I wanted to share a recap of Daisy’s two-week board and train — she was such a joy to work with! Over the past couple of weeks, we focused on overall manners, building her confidence and resilience, and especially helping her feel more neutral and relaxed around the cats.

Daisy is a bright, sweet, and very willing learner. She can be a bit sensitive with new people, but she gains confidence quickly once she has a few positive experiences. Continuing to give her the chance to explore new places and meet new people at her own pace will go a long way in helping her keep building that confidence.

We also observed that Daisy has some resource guarding tendencies — particularly with high-value items like chews and toys, and occasionally with people she’s closely bonded to. At home, this can show up as her trying to guard you from the cats.

Here are some of the key takeaways and next steps to keep progress moving forward:

🐾 Training Highlights

• Engagement & Neutrality: We worked on her engagement outdoors, helping her stay focused and calm around people, dogs, and new environments. Daisy did great in both rural and urban settings and showed a lovely ability to check in and recover when she noticed something new.

• Confidence Building: The “1-2-3” game has been especially helpful for her — it gives her a predictable structure and helps her process at her own pace. Using a long leash gives her room to explore while keeping communication open.

• Resource Guarding Prevention: Her “drop” cue is strong! Keep reinforcing it with attention and food rewards to maintain that positive pattern. At home, manage food and chews so she can enjoy them privately and isn’t competing with the cats. Avoid giving high-value items when the cats are nearby.

🏡 Home Management & Practice

• Around the Cats:

  • Use her place and relaxation cues to help Daisy feel comfortable when the cats have your attention.

  • If you see a situation building, calmly guide Daisy to her spot before she reacts.

  • You can make it part of your routine to dismiss the cats first, then turn to Daisy for attention or simple training reps.

  • Practice easy cues while alternating your attention between her and the cats — this helps her learn that sharing your focus is safe and predictable.

• Walks:

  • Keep walks short, engaging, and full of sniffing opportunities.

  • Help her focus early in the walk and again near the end when she may be eager to get home.

  • If she startles at unfamiliar sounds, calmly reward her for noticing and staying composed — this will build her resilience over time.

Daisy has made such wonderful progress, and I’m confident she’ll continue to grow as you keep practicing these routines at home. Remember, you have three months of Cast Guidance video coaching included, so feel free to send clips or questions as you continue her training journey.

She’s such a fun, thoughtful dog — I’m excited to see how she continues to blossom!