Biggie | French Bulldog | Cerritos, CA | In-Training
- Jose Ayala
- May 26, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 8, 2024
Meet Biggie! He is a six month old French Bulldog who has joined us for our Two Week Board and Train Program. Biggie is here for basic obedience, jumping to greet, and leash pulling. Biggie is very playful, likes to jump on the couch, and is easily distracted by people and other dogs, which causes him to pull on his leash wanting to interact. When overly excited, Biggie will play a little rough, and will also nip at someone in a playful manner. Over the next fourteen days, Biggie will be working on the structure that is needed, in order to help him become the best pup that he can be. Check in to see his progress!
Biggie and I went for a walk around the park this afternoon and began to get to know each other. Throughout our walk, Biggie was distracted by people and other dogs. He would pull on his leash trying to get to them so that he may interact. To keep him from doing so, I introduced Biggie to heel. Heel consists of having Biggie walk next to me on my left side. When he would pull away from me, I stopped, turned and walked in the opposite direction, and gave him leash tension to guide him back into position. If he would veer off to the left, I would go right, and if he would try to move towards my right, I would turn into him so that he may stay on my left. It is a work in progress, and Biggie still needs more practice, so I will begin to apply heel on every walk we go on for the remainder of his program. He is settling in well, and is enjoying his new home for the next fourteen days.
Biggie was introduced to his recall today which is known as come to sit. It consists of having Biggie come towards my right, go around behind me, and sit on my left. The reason Biggie is taught this way, is to automatically have him in position to start a heel once he is sitting to your left. I worked on it with him by using leash tension to have him come towards my right. Once he came to my right, I guided him to go around behind me by taking a step forward, and keeping the leash tension to have him sit on my left. There were a few instances in which he would stop in front of me, so I would reset by taking a step back and restarting the exercise. He is doing well and following through, so I will remain consistent with him so that he may continue to improve. Biggie did very well and slept through the night in his crate, and he is enjoying running around in the backyard and lounging in my dining room.
Biggie was introduced to place today. It consists of having Biggie remain in a designated spot in a sit or a down. Place helps in teaching self control and discipline, by having Biggie remain in that spot until released with a “break.” It can be of great use when guests are over, during your mealtimes, or if there is a knock on your door. To teach Biggie, I used my place box as the designated object I wanted him to place on. I used his kibble to lure him onto the object, and rewarded him with it anytime he followed through. Once I saw consistency with Biggie during our session, I began to fade out his kibble, and only rewarded him with verbal praise every other rep. He caught on to the concept quick, and as we continue to work on place, I will begin to gradually increase the amount of distractions, as he continues to progress in his training.
Biggie and I drove out to a local park today and worked on what he is learning in his program so far with minimal distractions. He did really well with his placing technique, and he is also much better with his heel, as he is not pulling like he used to. His come to sit still needs a little more conditioning, but we are remaining consistent to have it cleaned up. Training your dog with minimal distractions is important, as it helps them focus and learn more effectively. By starting in a quiet and controlled environment like here at home, Biggie can better understand and follow commands without being overwhelmed by external stimuli. This sets a solid foundation for his training, making it easier for him to progress to more challenging environments with distractions later on. It also helps build Biggie’s confidence and trust in me as his trainer.
Biggie and I have been working on his down. Down can be one of the most difficult commands to teach considering it being a submissive position to a dog, and it can also make them feel vulnerable being down on all fours. To teach Biggie, I used leash tension and his kibble as a lure. I began by having Biggie in a sit position, and held a treat close to his nose. I then slowly lowered the treat towards the ground, and once I was able to get close to the ground, I slid the treat forward from his nose, and he was able to follow through into the down position. As soon as he was down, I instantly rewarded him with his kibble and gave him lots of praise. Biggie is doing very well with it, so we went out to the pier and worked in a public setting with different distractions. He was able to down in front of people, as well as other dogs. He does very well adjusting to his surroundings, and he received many compliments on his good behavior.
Biggie and I drove out to a local park and worked on all of his commands today. His heel has made great progress, as we are now loose leash walking in the morning, evening, and during our training sessions. He is a very confident pup, and challenges himself into placing on objects that are slightly higher than most. Biggie was being a little stubborn with his down today, so I kept resetting him and repeating the exercise until he was able to follow through. Now that he has an understanding of all of his commands, Biggie and I will be working with a longer leash, and begin working on distance and duration with his stationary positions in the coming days.
