09/03/2026
We’ve been working with this Doodle on lunging at his senior stepbrother anytime he even remotely enters his space bubble. 😬
Our process:
1️⃣ Give him a designated safe space where we can manage the environment and keep his stepbrothers from invading his bubble.
2️⃣ Teach a solid Place with duration.
3️⃣ Start proofing Place with his stepbrothers moving around nearby.
The biggest piece? Learning to anticipate the reaction before the lunge happens—watching his body language and listening to those little vocalizations that tell us he’s getting uncomfortable, then redirecting him before he escalates.
But training goes both ways. We also have to be reasonable and manage his senior stepbrother so he isn’t constantly wandering into a space we’ve specifically taught the Doodle is his safe zone.
We still have about 7 sessions to go, but the progress has been GREAT.
And we’re doing it without e-collars, prongs, harsh physical corrections, or fear-based training. Structure, management, communication, repetition, and reinforcement. 🐾
And yes… that last picture is absolutely the Doodle giving me the “FU” stare for ruining his plans. 😂
PositiveReinforcement