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The importance of Roxy’s service dog vest: The next stages of Wags 4 Warriors training

'Now it’s just the fact of understanding that she needs to focus on the handler when her vest is on.'

CLEVELAND — When it comes to becoming a Wags 4 Warriors pup, the service dog vest is an important tool.

Roxy’s handler, Kayla DeLorenzo, said it’s important for the dog to be focused on her handler while wearing the vest.

“You won’t see her out and about [without her vest] with anybody else but her handler. Even on the news, she won’t be with you guys with her vest on. She’ll be with me because she needs to focus on who she’s with.”

It’s a process Roxy is still learning.

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“She seems to understand,” DeLorenzo said. “You see a difference in her demeanor and how she acts when she has the vest on. Now it’s just the fact of understanding that she needs to focus on the handler when her vest is on.”

So what’s next for Roxy?

“We’re just keeping with repetition. It’s basically just the eyes on the handler that really needs to be worked on right now. She just loves going out and about and being active with everything.”

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