Brioche | Weimaraner | Silver Lake, CA. | In Training.
- heatheroffleashsoc
- Jun 28
- 15 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
Meet Brioche! š¾
Brioche is a beautiful one-year-old Weimaraner joining us from Silver Lake, CA., for our Two Week Urban Board and Train Program! This sweet girl is full of personality and has been described as a loving pup who absolutely adores her people. While her affectionate nature is one of her best qualities, it has also led to some struggles with separation anxiety and learning how to be comfortable when she isnāt right by their side.
Brioche also has quite a bit to say! Whether itās greeting new people, expressing her excitement, or exploring the world around her, she has become known for her enthusiastic barking and has a tendency to jump up when saying hello. Out on adventures, that big personality can sometimes make it difficult for her to focus and enjoy the experience calmly.
With all of that said, Brioche is ready for some guidance and structure! Over the next two weeks, weāll be working closely with her to build a stronger foundation of obedience, improve her leash manners, and help her become a more confident and focused companion. Weāll also be focusing on house manners and teaching her how to make better choices both at home and out in the world.
We canāt wait to see what this beautiful girl is capable of and watch her transformation unfold. Stay tuned for Briocheās journey!
6/28/2026
Today was Brioche and Iās first day together, and we started things off with a walk at the park. This gave us the opportunity to get better acquainted with one another while also allowing me to assess what she may already know and observe any behaviors that will be important for us to work through during her time with me.
It was clear that Brioche has already learned her sit command, though currently it is in shorter moments and still needs some development. We will continue building on that by adding more duration and helping her understand that staying in position is just as important as getting into position.
The biggest focus of our walk today was her heel command. Brioche is a very confident little lady and is quite convinced that her way is the best way! Our goal is to help her understand that checking in with her handler and following direction is what creates a successful walk. Anytime Brioche tried to take the lead, I would immediately redirect her by popping the collar and changing direction. With repetition, she started to understand what was being asked of her and began following along each time I turned, which led to her walking much more nicely at my side.
As we continue working together, her heel will continue to improve, as will her ability to focus through distractions. During our walk there were a few moments where Brioche became very excited and tried to pull me toward other dogs passing by. This is completely understandable, but we will continue teaching her that excitement doesnāt mean she gets to make the decision on where we go.
For her sit command, I applied gentle upward pressure behind her ears until she made the choice to complete the command. The moment she sat, the pressure was released to show her that following through is what earns relief. Anytime she broke her sit without being released, I simply redirected her back into position. With more practice and consistency, this will continue to improve.
After our walk, we loaded up into the car and headed back to her home away from home for the next couple of weeks. Brioche handled the car ride very well, which was great to see! Once we arrived, I allowed her time to explore and check out both the inside and outside of the house. She seems to have settled in nicely and doesnāt have too many complaints so far, though she is understandably a little unsure about my cats. Thatās fair ā they are new roommates after all!
All in all, Brioche had a great first day. She is a confident, smart girl who is ready to learn, and Iām excited to see how much progress she makes as we continue our work together. Iām looking forward to watching Brioche grow and develop over the next couple of weeks! š¶š
6/29/2026
Today Brioche and I headed out to a park in Rosemead to meet up with other trainers and their pups. This was a great opportunity to continue building on the progress we started yesterday while introducing her to a new environment with even more distractions.
When we first arrived, Brioche was understandably very excited to see all the people and pups around her. With so much happening, it was a little difficult for her to focus at first. We spent some time simply walking around, practicing her heel, and allowing her to take in her surroundings. After a while, Brioche was able to settle in and shift her attention back toward me, which is exactly what we wanted to see.
Today we introduced a few new things, starting with the e-collar. I paired the e-collar with leash corrections so Brioche could better understand what the new tool meant and how to respond to it. She handled this transition very well, which was wonderful to see.
We also began introducing some new commands, including down, place, and come to sit. Brioche took to these commands quickly! Her place command consists of hopping onto any safe surface when asked and settling in until she is given another cue to move. Her come to sit command involves her walking around my right side and sitting neatly on my left. For such a new concept, she picked these up very quickly and showed how smart she truly is.
On top of learning new commands, Briocheās heel and sit have already improved quite a bit. I was even able to start adding some distance and duration to her sit, down, and place commands, and she did not budge!
All in all, for only her second day with me, Brioche is already making incredible progress. She is a very smart and willing pup, and Iām so proud of how well she handled herself today. Keep up the great work, Brioche!
6/30/2026
Today Brioche and I headed out to Century City Mall to continue building on her progress with her commands around distractions, and she handled the new environment very well! A busy mall can be a lot for any dog with all the new sights, sounds, people, and movement happening around them, but Brioche took everything in stride.
Of course, when we first arrived, Brioche was very excited and wanted to take in every single thing around her. She was eager to explore and check out her surroundings, which is completely understandable in such a new and stimulating environment. I allowed her the opportunity to do so while also practicing that she could explore while still walking nicely with me and following my direction. At first, this was a little challenging for her because there was so much she wanted to see, but after a few moments she started to relax, settle in, and allow me to take the lead.
