Sylvie, a two year old Pit Bull, has joined OffLeash SoCal for our Two Week Board and Train program. Her owners are struggling with her not following commands, especially if distracted, not walking properly on leash, being reactive towards other dogs, and jumping to greet people. Over the two week Sylvie will be working on her Off Leash obedience and manners. Check in to see her progress!
Pupdate 4/16/2023
Sylvie is getting settled in here at my home. She is slowly getting acquainted with the rest of my pack. She got to meet them through the fence to see how they would get along, but all she wanted to do was lunge and bark at them. So for now, I will keep her separated until she acclimates more to her new surroundings.
Pupdate 4/17/2023
Today Sylvie and I went to the park to work on her obedience. We met with other OffLeash SoCal trainers and their dogs, so Sylvie got to practice around dog distractions. We had to work at a distance from the other dogs because it was too overwhelming for her. She kept lunging and barking at the other dogs and couldn’t focus on her training. Once we were away from them Sylvie settled down and was able follow commands. We practiced her Sit and Place commands. She caught on very quickly to Place.
Pupdate 4/18/2023
Today Sylvie and I went to the park to work on her obedience. We worked on her Sit and Place. We practiced a new command, Heel. It is still a work in progress, but she is walking much better at my side and focusing on me and where I am walking. Sylvie hasn’t warmed up to the pack yet. She still will growl and snap at the other dogs if they come up to her in her kennel.
Pupdate 4/19/2023
Today Sylvie and I worked on her obedience at home. We worked on a new command, Down. I wanted to see how she would react when meeting another dog, so we met up with another trainer to help me with Sylvie. When she first saw the other dog she became very focused on him. Her body posture stiffened and the hackles on her back were raised. She whined and tried to pull her way over to him. I worked her around the dog first, trying to her her more calm and relaxed before approaching. We added the muzzle as a precaution. When I allowed Sylvie to approach the dog, she wasn’t trying to be playful. I will keep working her around dog distractions. I want her to be able to be calm and relaxed when in the presence of other dogs.
Pupdate 4/20/2023
Today Sylvie and I worked on her obedience around the neighborhood. We worked on a new command, Come to Sit. She did great and caught on quickly to her new command. The only time she really became distracted was when someone was running by with their Husky. Sylvie fixated on the dog until it was out of her sight. Once it was gone, she was back to focusing on me and her commands.
Pupdate 4/21/2023
It was a hot day so I took Sylvie down to the beach to train. It was pretty crowded at the beach, which was a little overwhelming for her. It was hard for her to focus, especially with all the dogs that were there. Sylvie would lunge after every dog she saw. I continued to work her through all the distractions. As she got tired, Sylvie became a little less interested in the other dogs. We will continue to work around dog distractions so she can be more calm and relaxed around them.
Pupdate 4/22/2023
Today Sylvie and I went to the park to work on her obedience. We met up with other OffLeash SoCal trainers and their dogs so Sylvie could work around dog distractions. She acted as usual: fixating on the dogs, tensing up, and trying to lunge at them. I made her work through it. We practiced all her commands in front of the the other dogs, making her focus on me and what I am asking her to do. I would tell her “off” every time she would look at them. When she would break focus and look to me I would reward and praise her.
Pupdate 4/23/2023
Today Sylvie and I went to Lowes to stay cool from the heat and work on her obedience around distractions. She did amazing while we were there! She was way more focused and obedient without dog distractions around. Even with people passing by, she followed all her commands. Sylvie received a compliment on how well behaved she is.
Pupdate 4/24/2023
Today Sylvie joined me on a little shopping spree at The Shoppes. She got to practice her commands around a good amount of people distractions. She did very well and followed all her commands. The only distractions that got her attention were the screaming kids that were playing around the water fountain. I made her sit and let watch the kids run around. After a few minutes she was over them and went back to focusing on me and her commands.
Pupdate 4/25/2023
Today Sylvie and I went to Hollywood to work on her obedience around high distractions. I’m very proud of how well she did! She was calm, focused and obedient. The crowds of people, the traffic, and loud noises didn’t seem to phase her. She walked nicely through the crowds of people, staying right at my side. She held her Sits and Downs as people passed by her. Sylvie did a great job today!
Pupdate 4/26/2023
Today Sylvie and I went to the park to work on her obedience. We met with other OffLeash Socal trainers and their dogs, so she could practice around other dog distractions. She actually did pretty well. She wasn’t as reactive towards them like she normally would be. We were able to walk around them. Get close to them without her trying to lunge. Last night she was trying to be playful with one of my other training dogs, through the kennel. So, I brought him along with us and had one of the other trainers assist me with socializing sylvie and the puppy to see how she would react. She was quite comfortable with the puppy. We were able to walk next to each other, and she even laid on her back while the puppy was around her. The puppy was trying to engage and be playful with her. I could tell Sylvie wanted to be playful as well, but was still unsure. She was being a little too dominant where she would try to use her mouth and put her paws on top of him.
Pupdate 4/27/2023
Today Sylvie and I went to the beach to work on her commands around distractions. She was a little excitable when seeing other dogs, but she wasn’t as reactive like before. There was a woman that approached us with her dog in a stroller. I know Sylvie wanted to run up to the dog, but she refrain herself and stayed in a sit position. She did whimper and whine, but didn’t try to lunge.
Pupdate 4/28/2023
Today Sylvie and I went to the mall to work on her obedience around distractions. She did very well. She was focused and obedient. She had a few admirers that watched her train. Sylvie received a few compliments on how well behaved she is.
Pupdate 4/29/2023
Today Sylvie and I went to the park to work on her obedience. She saw a lot of other dogs while we were there. We worked at a distance from them. Sylvie was interested in the other dogs, but was still able to focus and follow her commands. I gave her a bath so she can be nice and clean when she sees you tomorrow. I am very proud of Sylvie and the progress she has made over these two weeks. She can’t wait to go home and show you everything she has learned.
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