When dogs are close to graduation, we like to take them on a real-world training run to test their focus and confidence. At Ducktown Lodge, one of our favorite places for dog training with distractions is Home Depot. It’s full of noises, movement, smells, and unexpected challenges — the perfect environment to prove obedience skills. This week, Nala took on her Home Depot session and absolutely nailed it.

Dog Training With Distractions: Nala’s Home Depot Graduation Run

Meet Nala – she is one of those dogs who makes you smile the second you meet her. Sweet, confident, curious… and just the right amount of spicy.

She’s been putting in the work during her training program, and as she got closer to graduation, we knew it was time to see how her skills held up outside of the familiar training environment.

So we grabbed her leash, packed high-value treats, and headed out for one of our favorite distraction training sessions.

Meet Nala — AKC Labrador Retriever

Nala is an AKC-registered Labrador Retriever, and we follow training principles recommended by the American Kennel Club (AKC) to build real-world focus and obedience.

The AKC emphasizes that real-world distraction training should:

• Build focus gradually — start in calm environments and increase distractions slowly so the dog succeeds at each step. 
• Teach reliable cues like “Watch Me” to get attention back when distractions appear, “Leave It” to prevent unwanted engagement, and “Let’s Go” to redirect attention on walks. 
• Use high-value rewards that compete with environmental distractions — making attention to the handler more rewarding than the distraction. 
• Focus on one challenge at a time (distraction → duration → distance) to avoid overwhelming the dog.

Why We Use Home Depot for Dog Training Distractions

Home Depot is basically the ultimate real-world dog training playground.

It has everything we want when we’re proofing behaviors:

• loud carts rolling by
• people stopping to talk
• wide aisles with lots of movement
• sudden noises and unexpected distractions
• new smells everywhere

It’s a safe, controlled public space that gives dogs the chance to practice calm focus — even when the environment is exciting.

And for dogs close to graduation, it’s one of the best confidence builders out there.

Common Distractions Dogs Face in Public

The purpose of a Home Depot run isn’t just to “show off” obedience skills.

It’s to test the most important thing:

Can the dog stay engaged and calm when distractions happen?

Because distractions are what make training real.

We want dogs to be able to:

• walk politely on leash
• Ignore strangers and tempting smells
• hold a sit while someone passes by
• respond to their handler’s voice even when life is noisy

And Nala? She understood the assignment.

Video: Nala’s Home Depot Training Session

Watching Nala work through this session was such a proud moment. She stayed focused, handled the environment beautifully, and proved she’s ready for the next step.

What Nala Practiced During Her Home Depot Training Run

During this outing, we focused on the skills that matter most for real-life obedience.

Loose Leash Walking

Nala practiced staying with her handler even as carts and people passed nearby.

Sit + Focus

We asked for sits in high-traffic areas and rewarded calm eye contact.

Staying Neutral Around People

One of the biggest wins was Nala’s ability to stay calm and neutral while strangers walked by — no pulling, no overstimulation, just confidence.

Impulse Control

Home Depot is full of smells and interesting distractions, but Nala kept checking in and staying engaged instead of letting her environment take over.

Why “Distraction Training” Matters Before Graduation

When dogs are close to graduation, we want to make sure their skills are reliable — not just familiar.

Dogs don’t automatically understand that “sit” means sit everywhere.

They learn in layers.

A dog may know sit:

• at home
• in the training yard
• around familiar people

But then you bring them into a store and suddenly they’re thinking:

“Wait… THIS is new.”

That’s why we do graduation-style outings like this. It helps dogs connect the dots and realize:

“My training applies everywhere — even here.”

Nala Nailed It

Nala handled her Home Depot run like a total pro.

She stayed focused, worked through distractions, and showed the confidence and engagement we love to see in a Ducktown dog nearing graduation.

These sessions aren’t about perfection — they’re about progress, real-world readiness, and giving dogs the tools they need to succeed once they’re back home with their families.

And Nala? She nailed it.

Final Thoughts: Real Training Happens in Real Places

If your dog is doing well at home but struggles in public, don’t get discouraged.

That’s normal.

Training around distractions is a skill — and it’s one of the most important steps toward having a dog you can confidently take anywhere.

Nala’s Home Depot session is a perfect example of what happens when consistency meets real-world practice.