Ways my dog's patio behavior has gotten worse

And why I'm thrilled! She is less reactive, less nervous, and more willing to take up space.

The first time I took Scout to a brewery, she lay quietly on her mat. She did not bark. She did not growl. She did not stand up to stretch or shift her weight or investigate the environment.

She also did not enjoy herself.

My cattle dog was quiet and reserved and “polite” because she was scared—scared to the point of shutting down. She took a few treats and gave me eye contact when I asked, but her body was stiff, tension in every muscle, and it was only lack of experience that made me think the outing was remotely successful. (I was so proud at the time, I remember. Today the old video clips make me cringe.)

In the years after that visit to Wisconsin Brewing Company, I worked hard to build not only Scout’s behavior but her comfort. Our opportunities grew when we moved to Florida in 2020: We lived in a very dog-friendly housing complex, next to a very dog-friendly outdoor mall, and the amiable weather allowed us to keep training well into the winter.

2021 and 2022 might have been our heyd…