Benny | Portuguese Water Dog | Long Beach, CA | In Training
- Tanner Strong
- Feb 22
- 15 min read
Updated: Mar 15
Meet Benny! He's a Portuguese Water Dog from Long Beach, California here for our Three-Week Board and Train Program! Benny loves pulling on his leash, jumping on people. He's sometimes nips, especially when being groomed. He gets distracted extremely easily and he often doesn’t listen to his commands, especially if anything interesting is going on around him. Over the next twenty one days, we will work with Benny on his obedience skills, especially around distractions, his manners in and out of the house, help him with his impulse control, and show him how to be the best pup he can possibly be! Stay tuned for Benny's three week transformation!
Pupdate: 2/22/2025
After picking up Benny, we headed to Almansor Park to start getting to know each other. The car ride was a bit of an adjustment for him—he barked for the first several minutes, but I was happy to see that he settled down for the second half of the ride. That’s a good sign that he can adjust with a little time and consistency.
Once we arrived at the park, Benny’s excitement was on full display. He was eager to explore, pulling on the leash and jumping on me in his enthusiasm. He’s definitely got a playful personality! I started asking for some basic commands to see what he knew, and while he was willing to Sit for me about half the time, he struggled with holding the position for more than a second or two before getting distracted again. That’s something we’ll be working on, but it’s great to see that he’s already somewhat responsive.
After our park session, I brought Benny home and gave him time to settle in. I walked him around the space, letting him sniff and take in his new environment at his own pace. He seems to like me so far, which is always a good start, and I think he’s getting comfortable little by little. I’m looking forward to helping him channel all that energy into good manners and structure over the next several days!
Pupdate: 2/23/2025
Benny had a busy day with a couple of trips to the park! Walking in a straight line on a leash isn't exactly his favorite thing—he tends to pull forward, lag behind, and throw in some spins for good measure. Because of this, working on his Heel command was a challenge, but we tackled it in short, manageable sessions to keep him as positive as possible and prevent frustration. By our evening session, Benny showed noticeable improvement, staying closer to position and handling the structure of the walk much better. My goal for Heel is for him to walk politely at my left side with his ears in line with my leg, and he's starting to pick this up!
In other good news, Benny did well with his crate today. Last night, he settled in around 10 PM and only barked for about twenty or thirty minutes before calming down. Even more impressively, he surprised me by hopping into the crate in the car with little hesitation and stayed quiet during the drives to and from the park. These are great signs that he's adjusting well!
Pupdate: 2/24/2025
Benny went to Whittier Narrows Park today, where we met with some other trainers and their dogs. He was quite on edge and excited, especially when seeing the other pups, but overall, he did a good job. There were a few moments where he wanted to spin around or bite at the leash, but those instances were minimal.
We continued working on his Heel command, which went much more smoothly today. We also introduced his Come To Sit command, where he comes to my right side, walks around my legs, and sits at my left side with his ears aligned with my knee. This is a fairly precise command and can be tough to master, but we teach it this way because it flows seamlessly into Heel once he understands both commands well. Benny is picking it up quickly!
Once again, he got into the crate in the car with very little hesitation. He barked a couple of times on the way to the park but remained quiet otherwise. Last night was also much quieter for Benny. In fact, he seemed to sleep well overnight, and only barked early in the morning when I was already getting up and starting to move around. Overall, another solid training day for Benny!
Pupdate: 2/25/2025
Benny was full of energy this morning, so before heading to the park, we took some time to work on his manners. Instead of rushing out the door, we practiced walking to it slowly and only proceeding when he remained calm. This helped set the tone for a more focused training session!
Once we arrived at Almansor Park, we focused on Benny’s Place command. This involves getting onto a raised object and staying there until released or given another command. He’s just starting to learn it, but he’s already getting comfortable on the place cot! This skill will be super useful at home for times when he needs to settle while I cook, clean, or have guests over.
While today was a great introduction to Place, the biggest progress came from Benny learning that exciting adventures only happen when he’s polite and patient. Looking forward to building on this foundation!
Pupdate: 2/26/2025
Benny's Heel has been improving, and he's much less likely to pull now! Today, we added an extra challenge by asking both dogs I'm currently working with to maintain a polite Heel together. Benny has been growing quite fond of Truff, and they love trying to engage each other in play. So, asking Benny to stay focused and composed while walking inches away from his new friend was a big challenge—but he handled it well!
Teaching Benny that it's not always playtime when he's around other dogs will be an important lesson, especially for when he goes home. If you'd like to try walking him with his brother, his progress in this area will make things much easier!
