Bruin is an eight week old Chocolate Lab puppy owned by a local family that have never owned a dog before. Bruin has a very low confidence level and doesn’t adjust easily to new people or situations. Luckily this family wanted to work with a private trainer anyway, since dog ownership was so new to them. We immediately put him on a behavior modification program and started teaching him some obedience commands. Bruin only gets special high value treats for approaching strangers. He also is getting gradual but constant exposure to new situations and novel items everyday.  Bruin also attends my group Puppy class at Klem’s to get extensive socialization with new people and puppies. The positive effects of addressing his unsure nature at such a young age are very obvious already!!! Bruin is now approaching strangers happily, playing with other puppies and ignoring loud noises. Bruin was fortunate to be adopted by a family that was being proactive. In the coming weeks he will master all of his basic obedience, learn to go to his bed when told and to eliminate on command. I look forward to watching Bruin learn and become even more self confident.