05/28/2026
Adjusting the Approach | CUSE Executive Training Daily Update
Today’s plans shifted unexpectedly.
Today’s schedule shifted a little unexpectedly, so instead of making another trip into town, we stayed closer to home. A friend came by with her children to spend time outside, which still turned into a really valuable social opportunity for CUSE.
He spent part of the afternoon playing fetch, receiving attention from the children, and simply enjoying interaction and engagement in a relaxed environment.
Moments like that matter more than people sometimes realize.
Confidence building for Dobermans isn’t always about formal obedience.
Sometimes it’s simply about helping them associate people, movement, attention, and new experiences with comfort and positivity.
After everyone left, I took CUSE out to the farm for more running and movement before transitioning into his more structured work.
One thing I’ve been paying very close attention to lately is how emotionally connected CUSE is to communication and correction.
Training is never one-size-fits-all.
Some Dobermans naturally respond well to firmer direction and pressure. Others — especially softer, more thoughtful personalities like CUSE — require a much more adaptive and emotionally aware approach.
That means consistently watching body language,
energy levels,
engagement,
confidence,
and emotional response.
Even with gentle correction today, I could tell he was becoming slightly tense and mentally withdrawn rather than clearer and more engaged.
Instead of forcing the issue, I changed the environment.
I took him walking through the fruit orchard where the chickens spend much of their time.
I knew two things:
the chickens genuinely interest him,
and his future family does not want him chasing them.
So rather than avoiding the situation altogether, I used it as an opportunity to reinforce calm observation and self-control.
“Look and enjoy” rather than “chase and react.”
And honestly—
this ended up becoming one of the best moments of the day.
His curiosity came forward exactly the way I had hoped, but he remained thoughtful enough to respect boundaries and stay connected.
It brought out engagement without overstimulation.
Consistent areas still being reinforced daily include:
• Voice Integration work
• Scent familiarization
• Threshold sits before entering/exiting
• Sit before meals
• Calm indoor demeanor
• Recall reinforcement
• Leash engagement
With a focus on optimizing confidence and happiness for CUSE, I intentionally ended the workday a little earlier than normal.
Not because progress stopped—
but because thoughtful training also means recognizing when rest and decompression may create better results tomorrow.
Especially with Dobermans like CUSE, confidence and communication cannot be rushed.
And honestly?
That’s part of what makes the process meaningful.
Foundation. Confidence. Connection.
