Tips for balancing public access with unpredictable adolescence behaviors

This live was inspired by a question one of my academy members had on a recent Q&A. She wanted to know how to handle public outings and public access training while dealing with unpredictable adolescent behavior. See, somedays her adolescent SDiT is brilliant. He’s super focused, easily engaged. Other days he’s super distractible. And she doesn’t always know when dog she has. And I knew instantly what she meant, Leo is also in the middle of that adolescent period and most days he’s super great, but some days it’s like we’ve never trained a day in his life. And the hard part is that he doesn’t tell me ahead of time which days will be which.
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[@sophieelliott6031]

This is helpful for setting realistic expectations for my 6 mo old, some days it feels hopeless!

[@Aaalllyyysssaaaaa]

Thanks, this is exactly the kind of perspective I needed. When my dog has a good day I feel like he is going to be a total natural and be an amazing service dog, and then when he has a bad day I almost like go "well maybe I was wrong maybe he's not up for it," and I start worrying that I'm wasting my time and energy trying to train him to be somebody he's not, while in the meantime, I'm already struggling to manage my disability in public, much less my dog's training. It's definitely rough. But my dog really is going to be great. He's a husky mix that I adopted at 8 months old, and I never expected him to be anything resembling "trainable," but he surprised me when he turned out to be the most calm, loving, attentive, enormous adolescent puppy I could have imagined. I think he inherited his brain from his german shepherd side of the family lol. I only considered training him to be my service dog because of how calm and trainable he turned out to be. I think if I'm persistent through the next year when his brain is still developing so much he will be amazing. Either way he is an amazing loving dog and I love him so much, I feel so lucky to have him. Edit: with the food thing, I see it like shopping. Being a bit hungry when you're grocery shopping makes it more fun and rewarding because you can plan delicious meals and get fun snacks, and your brain is in the mood to help you do that task. Being STARVING while you're grocery shopping is a nightmare, and you'll probably be stressed the whole time and buy a bunch of junk food. Being full when you're grocery shopping is fine, but you might not get the foods that you need when you get home from work after a horrible day and you're starving and miserable and you just need a plan, something healthy that will make you feel better and isn't too difficult. Motivating dogs is a lot like motivating ourselves at those times when we struggle with impulse control.

[@Vercopaanir]

Knowing that he needs days off from PA training helps me to feel so much better about only taking him out on my days off from work! I’m glad that’s the case, I’ve been worried I’m not getting him enough exposure to the outside world, and maybe I’m still not but I’m definitely doing better than I thought I was!

[@AmberSoleil1]

After caring for a semi-feral dog for the last ten years, I am keenly aware of the experiences you can’t get back. I will be sure to carry that knowledge to training my service dog

[@Nocomment552]

Took my 6 month old to the local Publix for the first time and quickly figured out he was not ready to go all the way inside the store. Really glad I just took him briefly inside where the shopping carts were and did heel work outside before leaving. I also do the hand target to see how engaged he is with me and the poor guy was just a little too overwhelmed.

[@lailahepburnandmischka]

If my dog hasn't had a full meal she acts like she's been completely starved and tries to pick up food on the street 😭 we're working on 'leave it' obviously, and most of the time now she will leave stuff when told, but not if she hasnt had a full meal yet that day 😭🤣😭 She's only 10month btw still very early on iti training, just wanted to point that out in case people think it's an adult dog that's supposed to be fully trained lol

[@karenlabreche6847]

Thx your a gift

[@MyleeBenoit]

Ty so much

[@abaraibarone6118]

My adolescent is currently going through a fear period. He’s a chocolate lab, and although he had a lot of fear he maintained really good focus on me. He’s seven months old, and we did do a few outings before now, but then his fear period hit in, and he’s now become afraid of certain objects, but it’s mostly now people. When I took him on his outing, he immediately become fearful, and I’m not sure if I approached the situation in a good manner, since this is my first time owner training. But a few people put treats in their hands(my treats I wouldn’t let anyone else feed him otherwise), and I allowed him to take a few steps forward with encouragement. It did help some with his fear, but I was wondering if I took the correct approach, and what I can do to help him get out of his fear period around people?

[@DakotatheGsdmix]

Hey did your dog ever get through it? My SDiT has been in a pear period for a bit, she doesn’t like people going too close to her, or touched. I don’t let anyone pet her except when my little cousins come over and give her treats. She’s doing great though with distractions she’s just a bit jumpy when they’re too close.

[@Brandy_j5]

@@DakotatheGsdmixthis is exactly what I’m dealing with now.

[@chellijansen]

Having never used Fresh Pet, much less as a treat...does it ball up? Do you finger feed? Just kind of...flick it and hope it lands somewhere appropriate? 😂

[@kathrynriley7622]

When I've got a SDIT that's ready for PA training, I schedule the training for a time that my husband can go with me so I can work on training while my hubby does the errand work. If we finish training before my hubby is done in the store, I take the dog and we wait in the car. Is that okay? Or should I not be doing that?

[@Dlstar91]

I do the same. Every dog is different. Do what works for you. Just because someone is a “trainer” doesn’t mean they know what is best for your dog. If what you have been doing is working than keep doing it. As long as you can leave the situation immediately if u should need to then you’re doing it as she is saying. Dogs learn from real life scenarios. Push a cart. Stop and look at things and make your dog sit and wait while your looking. Do things like you would for real!!! Hope ur training is going well!

[@lyfandeth]

Never know which dog you are going to wake up with in the morning. Seen "Coyote Ugly" lately?