Personalized Training Program: Zola
Scheduled Session Dates:
07/01-07/03: MultiClass Week 1
11/18-11/28: MultiClass Week 2
04/13-04/17: MultiClass Week 3
05/18-05/22: MultiClass Week 4
The more you utilize your coaching line and share questions and observations about your dog, the better I am able to structure sessions to meet your needs!
“Your Canine Community” is my client Facebook group - a spot where you can find folks also working on similar challenges with their dogs, ask questions and share resources.
“Marco Polo” is an app that functions like a video walkie-talkie - connect directly with me with videos of your dog training, your dog’s behavior you have questions about, or to ask training or follow up questions. The link above will connect you directly with me once you download the (free) app.
Personalized Program Resources
Starting Zone: Coming When Called Code: recall_bnt
Multiclass Training: 07/01-07/03
Zola did really well for the couple days she was here! This was an abbreviated stay because of her birthday (!) so we will arrange an additional day attached to a future upcoming stay that works for you. We can absolutely do a follow up private for her following this session - but if you wanted to wait until after her next one we can do two follow ups with a little more practice under her belt. Whichever works well for you!
Since I don’t have specific videos for Zola with the chaos of the couple days she was here, I’m linking the general “coming when called” class - the code is up at the top of your page along with the link!
Zola was more successful with short sessions interspersed with rest, play, or cuddles. This seemed doubly true in more challenging or distracting environments. Since Zola can be particularly interested in birds, using treat scatters seemed to help refocus her attention as she was less likely to get distracted by the sky.
We focused on building her “this way” u-turn as a precursor to recall, and offered behavior and focus in new spaces rather than using a particular cue word that she might still be too distracted to ignore. She did well as long as we were keeping things brief and exciting.
Since Zola isn’t naturally highly food motivated, keeping sessions short with higher value treats (cheese still seems to be the standout winner, but she also worked for churu wet cat food).
Working on handling and cooperative care, Zola is getting very good at stillness and rewarding paw touches as well as using the brush.
11/18-22
04/13-04/17
Just wanted to send a quick recap now that Zola has wrapped up her short board and train stay — and wow, she really impressed me this time around!
She was incredibly biddable during our sessions, especially when we kept the environment low-key. The biggest wins came from working in smaller, more manageable spaces like the court and up by the elementary school. Compared to full neighborhood walks, these lighter-distraction areas really helped her stay engaged and confident.
A long leash gave her the freedom to explore and acclimate at her own pace, while also making the choice to stay close — which she did beautifully. Giving her that space and autonomy seemed to be a major factor in our success.
I used string cheese and freeze-dried Dr. Marty’s Nature Blend as her primary reinforcers. I didn’t ask for too much, too often — instead, I focused on rewarding check-ins and letting her lead the interaction with a sense of ease.
We also worked on her down-stay for photos, using reverse luring (not sure if she had this before). For a quick refresher: reverse luring involves presenting an open hand with treats visible and rewarding when she doesn’t go for it — building focus and duration instead. This can be a great tool to help her understand that she should “keep going” when adding duration to any behavior. I added the cue “Cheese!” to get her to look at me during pictures. Next stay, I’d love to see if we can shape an open-mouth "smile" for even more expressive shots!
Looking forward to seeing her again in May!
05/18-22
It’s been such a joy to work with Zola over the past year, and I was especially proud of her progress during her most recent weekday board and train. As she approaches her second birthday, it’s clear how much maturity and focus she’s developed — a big shift from the early days when our sessions had to be super short to keep her engaged!
Last week, Zola showed impressive resilience and continued to make great choices, even in moments that challenged her. While she still has reactions to other dogs passing by, she was able to work past those moments with more consistency and engagement than we’ve seen before. That ability to recover and reorient is a huge win and something to keep building on.
Recommended Walking Protocol:
Start with decompression: Begin each walk with a low-pressure period — no cues or expectations, just time to settle in and sniff.
Reward check-ins: As Zola begins to offer eye contact or check-ins, reinforce those moments generously. Gradually, this will build into more sustained engagement and even some offered loose leash walking.
Use the long line: I’ve sent her home with a long leash from Palomine Lines. Giving her that extra room helps her feel more in control and able to make thoughtful choices.
If a reaction occurs: No need to rush. Let her fully recover — meaning she’s offering consistent attention again — before moving forward.
End on a positive note: Just like the beginning of the walk, finish with some decompression time to blow off steam, ideally somewhere calm like the woods.
Zola has come a long way, and her ability to focus and bounce back is something to celebrate. Keep reinforcing those moments of offered engagement and resilience — they’re the foundation for her continued progress.
As always, feel free to reach out if any questions come up or if you’d like to check in down the road.