Character Sheet

It was wonderful speaking to you about Hera — thank you for sharing so much about her history and what life looks like for your family. It’s clear how much you care about her wellbeing, and I really appreciate how thoughtfully you’ve managed her needs.

From our session, we talked about how Hera’s sensitivity in new environments and around unfamiliar people likely ties back to feeling uncertain rather than “aggressive.” Our focus will be helping her feel safe and supported while giving her more ways to communicate what she needs.

🐾 Wellness and Communication

• Continue offering decompression time — quiet walks in familiar spaces where she will not run into triggers, short “sniff walks” in the yard, or a Sniffspot visit if that’s feasible.

• Try incorporating scent-based enrichment (like scattering treats in the grass or sniffing games indoors) to give Hera calming, confidence-building outlets.

• Begin noting the cues Hera gives when she’s comfortable versus tense — that will guide how and when to adjust her space and interactions. If you’ve got the time, I’d recommend my Body Language Webinar that I have available on YouTube for some more information on this.

🚶‍♀️ Management for Walks and Visitors

• For now, keep walks short and predictable, using your harness and steady leash management. When Hera notices a trigger, calmly create distance and allow her to decompress before continuing.

• “Watch the world” sessions can also help her observe without pressure — sitting at a distance from mild triggers while engaging in something she enjoys.

📆 Next Steps

Hera’s progress will really benefit from consistent guidance and structured support over the next few weeks. My training packages are designed for exactly this kind of gradual, confidence-based work — so we can build at Hera’s pace and make sure you feel supported each step of the way.

I’d love to discuss what package option might best fit your goals for Hera. In the meantime, focus on gentle structure and decompression this week, and feel free to reach out with any observations or questions that come up.

Whenever there are multiple handlers, I like to recommend my video coaching program, Cast Guidance, but I understand from our conversation that you’d like to add some in person sessions to that. The Cast Guidance program includes the services below, but perhaps our next step can be to set up an in person session to work with Hera outdoors before it gets too cold, and we can discuss next steps from there?

🧙‍♂️ Cast Guidance: Ongoing Coaching for the Committed Trainer

$65/month | Virtual | Limited Spaces

What’s included:
🧠 Weekly Office Hours for live Q&A and coaching
🎯 One Skill Check per month (30-minute virtual session)
📽️ Up to 5 minutes of video review weekly, with homework feedback
🎟️ 10% off all classes and workshops

You’re doing a great job setting her up for success, and I’m excited to help you both move toward easier walks and more relaxed time with visitors.