We had a breakthrough!

OKAY so you know how I wrote about training being a work in progress? How 'leave it' only worked in the house and outside was a disaster? Well today something happened and I need to tell everyone.

We were on our walk, normal route, nothing special. I see something on the sidewalk up ahead and I'm already preparing for the fight because Duke ALWAYS goes for random stuff on the ground. Get closer and I realize its a chicken wing. Like a full chicken wing just sitting there on the sidewalk. Why is there a chicken wing on the sidewalk I dont know but there it is. People just throw food on the ground I guess. This city sometimes.

Duke sees it. His whole body language changes—ears forward, pulling toward it, locked on. This is his dream scenario, abandoned human food just sitting there waiting for him. Every other time something like this has happened I basically have to drag him away. My shoulder hurts just thinking about it.

But I said 'leave it.' And I used my serious voice, the one we've been practicing with. And I swear to you he stopped. He looked at me. HE LOOKED AT ME. Right in the eyes like he was really processing it. I said 'leave it' again and he... left it. He turned away from the chicken wing and kept walking with me.

I lost my mind. Right there on the sidewalk I was like 'GOOD BOY DUKE OH MY GOD GOOD BOY' and gave him like five treats in a row. He was so happy, tail going crazy, probably confused about why I was freaking out but happy to take the treats. A lady walking by probably thought I was insane praising my dog that enthusiastically in public but I did not care.

I almost cried. I'm not exaggerating. Weeks of training, all those treats, all those repetitions, and it finally clicked for him when it actually mattered. Not in the house with controlled conditions. In the real world with a chicken wing—the ultimate test. Human food. On the ground. And he walked away from it.

I texted my girlfriend immediately. She sent back like fifteen exclamation points and a bunch of those party emojis. She knows how hard weve been working on this. All those evenings doing drills in the living room, all the times I said 'leave it' and he looked at me like I was speaking another language.

Maybe this is dumb to be so excited about but if you've ever trained a stubborn pitbull you know. You KNOW how big this is. All those times he ignored me, all the frustration, and today he chose to listen. He chose me over a chicken wing. Thats love right there. Or good training. Or both.

We celebrated with extra cuddles tonight and he got some of the fancy treats, the ones I save for special occasions. Hes asleep on my lap right now, probably dreaming about chicken wings. But he didnt eat the one on the sidewalk. My boy is learning.

I'm so proud of him. Like genuinely proud.