A Zoom Room Colorado Springs Guide to Real-World Skills for the Holidays

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At Zoom Room, we don’t just train dogs — we train humans to navigate everyday life with their dogs. And with the holidays bringing extra activity — guests, noise, deliveries, smells, excitement — it becomes even more important to help your dog handle distractions calmly and confidently.

This week’s Trainer Tip focuses on one big idea:

You can set your dog up for success by practicing simple strategies when distractions appear.

Whether your dog is excitable, shy, curious, or reactive, these practices will make a huge difference in how they behave, focus, and interact in real-world situations.

1. Practice: Calm Noticing and Stopping

When your dog sees something exciting — another dog, person, runner, wildlife — your first step is simple:

Pause.

If your dog is pulling, whining, or overly excited, they do not get to move closer.

You’re teaching:

“Calm behavior earns access.”

This one habit dramatically reduces impulsive behavior around distractions.

2. Practice: Use Your Zoom Room Cues

From a comfortable distance, use the cues your dog already knows:

• “Watch me”

• Name recognition

• “Touch”

• Auto-watch/check-ins

This helps your dog learn:

“When a distraction appears, look to my human.”

This is the foundation of real-world focus.

3. Practice: Confidently Saying “No” to Interactions

When someone approaches and asks:

“Can I pet your dog?”
or
“Can my dog meet yours?”

Your answer can be:

“No, thank you.”

Short. Clear. Friendly.

A small hand-up gesture reinforces your boundary.
No explanations needed — people usually start reaching before your sentence ends anyway.

You’re not being rude.
You’re advocating for your dog’s emotional safety.

Your dog should interact with others only when they’re:

• Calm

• Relaxed

• Checking in

• Approaching politely

That’s what builds good social habits.

4. Practice: Adding Distance or Leaving the Situation

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, the distraction is simply too much.

If your dog is overstimulated, overwhelmed, or unable to think, try this:

Lure your dog toward you and away from the distraction.

Create distance and see if that space helps them decompress.

• If your dog can settle? Great — continue practicing.

• If your dog still can’t regain focus?

It’s 100% okay to leave the situation.

At that point, you’re unlikely to get productive learning — your dog’s brain isn’t in a state where they can take in information. Leaving isn’t “giving up”; it’s smart training.

“Distance is your friend. Retreat is a strategy, not a failure.”

Why These Strategies Matter

These practices teach your dog that:

• You make the decisions

• You keep them safe

• They don’t have to respond to every distraction

• Interactions only happen when they’re calm and ready

When your dog feels protected and guided, they become more confident and more consistent — especially during the holiday chaos.