Meet Bean! He is a one year old Boxer who has joined us for our Three Week Board and Train Program! Bean is here for basic obedience, leash pulling, excessively licking people, nipping, and jumping to greet. He likes to chew on items that he finds around the house, and he also chews on plants in the yard. Bean also gets overly excited when guests are over and when other dogs are around. Over the next twenty one days, this friendly bundle of energy will work on his behavior, with hopes of becoming a well mannered pup! Check in to see his progress!
Bean and I spent the afternoon getting to know each other by going on a walk around my neighborhood and was introduced to Heel. Heel is having Bean walk next to me and remain on my left side throughout the walk. To teach Bean how to Heel, I would do the opposite of what he was doing. Whenever he fell behind, I would pick up my pace, and guide him back towards me with leash tension and verbal encouragement. When Bean would pull away, I would turn and walk in the opposite direction. He is still having a little trouble, but beginning to understand the concept. I will keep practicing with Bean as Heel will now be implied on every walk we go on.
Bean and I drove out to a local park today and met with other trainers and their dogs. As we got close to one of the pups, Bean would start pulling and get a little excited wanting to say hello. I then redirected him in the opposite direction and had Bean focus on me. It took time and patience, but with repetition during our attempts, Bean followed through! He was able to walk by another dog while in a Heel with no problem, and not once did he bark at any other dogs. Bean is also adjusting well to his new surroundings here at home, and slept great through the night.
Bean and I worked on Place today. Place is a technique that consists of having Bean getting onto an elevated object and remaining there in a Sit or a Down. It builds confidence in a dog and it can also be applied whenever guests are over, or if there is a knock on your door. Teaching Bean to Place took time and patience. He needed assistance and guidance to get onto an object as he would only place his front legs on it. I picked up his back legs to have him fully get on the first time, and then I would get onto the object myself, and guide him towards me with a little leash tension. Once Bean caught on, he began to Place on objects on his own, and around different distractions that included people, dogs, and bikes.
Bean was introduced to Down today. This technique can be difficult to teach considering it is a submissive position to a dog. To teach Bean, I asked him to Place on a bench and then asked him to Sit. Once in position, I began to guide Bean down with a little leash tension. Whenever he made an effort to follow through, I released the tension and rewarded him with lots of praise. It took time and patience with a few breaks in between to avoid frustration, but Bean was able to successfully accomplish his task.
Bean and I worked on his Extended Sit in a more public setting today. We have been working on it for the past week in my backyard and he has been doing really well holding his position while I walk around him and stomp my feet near him. To increase distance, Bean and I worked in increments of five seconds for every foot I stepped back. I have been able to reach the end of the leash and have Bean in a Sit for just about one minute. This was his first time working on it around distractions, and did an outstanding job!
Bean has been doing well around distractions such as people and other dogs. Today we took a walk throughout an outdoor shopping center and he adjusted well to his surroundings. Bean was having a little trouble with his Extended Place during the first few attempts of our session, as he would come out of it as soon as I stepped away. I reset, asked him to Place again, and repeated as necessary. It took some time and effort, but Bean was able to follow through.
Bean and I went for a walk around my neighborhood today and we brought my Boxer Thanos along. This is the first time Bean has interacted with Thanos outside of a kennel and with no door in between. Bean did not lunge or jump on Thanos to say hello, but he did remain in a Sit and let Thanos greet him. Our walk went great as I began with a dog on each side, which later turned into both of them walking on the same side. They are becoming good friends and we ended our session with a cookout and some playtime in the backyard.
Bean is doing much better with distance and duration. I am able to get to the end of the leash and not have him get up. Today, I was able to drop the leash and walk away without holding onto it. I also began loose leash walking with Bean and he is doing very well staying at my side during our Heel. With week one in the books, our main focus this week will consist of more loose leash exercises, and working with his leash dragging.
Bean and I drove out to a local park today and worked on some leash dragging exercises around people and other dogs. Before practicing out in the park, Bean warmed up inside the tennis courts which were enclosed. After a few laps, Bean was ready, and we began walking throughout the park. He was getting a little ahead of me, so I would turn in the opposite direction, step on his leash, and redirect him back towards me. He also came out of his Down, but I reset him and he followed through. Bean also worked on his Come to Heel technique. This consists of having Bean come towards me from a distance as I am walking away. Since I am at a distance from him, instead of asking him to Heel, I pat my left leg, and that is Bean’s cue to come to me and we continue our walk together. He is understanding the concept and is catching on the more we work on it.