We continued this lesson at home in the evening by having Benny and Truff remain polite on separate place cots while I cleaned and prepped dinner. They’re great playmates, but reinforcing calm behavior even in exciting situations will help Benny develop better self-control. He did a great job today!
Pupdate: 2/27/2025
Today, Benny took a big step in his training with his first visit to Santa Anita Mall! Since it wasn’t too crowded, it was the perfect opportunity to introduce him to a new environment without overwhelming distractions. From the moment we arrived, he handled the change of scenery well. He didn’t seem nervous at all—just a little excited at first, which is completely understandable for a dog experiencing a new shopping area for the first time.
We focused on reinforcing his commands in this setting, and one of the biggest challenges for Benny today was holding a Sit position at a distance. When asked to sit, he was eager to come over to me before being released instead of staying put. This is something we’ll continue to work on to build his patience and impulse control.
His toughest test of the day came when I Placed him on a bench by a fountain filled with turtles. Benny was fascinated by them and had a hard time looking away. It took some extra time and guidance to get him to ignore the turtles and focus back on me, but after some repetitions, he started to understand what was expected of him. Experiences like these are great for teaching him that no matter how interesting something is, he still needs to listen and follow commands.
Overall, Benny did a great job for his first mall visit! Even though the crowds were light, this experience will help lay the foundation for handling busier environments in the future. We’ll continue building on today’s progress, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he does as we introduce more distractions in the coming sessions!
Pupdate: 2/28/2025
Today, we took steps toward Benny’s off-leash goal! While practicing his commands, I began dropping his leash, allowing it to drag so I could gauge how he might perform off-leash while still maintaining control if needed.
At first, Benny thought the dropped leash was an invitation to play—something we had to work through. We use the release word “Break!” to let him know when he’s free to play, but until then, he needs to stay focused. So, a big part of today’s session was reinforcing that just because the leash is on the ground doesn’t mean he’s off duty. It took time and repetition—dropping and picking up the leash while ensuring he remained still—especially since he’s really starting to love this park!
Once Benny started to understand his expectations, he made solid progress. His biggest mistake by the end of the session? Trying to Place himself on the cot before I asked—which, all things considered, is not a bad problem to have! We're looking forward to building on this momentum!
Pupdate: 3/1/2025
This morning, Benny and I focused on improving his door manners, as shown in his video above. He still gets excited in the mornings, but he’s doing a much better job settling down quickly so we can start the day in a calm, structured way. My goal is to be able to open the door—even step outside—without Benny rushing out uninvited. In this video, he’s practicing in a Sit directly in front of the door, but ideally, he should remain calm regardless of where he is in the house. Lately, I’ve been having him stay on his Place cot while I answer the door, and he’s been doing well holding his position.
Afterward, we headed to the park for more training. We continued working with the leash dragging, and Benny showed improvement from yesterday, needing a shorter warm-up period before getting into the groove. It’s great to see his progress building day by day!
3/2/2025
Since I thought it would rain today, I decided to take Benny to Home Depot for some indoor training and exposure work. We arrived early in the morning when the store was quite busy, with plenty of shoppers moving through the aisles. Despite the hustle and bustle, Benny did a great job settling in and staying focused as we walked through the store. He kept a nice pace and remained well-behaved, even with all the distractions around him.
As the morning went on and the crowd started to thin, Home Depot brought out some bigger challenges—forklifts and mopping machines. At first, Benny was a little uncertain about them. The noise and movement caught his attention, and he needed some time to process what was happening. Rather than avoiding them, we took the opportunity to work through his hesitation. I walked him past each one we encountered, letting him see and hear them from a safe distance before gradually getting closer. With some patience and reassurance, Benny started to relax and realize these machines weren’t anything to worry about.
He handled the exposure really well and remained well-behaved throughout our time in the store. Even though he had moments of uncertainty, he was willing to work through them, which was great to see. After a successful morning at Home Depot, it had only been lightly sprinkling for a few minutes, so I decided to take the dogs to the park to enjoy some fresh air and have more fun!
Pupdate: 3/3/2025
Today, Benny went to Whittier Narrows Park, where we met up with some other trainers and their dogs. At first, he was curious about the new dogs while walking around them, but he quickly regained his composure and maintained focus for the rest of the session. While he clearly wanted to play, he did a great job resisting the urge and staying engaged in training.
These new dogs provided a great challenge for Benny, as he's become very used to working around Truff the golden retriever. Introducing fresh distractions helped push his progress and reinforce his ability to stay on task. Of course, he still got to spend some time with Truff, but today’s main focus was improving his behavior around unfamiliar dogs.
