Let me introduce you to Bex, a lively and affectionate Belgian Malinois from Long Beach, CA, who is embarking on a two-week board and train program with Off Leash Socal! Bex is bursting with energy and has an endearing personality, but she also exhibits a few challenging behaviors that we will be focusing on during our time together. These include excessive leash pulling, jumping, and nipping, which can make walks and interactions a bit overwhelming for her and her owners.
To unlock her full potential, Bex needs a solid foundation of structure and obedience training, as well as multiple outlets to satisfy her high drive. It's not just about correcting the behaviors; it's also about providing her with the mental and physical stimulation necessary to thrive. I truly believe that with the right guidance and training, Bex has amazing potential to become an incredible companion. I'm thrilled to get started with her training journey at Off Leash Socal—there’s no doubt that we’re going to have a lot of fun along the way, and I can't wait to see her progress!
Pupdate 9/29/2024
Today marked Bex's first day with me, and it was quite the adventure! We started by introducing her to my personal dog, Kilo, and while the interaction went well overall, I noticed some of Bex's pushy behavior could lead to trouble with dogs who may not be as tolerant as Kilo. As we progress in our training, I'll be closely monitoring their play sessions to help Bex make better choices, and we'll practice recalling her out of play to keep her safe. Later in the evening, we used her dinner to train, concentrating on leash conditioning. I want her to learn that leash pressure is something to follow rather than resist. Her high food motivation makes it easy to instill these early behaviors, though I'll gradually fade the food over time to ensure she doesn't become dependent on it. Finally, we worked on her comfort with the kennel by tossing some food inside, and she happily walked in. I repeated this process several times to help her feel more relaxed about entering the crate, and by the end, I was able to close the door, and she quickly settled in for a nap. Overall, it was an excellent first day!
Pupdate 9/30/2024
Today, we had a productive training session at the park, where we primarily focused on the heel command while incorporating the e-collar into our exercises. I am pleased to report that Bex has shown notable improvement in her responsiveness to the leash, and my goal is to facilitate a smooth transition of her leash knowledge to the e-collar system. Bex undeniably enjoys training, although she remains easily distracted by small wildlife such as squirrels and birds. Despite this, she demonstrated much improved engagement with me today.
Later in the afternoon, we concentrated on reinforcing the "place" command and began increasing the duration of her stays. I successfully left her in this command for approximately 30 minutes while I tidied up around my apartment, which is a significant accomplishment. However, Bex displayed some discomfort at the sound of the vacuum cleaner, which serves as a pertinent real-world distraction she will encounter in the future. We can address this challenge by utilizing her obedience skills to build her confidence in such situations. Overall, I am very pleased with her progress and look forward to continuing our training journey together.
Pupdate 10/1/2024
This morning’s training session with Bex centered around the "place" command. We began by guiding her to the place bed using food, then transitioned to leash pressure, and finally introduced e-collar stimulation. She has significantly improved her understanding of the verbal command "place." Our next challenge will involve increasing the distance I maintain from her, extending the duration she should remain in position, and introducing various distractions in her environment. Later in the evening, I took her and Kilo to the park for additional place training, and she performed exceptionally well.
Pupdate 10/2/2024
Today, Bex and I got an early start to avoid the heat and headed to La Tuna Canyon Trail. We hiked for about an hour, working on her heeling skills amidst a surprising number of dogs and people—clearly, many had the same idea to exercise their pups. I’m proud to report that Bex has shown significant improvement in her engagement with me; she maintained her heel position with minimal reminders from the leash and e-collar. In the afternoon, we did a structured leash walk around the neighborhood, which I strongly recommend you continue with Bex when she returns. This will not only meet her physical needs but also help reinforce her newly acquired skills. During our walks, I keep Bex in a heel position whenever I'm moving forward. If she stops to sniff, I keep walking and gently tap the e-collar until she returns to position. If she tries to pull ahead, I swiftly turn 180 degrees and continue moving while tapping the collar. The goal is for Bex to maintain a following mindset; if she attempts to set the pace or direction, I change course and encourage her to follow. I will allow Bex to stop and sniff, but only after I've released her from the heel position, giving her the opportunity to do so. This clarity about what’s allowed and when ensures that Bex pays solid attention while in heel and can enjoy sniffing around like a dog once we’ve released her. In just four days, Bex has demonstrated remarkable learning speed, and her basic obedience is shaping up nicely. With more exposure and practice, I’m confident she will become an incredible companion.
Pupdate 10/3/2024
Bex and I had a wonderful training session in downtown Montrose today! We met several other dogs, and while she needed a few reminders with the leash and e-collar, she showed great improvement throughout our time together. During our training, we focused on her impulse control around people, and despite some initial distractions, Bex was able to regain her focus quickly. While she is a very friendly and affectionate dog, who so far has shown no issues meeting strangers, I don't want her to think that just seeing a person is an invitation to break out of command, especially considering how eager she was to jump on people previously. The more people she is able to pass by and remain neutral towards, the better!
