28/09/2026
A little puppy freedom 🥹🌿
Today was Rook’s first time getting to explore off leash, which also meant our first chance to practise recalls out in the real world.
Of course we’re building the skills — checking in, coming when called, staying connected — but there’s something else happening here that matters just as much.
Dogs need opportunities to be dogs.
To run. Sniff. Explore. Move their bodies. Make choices. Experience the world at their own pace.
Meeting those needs isn’t separate from training or behaviour work — it’s part of it. Whether I’m raising a puppy or working through a behaviour modification plan for separation anxiety, I’m always looking at the whole dog and asking: Are their needs being met?
Because good behaviour isn’t just about what we teach our dogs.
Sometimes it looks like this. 💛🌲
A puppy, a big open space, and the freedom to explore — with a really good recall starting to takeshape along the way.