Benny handled the challenge well, and this experience will continue to help him build stronger impulse control and focus in different environments.
Pupdate: 3/4/2025
Benny and I spent most of our day at the park, working on his focus and off-leash reliability. After an extensive warm-up, I started taking his leash off for a few minutes at a time. This was exciting for him, so we took things slow to keep him in the right mindset.
During our training session, we had an interesting challenge—another dog on the other side of the fence kept rushing up, trying to get Benny to play. To turn this into a productive exercise, I put his leash back on and we practiced walking by as calmly as possible. We also worked on having Benny hold a Sit with the other dog right behind him. This was extremely difficult for him, but with plenty of reminders and guidance, he started staying focused on me instead of the distraction.
While we never recommend going into a dog park, exercises like this outside a dog park—practicing engagement and impulse control near distractions—are a great way to build solid behavior in real-world situations. Benny worked hard today, and I’m proud of his progress!
Pupdate: 3/5/2025
Benny had a good training session today as we continued refining his off-leash commands. He’s been showing solid progress, and we also focused on extending his Place command. In the video, I talk through a few of his commands—he’s doing pretty well and staying engaged!
When the rain picked up, we moved indoors to keep the momentum going. Inside, we reinforced his commands and worked on his indoor manners, making sure he remains calm and polite in the house. Benny handled the transition well and stayed focused throughout.
He’s making steady improvements, and we’ll continue building on these skills in the days ahead. Great job, Benny!
Pupdate: 3/6/2025
Benny spent the day exploring the Santa Monica Promenade! He handled the lively environment with confidence and focus, showing just how well he’s progressing in his training. What made today extra special was that he was working with a new friend—a dog who’s still getting comfortable with everything. Benny really stepped up and set a great example, helping his new companion navigate the bustling atmosphere with a calm and steady presence.
It was clear that Benny enjoyed the energy of the Promenade. With so many people walking by, music playing, and various distractions all around, he remained engaged and focused. He responded well to each command, proving that he can hold his composure even in a high-activity setting.
What stood out the most was how naturally Benny took on a leadership role. His confidence helped his new friend settle in, and by the end of the outing, they were working well together. Benny’s ability to stay steady while also being a positive influence on another dog is a huge win.
Overall, it was a fantastic training session. Benny not only reinforced his own skills but also helped guide a new dog in the process. Looking forward to another outing tomorrow with this duo!
Benny's stool was a bit loose today. If it still is tonight and tomorrow morning, I'll add a spoonful of pumpkin to his meal to help settle his stomach.
Pupdate: 3/7/2025
Back in Santa Monica, Benny had another productive training session! He was excited to be back, but after a quick warm-up, he settled in nicely and focused on his commands. We continued reinforcing his manners in this busy environment, making sure he stayed engaged and responsive despite all the distractions around him.
A big part of today’s session was working alongside his new friend, Watson. Benny did a great job maintaining his composure and following commands while training next to him. It’s great to see him staying focused even with another dog nearby, and he seems to be building a positive relationship with Watson.
On another note, Benny’s stool was completely solid this morning, which is a good sign. I’ll continue to monitor it just to be sure, but everything looks good so far.
Overall, Benny had a solid day of training, and I’m happy with the progress he’s making!
Pupdate: 3/8/2025
Benny had an exciting and challenging training session at the park today! Several baseball and softball games were happening, which meant the park was more crowded and chaotic than usual. This turned out to be the most high-distraction environment we've worked in so far, with large groups of people everywhere, loud music playing over speakers, dogs running around, and the irresistible smells of food from vendors and spectators alike.
Despite all of this, Benny handled himself incredibly well. He remained focused and calm, showing little concern for the bustling crowds, the other dogs, or the tempting food scents in the air. He stayed engaged with me throughout the session, proving that his training is really paying off. The only time I had to make an adjustment was when we walked near the loudspeakers. They were set up to cover the entire park with music, and the volume was high enough to make Benny a little uneasy. To ensure he felt secure, I put his leash back on while we moved through that area. He wasn’t panicked, just slightly nervous, so we took it slow and made sure he stayed comfortable.
Overall, this was an outstanding training opportunity, and I’m really happy with how well Benny handled it. Since I believe there will be soccer games tomorrow, we’ll be heading back to continue building on today’s success. It’ll be another great test for him, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he does!
Pupdate: 3/9/2025
Benny and I went to the park today! It wasn’t nearly as crowded as yesterday, but we still got some good training in. I decided to show his Under command for today's video. For Under, I want Benny to crawl underneath an object—like a bench—and stay there until I either release him or give him another command.
