Class finished

Bea.

Feet, ears and 58 new things.

A bright, mouthy 11-week-old who wouldn't let anyone touch her feet, and a first-time owner who wanted to get the socialization window right.

BREED

Lab and hound mix puppy, from a rescue

AGE

16 weeks (11 at the start)

OWNER

Priya

STARTED

Sep 17

New things met, from the list

[0]

→

[58]

Lets you hold a front foot

[0 s]

→

[5 s]

Holds a sit

[no sit on cue]

→

[5 s, while handled]

Bea, a black puppy with white paws, lies on a mat by the back door chewing a rope toy while her owner eats breakfast at the table behind, the red leash hanging on a hook.

The log

Every session, written down.

Steps 1–3 passed · step 4 at home, video check-in Nov 5

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

#13 · Oct 24 · Private · 60 min

Coach's note

First park session: 6 of 10, up from 2 on Sep 1. Two misses were a dog at 40 ft, closer than the step allows. One extra session on Nov 3.

Homework

Park twice a week at 7 am. Walk away first if a dog comes inside 50 ft.

Pass: 8/10 on 2 sessions in a row · 5/10 or less: back one step

DateTypeStepCriterionSuccessPassed

Step 01 · Come, indoors

Sep 1ConsultCome, indoors[10 ft]9/10

Sep 4Video reviewCome, indoors[10 ft]10/10✓ Passed

Step 02 · Come from another room

Sep 15PrivateCome from another room[25 ft, out of sight]8/10

Sep 18Video reviewCome from another room[25 ft, out of sight]9/10✓ Passed

Step 03 · Backyard, 15 ft line

Sep 25Video reviewBackyard, 15 ft line[backyard, no people]8/10

Sep 29PrivateBackyard, 15 ft line[backyard, no people]9/10✓ Passed

Step 04 · Backyard, 30 ft line

Oct 3Video reviewBackyard, 30 ft line[30 ft line]4/10Back one step

Step 03 · Backyard, 15 ft line

Oct 7Video reviewBackyard, 15 ft line[backyard, no people]9/10Held

Step 04 · Backyard, 30 ft line

Oct 10Video reviewBackyard, 30 ft line[30 ft line]8/10

Oct 13PrivateBackyard, 30 ft line[30 ft line]9/10✓ Passed

Step 05 · Arrive and stay

Oct 17Video reviewArrive and stay[10 s hold + leash clip]9/10

Oct 20Video reviewArrive and stay[10 s hold + leash clip]8/10✓ Passed

Step 06 · The park

Oct 24PrivateThe park[park, dogs and joggers 50 ft+ away]6/10

#13 · Oct 24 · Private · 60 min

Coach's note

First park session: 6 of 10, up from 2 on Sep 1. Two misses were a dog at 40 ft, closer than the step allows. One extra session on Nov 3.

Homework

Park twice a week at 7 am. Walk away first if a dog comes inside 50 ft.

Pass: 8/10 on 2 sessions in a row · 5/10 or less: back one step

THE STORY

Bea joined Puppy Start at 11 weeks, a week after her second vaccine. She turned to her name in a room with three other puppies at the first class, which is a good start, and she pulled her feet away from everyone, which is common at that age.

Steps 1 and 2 went quickly: name and look, then a sit on the word with no food in Priya’s hand. Handling took longer. She was fine with ears and the collar, but pulled her front foot away twice in week 4, so we started with the back feet, which bothered her less, and passed step 3 a week later.

Between classes, Priya worked through the socialization list: 58 new things in six weeks, from the vacuum to a man in a hat to the light rail platform, each one from a distance where Bea still took food.

The class ended on Oct 22 with Bea in her first week at 6 ft, 7 of 10. That isn’t a pass, and it doesn’t need to be yet: steps 4 to 6 go home as homework, with a video check-in on Nov 5.

The handling homework felt silly in week one. At her 16-week vet visit she let the vet look in both ears while she ate out of my hand.

Priya, with Bea

Case files

Other files.

Juno, a tan-and-white pointer and Lab mix, lying in a stay on park grass on a red long line while the trainer holds up a flat hand signal.

In progress

Recall

Juno.

Comes back at the park, almost.

Before

[2/10]

→

After

[6/10]

Park recall, 15 ft line

Rook lies calmly on the porch beside his owner, who rests a hand on his back, both watching a person walk a dog past on the street.

Graduated

Reactivity

Rook.

From 70 ft to 25 ft.

Before

[70 ft]

→

After

[25 ft]

Threshold to a still dog

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