Biggie and I worked on distance and duration with a long line. We tried working in five second increments for every foot I step back, but reduced it to three seconds since he would almost immediately sit up from his stationary position and begin to follow me. I worked Biggie through it by resetting him and working at his pace, slowly taking a step back. As soon as I was able to take a step back, I released him with a “break,” then repeated the exercise four to five times, and gradually increased distance once Biggie was remaining consistent. He still needs a little more conditioning, but he is making progress. By remaining patient, it enables us to be consistent in our training efforts. Puppies thrive on routine and repetition, so being patient and consistent will help them learn and retain commands more effectively. With Biggie being a puppy, he is still learning and developing, so it is important to give him time to grasp new concepts.
Biggie and I have been working on some leash dragging exercises. He does really well with his heel and his stationary positions, but still needs assistance with his come to sit. Since it was his first time working without leash tension, it was a little difficult for Biggie to follow through, but we are working on having it cleaned up. By working with his leash dragging, I am still able to maintain control and guide Biggie in the right direction when needed. With less leash tension, I am relying more on the e-collar stimulation, in which he responds to at different levels. Biggie and I will continue working this way for the next few days, as he prepares for his off leash experience.
Biggie and I met with other trainers and their pups at a local park who helped us by serving as a distraction, as we continued working on Biggie’s leash dragging conditioning. By exposing him to other dogs while training with a dragging leash, it can help Biggie improve his social skills, as it allows him to interact with other dogs in a controlled environment, which is essential for his overall well-being. It also provides an opportunity for me to observe Biggie’s behavior and address any issues effectively. By working on his commands around other pups, it teaches Biggie to listen, even in distracting situations, which is crucial for his safety in public spaces. Training your dog around other dogs with a dragging leash can help build their confidence and reduce anxiety in social settings. It teaches them how to navigate interactions with other dogs calmly and with guidance from you.
Biggie and I did some off leash conditioning at a local shopping center. His come to sit has made good progress, and he is responding very well to the e-collar. He has come a long way with his heel, as he no longer walks ahead of me, nor does he try to veer off and interact with people. He does very well with the distractions around him, and adjusts quickly to his surroundings. He has shown great improvement, and I am proud of the results. Biggie and I will continue to work off leash, and it will be the main focus for the remainder of his program, as he starts preparing for his final.
Biggie and I have been working on his greeting manners. Throughout his program, I have been working with Biggie by teaching him to remain in a calm relaxed state when someone wants to greet him. Initially, when I would ask him to sit, as soon as I tried to pet him, he would immediately sit up and try to jump on me. Anytime that happened, I would reset him, and repeat the exercise. With repetition and consistency, I was able to work Biggie through it, and began working on it with people that wanted to say hello. Now when he is approached, he understands the concept of being greeted, but if he comes out of position, kindly ask the person greeting him to take a step back, and repeat the process as needed.
Biggie and I have been working on his food manners. To teach Biggie, I would ask him to sit or down before placing his bowl on the ground, as it teaches him to be patient and wait for my signal before eating. If he would sit up, I would pick up the bowl, place him back in position, and restart the exercise. Throughout his program, Biggie began understanding the concept, but there were a few instances in which he grew a little impatient, and tried to crawl toward his bowl. Although it does look cute and very amusing, it is important for us as owners to remain focused on the task at hand, to avoid misbehavior in the future. By working on it everyday at feeding time, Biggie has learned to remain patient, and wait for my release signal so he may eat.
Biggie and I drove out to a local park and had some playtime with his buddy Cali. Playtime with other pups helps them learn proper social cues and behavior when interacting with other dogs, which is crucial for their overall social development. It allows Biggie to run around and burn off pent up energy, providing important physical exercise that helps maintain his health and fitness. It can also provide mental stimulation, prevent boredom, and reduce anxiety or misbehavior. Overall, dogs are social animals, and forming bonds with other dogs through playtime, can help fulfill their need for companionship and reduce feelings of loneliness. Always make sure when incorporating playtime with Biggie, that it is in a controlled environment, as it helps ensure the safety of both Biggie, and the people and pups involved.
Biggie has completed his Two Week Board and Train Program and is ready to come home. It was a real pleasure having him in my home these past two weeks, and I am proud of how much he has learned over the last fourteen days. He was a great co-pilot, and we enjoyed becoming great friends throughout his time with me. Thank you for trusting me with him under my care, as well as the opportunity to be able to train Biggie. He has come a long way and I look forward to showing you what he has learned. His final video will be coming soon, but here is a sneak peek at Biggie working on his door manners. Thank you Biggie!
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