Read the Dog, Not the Clock

The schedule is only a guide. If the dog turns away, backs up, refuses food, lip-licks, yawns, or stiffens, drop back to the last easy muzzle step.

Plateaus are normal, not failure. If your dog suddenly balks at a step they aced yesterday, resist the urge to power through. Make the step easier, not harder. Shorten the time the nose stays in, raise the value of the treat, or simply end the session early on a good note. Most stalls trace back to one cause: moving on before the dog was truly relaxed.