our next in-person classes begin — a hand targeting class and an emergency stop class. She already understands the basics of targeting, but refining hand targeting will be incredibly useful. And an emergency stop is one of those cues that could truly save her life someday, so it’s a must.
Socialization
Because we were focused on graduating from classes this week, socialization took a bit of a back seat.
I need to help her manage arousal when she’s around multiple dogs and enthusiastic people. She’s not unsure — she’s excited. The goal now is helping her stay composed and thoughtful instead of jumping or pulling toward interaction.
Finding the right setup is tricky. One dog she already knows is too stimulating. Large groups are too much. What I need is a controlled environment with just one or two unfamiliar dogs so she can practice calm engagement without tipping into overexcitement.
What's Next
- Down vs. settle — continue creating a clear distinction
- Recall — continue on leash in more distracting environments
- Car/Crate — calm, cued entry and exit from the car crate
- Grooming — purchase grooming table and begin desensitization
- Continue elevator desensitization
I’m looking forward to a week without classes or rushing around — just a little quiet time to train thoughtfully and enjoy Nakina.