09/22/2026
Meet Annie 🐾
Annie is a 2-year-old hound who was rescued from a shelter in Florida. She has been with her mom for just six weeks, and in that short time, she has already made some incredible progress as she decompresses, settles into her new home, and begins learning what her new life looks like.
Hounds experience the world through their noses. Their incredible sense of smell means they are constantly taking in information from their environment that we simply cannot perceive. For Annie, a new environment isn't just a new place-it can be an overwhelming flood of scents, sounds, sights, and information to process. When that happens, Annie can become overstimulated. She may pull hard on the leash, bay, or become unable to take treats or engage with the people around her. That isn't Annie being stubborn or refusing to listen. It's information telling us that the environment is currently asking more of her than she is ready to handle.
So, how do we help her?
We start where Annie feels safe: at home. Annie and her mom have been working hard on pattern games, building a strong foundation in an environment where Annie can actually learn. Before heading out for a walk, I like to spend a few minutes playing these games inside, helping Annie start in a calm and familiar state. Then we head outside with no pressure and no expectations.
Right now, Annie's walks aren't about perfect leash skills, check-ins, recalls, or asking her to perform behaviors. They're about letting her experience the world at her own pace. I give her opportunities to sniff, explore, and process her surroundings without constantly asking something from her. If Annie chooses to engage with me, I'll happily reward that choice. If she doesn't want a treat, that's okay too. I can offer verbal praise and simply continue alongside her. I don't want to pressure Annie into taking food or interacting with me when she's overwhelmed.
Sometimes, trying harder can actually push a sensitive dog further away. The goal isn't to rush Annie into being "ready." The goal is to help her become ready. As Annie's confidence grows, we'll gradually build toward those important foundational skills; check-ins, wait, stay, recall, and more. But we're not in a hurry. Sometimes meeting a dog where they are means recognizing that they aren't ready for certain things yet.
And that's okay!
Training isn't about forcing a dog to meet our expectations. It's about listening to what they're telling us, building trust, and giving them the support they need to succeed.