Once Brioche was more focused and comfortable, we moved into practicing her place command on different surfaces throughout the mall. At first, she was a little unsure about hopping up onto a chair and wasnāt quite convinced that was something she wanted to do. However, once I was able to show her that she was more than capable, she quickly gained confidence and started completing her place work with ease. She did a great job holding her position on each surface, and it was wonderful to see her become more willing to try new things.
Brioche also showed some improvement with her come to sit command and her extended commands. She continues to show that she is a very smart cookie who picks up on things quickly when given the opportunity to work through them. Her willingness to learn and adapt has been one of her biggest strengths throughout her training.
All in all, Brioche impressed me today with how well she handled herself in a completely new environment. She has continued to take every new challenge in stride and has shown such a great attitude toward learning. Great work, Brioche! Iām very proud of the progress she continues to make!
7/1/2027
Today Brioche and I headed out to Santa Monica, where we found a very busy farmers market that made for the perfect opportunity to test her temperament and continue building her confidence in a crowded environment.
Brioche handled the outing really well! While she was definitely aware of everything happening around her, she did a great job staying close to me and regularly checking in, which was really nice to see. Being able to take in her surroundings while still looking to me for guidance shows that she is continuing to build trust and understanding in these new environments.
When it came time to practice her extended commands, she did have a bit more difficulty, which is completely understandable given the amount of activity and distractions around her. However, she responded well to being redirected back into position and was able to hold her command while waiting for her release cue.
Of course, Brioche had to show a little bit of her cheeky side at the end of her video and attempted to sneak a snack off of a nearby table. She was quickly met with an āoff,ā and once redirected, she was able to bring her attention right back to me.
Overall, Brioche handled this outing very well. Iām proud of how she worked through such a busy environment and how much she continues to improve at navigating the world with confidence while staying connected with me.
7/2/2026
Today Brioche and I headed back out to Santa Monica to continue building on her commands around distractions, and she did a fantastic job! One of my favorite things about Brioche is the enthusiasm she brings to every outing we go on. She is always so excited to get out, explore, and experience something new, which makes working with her such a joy.
She continues to make great progress with her commands, though weāre still ironing out the meaning of staying put during her extended commands. I will say she has improved quite a bit! Sometimes the world around her is just a little too exciting, and something catches her attention. Thatās perfectly okay. Each time she breaks command, we simply and patiently redirect her back into position and try again. With each repetition sheās gaining a better understanding, and Iām confident it wonāt be much longer before it really clicks for her.
Her heel and come-to-sit have also come a long way. Sheās needing fewer reminders to stay at my side while walking, and sheās beginning to understand exactly how to finish her come-to-sit by coming all the way in and sitting neatly beside me.
Brioche was also a big help today! She joined me while working with another pup, a Corgi who is still learning to feel more comfortable around other dogs. Brioche was incredibly mindful and respectful of the other dogās space, handling the interaction beautifully. I was so proud of how calm, patient, and well-mannered she was throughout the experience.
Overall, Brioche continues to make wonderful progress, and Iām so proud of how confidently she works through each new environment and every new challenge thatās put in front of her. Keep up the amazing work, sweet girl!
7/3/2026
Today Brioche and I headed back out to the Century City Mall to continue building on her progress with her commands around distractions, and she did a great job!
Brioche did have a little bit of trouble with her extended commands today, especially when it came to staying put while I stepped away. More often than not, she wanted to pop right back up and follow along with me. However, with a few reminders and redirections, Brioche quickly started to understand what was being asked of her and was able to settle back into place. Smart girl!
These moments are an important part of her learning process because consistency and follow-through are key. When we set a boundary, itās important to help her understand that the expectation stays the same, even when she would prefer to make her own choice. By staying consistent, Brioche is learning that following through with commands is what leads to success.
Aside from that, Brioche handled guidance beautifully in such a busy environment. She stayed by my side while navigating the mall with very little effort and showed how much more comfortable and confident she is becoming around distractions.
All in all, Brioche continues to make wonderful progress and is learning more and more each day. I am so proud of this sweet lady for her efforts and for how willing she is to continue growing into the amazing companion she is becoming!
7/4/2026
Happy Fourth of July!
Today Brioche and I kept things close to home, spending the day around my neighborhood practicing all of her commands. And today she did a wonderful job!
We started with a nice long walk, giving Brioche plenty of opportunities to take in her surroundings as long as she continued walking nicely with me. She absolutely loved it, smiling the entire way and happily bouncing along beside me. Her joyful energy is truly contagious, and itās hard not to smile right along with her!
After our walk, we got to work on her training. Her come to sit continues to improve, and today she was able to follow all the way through on several repetitions without needing any extra guidance, which was very exciting to see! Her down command is also becoming much more reliable and is starting to happen promptly when askedāanother big win!
Our biggest focus remains her extended commands, specifically helping her understand that staying put means remaining in position until sheās released. Brioche still likes to pop up as soon as I begin stepping away, but today we made some really encouraging progress. She was more patient and showed a better understanding of what was being asked of her, which is exactly what weāve been working toward.
