Meet Bear! He is a nine month old German Shepherd who has joined us for our Two Week Board and Train Program. Bear is here for basic obedience and leash pulling. He is easily distracted by other dogs, and will whine and pull towards them for interaction. He comes to us knowing some commands, but he has trouble with his recall as he does not come when called at times. Bear is a very smart pup who needs a little more structure, so in the next fourteen days he will be working on his behavior and be set up for success, with the hopes of becoming a well behaved pup. Check in to see his progress!
Bear and I spent the afternoon getting to know each other by going for a walk in the park. During our walk, Bear was easily distracted by the environment around him, but with leash tension and a verbal “off,” I was able to get him back on track. I introduced him to his recall which is known as come to sit. It will consist of having Bear come towards my right, wrap around behind me, and sit on my left side. By teaching Bear his recall this way, it automatically puts him in a heel position ready to begin his walk. To teach Bear I used leash tension to guide him towards my right. Once he was on my right, I then took a step forward, guided him to wrap around behind me with his leash, and asked him to sit once he was on my left. He understood the concept and is following through very well. He was also really good inside his kennel in the car and did not whine or cry. He is settling in nicely, and adapting to his new home for the next two weeks.
Bear and I met with other trainers and their pups who helped serve as a distraction for our session. Our evening and morning walk went really well as we walked around the neighborhood. There were minimal distractions, such as dogs being walked across the street, and people out for a run. When Bear and I came across any dog passing by, he would begin to whine wanting to interact. He did not pull on his leash, but he did fixate and kept looking back. To work Bear through these kind of situations, I worked on desensitizing him by gradually exposing him to other dogs at a distance where he feels comfortable. Always start with a distance that doesn’t elicit whining, and reward calm behavior with verbal praise, affection, or even a high value treat. By remaining consistent, you can begin to gradually decrease the distance as Bear becomes more comfortable. As you can see in the clip, Bear is still a little curious at times, but he is making good progress by not whining and trying to pull towards another pup walking really close to him. He did great his first night here, and did not cry in his crate and slept through the night.
Bear and I worked on place today. Place consists of having Bear getting onto a designated object, and remaining there in a sit or a down. It can be of great use when guests are over, or if there is a knock on your door. Bear has an understanding of the concept, but there were a few instances in which he would climb onto an object rather than hop on. To work Bear through that, we practiced on a flat surfaced object which Bear was comfortable with. With verbal encouragement, and having myself jump onto the object with him, I was able to have Bear follow through. Bear works for praise and affection, so when he performs a behavior successfully, always make sure to give him lots of love. Always end training sessions on a positive note with a successful jump or a fun play session, so that he associates the training with positive experiences. Throughout his program, I will be having Bear practice on objects with different surfaces and textures, so that he may continue to build his confidence.
Bear and I drove out to a local park and worked on his place conditioning a little more. He is doing much better than before as he is not climbing on like he used to. Bear did challenge me into not wanting to place after a few reps. This kind of behavior is normal, which means there will be times that he will challenge you and not want to listen to what you are asking. When this occurs, it is important to remain in a calm relaxed state, and patiently work Bear through the situation. In my case, he came to a complete stop when I asked him to place, and just remained in a sit next to me. By remaining patient, I applied slight leash tension while asking him to place, and kept the tension on it, until he responded and placed on the bench. He was also being a little stubborn with his come to sit, as he would sit a little behind me rather than next to me. By using the same approach as I did with place, I was able to have Bear follow through with his come to sit. Dogs in general can have off days just like us, so remember to keep your composure and avoid showing frustration, as it can create anxiety and hinder learning. By staying positive, you can help your pup become more compliant and responsive to the commands you are teaching or reconditioning.
Bear and I have been working on down. He does very well with it, as he came to us with an understanding of it. Teaching Bear to down is important for several reasons, offering both behavioral and practical benefits. It helps promote calmness and relaxation, allowing dogs to settle down in various situations, which can be especially useful in busy environments. Down also plays a crucial role in improving overall obedience, as it can strengthen Bear's ability to respond to commands and follow instructions. Additionally, teaching down can enhance safety for both Bear and others. By having him lie down, we as owners can prevent excessive jumping or excitement, reducing the risk of accidents or unwanted interactions with people or other animals. Furthermore, down can facilitate socialization, as a calm pup is often more approachable and easier to manage in social settings. Overall, teaching down is a valuable tool that fosters better behavior, enhances the bond between Bear and yourself, and contributes to a well adjusted pet.
