10/14/2026
One of the most bittersweet parts of being a dog trainer is getting to love on these dogs for weeks sometimes even months and then having to send them home.
This sweet boy is Hank! Hank has spent the last few weeks with us working through some pretty significant anxiety, fear, and confidence issues. When we first started working with him his world was VERY small. Even walking down the hallway in his own home was a challenge and he had only recently started going on walks during our private lessons.
For Hank the training goal wasn’t mastering a bunch of commands, It was helping him feel safe enough to experience the world around him. We’ve spent weeks building his confidence, introducing new environments, working through stressful situations, and celebrating all those little victories that might not seem like much to anyone else. And watching his progress has been SO rewarding.
But here’s something I don’t think people talk about enough. We get attached to these dogs. REALLY attached. Especially our anxious dogs, fearful dogs, reactive dogs, rescues, and the ones who just need a little extra love. We spend countless hours with them, learn their personalities, their quirks, their fears, and celebrate every little breakthrough. They become part of our everyday lives and part of our little crew. That’s one of my favorite things about our Board & Train programs. These dogs aren’t just here to learn commands. They’re living alongside us, building relationships, going on adventures, and becoming part of our family.
So sending them home is always a little bittersweet. But knowing they’re going home happier, more confident, and better equipped to enjoy life with their families makes it all worth it.
Hank still has a long journey ahead of him. Overcoming years of fear and anxiety doesn’t happen overnight but I couldn’t be prouder of how far this sweet boy has come. I’m going to miss this big guy SO much!
