Service Dog Training at Costco: Heel Work, Ignoring Food & Mental Enrichment Ideas For Your Dog 

Car boundaries and not having the dog jump out are so important. My older dog, a small terrier mix, never learned her car manners. We have to carefully audit her behavior when we get to a new place so that she doesn’t jump out and hurt herself or others. When we got our gsd mal cross puppy last February, we knew that she had to have better car manners. We implemented car boundaries by never allowing her to jump out of the car unless we said her release cue, or when she was really little we would say her release cue and then gently lift her from the car and onto the ground. She also got rewards often while waiting for us to release her. She just learned by this that she has to wait until she was released before she could get out of the car. Now often we can leave the door open as we get her gear on, put away stuff we purchased, talk with each other, and many more things. It is super helpful. The only time she has ever jumped out without permission was when we were on vacation this summer and at a rest stop. Someone about 20 feet away from our car called out in a high pitched voice to us ‘can I buy your puppy’. She thought he was talking to her and hopped out. I recalled her and placed her back in the car before she could get anywhere. My family ignored the man’s weird comment. During our next rest stop that day I made sure to reward my dog while she waited for me to release her. She hasn’t done it again. I think the only reason she did jump out before being released was because she was ready to stretch her legs after a couple hours in the car and thought the man was talking to her and she could go say hi. Car manners are going to be a must with my next dogs because it just makes travel easier and with less worry involved.

10/10 recommend the Ruff Wear flat out leash. I have tried MANY hands free leashes and this is my go to. I have leather, Biothane, detachable, adjustable, etc. fill in the blank hands free leash and every time I go back to the ruff wear flat out leash. It is light weight and so versatile.

Try a hands free leash! There is a really good gear maker called bio Dane and she makes some really nice biothene leashes that you can put words on them for trips like this :)

Astro has improved amazingly. Seeing him walk campy by the meats is incredible

I would recommend a hands free leash or a traffic leash where you can drop when pushing a cart Astro did amazing he has improved so much

He did great for the 1st time w/a cart! I use a hands free crossbody leash (it’s also adjustable to around my waist or conventional hand held) this was such a game changer for me & definitely reduced my PA anxiety ! PEACE 🐾

For the walking with the cart, something that works best for my service dog and I is having as much leash in your hand as you need and just hold on the the cart with both hands with the leash in one hand. Then if corrections need to be made use the other hand that doesnt have the leash and do corrections. Astro is doing amazing and I really love your content and Astro is very handsome

Astro did extremely well with the cart! You did a very good job handling everything too. Honestly you would never know it was your first time handling him with a cart if you hadn't said something about it. I just got one of my most favorite breeds, a breed I consider my heart breed, a 5 month old Rough Coated Collie today and I am so glad I did. I don't think I could have picked a more perfect, more chill puppy. This puppy has never been on a leash before, didn't pull (except a few times when he got scared), I was not focusing on anything other than just getting him used to walking on a leash and there where a handful of times he even did a perfect heel which I praised him for even though I'm not training heel yet. I wanted to let him know I was happy with what he was doing. Right now I'm focusing on him learning his name and recall which he's doing very well with so far and I've only had him for about 9 hours! I'm hoping that he will be as well trained as Astro is one day.

Awww Astro he is doing amazing he’s the best service doggo

I turn where I want them to walk next to the cart into a command.

You and Astro did an amazing job!

My pup loves this.

You guys are doing amazing.

Hey i think you should try a hands free leash for those scenarios, is easier for handling and shopping at the same time

I would love to see the car door training vid👀✨

Amazing

with cart work I prefer a over the shoulder leash lol much easier

you can work on an off leash heel so you dont have to hold a leash but you put a traffic leash on him just in case and you can push the cart and have him walking by your side just in off leash heel

hands free leash is what i use for shopping etc i use a biothane one ( cardiack9s handler )

Has astro done the public acces test yet?>

Your credit card info is showing when you check out

Can you clip the leash to the cart?

First!

How does he get past the meat isle?! 😍😇