03/10-04/07

Mabel was an absolute delight to have with us this past month! She’s a bright, eager-to-please girl who genuinely tries to make good choices, even if her teenage impulses occasionally get the better of her. As she continues to grow and mature, it will be important to set clear boundaries that come with clear benefits for respecting them.

Engagement & Relaxation

We kicked things off by building strong engagement through a variety of games. Mabel is especially responsive to her name and loved playing the Whiplash Turn game. She’s also picked up on the cue “scatter” and often offers downs on her own after practicing relaxation.

One thing to note: Mabel does best when she knows what’s expected of her, especially during downtime. If you're not actively giving her guidance, she may start pestering for attention or looking for information. Letting her know if it's time to rest, play, or wait can help her settle and stay successful.

Impulse Control & Distractions

When it comes to ignoring distractions or waiting for permission, Mabel excels—especially once she understands what’s off-limits. Her biggest challenge here is distance: she likes to be where the action is, so staying in a wait or stay while you move away is tough for her. We recommend revisiting Overall Protocol from Day 1 and playing distance-based games like Cookie Quandary to keep building this skill.

Her recall is generally strong but can falter if she thinks the fun is about to end. To help with this, we played lots of Ready, Get It in and out of the house and used it similarly around the crate to reduce any hesitation about going in or coming inside.

Social Skills & Excitement Management

Mabel did great learning how to settle around adults and greet people politely. Her biggest challenge in this area continues to be children. If being around kids is a priority, we recommend starting from a distance and using tools like relaxation games, “Look at That,” and treat scatters. If you'd like, we can also chat about games that kids can play with her to practice calm, positive interactions.

Loose Leash Walking

Her leash skills have come a long way! In low-distraction environments, Mabel walks nicely with only the occasional reminder (like a whiplash turn or “easy”). To keep this sharp, continue rewarding her from time to time even when it's easy, and switch to more active engagement (like 1-2-3 or Look at That) when distractions are nearby.

Looking Ahead: Canine Good Citizen Goals

Mabel is well on her way to being ready for the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. She’s likely to succeed with most items, though walking through crowds and supervised separation may still be tough. Continued work with the Overall Protocol and clear stay expectations will help her get there!

A Quick Note on Nutrition & Body Condition

While Mabel enjoys her food and has been active and engaged, she is currently carrying extra weight. I recommend reducing her overall food intake and using the bulk of her daily food allowance for training throughout the day. Whatever isn’t used for training can be offered at dinnertime.

She likely lost a bit of weight here just from regular activity, but long-term success will come from making sure her weight doesn’t limit her movement or increase her risk of injury. As a general rule, you should be able to easily feel her ribs without a thick layer over them. Mabel has wonderful structure and so much potential—this small adjustment can help her feel her absolute best!

Final Thoughts

Mabel is a biddable, joyful pup who brings a ton of energy to her work. The focus moving forward should be on helping her learn how to relax and channel her enthusiasm in productive ways. With consistency, she’s well on track to becoming a wonderfully well-mannered companion.

Looking forward to hearing how she continues to grow!