11/29/2025
Why Responsible Trainers Take a Step Back from Public Access Progression During the Holiday Rush
As holiday shopping ramps up, many handlers feel pressured to “push forward” in their service dog’s public access training. And on the surface, it can feel like a great opportunity — more people, more noise, more distractions.
But in reality, this time of year is one of the worst possible timelines for elevating a team from pet-friendly locations into full public access settings.
The picture below shows Kairo and one of our Service Dogs in Training practicing in a controlled, pet-friendly environment — not a non-pet-friendly location. And there’s a very important reason behind that decision.
Why the Holiday Season Is NOT the Time for Advancement
Public access training requires calm, measured progression.
It demands that the dog’s learning stays predictable, fair, and achievable.
But during the holidays?
Crowds are larger.
Noise levels are higher.
Foot traffic becomes unpredictable.
Kids are excited, people are stressed, carts are everywhere, and the sensory load multiplies.
Even dogs who are normally solid in their skills can struggle in these conditions.
So when a team is just beginning to transition from pet-friendly environments to full-access environments, the holiday rush can create the perfect storm for:
• Overwhelm
• Stress stacking
• Confusion
• Flight responses
• Shutdown
• Loss of confidence
• Major regression in training
One bad experience in an overly chaotic environment can undo weeks — or even months — of careful work.
Progression Isn’t About Testing a Dog… It’s About Protecting Them
A responsible trainer doesn’t advance a team simply because:
• Timelines
• The dog has practiced some behaviors
• The handler feels ready
• The dog had a few great outings
Instead, we look for stability over time — in various contexts, with appropriate distractions, in predictable environments first.
If a dog is ready to progress but the environment is not appropriate..
We wait.
This protects the dog’s mental health, preserves their confidence, and ensures the next step forward is sustainable — not overwhelming.
It’s Not Just About the Dog — It’s About the Handler Too
Holiday crowds are hard on handlers:
• Higher sensory load
• More unexpected interactions
• Dramatically reduced personal space
• More “petting attempts” from the public
• Increased risk of carts, kids, or dogs running up
• Less room to reposition or de-escalate
A handler under pressure = a dog under pressure.
And that’s not the foundation we want when teaching new access skills.
Real Progress Comes from Fair Training Decisions
The dogs in the photo — including Kairo — are practicing inside a controlled pet-friendly store. This allows us to work:
• Stability under moderate distraction
• Handler mechanics
• Team communication
• Settle-on-mat behaviors
• Leash neutrality
• Social noise tolerance
• Re-engagement skills
Without pushing the dog past what is fair for their stage of training.
This is responsible training.
This is ethical service dog development.
And this is how we prevent regression and keep teams moving forward confidently.
If You Think You’re Feeling Behind — You’re Not
Slowing down during the holidays isn’t a setback.
It’s leadership.
It’s advocacy.
It’s putting your dog’s success above your timeline.
Your dog will benefit far more from a thoughtful, fair training progression in January…
than from being overwhelmed in December.
Protect your dog’s confidence now, and they’ll be stronger in the long run.
Your timeline doesn’t matter.
Your dog’s welfare does.
A good trainer will understand that
