Making Milo

This is Milo. He’s 2 years old, and he needs help with confidence, recall, and impulse control. He also has some anxiety and nervousness when meeting strangers. Our first lesson addressed leash-pulling. Today, we go deeper and focus on impulse control and recall.

Although he was a bit anxious and nervous when he first met me, Milo seemed content to let his people handle the situation – for about two minutes. After a couple of minutes of doing nothing, he was ready to get moving again. When that didn’t happen, he started to whine. I asked his owner to ignore that behavior and only move again when he stopped whining. It took him a minute, but he did figure it out. In turn, we started walking again.

Milo is now learning that he doesn’t get to – and he doesn’t have to – make any decisions about anything anymore. He’s learning that his people have every situation under control, that they’re starting to learn and understand his language, and that they have his back at all times. By the end of his first lesson, he was not only tuckered out from the release of built-up mental energy, there was a profound relief in his eyes even his people could see.

Milo is an extraordinary dog. His potential is unlimited; there’s nothing he can’t do. All his people need to do is teach him. I’m grateful to be part of his journey towards happiness, and I’m excited to take the next step with him and his family today.

Have a great day, and remember to stay calm and lead on.