Meet Sissy! She’s an 11-month-old Pitbull from Burbank, CA, who has joined us for our 3-Week Board & Train Program. Sissy is a very sweet dog, especially with people, but she has developed some habits that need improvement. One of her challenges is being overly friendly, which often leads her to jump on people when she greets them. When she meets new people, she tends to run toward them with uncontained excitement. Additionally, Sissy and her sibling pull severely on the leash, a behavior that needs to be corrected immediately. Over the next three weeks, I’ll be working with Sissy to help her become more desensitized to various situations, teaching her how to relax and settle in the moment. We’ll also be visiting different locations to help her socialize properly with other people and dogs. My goal is to help Sissy become the best version of herself. Stay tuned for updates on her progress as I guide her through her training journey!
Pupdate 12/8/2024
Today was my first day meeting Sissy, and she was full of energy from the moment we met. After getting her settled into my car, we headed back to my hometown of Fullerton. Our first stop was Pacific Drive Park, where I wanted Sissy to burn off some of her excess energy. In the video above, you can see our first moments walking onto the grass together. I was trying to give her commands while observing her behavior. She seemed more focused on looking around and occasionally trying to jump on me, which I didn’t mind. To prevent this, I gave small leash corrections, but they didn’t seem very effective. So, I briefly used a prong collar during our visit, which helped improve our engagement. Afterward, we made our way to the dog park area behind Pacific Drive Park, where we worked on Sissy’s heel and sit commands. We spent about twenty minutes practicing these commands in an open field before heading home.
When we got home, Sissy did well entering the house and meeting my brother. She seemed a bit shy when she noticed my personal dog, Hunter, through his crate but didn’t get any closer. We continued exploring the house to see if she would impulsively jump on any furniture, but she didn’t. I then directed her to her crate, where she started vocalizing and barking. However, her barking wasn’t constant—it came in intervals. Whenever she was quiet, I rewarded her. I repeated this process for about ten minutes, and eventually, she settled down and fell asleep.
We continued our day doing training every few hours to desensitize Sissy and help her build up her confidence being in a new home for the next few weeks. Continue to check out her progress with me as her trainer!
Pupdate 12/9/2024
Today, we visited Whittier Narrows Park in El Monte, CA, to meet up with the Offleash Team for a session of training and socializing our dogs. Upon arriving at the park, Sissy seemed curious and eager to be outside. However, when we joined our friends, she appeared a bit nervous but still stayed alert and responsive to commands. At one point, she attempted to lunge at another dog but was easily redirected, and she didn’t try it again for the rest of our visit. By the end, we were able to walk her close to the other dogs without any issues.
In the first video, Jose, another trainer, worked with two of his dogs around Sissy, one of which is her sibling. We began training on the park’s walkway, focusing on basic commands like "sit" and "heel." Sissy is picking up these commands well, though she sometimes struggles with the impulse to follow me when I create distance. During these moments, I used her e-collar to gently redirect her. Once she was able to stay in her "sit" and maintain a comfortable distance, I released her with the "break" command. This reinforces positive behavior and helps build her confidence as she learns to stay in position before being rewarded.
After some time, we waited for Jose to bring his dog Rusty over, so they could meet. They briefly sniffed each other, but both seemed uncertain about being around other dogs. To manage the interaction, Jose and I worked with both dogs on the walkway, guiding them back and forth. In the second video, we continued training with Rusty and Sissy in close proximity, keeping them engaged and focused on us. We repeated the same practices, walking them in sync and occasionally asking for a "sit" to maintain their attention when obedience cues were given. Once the session ended, we both used the "break" command to reward our dogs, making the experience enjoyable and memorable for them.
Pupdate 12/10/2024
Sissy has been gradually adjusting to spending time in her crate without excessive whining, and it’s becoming easier to leave the house for errands throughout the day. The only time she shows significant excitement is in the morning, just before being let out of her crate. When she’s released, she sometimes urinates a little, but it's easily cleaned up. She has started to potty more frequently in the backyard, as opposed to while out on walks. So far, there have been no major accidents inside the house.
Today, we went to Home Depot around 12:00 PM to practice training in a busy environment and see how Sissy would react. She surprised me by walking confidently and heeling well as we entered. Although she initially appeared nervous, she calmed down within about 10 minutes. She was able to ignore distractions like people, forklifts, and noise. Sissy performed the "sit" and "recall" commands with ease, needing only minor assistance from the leash or e-collar. I was able to create some distance between us and still maintain control, even placing her on two dollies while walking through the aisles. We also tried introducing the "down" command, but she didn’t fully commit inside the store, so I decided to postpone further practice on that until our next training session. The longer we stayed, the more Sissy seemed to settle into the store environment, and I made sure to praise her for every small success, even when people passed by her.
