Follow Onyx’s Journey
- Tammy
- May 28
- 2 min read
Training a service dog is not a straight line.
It is not instant obedience, perfect behavior, or social media highlight reels where everything magically falls into place overnight.
It is consistency. Patience. Structure. Rest. Repetition. Trust. Regulation. Growth.
And honestly? Sometimes it is frozen carrots, dramatic husky opinions, and learning that not every leaf blowing across a parking lot requires a full emotional response.
Onyx is currently in training and continues learning how to confidently and calmly navigate public spaces, new environments, sound exposure, leash manners, neutrality, and professional wellness settings.
He is currently enrolled in:
Zoom Room Puppy Preschool in Ankeny https://www.zoomroom.com/location/ankeny/
Knox Canine Training – Puppy Exploration Program https://www.knoxcanine.com/
And then there is me. The human actually enrolled in the training too.
Because service dog training is not only about teaching the dog. It is about teaching the handler how to observe nervous system cues, recognize stress signals, create confidence, provide regulation, and build trust through consistency and communication.
A large part of this journey is learning how to slow down enough to notice the subtle moments:
when confidence increases
when overstimulation starts
when rest is needed
when praise matters
and when to advocate instead of push
Part of Onyx’s training includes occasional time spent within the Rebel Wellness studio environment.
Some days he may quietly settle through a sound bath. Some days he may practice calmly observing movement within the studio. Other days he may stay home entirely because rest and nervous system regulation matter too.
That part is important.
One thing I have learned through both human healing and animal training is that growth does not happen through constant overwhelm.
Dogs have nervous systems too.
Pushing a service dog in training beyond their limits does not create confidence. It creates stress, burnout, overstimulation, and dysregulation.
At Rebel Wellness, nervous system care is not just something I teach clients. It is something I believe extend to every living being within the environment, including Onyx.
That means his training is approached intentionally.
Some days will be focused on exposure and learning. Some days will be slower. Some days will simply be about practicing calm.
And honestly, some days the biggest win is quietly existing in the room without husky commentary.
Progress is still progress.
As his training journey continues, this space may occasionally include updates about:
Public access milestones
Confidence-building experiences
Sound bath exposure training
Funny husky moments
Studio settling work
Lessons learned along the way
The reality of balancing training with rest and regulation
This journey is not about perfection.
It is about building trust, confidence, resilience, and partnership one experience at a time.
Thank you for supporting Onyx as he continues to grow, learn, and navigate the world beside me. 🖤
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