Bean and I drove out to Home Depot today and pieced a little run through of what he has been learning. He did very well as we walked throughout the aisles and continues to do a good job around distractions. We also did some noise desensitizing in the lumber department and Bean worked through it without a startle. He was having some trouble with his Come to Sit, so we practiced it in one of the aisles where I can use it as a barrier to have him Sit closer to me. We managed to clean it up and it is looking much better.
Bean was introduced to Under today which is a technique that can be of great use for outdoor dining and even park tables. It is the opposite of Place, so instead of getting onto an object, Bean will go Under an object. He did have a little trouble distinguishing Place from Under due to him already knowing Place, but with a few sessions and repetition, Bean is understanding what I am asking!
Bean and I went on a pack walk to work him through his excitement with other dogs. He is already accustomed to walking next to one dog, so this was a big test for him. It took Bean a little time to adjust but he did really well shortly after the walk began. He was able to walk in the middle of the pack with the other dogs surrounding him without any reaction. Bean is also doing well ignoring other dogs across the street during our morning walks, as well as ignoring other dogs in their front yards.
Bean and I drove out to a local park today and worked on his Send Away to Place which is asking him to Place from a distance. We have been working on it with a long line which began with a short distance, and kept increasing by staying consistent. Bean did great today without the use of the long line and just having his leash drag. He was also able to work on his Under without any leash guidance and his Come to Heel is improving as he no longer gets fully ahead of me.
Bean and I went out for a walk around my neighborhood and began his off leash conditioning today. We had a few warm up sessions in my backyard which went very well before taking him out. Bean was great throughout our session and looked like a natural walking by my side. He will continue working off leash for the remainder of his Program and will be introduced to more distractions as we move along.
Bean has been working on his Door Manners since the day I picked him up. He does pretty well waiting at the door and not running out, but at times he would not wait for my cue when it was time to come out. We have been working on it with a long line in case he walks out while I am outside. We worked in thirty second increments and he picked up on it very well and can now wait patiently for two minutes. With more consistency, Bean has the potential to increase his time!
Bean and I took a trip to a local park today and did some off leash conditioning around other dogs. Bean did get up a few times wanting to interact with the other pups, but I corrected his behavior by using the word “Off,” and then asking him to Sit. He is understanding the concept and learning that it is not ok to approach a dog in general for safety reasons. Bean also worked on his Extended Place as other trainers assisted us by walking their dogs around him, and did very well as he was able to follow through. Bean knows all of his commands and will be piecing them together as he gets ready for his Final.
Bean and I drove out to a local shopping center today and he worked very well around people and children. Bean also had a few stroller and wheelchair distractions pass him by throughout our walk, but he remained at my side as we continued our Heel. He was great in a few stores working on his Extended Sit as I looked around for a few things, and was even praised by a few employees for his good behavior.
Bean began working on his Final today and he is doing great maintaining his composure with distractions all around him. We have been working on his Greeting Manners in which Bean has shown a big improvement in. He has learned that he is to remain in a Sit whenever he is approached by someone that wants to say hello. It was difficult for him to do so in the beginning of his training, but Bean has managed to successfully be greeted without coming out of his Sit.
Bean has been practicing Food Manners ever since I picked him up. He would walk straight towards the bowl as soon as I placed it down. To stop Bean from doing so, I picked the bowl up and asked him to Sit. Once in a Sit, I placed the bowl down again, waited a few seconds, and then released Bean with a “Break.” Every meal consisted of the same approach with the only difference being the time increase Bean would have holding his Sit. He has made great improvement and can now wait for his food patiently for two minutes!
Bean and I filmed his Final today and he put on a very good performance. Everything he has learned was put together and came out very nicely. Bean has great potential, and with practice and consistency, he can be capable of so much more! He has come a long way, and it is great to see the progress he has made!
Bean has completed his Three Week Board and Train Program and he is ready to come home! It was a pleasure working with Bean and I am grateful for having the opportunity to be his trainer. I want to thank you for trusting me with Bean these last twenty one days, and I am looking forward to showing you what he has learned.
