Roxie, a king cavalier spaniel from Overland Park, has a delightful demeanor but struggles with focus when she’s outside. Her family reached out for assistance because she loses all self-control whenever she spots a squirrel or rabbit. It was clear that this behavior was causing some challenges during walks, making them stressful for her family and disruptive for her.

In today’s session, we focused on understanding Roxie’s triggers and helping her manage her excitement. We spent time practicing commands that would redirect her attention away from critters and back to her family. Roxie showed that she listens very well in a quiet environment, but we were eager to see how she’d react to distractions. As expected, the sight of a nearby squirrel tested her composure, but with some guidance and clear cues, we worked on keeping her attention focused on her handlers instead.

A notable moment of progress came when, after several attempts, Roxie was able to hold her sit-stay despite seeing a rabbit dash across the yard. Her family was impressed by how much better she was at remaining calm with just a bit of direction. It’s evident that with consistent practice, Roxie is more than capable of managing her impulses.

Looking ahead, we plan to continue increasing the level of distractions during our sessions. By reinforcing her skills in real-life situations, we’ll help her build a more reliable response to those pesky squirrels and rabbits that catch her eye.

About this session
Service: Obedience Training
Location: , Overland Park KS
Dog: Roxie, king cavalier spaniel
Date: 2026-05-05

If your dog is dealing with similar challenges in Overland Park KS, we offer in-home training across the Kansas City metro. /contact-us/