Where in the World is CCC?

Team Reznor's Story

CCC impacts lives in many ways.  Here's one way in which CCC has helped Team Reznor, described by his owner Lorene.

Before CCC:  Reznor would walk into the office waiting room in a panic and anxiety, rapid breathing, frantically looking around, pacing, walking in circles, unable to maintain a sit or down even with his favorite treats.  Any odd sound coming from the office would trigger him into an even larger panic, him trying to pull me on the leash to get to the door. If another owner and their pet walked in he would be more interested in that situation than me, pulling on the leash trying to investigate them. When I was able to get a sit, he would try to get behind me, almost hiding himself away. The same would happen when we entered the actual exam room: pacing around the door to get out, not able to maintain a sit or down, with panic, anxiety and whimpering.

After CCC: From the moment we walk in Reznor is looking to me for guidance. With full eye contact he follows me into the office. Reznor and I are able to walk in, walk next to other people/pets without him really caring too much of his surroundings. A few glances to check out the area is all he needs now.  Then he's right back with me in connection mode. The most amazing part is the moment I find us a spot in the waiting room. He goes right into Really Real Relaxation mode, full on eye contact without me even having to tell him! He is able to maintain this with all the background noise, people walking in and even people/pets walking past us. The most I get from him now is a bit of a neck turn, a reached out head to sniff the air, but that only last a few seconds and we are right back in connection. The best thing is he is making these choices himself from the very start. I'm feeding treats at the very minimal at this point, a few here and there. The wait can last almost up to 10-20 min in the waiting room, and I give roughly 5 treats or so. And it's really not even about the treats, because after a few minutes he's relaxing is head on the ground, calm breath, even closing his eyes a few times. He has even made the choice to lay on his side a few times, asking for a belly rub. This is also what we encounter in the exam room, with even more relaxation on his part.  At times, depending on how long we wait in the exam room, he's actually fallen asleep he's so relaxed, regardless of what noises are going on in the background or people walking past the room door.

He is also able to maintain this once the tech or doctor walks in, as we discuss the situation and why we are there where before he would try to hide behind me or try to get out the room pulling at the end of the leash. All I have to say is it's nice to have a dog who's not in panic mode anymore, one who feels safe and knows what choices he needs to make or looks to me for that guidance. It's awesome to have this connection where he's more interested in what we are doing together other than the surroundings or trying to run out the office. This has also helped my levels of anxiety when taking him there. Now we are both relaxed and just enjoying each other's company the best we can in that situation.

Do you have a CCC story to share?  We'd love to hear about it!  Submit your story here:

CCC Challenge Map

Have fun practicing your CCC skills using this new puzzle map.

Remember:  if your dog lunges toward the puzzle, you're too close.  Move your markers further from the box. 

Level 2 & 3 folks:  Remove visible puzzle & use remote rewards.

CCC Tips

The power of "You Are So Good" goes far beyond a simple phrase that buys time for the dog to engage with you.  It can serve you and your dog in many ways.  Here are some of the ways "You Are So Good" is helping some of your fellow CCCers.

• When stepping into the Rally ring for the first time, a handler noticed that her dog was a bit distracted. When the judge asked if she was ready, she smiled, looked at her dog and said, "You Are So Good." It gave the dog immediate information about what should happen next. They ended up with 4 Q's and two blue ribbons that day.

• At a recent nose work trial something in the environment really worried a dog who was stepping to the line. The handler recognized that her dog needed support, said "You Are So Good," and watched her dog's arousal shift and settle so he could lock onto scent and begin his search.

• A disc dog handler uses "You Are So Good" to help bring her dog into the Think & Learn Zone as they step into the ring so that they can connect for solid performance.

• An instructor's demo dog was tasked with working for a stranger. By instructing the stranger to tell the dog "You Are So Good" the dog knew exactly who he was working for, and exactly what he was supposed to do.

The CCC Apparel Store

Looking to share your love of CCC?  Check out the CCC Apparel Store, where you can have the CCC logo embroidered on all sorts of clothing and accessories.  Once your order is delivered, send us a photo of you sporting your new look!