Nakina earns her Ratter title in just one weekend, scores three perfect 100s, and continues making wonderful progress in training and confidence.
🐾 Ratter Titled
Nakina absolutely loved Happy Ratters, and she earned her Ratter title in just one weekend! Watching her discover a sport she enjoys so much has been a real joy.
Training
On Sunday, she knew exactly what she was supposed to do when she entered the ring. She was perfect in all three competitions, scoring 100 points each time! In the two Standard events, she earned second place in one and third place in the other. In the Box-a-Rat game, she scored another perfect 100 and took first place. But the best part wasn't the scores or the ribbons. It was the sheer joy on her face every time she entered the ring. She was an absolute pleasure to watch!
Monday was a little more relaxed. We went shopping, and Nakina got her nails done.
Tuesday’s private lesson went really well. We focused on helping her stay calm and quiet in the car, and we seem to have found an approach that works for her. Then, in our Beginner & Novice Obedience class, she performed the heeling exercise off leash for the first time. She was incredibly focused!
We skipped Rally class this week because I wasn't feeling well.
Today, Nakina had a wonderful time in Scent Work class. The exterior search was a little challenging because of all the activity outside, but she was perfect in both interior searches. We'll keep working on maintaining focus when there are more distractions around.
Socialization
Yesterday, we left Nakina home alone for a couple of hours. She barked for about 10 minutes before settling down. When an Amazon delivery arrived, she started barking again, but I was able to speak to her through the camera and tell her “Enough.” It worked great!
I'm very pleased with her progress. She's learning that being alone doesn't have to be stressful, and it's encouraging to see her settle and respond when something unexpected happens.
What's Next
- Emergency Stop & Hand Targeting — reintroduce and build consistency
- Grooming — begin grooming desensitization on the table
- Continue elevator desensitization
Nakina is maturing into the best dog. I'm so proud of the progress she's making, and I love seeing her confidence grow while she discovers new things she enjoys. Most of all, I'm happy to see her having fun and becoming more comfortable in the world around her.