Meet Tiana! She's a seventeen month old German Shepherd from Rancho Palos Verdes, California here for our One-Week Board and Train Program! Tiana is incredibly sweet and playful, but loves to pull on her leash. She's doing well with some commands, but certainly would rather play than follow through. When she does play, she can get a bit mouthy and try to play bite. She also loves to jump on people any chance she gets. Over the next seven days, we will work on Tiana's obedience skills, help her play properly without biting hands, work on her manners in and out of the house, especially her leash manners, and show her how to be the best pup she can possibly be! Stay tuned for Tiana's one week transformation!
Pupdate: 12/7/2024
After picking up Tiana, we stayed at the park to get to know each other! She's a very sweet girl, and took to me right away. Walking her around the park, she is definitely quite the leash puller. I also asked her for some other commands, and she is able to Sit fairly reliably.
Once we made our way home, Tiana started settling in quickly. She seems very smart and adaptable. I look forward to working with her this week!
In addition to her pictures today, I'm adding a video tutorial and picture of her new E-collar! Watching this should make the turnover process go more smoothly once Tiana is ready to go home.
Pupdate: 12/8/2024
For Tianas training today, we started getting her accustomed to the E-collar and began working on her leash manners. Tiana is a big leash puller and doesn't yet understand what leash tension means. Ideally, I want her to walk politely by my side, with her ears in line with my knee. She's slowly staring to walk more politely and starting to find the correct position. Back at home, she's been behaving well so far. She gets really excited to go for walks, and even more excited when she realizes were heading to a park!
Pupdate: 12/9/2024
Today, Tiana and I ventured to the park for one of our training sessions, but this time it felt extra special. We met up with a group of other trainers and their dogs—a mix of breeds, personalities, and training styles all in one place. It was a great opportunity for Tiana to practice her skills in a more dynamic environment.
For the most part, Tiana was her charming self. We worked on her Heel command, which she's beginning to grasp more consistently. With each lap around the park, she stayed closer to my side, matching my pace and checking in with me for guidance. When in close proximity to the other dogs, she definitely had trouble staying on task, but she seems to be learning!
Of course, no day is without its challenges. Tiana showed a bit of her mouthy side today, trying to grab my hand with her mouth during one of our breaks. While it’s a behavior we’re working on eliminating, it was also a reminder that she’s still learning and growing. Moments like this are all part of the process, and I used it as a teaching opportunity to redirect her attention to an appropriate behavior. In this case, if she grabs my hand while playing, the playtime is immediately over. She is considered back under command and I ask her to perform one of her commands, whether that is a simple, "Sit" or "Place."
Beyond the training, it was wonderful to watch Tiana interact with the other dogs. She observed, learned, and more often than not, got distracted, but overall, she handled the social environment well. I’m grateful for days like this when I can see her progress and also remind myself to enjoy the journey of raising and training a well-mannered pup.
Tiana's stool was completely solid this morning, but if it starts to loosen again, I'll update that info.
Pupdate: 12/10/2024
Today, I spent some quality time at Almansor Park with Tiana. She's been making strides, but like any dog, she has her moments where distractions can take over. The goal for today was clear: improve her Heel and Come To Sit commands while reinforcing her ability to hold her Sit to work on impulse control.
We started with Heel, walking along the paths to get her comfortable staying by my side despite the sights, sounds, and smells that tempted her curiosity. Tiana did well when it was just us, but as soon as a jogger passed or a squirrel darted across our path, it became a challenge. With patience and reinforcement, she began to understand that staying close and focused could be fun!
Next, we worked on Come To Sit. This command was especially important to refine because it's a combination of focus and obedience. For this command, I want Tiana to come to my right side when called, walk around my legs and sit at my left side with her ears at my knee. Tiana caught on quickly, running to me and sitting right at my feet, looking up expectantly. Seeing her eager to succeed was heartwarming.
