lady priscilla
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How a variation on the Maslow hierarchy for dogs grounds the Method in science When Lady Priscilla first joined our family, she didn’t know how to feel safe, let alone thrive. She flinched at the gentlest touch, avoided eye contact, and curled into herself like she was trying to disappear. Today, she’s a confident service…
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The Lady Priscilla Method began the day we brought home a Dutch Shepherd who didn’t know how to feel safe. We weren’t trying to invent anything. We were just two people standing in front of a shelter kennel, staring into pleading eyes, and wondering, “What now?” Lady Priscilla didn’t arrive with confidence. She arrived as…
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People often ask, “How do dogs show affection?” The answers are as varied as the dogs themselves. Some lean. Some lick. Some follow you from room to room. In our home? My dog hugs me. Most people will tell you dogs don’t like hugs. Especially not dogs with trauma histories. Hugs, after all, mimic restraint…
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Some dogs grow up too fast. But what if they get a second chance to grow up again—this time with joy? A happy puppyhood for rescue dogs is possible, even when they’re already grown. Lady Priscilla didn’t come to us as a floppy-eared baby with a waggy tail and a teething ring. She was two…
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Lady Priscilla Earns Her AKC Trick Novice Dog Title and Conquers the Tunnel We weren’t expecting a breakthrough. Honestly, we thought it would just be a solid private lesson: some confidence-building, a few laughs, maybe a little agility. But in 30 minutes, Lady Priscilla didn’t just meet expectations—she shattered them. First came the tricks. Jenny,…
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We walked into our final CGC class not quite knowing what to expect. It wasn’t the official exam — just a dry run of the CGC test for dogs — but if you know our trainer Jenny, you know that “dry run” means prepare for the toughest version possible. In the real AKC CGC test,…
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How to protect dog paws from hot pavement without the bootie battles We adopted Lady Priscilla in the spring, when hot pavement wasn’t yet a major concern. But Florida warms up fast, especially here in Orlando, and we knew we needed a plan before summer hit. So, like any good dog parents, we bought booties.…
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The Pace of Progress in CGC Training Dogs in an AKC Canine Good Citizen class often surprise their handlers. Just when you think they’ve plateaued, they level up in ways you didn’t expect. The challenge is figuring out when to ease off the gas… and when it’s time to speed up. We knew CGC would…
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After a two-week break, Lady Priscilla walked back into the Zoom Room Winter Park for agility class like she owned the place. No barking, no pulling, just calm focus and a handful of high-value treats. If you’ve been following our journey, you know that training a rescue dog for agility hasn’t exactly been a smooth…
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CGC Training: A Turning Point We had been in CGC training for exactly two sessions. Just seven short days between “Is she even ready for this?” and “Wait…did she really just do that?” Lady Priscilla came in hot. Her training had been going well at home and in public, but performing her skills in a…