Zoro
The Adventure Begins: 03/10/25
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Character Sheet
Zoro
Session Zero: 03/10/2025
Recommended Training Package: Training Montage
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Zoro has intermittent leash reactivity when out on walks. It’s not entirely clear the trigger, but will react strongly to some dogs on sight and others not at all. This is the primary priority as the family would like to go for camping trips without concern about noise issues with Zoro reacting to others at campgrounds.
Zoro also will react strongly to visitors and can struggle to settle even after he’s had the opportunity to “say hi.” His crate behavior is still building, so making crate and restraint an option is the first goal here and then incorporating it into a greeting and settling protocol.
Lastly, Zoro has a particularly challenging relationship with in-laws Great Dane, who has injured Zoro on a few occasions and also was involved in Zoro’s only human bite. Zoro tries to avoid the dog, but may need assistance with protocol in the future.
Make sure Zoro still has opportunity to have exercise and training that isn’t centered around working off of triggers or on potential reactivity. Sniffspots can be a great option for spaces where Zoro can stretch his legs without concern about running into other dogs, as well as to work on some of the sportier stuff you guys do together for fun.
Continue working on building crate behavior - make a point of having him crated for a length of time that he can remain under threshold (not barking/whining/fussing to get out) as well as making a point of doing things nearby during that time. This can help create an environment where Zoro is able to stay in the crate while guests come in or contractors come in, and remain calm in his crate while they are here, or until he’s able to greet them.
03/10/2025
Zoro has a lot of the behaviors that we want to build on for these training goals, the focus now is sequencing them appropriately and adjusting based on what he’s able to do in the moment, as well as pushing for more (successful) progress and interactions near other dogs.
As an example, we discussed introducing a “Thank you!” cue (video below) when barking at the delivery people or other people going by, but following that up with a treat scatter, a chew, or a toppl.
Similarly, asking for a “this way” u-turn when encountering a potential trigger and following that with a Look at That from a greater distance.
I know initially the intention was to have Zoro in for a board and train - I don’t think that a board and train would be a bad way to help cement some of Zoro’s training, however his current crate behavior makes that too stressful to ask of him right now. Since he has a number of skills already, and his reactions are unpredictable, I think that rather than formal 1x1 privates, which are usually geared towards introducing new skills or working them in very controlled scenarios, Zoro would benefit most from continuous feedback week to week with the Training Montage program. Having a camera set up at a more populated spot to have him relax and play Look At That, or having dad walk with you guys with a camera can help capture potential reactive moments, and I can also assist with crate training or greetings (practice this with the two of you!) as needed and provide review and adjustments to how you’re incorporating those skills each week. The short virtual sessions give us time to talk through any questions about those videos and discuss how to best move forward.
Let me know what questions you have and if setting up Training Montage would be a good next step!
03/26/2025
Zoro’s reactive behavior seems to be driven by anxiety and fear, so providing him with distance from triggers and assuming each one may be challenging will be key to his success.
When working with him, rotate between the three techniques we focused on:
Treat scatters for difficult triggers when he struggles to engage.
Ready-get it for moderate triggers or when you need to create distance.
Look at that for the easiest triggers.
Keep treat scatters "everlasting" to maintain engagement, and use ready-get it to allow movement and breaks rather than relying on structured obedience like sits.
Enthusiasm will look different for each handler—if Dad engages with Zoro more physically, that’s great! Also, incorporating people-watching sessions from a safe distance will be a helpful way for Zoro to observe without pressure.
It was great meeting you all! Let me know if you have any questions about setting up a virtual coaching subscription or scheduling in-person sessions about once a month.
We introduced:
Look At That
Ready Get It
Worried Greetings
05/05/25
We focused on Zoro’s behavior out on walks, especially his growing tendency to lean into sniffing as an alternative to reactivity. This is excellent—sniffing is a natural decompression activity and a great sign that he’s choosing self-regulation. As we talked about, it’s far easier to teach a "move on" cue from a sniffing behavior (like a simple verbal prompt or walking cue) than to redirect a dog mid-reactivity. This gives us a wonderful, organic behavior to shape.
We also discussed the importance of rewarding Zoro just as much on his good days. Consistent reinforcement builds habits, muscle memory, and emotional resilience—arguably even more than reacting to tough moments. Think of every sniffy, relaxed walk as an investment in his long-term behavior.
Inside the home, we addressed demand whining. I introduced the “100 or none” rule—which means that Zoro is receiving 100% of your attention or none of it. For demand behaviors, we want to choose zero attention (no eye contact, no verbal response, no engagement) to ensure Zoro doesn’t learn that whining sometimes gets a response. Consistency here is key.
05/12/25
It was great to hear that Zoro’s meet-and-greet with the neighbor/sitter went smoothly. Introducing in the home appeared to be a positive setup for him.
However, we also discussed his night walk where he pulled to sniff. To work on engagement and reduce pull-heavy starts to walks, I recommended incorporating Give Me A Break games:
Give Me A Break is a simple engagement tool: you reward Zoro’s choice to re-engage with you by giving him the opportunity to disengage again. This helps:
Gauge Zoro’s readiness to start the walk
Build offered attention and self-regulation
Reinforce that checking in with you earns access to what he wants (sniffing!)
This structure allows him to alternate between working and decompressing in a predictable rhythm.