Pupdate 10/4/2024
Bex had an incredible day hiking up to the Haines Canyon Reservoir! She did such a great job staying calm as we passed several houses with barking dogs, showcasing her growing confidence and composure. We took multiple breaks along the way, which allowed us to practice her "down" command, and she nailed it each time! Kilo joined us and provided some fun distractions; Bex absolutely loves playing with him, which made the hike even more enjoyable for her. Overall, it was a wonderful outing filled with progress and fun!
Pupdate 10/5/2024
Today, Bex and I headed to the park to put her skills to the test in a setting with more distractions. A key focus for us today was practicing stability in her behavior. Bex is always on the move and tends to break out of her stationary positions. Now that I've developed a clearer way to communicate through the leash, I can start holding her accountable for longer durations in command. It’s challenging for her to sit and simply observe her surroundings, but mastering this skill is essential for her growth. We also took this opportunity for another trainer to work with Bex, giving us a glimpse of what our session will look like next week. There are moments, especially around other dogs, where she loses focus and requires the support of the leash or e-collar to regain it. Overall, I am truly proud of the progress we've made in such a short time!
Pupdate 10/6/2024
Today, Bex and I ventured to a more public setting for training: the DIY hardware store! We started by ensuring she relieved herself outside to avoid any accidents inside. Before entering the store, I did some heeling with her outdoors to get her focused on training amidst potential distractions. Once she was in the zone, we went inside and were quickly greeted by a special employee – Cleo, the store's rat control cat. Bex handled this encounter surprisingly well, maintaining her heel position while Cleo followed us around the store.
We also practiced holding down as customers entered, which I find to be a great setup. Most people don't expect to see a dog, and they often get excited when they do. This provides an excellent opportunity to reinforce Bex’s down position, regardless of any attention she might receive from newcomers. I was very pleased with her performance in the store. We wrapped up the evening by playing and relaxing with Kilo in the backyard, enjoying the warm weather.
Pupdate 10/7/2024
Bex had another productive day today at the trainer meetup! Although she still finds it challenging to sit still, I was impressed with her ability to hold her place command while working with Kilo. She maintained her position even as I moved quite a distance away, showing some great improvement!
We’re starting to incorporate more training with a long line, which allows her to practice recalls and gives her the freedom to explore a bit more while still ensuring she stays safe. Later in the evening, we focused on threshold manners around the front door and the car. It’s important to me that she learns not to bolt out the door or from the vehicle, so we’re emphasizing the need to wait for permission before she exits. Overall, Bex continues to make progress, and I’m excited to see her development!
Pupdate 10/8/2024
Today, Bex and I focused extensively on training her behavior around entering and exiting the car. I've noticed that she tends to rush in whenever a door is open, sometimes even trying to jump into the front seat! While I appreciate her enthusiasm, I want her to wait for my cue before jumping in.
We practiced approaching the open car and having her hold a seated position until I gave the command 'UP' to enter. Once she's inside, I’d like her to lay down for the duration of the ride. While we could certainly use a crate for this, my main focus today was on addressing how she enters the car. If she sees me open the car door and tries to dash in without my cue, I’ll use my leash to deter that behavior.
Later in the evening, we continued practicing her recall with a long line at the park. Dogs remain her number one distraction; she just wants to play with all of them! That said, I'm pleased to report that she is progressing very well overall.
Pupdate 10/9/2024
Today, Bex and I conducted our training session around the perimeter of a dog park, using the dogs inside as a distraction. We began at a distance to practice her heel command and gradually worked our way closer to the fence. I was pleased to see her much more engaged with me today. We also focused on her "down" command, first near the fence and then by the park entrance. Although she got excited when other dogs entered or exited—especially when they showed interest—she managed to hold her position without any assistance.
I often advise my clients to steer clear of dog parks, especially during peak hours. There’s no way to regulate the temperament of the dogs present, and you can't be sure about their vaccination status or potential diseases in the environment. It’s not just a question of IF your dog might get into a fight, but WHEN it might happen. The risks and uncertainties far outweigh the benefits of simply providing your dog with some exercise.
Pupdate 10/10/2024
Today was an exhilarating day for Bex! We had our training session at the Santa Monica Pier, which turned out to be the most distracting environment she's experienced so far. Despite this, she performed impressively well. We worked on her off-leash heel, extended sits and downs, and the place command on various surfaces. Even with several other dogs around, Bex remained focused and ignored them all. We're now at the stage of adding the final touches to her training before she comes home to you!
Pupdate 10/11/2024
Today, Bex joined my dog Kilo and another pup in my care, Merlin, for a group training session at the Glendale Galleria mall. We focused on practicing heeling, placing, and downing amid the bustling distractions of the mall. I also met up with another trainer for lunch, and all three dogs relaxed peacefully at my feet while we enjoyed our meal. Bex has demonstrated remarkable growth in the past few days, showing an impressive ability to stay engaged with me despite the many distractions around her. We even had a lovely encounter with mall security, who complimented Bex on how pretty and well-behaved she was as we strolled through the indoor area. I couldn't be prouder of her progress!
Comments