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A focused training push before travel led to real progress for Nakina, including improved separation work and stronger performance in challenging environments.
🐾 Lots in a Little Time
This week was a focused push to get as much done as possible before I travel without Nakina for five days over the holiday.
Training
We completed the 28 Day Obedience Challenge and are now in Week 3 of AKC Fit Dog Level 1. Because of that focus, we didn’t practice Emergency Stop or Hand Targeting this week, which we’ll need to bring back into rotation.
Nakina did well in Advanced Beginner this week. CGC class was held at an Academy Sports store, creating another highly challenging environment. More than half the class was outside again, but Nakina handled it well and maintained better focus than expected. Inside the store, her work on the separation exercise showed clear improvement. During one repetition, she became stressed when the door opened and attempted to get back to me, resulting in a brief disruption. She did not get away, and everyone was fine, but it was a reminder of how significant this exercise still is for her. The most important takeaway is that despite the stress, she is beginning to understand the exercise and is showing real progress in increasingly difficult environments.
Socialization
Greetings with people have improved to the point where I am close to trusting that she will no longer jump on them.
She still becomes overly excited around other dogs, but that continues to improve steadily.
What's Next
- Down vs. settle — continue creating a clear distinction
- Stay — increase distance, duration, and distractions
- Recall — continue on leash in more distracting environments
- Travel Crate — zipping with no stress
- Grooming — begin grooming desensitization on the table
- Continue elevator desensitization
This week was intense, trying to fit so much into a short period of time. With the upcoming five days apart, my focus will be on maintaining consistency and trusting the foundation we’ve built so far.