"There's no way this is going to work."

Carly said those exact words to her husband after our coaching call.

Ben, her two-year-old working Lab, lived in a constant state of high arousal. Group classes were something to avoid or survive, not enjoy. Patios? Forget it. She dreaded situations where she would have to manage him.

She'd trained dogs before. She had a successful search and rescue dog already. But the tools that worked for Hazel just didn't work for Ben.

So when I suggested using touch to help him regulate, she was skeptical.

"Ben is such a high-octane dog that I thought touch would send him spiraling."

The first session at the park didn't go well. She almost gave up.

But she tried again. And again. And something shifted.

Now? Ben seeks out touch when he's over-aroused. He spent Father's Day relaxed on a patio, watching kids play with another dog — no barking, no whining, just happy.

"It wasn't me being able to say 'I have my dog on a patio.' It's about sharing the experience together and him being able to be happy too."

Carly's advice for anyone struggling:

Ask for help — even if you've trained dogs before. Every dog is different.

Stay open-minded — the thing you're sure won't work might be exactly what you and dog need.

Listen to the full conversation and hear how Ben went from screaming through group class to chilling at a cidery.

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Best,

-- Christina