The toughest part of the day, however, was practicing her Sit and holding it. For a dog with a lively personality like Tiana, staying still isn’t easy. We worked through it, extending the time she held her Sit little by little. The occasional squirrel interruption didn’t derail her progress; it simply became another opportunity to practice.
By the end of our session, I could see improvement in her focus and self-control. It’s a reminder that training isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress and building trust. I left the park feeling proud of her effort and eager for our next session. Every small win counts, and today, Tiana showed just how capable she is with a little patience and persistence.
Pupdate: 12/11/2024
Today, I took Tiana on a unique training adventure to Home Depot! It turned out to be an effective way to reinforce her training and socialize her in a new environment.
As we strolled through the aisles, I used the opportunity to practice basic commands like "Sit," and "Heel." The various distractions – from the beeping carts to the colorful displays – presented the perfect challenge for Tiana. Each successful command was rewarded with lots of praise, making the experience positive and reinforcing.
Beyond basic obedience, I also focused on impulse control. The enticing array of gardening tools and flowers was a real test of her willpower. We practiced remaining calm in her Sit and Down positions, while people and carts passed us by.
The best part of this training session was the socialization aspect. Interacting with other shoppers and store employees helped Tiana become more comfortable in public settings. She learned to handle noise, crowds, and unexpected movements with grace and composure. A few people wanted to pet Tiana, allowing her to practice a social encounter without trying to jump.
She definitely got distracted several times, but overall had a really successful day! After leaving the store, we went back to the park for a more fun session.
Pupdate: 12/12/2024
Today, Tiana and I focused on improving her indoor manners, particularly around doorways. Teaching a dog good door manners is not just about avoiding chaos at the threshold—it’s about promoting safety, impulse control, and mutual understanding. Tiana often gets excited when we're about to go somewhere, so working on this is important!
We started with the basics. I asked Tiana to Sit before we approached the door. This initial step set the tone for the rest of the training, reinforcing that patience is key. With the door closed, I practiced walking up to it while she remained seated. Anytime she broke her position, I calmly guided her back and repeated the process. The goal was to ensure she understood that the door only opened when she was calm and in control.
As Tiana grew more confident, we increased the challenge. I began opening the door just a crack to test her resolve. If she stayed seated, she earned gentle praise; if she moved, the door was closed, and we reset. This step required patience from both of us, but Tiana quickly caught on. Soon, I was able to open the door wider, even adding distractions like a knock or a passerby to test her focus.
In the above video, you can see some of her progress so far. She still wants to preemptively go through, but she's making some good progress with this. We practice sitting and being calm each time we go through the door! It doesn't have to be a dedicated training session like today. Every little bit helps!
Pupdate: 12/13/2024
Today’s training session with Tiana took us to an exciting and challenging environment: the mall. While parks, home depot, and indoor training have been productive, I wanted to test her skills in a setting with more distractions and variety. The mall provided the perfect blend of stimulation and opportunities for practice.
At first, Tiana was a bit timid. The new sights, sounds, and occasional flurry of activity were understandably overwhelming for her. But I reminded myself that this wasn’t just a training session—it was a chance for Tiana to build her confidence in unfamiliar environments.
We started with the basics, focusing on commands she knows well. “Heel” was a great way to keep her close and focused as we navigated through small crowds and past storefronts. She stayed by my side, occasionally looking up for reassurance.
We also practiced “Come to Sit” in different spots. I’d walk a short distance away and call her, making sure she responded promptly despite the distractions. She hesitated a couple of times, distracted by people passing by or the scent of food in the air, but with a little encouragement, she came through beautifully.
The highlight was her impulse control around some of the mall’s most tempting distractions—like a group of kids playing by the fountains and a cart full of delicious-smelling pretzels. Tiana stayed focused on me a solid amount of the time. Her ability to stay composed in these moments felt like a huge win!
By the end of the session, Tiana seemed more relaxed and confident. This outing reminded me of the importance of patience and consistency in training. Tiana may not have been perfect, but her effort and progress were inspiring. She showed me that, with time and trust, even the most timid moments can transform into successes.
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