YoPaws

Trust challenge: YoPaws edition 😂

Yoshi’s end: safely clipped to her flat collar.

My end: a slip lead… loosely around my neck. 👀😂
It’s a long double-ended lead, so when we’re walking I can pop my end around my neck and go hands-free.

Would I do this with every dog? Absolutely not.

But with Yoshi, I trust the training we’ve put in and the relationship we’ve built. She knows how to move with me without relying on tension through the lead, and I know her well enough to trust what she’s going to do.

Loose-lead walking isn’t just about teaching a dog not to pull. It’s about communication, awareness and learning to move together.

Although I feel like Yoshi definitely has the upper hand in this particular trust exercise. 😂

So… who’s walking who? 🐾

Watching planes take off and land might not seem like much to us, but for a dog it can be a lot to process. Loud engines. Fast movement. Strange vibrations. Giant metal birds appearing out of nowhere.

One of the biggest misconceptions in dog training is that confidence means a dog is never afraid.

It doesn't.

A confident dog trusts their handler.

During this session, both Vienna and Yoshi found the planes uncomfortable at times. Instead of forcing them to "just get over it", or correcting them for checking in with us, we welcomed those moments. They looked to their handlers for reassurance, took a breath, observed the planes, then chose to keep watching.

That is learning.

We never want to punish a dog for seeking comfort or guidance. If a dog learns that coming to their person results in correction, they may stop asking for help when they need it most.

Real confidence is built through safe exposure, not flooding. It is built by allowing a dog to experience something new, supporting them through the uncomfortable moments, and working through those feelings together.

Yoshi has come an incredibly long way. She was once extremely sensitive to sound, and today she watched planes taking off and landing, working through every moment with her handler by her side.

This was Vienna's very first time watching planes. She trusted her handler. Rather than checking out of the situation, she chose to focus on her handler before calmly returning her attention to the planes.

Being brave doesn't mean never being afraid.

It means trusting someone enough to face it together.

That is the partnership we strive to build.

🐾 Team Jet is doing such a fantastic job!

Jet is an incredible young pup. He's bright, eager to learn, and picks up new skills so quickly that sometimes his humans are racing to stay one step ahead of him! Thankfully, they're putting in the time, asking questions, and continuing to learn alongside him. That's what makes a great team.

In this short video, I'm walking Jet. Just look at his engagement. He's choosing to check in because we've made ourselves fun, rewarding, and worth paying attention to.

Raising a puppy isn't always easy. It takes patience, consistency, teamwork, and a whole lot of heart. Every family member plays a role, and those small moments of practice every day really do add up.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that walking a dog is simply putting on a lead and heading out. The world is full of exciting sights, smells, sounds, and distractions. If we want our puppies to stay connected with us, we need to be just as fun and engaging as everything around them. Otherwise, it's easy for the environment to win their attention.

The best part is that Jet's family is putting in the work between sessions. That's why his progress continues to grow. Training doesn't happen in an hour a week. It happens through the little moments, every single day.

Keep up the amazing work, Team Jet. You're all building something really special together. 💙🐾

Sometimes it's not the dog that needs the challenge... it's the environment.

These entrance barriers might seem like a small inconvenience, but for people with assistance dogs, parents with prams, wheelchair users, mobility aids, or anyone with limited movement, they're just another obstacle to navigate.

That said... I'm incredibly proud of Yoshi. 💙

We went through this entrance three times, and by the final pass you can see how much more confident she was. It wasn't just about her learning where to go. It was about us working together as a team. She trusted my guidance, and I trusted her.

As the handler, it also took coordination from me to guide us both safely through. I can still use my arms and body reasonably well, but not everyone can. That's why thoughtful, accessible design matters.

So yes... we managed it. We adapted. We worked together.

But we shouldn't have to.

Come on, Woolworths. Do better. Accessibility should make life easier, not create another hurdle.

Well done, Yoshi. I'm so proud of you. 🐾💙

Not every training session is about teaching a new cue. 🐾

Today, Yoshi joined Team Vienna for a training session focused on much more than obedience.

We worked on loose lead walking, recalls, stays, handler focus and making good choices around another dog. The goal wasn't simply to perform behaviours. It was to build attention, communication and confidence in real life.

Then it was time to play.

Play isn't a reward after training. It is part of training. Appropriate play, enrichment and opportunities to decompress help dogs regulate their emotions and return to work ready to focus again.

After training, Yoshi patiently accompanied me while I caught up on some admin, enjoyed a session of disc dog where she reminded me that she catches much better than I throw 😂, and finished the day quietly accompanying me to the supermarket.

Being an assistance dog isn't about working every minute of the day. It's about learning when to work, when to relax and when it's okay to simply be a dog.

A balanced dog builds a stronger partnership. 💜