In the afternoon, we focused on reinforcing the "down" command and gave Sissy some time to socialize with Hunter while both were on leash. They spent some time sniffing each other, though Sissy occasionally nipped at Hunter’s face. I redirected her each time before contact was made. She seemed a bit confused, but quickly began testing her play behavior to see how Hunter would respond. When Hunter rolled over for her, she started play-bowing and showed more submissive behavior, which led to a short play session between them.
Pupdate 12/11/2024
Today’s training session focused on home-based conditioning, specifically reinforcing Sissy’s obedience while waiting at the door. We began our morning with a 45-minute walk with Hunter and Sissy, followed by some playtime in the backyard. While they weren’t as energetic during play, they were able to relax and lie next to each other without interfering with one another.
Later, we shifted our training focus to the front door and one of the side gates. In the first video, we worked with the side gate, aiming to teach Sissy to stay in place while waiting for me to return and release her. Each time she tried to follow me past the gate, she needed redirection, but she eventually started to understand that she must remain in position. By the end of the session, Sissy was able to stay put as I walked all the way to the sidewalk before returning to release her. In the second video, we moved inside and continued training with the front door. During this part of the session, Sissy did attempt to follow me outside once, but a quick redirection back to her place mat helped reinforce the routine. My mother also walked in and out of the house during the session, and Sissy remained calm and undisturbed by her presence. At the end of our training, I heeled Sissy to the front of the house as a reward for her improved obedience and good behavior.
We spent the remainder of the day focusing on her recall which seems to of come with ease to her within the first 10 minutes of consistently practicing this command. I also spent time in the front yard letting Sissy desensitize herself to noises, car, and anyone passing by along the sidewalk.
Pupdate 12/12/2024
This morning, we stuck to our usual routine: a morning walk followed by some playtime in the backyard for the dogs. At first, Sissy acted as though she had never played with Hunter before, but as they interacted more, she gradually warmed up. The longer they played, the more both dogs exhibited playful behavior.
Today, I focused on strengthening Sissy's recall, since she’s already made good progress with other obedience commands. We practiced in front of the house to help her better understand the recall command. As we continued, Sissy started to grasp the concept more clearly, which allowed me to praise her often, boosting her confidence. What's impressive is that she's already showing signs of leash dragging, and we haven’t even completed a full week of training yet. When I signal her to recall, I say “come” while performing a specific gesture—throwing both hands behind my right hip. Sissy is learning to associate this gesture with the recall command.
In the second video, you’ll see a clip from yesterday’s training with my brother. He took Sissy for a walk in the front yard, where she was exposed to e-collar training. His role was to keep Sissy engaged while giving her the opportunity to bond with someone other than me. At times, Sissy seemed inclined to move toward me, but my brother used the e-collar to redirect her and keep her focused. When he moved away to create some distance, Sissy instinctively tried to follow him. However, my brother quickly redirected her back into a sit, which is a key part of the training to reinforce proper behavior.
Pupdate 12/13/2024
This morning, we went to Hillcrest Park for some exercise and to give Sissy the opportunity to practice her obedience training throughout the park. I allowed Sissy some time to roam on the grass so she could relieve herself, but she didn’t need to go, so we continued our walk. Our main focus was having Sissy practice stepping onto platforms and staying engaged if she noticed any birds or squirrels. Each time she spotted one, she would either try to approach or become fixated on it. In those moments, I would give her the command “off,” which means “leave it.” She responded well and was quickly redirected, allowing us to continue our walk.
As we approached the fountain in the center of the park, Sissy seemed a little nervous about the sound of the water splashing. To help her adjust, I walked her around the fountain several times, then sat on the edge of the fountain to create a more relaxed environment. Eventually, Sissy felt comfortable enough to join me on the edge, and we continued her obedience training there. We explored more platforms around the park, and Sissy remained calm and patient as she approached and worked with them.
Later, when walking along a quiet path, I let the leash drop and allowed Sissy to follow me, starting to work on off-leash obedience. She did well and stayed focused as we practiced.
In the afternoon, Sissy spent time playing with Hunter, and we began working on a new under-obedience command. While Sissy understands the idea of crawling under objects, we now need to combine this with the “down” command to get her to place herself under platforms when needed.
Pupdate 12/14/2024
Today, I took Sissy to Wilderness Park in Downey, CA, to work on her obedience commands while enjoying the park. Our focus was primarily on reinforcing her "under" command, but we also worked on other obedience tasks as we explored the area.
