Penny Lane
The Adventure Begins: 02/10/2025
What is the Humane Hierarchy?
Addressing behavior from a professional lens means approaching change from a systematic and humane process. While you can read a little about my training philosophy on my Frequently Asked Questions and in this blog post, generally speaking when looking at behavior change I will recommend you review the Human Hierarchy of needs for your dog.
This structure emphasizes physical and mental welfare, and changing behavior by setting up successful interactions with positive reinforcement driving preferred behaviors. I am always cautious before including any behavior in a training plan that may exacerbate frustration or distress for your dog, and will work to avoid creating fallout and mistrust in your training program.
Coaching Resources
Start Here
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Start Here 〰️
The Handbook is a lengthy read, but has just about everything you might need to know when starting a program. This is the absolute best place to start with your training package.
Start Here
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Start Here 〰️
Guild Hall is a client portal within my website - you’ll find classes and events available only to past and present clients there, as well as discounts on certain future services. You’ll also find recommended outlets for your dog, including sports, events, and sniffspot information.
Your google drive is available to you to reference your contract and contact and care form, make updates to your dog’s care information, upload vaccination records, as well as share videos and photos with questions or for feedback!
Character Sheet
Session Zero: 02/10/2025
Recommended Training Package:
MultiClass Hybrid Board and Train
Penny Lane is currently living in a busier home with her mom and extended family, but shortly moving to an apartment in a likely busier (or less escape routes available) neighborhood. While she’s typically well behaved on leash away from her mom, with her mom she pulls, thrashes, and lunges when other dogs are in sight on leash or behind a barrier (outside the house). This behavior increased at maturity, which also coincided with moving from Baltimore to the suburbs.
She is friendly off leash and likely emotions driving the behavior are frustration and some possible conflict about being restricted by the leash.
Penny Lane also displays some fearful/conflicted behaviors surrounding new people entering the home, but this is a secondary priority next to planning for success in her new neighborhood.
Regardless of whether Penny Lane comes here for some boarding during your move, I would highly recommend checking out some accessible Sniffspots - especially ones where she can move around (look at some of the larger acreage spots if they’re within a reasonable drive for you) so Penny can have some big decompression time as she gets settled in her new home.
Similarly, I would be looking over Google Maps to find some nearby green space that’s unlikely to be occupied - gas lines are often a good bet, as well as school fields (link fences really capture smells and you can usually see distractions coming) so she can sneak in some sniffy walks closer to home.
Penny Lane already has static cling window film set up to block her view out to the yard in her new apartment (yay!) and a snuffle mat (double yay!) that can be strategically placed to offer treat scatter behavior rather than hypervigilance.
See protocols below to start creating good associations with noises in the new space and calm emotions around the shared yard space where dogs are likely to be.
02/10/2025
Review the behaviors below on Penny Lane’s skill tree and practice them in her new space! Keep in mind a general progression of difficulty/ease of triggers in the area and the associated behaviors:
If things are really hard: Food scatter. All she needs to do is eat kibble and take in her environment with her ears while she focuses on calming down and something good happening
If things are going okay: Ready-Get It. Look for informal attention (totally okay if it’s not perfect eye contact!) to you between being invited to find a treat on the ground. Also use this for making distance or moving around the distraction/trigger
If things seem easy: Look at That. You can always reward for an offered look at that - we want to consistently mark and give her something else to do when she looks at a trigger and doesn’t react.
I would also make a habit of a food scatter as soon as Penny Lane walks out the door - this can get ahead of forming habits of leaving the house to immediately look for something to react to, especially if dogs are frequently going to be visible there.
I also included a video on beginning a “Thank you!” cue for noises - this allows Penny Lane to give her one big bark, and your response cue to be “Thank you!” which signals that she can come find you - or to a consistently spot in the house - to collect a treat. Start with something that makes noise and will attract her attention - like the metal bowl used in the video.
In terms of next steps, even though she doesn’t usually have reactivity with others, I do think your upcoming move makes a board and train potentially a really helpful option for Penny Lane. Ideally staying here, we can build in a lot of decompression and get a lot of practice and muscle memory built up. The hybrid board and train program I mentioned would have Penny Lane dropped off on Sunday evening and staying here until Thursday evening for four weeks. I do have availability presently and could feasibly start her as early as this coming Sunday, 02/16, to coincide with your move. This could ensure she gets some exposure to the new place during her board and train here, but also misses out on some of the more stressful aspects of the move in process (and gives you a chance to unpack and get settled without significant management needs).
On Thursday, we would do a handoff lesson at pickup (considering her new space might want to do the first two sessions here and the second two at the new home!) and she would spend the weekend home with you with some time to practice. On Sunday evening when she returns, let me know how she did, where we need to troubleshoot, and how I can best set her up for success across the next week.
Weekday Board and Train for Behavioral Challenges
Includes:
4 Weeks of board and train Sunday-Thursday focused on:
Engagement and Attention Skills
Identifying Triggers
Creating Protocol for Management
Coping Skills for Everyday Life
4 Handoff Sessions each Thursday at pick up/drop off
Recaps and Resources provided on your personalized webpage to keep you on track between sessions
Lifetime Access to Drama Class Online self-led classes
Everything that the client portal Guild Hall has to offer - including nearby classes and events, discounted services, additional troubleshooting and coaching, and more!
A go-home Loot Bag with gear, treats, and more!
…$3800
Multiclass 02/24-03/13
Use the code “DRAMAMAJOR” to access Drama Class, your self-led reactivity course. Specific lessons emphasized in Penny Lane’s board and train can also be accessed below!
Multiclass Week 1
Penny practiced mostly indoors and in the immediate neighborhood, working off some dogs from a distance but mostly benign distractions like neighborhood kids!
Multiclass Week 2
We introduced settling indoors and outdoors, as well as began work on a stationing behavior for Penny to use while out and about.
Multiclass Week 3
We focused on practicing skills on a variety of walks and environments, and introduced a confidence building exercise called movement puzzles!
Week 3 Follow Up and Next Steps
Penny Lane tends to be more reactive with you, especially in familiar areas where she feels comfortable. While your new neighborhood is relatively quiet, this is a great opportunity to work on her behaviors before habits become ingrained.
For ongoing training, private sessions can be scheduled regularly in either her old or new neighborhood, focusing on intentional practice and hands-on coaching, similar to her board and train experience. Virtual coaching offers more flexibility, allowing for feedback on short training sessions recorded in the new home environment, on walks with friends or family, or right outside her door. I’d recommend a virtual coaching subscription, supplemented with in-person coaching as needed, to provide a balance of structured guidance and real-time feedback.
Additionally, Penny may benefit from joining the next round of Charisma Check, my coaching class starting April 15. This class is a similar set up for practice and coaching with other dogs in a structured environment, and will run for 4 weeks on Tuesdays at 7pm.
Training Montage would add to Penny Lane’s program:
4 Weeks of video submissions and live virtual coaching sessions, renewed monthly
Recaps and Resources provided on your personalized webpage to keep you on track between sessions
Monthly Subscription…$150
Skill Tree
