09/27/2026
From Trainer Kelsie, βπΎ Client Spotlight: Meet Chili! πΎ
When Chiliβs mom reached out, she felt like she was at a dead end. Chili reacted so strongly to other dogs on leash that neighborhood walks had become stressful. Her family wanted to take her out and enjoy life together, but they werenβt sure that was possible.
I went to their home for a one-on-one session on a day when the rain was pouring down. We waited for it to let up, fitted Chili with a Starmark collar, and headed out for a walk.
Chiliβs mom had warned me what might happen, and the first dog we saw brought out a big reaction. We worked through it together, practicing how to respond and how to praise the calm behavior we wanted to see. At the next dog, Chili did better. By the end of our session, she was starting to understand.
Fast-forward a few weeks to today: Chili came in for her first day of Basic Obedience. She was happy, her mom was happy, and she made it through class without reacting a bit to the other dogs. Seeing them enjoy that time together was the best part of my day. β€οΈ
Chili was a star student, but this progress belongs to her family, too. They took what we practiced, put in the work, and stayed consistent between sessions. Iβm so proud of all of you. Great job, Chili! πβ