In the video above, we focused on teaching Sissy to go under a platform rather than on top of it. At first, she kept trying to climb on top, so I had to guide her under the platform using the leash. The first minute showed her struggling a bit, but after a few attempts, she began to understand and was able to go under the platform with ease. I then introduced the "stay" command to keep her in position, and she successfully held the stay on the first try. As soon as she stayed under the platform, I released her with the "break" command, and she came to me eagerly for a reward. At one point in the video, a woman approached, and we had a brief conversation.
During this time, Sissy remained calmly under the platform. Once the woman left, I gave the "break" command, and Sissy came right to me for a reward, as expected.
After the video ended, we continued our walk around the park. We passed by several geese and ducks, but Sissy didn’t fixate on them. Instead, she showed curiosity while keeping a calm demeanor. Every time she remained relaxed around the ducks, I praised her, encouraging her to maintain a natural response to the animals. When we passed by people, Sissy was unfazed but still distracted by the smells on the ground. In these moments, I used her e-collar to redirect her focus and keep her head up, which helped her stay engaged.
Toward the end of our visit, we worked on her "down" command in an open area. I dropped the leash and walked around her to see if she would stay in position. Although she did get up a few times, we worked through it and were able to make progress. By the end of our session, she was doing well with the command, and we finished up before heading home. One additional note: Sissy is doing great with leash dragging. She can remain by my side for a good distance, but we’ll continue to build on this skill to improve further.
Pupdate 12/15/2024
This morning, we took a walk around the neighborhood with Hunter, and it went really well. Sissy stayed close to Hunter but was so excited that she didn’t try to lead. As usual, they had some playtime, followed by breakfast.
For today’s training, we focused on reinforcing the "under" obedience command to ensure it’s properly conditioned. We started in the front yard, using a platform designed specifically for this command. Sissy performed well, but she only goes under the platform if I’m already on the opposite side. She’s not yet comfortable with going under the platform as soon as we approach it. To help her understand, I use a hand gesture, as though I’m holding a treat, which signals her to go under.
Inside the house, Sissy struggled with the "under" command when I asked her to go under the table in the living room. She seemed intimidated and hesitant to fully commit to her down position. I adjusted my approach, using treats for motivation, and that seemed to help her gain confidence. As she became more comfortable, I continued rewarding her with treats to reinforce the behavior.
Later, we reviewed all of our house obedience commands, which Sissy handled easily. I also introduced a couple of new goals for the week: her "send away to place" command and "come to heel." Additionally, we worked on leash dragging as part of her transition to off-leash obedience training.
Pupdate 12/16/2024
Today, we headed to Whittier Narrows Park in El Monte, CA, to train with the Offleash team. Upon our arrival, Sissy displayed confidence, calmly observing most of the dogs, except for a large German Shepherd named Wolf. When Sissy became overstimulated by Wolf, I was able to redirect her, allowing her to settle and maintain her confidence throughout the session, even with Wolf nearby. I had placed Sissy near several other dogs, and while she initially glanced at them, she quickly redirected her attention to other things around her, showing that she wasn’t bothered by their presence.
At this point, I decided to focus on heeling as we walked around the park, ensuring she remained calm and focused even if we encountered other dogs. Our primary goals for today’s session included loose-leash walking, "place," "under," and "leave it." As we practiced, these exercises became easier for her. Sissy also had the opportunity to train with JV, another trainer, who commented positively on her progress, saying, "She listens very well and stayed in her sit and down when we created distance." I continued the rest of our visit by concentrating on loose-leash walking, which helped prepare Sissy for off-leash training by conditioning her to walk calmly without a leash.
We ended the day focusing on house training and introducing a new command: "send away to place." Sissy is making impressive progress, and I will continue to monitor her development, as she shows consistent improvement each day.
Pupdate 12/17/2024
This morning, we followed our usual routine: a walk with Hunter followed by playtime once we returned home. Sissy has been doing wonderfully playing with Hunter, but yesterday, when we introduced a toy, she immediately showed signs of resource guarding when Hunter was near it. These signs included low-pitched growling, whale eyes, and stiffening up when she realized another dog was close to a toy she liked. To prevent this, I’ve been putting all toys in secure places so Sissy can’t bring them out when Hunter is nearby. Without toys, however, they get along perfectly. When I play fetch with Sissy by herself, there are no issues, and she will drop the ball when asked.
