09/12/2026
DAY TWO WITH OLIVER 💜🐾
A lot of the time when someone reaches out to me for training, it’s because their dog pulls on the leash, jumps on people, won’t listen, rushes the door when someone comes over, or needs help with basic manners.
That’s not why Oliver came to me.
Oliver doesn’t need me to teach him how to sit or prove that he can follow commands.
Oliver needs to learn that the world is okay. 💜
He’s a rescue, and when his family first came to me, they weren’t even sure he really knew his name. People can be scary. New environments can be scary. Simply being outside and experiencing normal everyday life can feel like a lot for him.
So his training looks very different.
Before I worry about traditional obedience, I want Oliver to learn that people can be good. Being outside can be safe. New experiences don’t always mean something bad is going to happen. And when he isn’t sure, he can choose his people instead of feeling like he has to figure everything out alone.
Today, walking down a sidewalk while cars passed us was training. Hearing unfamiliar sounds was training. Exploring somewhere new was training. Responding when I said his name was training. Looking toward me when he wasn’t sure was training.
We’re not asking for a picture-perfect heel. We’re giving him opportunities to experience the world and come out the other side thinking:
“Hey… that wasn’t so bad. And I wasn’t alone.”
For Oliver, success isn’t measured by how many commands he knows.
It’s measured by confidence. Curiosity. Recovery. Connection. And trust.
One experience at a time, we’re showing this sweet boy:
People are okay.
Outside is okay.
New things can be okay.
You can choose your people.
And we can get through hard things together. 💜🐾
This is only day two — but for Oliver, every little brave choice is a really, really big deal. 🥹