05/19/25
This week overall has been positive—Zoro is showing great resilience, especially in the yard with a chew. That’s a wonderful tool to continue using!
However, the outburst during Dad’s conversation was a valuable learning moment. The likely culprit was trigger stacking—accumulated stress from multiple small stressors building up. Treats can sometimes mask discomfort without fully addressing it, especially during prolonged exposure to mild triggers.
Instead of focusing on decreasing the distance to triggers during his “watch the world” sessions, we’ll now focus on adjusting:
Treat frequency as a barometer for how Zoro is actually feeling (if he isn’t able to maintain neutrality with less treats, we’re still too close)
Resilience-building via strategic session breaks
Here’s a sample structure:
Active Session: 8–10 minutes at ~20 feet from a path, observing dogs/people
Break: 15–20 minutes ~50 feet away with a chew, to decompress
Return: Another 5–8 minutes at the original 20-foot mark to continue practice
This “ebb and flow” structure allows Zoro to reset and develop endurance without overexposure.
Looking forward to the video from your park visit—can’t wait to see how he does!
05/26/25
🌿 Session Recap & Wins:
It was encouraging to hear that, despite one reaction in the yard, Zoro was able to recover and stay outside afterward — that’s a really big win. The fact that he remained neutral to other distractions after that moment is a sign that the work you’ve been putting in is paying off.
🐾 Demand Whining Deep Dive:
We circled back to Zoro’s demand whining in the house, and your reflection about it happening most often around 5:00 PM (post-exercise, pre-dinner downtime) gives us a really helpful place to focus. It sounds like the transition from activity to relaxation might be tricky for him — especially when he's still in “let’s keep the fun going” mode.
As a reminder, we’re still applying the “100 or none” rule: for demand behaviors like whining, that means offering zero engagement (no eye contact, no talking, no interaction) when it’s happening. I know consistency here can be tough, but it’s what helps Zoro learn that whining isn’t a strategy that works.
📝 What’s Next:
To get clearer on the pattern, I’ll send over a simple tracker for the week — just something quick to fill in each day. This will help us see whether that 5 PM window really is the hotspot. If we confirm that, we can build a plan that sets him up for success.
Some possible ideas we’ll explore:
Offering his dinner in a frozen Toppl to give him a job and help bridge the gap between activity and calm.
Starting a basic relaxation protocol to help him build an “off switch” even when he’s still amped up.
Thanks again for your thoughtfulness and consistency — you’re doing great work with him, and these small insights will help us keep tailoring the plan.
06/16/25
It was great touching base today! Not a ton of new updates, but I just wanted to share a quick recap to keep things moving forward.
🌦️ Weather + Whining:
With all the rain lately, it makes total sense that outdoor work has been limited. Sounds like Zoro has been doing well indoors, especially around the whining — awesome! Keep using the tracker whenever something stands out, and let me know if we start to see any consistent trends.
📦 Deliveries & Reactions:
You mentioned he’s been doing well with deliveries, which is great to hear. If he’s under threshold and you’ve got a minute, it’s totally fine to play around with Look at That after his “thank you” scatter — or even start with it if you know a delivery is coming. It can be a great chance to reinforce those calm, thoughtful moments.
🧠 This Week’s Focus:
Let’s lean into mental enrichment while the weather is less cooperative. A few areas to work on:
Handful Sessions: Building value for Zoro finding your left side (great for future leash work!)
Shaping + Trick Training: Use these short, fun sessions to reinforce that training time = connection time.
Relationship Building: Anything that encourages him to think, tune in, and stay engaged with you is a win — regardless of the specific behavior you’re working on.
07/07/25
It was great checking in about Zoro’s recent progress — thanks for your thoughtfulness and consistency. Here’s a quick summary of our most recent session and some practical steps to support his ongoing socialization:
🐾 New Neighbor Introductions
Zoro’s reactivity with the new neighbors is understandable, and it’s great that they’re interested in meeting him and making friends! Here’s a suggested progression:
Let Zoro wander the yard freely (on long line if needed) while the neighbors remain still. Reward for interest in them or engagement with you.
When he's comfortable, repeat the exercise while the neighbors walk around.
Begin parallel movement: Zoro walks his side of the fenceline, neighbors walk theirs.
Keep all approaches indirect — arcing in and out rather than walking straight toward each other.
Once relaxed, transition out the gate and into a short, parallel walk together.
🌿 Support for Hot or Rainy Days
As weather continues to be unpredictable, don’t forget that you have access to the Enrichment Made Easy webinar in your portal. It’s a great resource for indoor enrichment and energy outlets.
Let me know how the neighbor intros go or if you'd like to set up a session to walk through the process together!
07/16/25
Highlights from Our Session:
Door Practice: Things are going well overall. Zoro seems less reactive when Mom heads out the door, which is great progress! I loved the creative approach with Dad exiting through the back and coming around to the front—nicely done.
Crate Comfort: Zoro is settling beautifully in his crate. It's wonderful to hear he’s consistently relaxed in that space—definitely something to celebrate!
General Behavior: No major reactions or demand whining to note, which shows how consistent practice is paying off. Great job keeping things steady!
Looking Ahead: We’ll regroup on July 22 to reset and shape our training goals for August, especially keeping the summer heat in mind. If there are any specific areas you'd like to focus on during that session, feel free to shoot me a note ahead of time.
Skill Tree