Later in the day, we continued with our "under" and "send away to place" training, which I recorded. In the first video, we worked on the "under" command, then marked her cue to go to her place pad at a distance. We take each step slowly, ensuring she successfully completes one command before moving to the next. There are moments when Sissy appears confused by the "send away" cue, so I assist her using the e-collar with low-level stimulation. In the second video, we practiced the send away in the backyard, focusing on getting her to respond to cues from a distance. After practicing in the backyard, she was able to travel a short distance more easily, even when I had to bend down to signal her. I used treats to reward her when she placed herself on the pad without any assistance from the leash, helping her understand the concept better.
Our final session of the day focused on door manners, which have greatly improved with daily practice. Sissy now waits patiently while I finish any task before leaving the house. Once we head out, I ask Sissy to heel with me, and she follows calmly.
We wrapped up the day by focusing on the last commands in our training program, preparing to practice these obedience skills in public settings.
Pupdate 12/19/2024
This morning, we followed our usual routine, starting with a walk with Hunter, followed by playtime. Sissy can be a bit pushy during play, so whenever she starts to do something she shouldn't, I use her e-collar to redirect her. This helps her return to playing with Hunter in a more appropriate way, rather than being overly pushy.
Later, we went to a park near my house to practice training on grass, as this is an area where Sissy can sometimes get distracted. Upon arrival, I allowed Sissy some time to explore and familiarize herself with the surroundings. In the video above, you can see me working with her to stay engaged with her place mat and focus on coming to me, keeping her head up instead of sniffing around the ground. Around the 2:35 mark, I remove her leash and let her go off-leash. Interestingly, she wasn’t overly excited but instead showed a willingness to continue following commands, rather than testing me like some dogs do when the leash is taken off. While she briefly sniffs the grass, I use the e-collar to redirect her focus back to me, which helps her stay more engaged and keep her head up. After the video ends, we moved toward the park in the background, where I guided Sissy onto the jungle gym just for fun. I only took her up the stairs and around the structure while practicing off-leash obedience.
Throughout the rest of the day, we focused on off-leash obedience both inside and outside the house to assess how Sissy responded. She was able to follow most of her commands without any issues. The only time she struggled was when I went to the backyard, which caused her to break position. We worked through this to help her improve in this area.
Pupdate 12/19/2024
Today, we went to the Outlets of Orange for a walk and to practice obedience training throughout the shopping center. When we first arrived, Sissy appeared a bit confused by the large number of people in the area, so I decided to do a lap around the center before beginning the training. After that first lap, Sissy seemed more confident and comfortable in the space.
We found several spots to work on her extended sit and down commands while people walked by. The only time she struggled was when I bent down to take pictures of her. Aside from that, she did very well staying close to my side and successfully performing most of her commands, either on the first try or with a little assistance from her e-collar. We also went into several stores to help Sissy become accustomed to maintaining good behavior indoors. In some stores that were too crowded, we waited outside, allowing people to come and go while helping Sissy desensitize to the activity. Our final stop was at a Vans store, where an employee greeted Sissy. However, as the employee petted her, Sissy began to climb on her. I redirected her using the e-collar to prevent her from getting too forward, and after that, she was able to greet the employee more calmly and with better self-control.
Later, we spent the rest of the day working on off-leash obedience both inside and outside the house. Sissy has a strong understanding of her commands at home, but we’re still refining her "send away to place" behavior. She’s improving, though, as we work toward her being able to send herself to her place without the aid of a leash.
Pupdate 12/20/2024
Today, we visited Citadel Outlets in Commerce, CA, to continue Sissy's obedience training in a busy environment. Upon arrival, Sissy and I had to navigate multiple flights of stairs since the elevators to our parking lot were being repaired. Despite this, Sissy walked beside me without pulling. As we entered the outlet mall, Sissy immediately noticed how busy it was, but she remained calm and stayed by my side as we made our way to meet our friend. When we met up with Amanda and her dog, we found an open space to focus on training. After a while, we decided to take a lap around the area.
In the video above, you can see Sissy’s impressive heeling skills as we pass by a large crowd. She demonstrated her full potential by consistently staying in heel position, sitting on command, and performing her recall perfectly on the first try, even with people passing by. There were moments when Sissy was so close to me that I accidentally bumped into her, but she was quick to adjust her positioning without any further correction.
After the video, we walked a short distance to another open area where we continued working on obedience. Our final goal for the day was to practice loose-leash walking, which will help us transition to off-leash obedience in public spaces. Sissy did exceptionally well, walking with a relaxed leash as if it wasn’t there at all.
We ended the day by heading home to relax with Hunter. Later, we spent the remainder of the day focusing on off-leash obedience training, both indoors and outside. Sissy’s progress is continuing to impress!
Comentários