Bear has been doing very well in his training program. He has successfully learned all of his commands, and he responds very well to the e-collar. He is becoming more confident in his skills and enjoys the training sessions we have together. As we move forward, in the coming days, Bear will start working on distance and duration exercises using a fifteen-foot long line. This will allow us to gradually increase the distance between Bear and I while maintaining control over his actions. The long line will provide him with the freedom to explore and respond to commands at a greater distance, all while ensuring that he remains safe and under my control. The focus on distance and duration is crucial as it will help strengthen Bear’s training and enhance his responsiveness in various environments. It will also create opportunities for him to practice his commands in settings that may have more distractions, preparing him for real-world situations. Bear and I took a trip to the vet as well due to a little stress, but his vitals came out fine, and I will keep him comfortable and change his diet by adding pumpkin to his food.
Due to his vet visit, we are keeping our sessions shorter with frequent water breaks in between to keep Bear comfortable. Our session consisted of practicing distance and duration. We worked in five second increments for every foot I stepped back, meaning I wait five seconds for one foot back, ten seconds for two feet back, three feet for fifteen seconds, and so on. When Bear follows through, I release him with a “break,” and reward him with verbal praise and lots of affection. He did really well and remained consistent throughout our exercise. He ate his breakfast and dinner, but has not relieved himself as of yet. Once he does, I will keep you updated as I continue to monitor him throughout the night.
Bear and I continued working on his distance and duration. We worked around people distractions and another dog in the area. He did really well as we passed by the pup. He did look in the dog’s direction but did not whine or pull to try to interact. I kept him focused on the task at hand by reminding him to heel, and giving him verbal praise for following through. He did very well maintaining his stationary positions from a good distance as people passed us by. Bear and I will continue to practice as he remains consistent, so in the coming days he can begin working with his leash dragging, as he prepares for his off leash experience. Bear has not relieved himself yet, but it is normal for that to happen in dogs. He is eating normal and drinking lots of water. I will continue to keep my eye on him, as well as keeping him comfortable.
Bear and I began to work on leash dragging exercises today at a local park. He was having trouble with his come to sit, as it was his first time working on it without the use of leash tension. I was able to work Bear through it, but he still needs a little more practice, so I will continue to work on it and have it cleaned up. He did very well with his duration sit and down as another dog assisted us by serving as a distraction. He has made great progress being around other dogs by remaining in a calm relaxed state when he is near them. I am happy to report that Bear is doing better, as there was no loose stool last night nor this morning. We have been keeping our sessions shorter than usual, but after today, it is safe to say that Bear can go back into full training mode as he begins preparation for his final.
Bear and I worked on his come to sit a little more as he was having a little trouble following through without the use of leash tension. To work him through it, we practiced a few reps using his leash, and once he was consistent, I used less and less leash tension. Now with less leash tension being applied, we start to rely on the use of his e-collar by pairing the stim with a verbal “come.” As he begins to approach me, I praise him verbally, using a calm and encouraging voice to further encourage his decision to follow through. By keeping the mood upbeat and patient, it allows Bear to understand that coming to you is a rewarding experience in itself. As I have mentioned before, dogs in general will have off days, so it is important for us as owners to remain consistent with their training, as we continue to set them up for success.
Bear and I have been working on off leash exercises. We have been working in an enclosed non-distracting environment such as my backyard. By having our sessions in a calm setting, Bear can better focus on what I am asking him to do, allowing me to establish a stronger understanding of what is needed from him. A controlled environment can also help Bear gain confidence in his ability to respond to me without distractions, making him more secure when off-leash. It provides an opportunity to strengthen his basic obedience skills without the challenges posed by distractions found in public spaces. Once Bear showed consistency, we drove out to a more public setting and had a good session in a distracting environment. He received many compliments on his good behavior, and will now be working off leash for the remainder of his program.
Bear and I have been working on his door manners. He came into his program having an understanding of it, but needed more conditioning as he could not hold his stationary position very long. With practice, Bear became more consistent with every rep that we worked on, and has done well remaining in a sit or a down until he is released and able to go through. Proper door manners can prevent Bear from bolting out unexpectedly, and it can also help him interact appropriately with visitors, minimizing jumping or excessive excitement. Bear has done very well, and can now wait patiently for my cue before going through a door.
Bear and I have also been working on his food manners. Teaching him to wait for your cue before eating is beneficial for several reasons. Firstly, it strengthens your role as a leader, establishing a clear structure in your relationship. This practice encourages patience and self control in Bear, which are valuable traits that can translate to other areas of training and behavior. Additionally, it fosters a stronger bond between you and him, as it involves interaction and communication. Waiting for his cue also helps in preventing resource guarding behavior, ensuring that Bear learns to view food as something to be shared rather than a possession to be hoarded. Overall, this simple exercise enhances obedience and instills good manners, contributing to a well behaved and balanced pup.
Bear has completed his Two Week Board and Train Program and is ready to come home. I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity in being his trainer and for trusting me while Bear was under my care. It was a pleasure working with him and he will truly be missed. I enjoyed his companionship and we became great friends. Always remember to keep up with his training by remaining consistent and patient. Stay positive and have fun. Thank you Bear!
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