This command will be especially useful if you ever want to take Benny to an outdoor café or restaurant, as it helps him settle calmly out of the way. He’s been doing well with the concept overall, but the biggest challenge is keeping still and relaxed when I sit down above him. We’re still working on that, but he’s making great progress!
Pupdate: 3/10/2025
Benny had a great training session today at Whittier Narrows Park! We joined several other trainers and their dogs, giving him the opportunity to practice commands around distractions. After a warm-up walk to help him settle, Benny was allowed off-leash for about half the time. He started off fairly energetic and excited but responded well to each command, showing that the initial structured walk helped him focus.
One of Benny’s known challenges has been his sensitivity to having his front paws handled—something that has previously led to nipping. When I first picked him up, he wouldn’t nip but would pull his paw away. Now, he lets me handle his paws with ease. To test if this was just a comfort with me, we had another trainer pick up his paws. Benny’s reaction was encouraging—he got playful and excited but showed no signs of discomfort, nipping, or growling. This reinforces the idea that he likely had a bad grooming experience in the past, which created his aversion to paw handling.
To help with this, I’m introducing Benny to common nail-trimming tools like clippers and a dremel, mimicking the motions without actually clipping his nails. This desensitization should help make future grooming experiences smoother. It may also be helpful to ask the groomer to avoid trimming his nails too short next time, ensuring a positive experience before gradually increasing what he tolerates.
Benny continues to make great progress, and today was another step forward in his training!
Pupdate: 3/11/2025
It was a rainy day today, so we stayed inside for the most part, but I’ll be adding some pictures from our nice day at the park yesterday in addition to some from today of Benny inside with his new friends.
Indoors, we continued helping Benny prepare for the groomer, as well as his other manners. I introduced the dremel again today, turning it on while playing with his paws. While he still didn’t show any signs of nipping or snapping, he was noticeably more aware of the tool and more inclined to pull his paw away when it was running. To help with this, we did multiple short sessions throughout the day—just two minutes each—where I had the dremel on in my hand while handling his paws. Each session ended with a big celebration and some playtime to keep things positive.
The goal is for Benny to see the sound of the dremel as a complete nonevent. After a few rounds, he seemed much more comfortable and even let me bring the tool close to his toes without pulling away. This is great progress! While it will likely take continued exposure for him to fully relax around grooming tools, he’s on the right track, and we’ll keep working on it.
Looking forward to more progress with him!
Pupdate: 3/12/2025
With the rain making outdoor training less ideal, Benny and I took our session to Home Depot today. We spent a few hours there, giving him plenty of exposure to different sights, sounds, and people while still getting in solid training time. He was off-leash for about half the visit, and he handled it really well—sticking with me, staying engaged, and following commands reliably despite all the distractions around us.
The only time he made a mistake was when he broke a sit to briefly sniff someone walking by. But considering how many people passed us throughout the hours—easily over one hundred—that’s a pretty minor slip-up in an otherwise fantastic performance. His ability to stay focused in such a busy environment is really coming along.
When we got home, we continued working with the dremel around his toes to keep up with his nail desensitization. He’s doing well with it, and keeping up the practice will only make it easier over time. Overall, it was a great training day despite the wet weather!
Pupdate: 3/13/2025
We managed to get out to the park before the rain and then again in the afternoon once it cleared up. Benny did well, staying off-leash for most of the time and handling the environment well.
Back at home, we focused on refining his in-home manners. In today's video, I’m highlighting three key areas:
Food Manners – Benny is learning to wait patiently when I place his food down and only eat when given the okay. This has been especially helpful in the mornings when he has the most energy.
Door Manners – We’re working on keeping Benny calm and respecting the threshold of the door, whether we're heading out, coming home, or receiving guests or deliveries. He’s made solid progress and getting much better at this.
Car Manners – Benny is practicing waiting politely for me to open the door and his crate before hopping in on command. While he never struggled too much with this, his excitement sometimes got the best of him. He’s now showing much more patience.
Benny is doing great with these skills, and we’ll continue reinforcing them!
Pupdate: 3/14/2025
We tried to stay mostly dry today but still ventured out a few times for training. Benny has come a long way with his reliability, and he did well again today! The command he has practiced the least is his Under command, so we dedicated plenty of time to that. He successfully maneuvered under numerous different benches and objects, gaining confidence and consistency.
Benny will be heading home tomorrow, and I couldn’t be happier with his progress. He’s been such a great dog to work with, and I’m definitely going to miss him once he goes home!
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