After training, Brioche enjoyed a well-earned break before we headed back outside for one of her new favorite activitiesāfetch! I recently discovered just how much she loves this game, and we had an absolute blast playing together until she was finally too tired to keep going. That was exactly our goal today, as weāre hoping sheāll be relaxed and ready to rest once the fireworks begin this evening.
To help make tonight as comfortable as possible, Iāve already set up a cozy little spot for her to relax and will be playing calming music to help muffle some of the noise from the fireworks outside.
Overall, Brioche is making wonderful progress with her training, and Iām so proud of how far sheās come. Keep up the great work, sweet girl!
Lastly, we hope you enjoy todayās festivities if youāre celebrating. Have a fun, safe, and Happy Fourth of July!
7/5/2026
Today Brioche and I headed out to Home Depot to continue building on her progress with her commands around distractions. When we first arrived, Brioche was definitely in the mood to test some boundariesāparticularly with her extended commands and her come to sit. Every time I stepped away during her extended sit and down, she would pop right back up almost immediately. For her come to sit, she decided sheād rather walk right past me or stop behind me instead of finishing the command correctly.
So, we got to work making those expectations crystal clear. After ending yesterdayās session on such a high note, with Brioche performing each command beautifully, I knew she understood what was being asked of her. Today was less about learning and more about deciding whether she felt like listening. We simply took our time and worked through it together, making sure she understood that the expectations hadnāt changed.
There were definitely a few sassy looks thrown my way along the journeyāthis girlās facial expressions are priceless! But with consistency and patience, we eventually earned our victory. Brioche held her extended sit and down beautifully and followed through on her come to sit just as she should.
Her heel was especially impressive today. She was so engaged with me that I was able to walk with the leash held loosely in my hand while making random turns to test whether she was paying attention. She stayed right with me and did an excellent job following each change in direction.
We wrapped up the session on a very positive note, making sure to celebrate all of her wonderful choices with lots of praise and affection. Although we started the day a little rough, we finished with an even better understanding of her work and some excellent progress. Way to go, Brioche!
7/6/2026
Todayās adventure took Brioche and me to a park in Rosemead, where we met up with some fellow trainers and their pups to continue building on her obedience around distractions. As expected, Brioche was very excited to see all of the other dogs! With so much happening around us, it took her a few minutes to settle into work mode. We started things off by simply practicing her heel command and allowing her to take in her surroundings while staying connected with me.
Once she had a chance to process all of the excitement, she was much more ready to focus.
With so many interesting sights, sounds, and smells around us, Brioche initially found her extended sit, down, and place commands a bit challenging. Staying put wasnāt her first choice, but after a reminder or two she settled in nicely and began holding her positions much more reliably. The same was true for her come to sit command. At first, she would try to run right past me to investigate a patch of grass or check out whatever had caught her attention instead of completing the command. After a few gentle reminders, though, everything clicked and she began following through beautifully, making some really nice repetitions.
Her heel command continues to be one of her strongest skills. Iām especially happy to see her naturally checking in with me more often during our walks, looking up for guidance instead of making all of the decisions herself. That engagement is exactly what weāre working toward and will continue to strengthen as we practice in new environments.
One thing weāve started to notice is that Brioche has become very attentive to my hands. Sheās so eager to work that sheāll sometimes watch for me to move the leash or shift my hands and will break position in anticipation of the next command before Iāve actually given it. While itās a funny problem to have, it tells me sheās really thinking about the training! Weāll simply spend some time teaching her to wait patiently for the actual cue instead of guessing what comes next. Iām confident sheāll pick this up with continued practice.
Overall, Brioche had another great day. Every outing helps build her reliability around real-world distractions, and sheās continuing to make steady progress with each session. Sheās a bright, enthusiastic girl who genuinely enjoys learning, and Iām very proud of the effort she put in today!
7/7/2026
Todayās adventure took Brioche and me out to Santa Monica, where we continued building on her commands around everyday distractions. And wowāBrioche absolutely blew me away today! She showed an incredible understanding of all of her commands and stayed engaged with me from start to finish. She was so dialed in that she performed our entire training session on a loose leash!
Her duration work has come such a long way. We practiced extended sit and down commands, and not once did she pop up or try to follow when I stepped away. She patiently held each position until she was released, which is a huge improvement and something she should be very proud of. Her heel has become so smooth and polished, and her come to sit continues to look absolutely beautiful. She really makes it all look effortless!
I couldnāt be prouder of this big girl and the effort she put in today. She has worked hard throughout her program, and itās been so rewarding to watch everything come together. After we got back home, we celebrated a job well done with one of her favorite thingsāa fun game of fetch!
7/8/2026
Today Brioche and I headed out to Home Depot to continue practicing her commands around everyday distractions, and she did an excellent job! She continues to show a wonderful understanding of her commands along with an unshakable sense of confidence. Itās genuinely so much fun to watch her work because she approaches every task with enthusiasm and focus.
One of Briocheās biggest strengths is her engagement with her handler. No matter whatās happening around her, she consistently checks in with me and looks for guidance. We had a great opportunity to put that to the test today when another dog in the store spotted Brioche and immediately lost its cool with excited barking and lunging. The other pup simply wanted to play, but after a quick reminder to heel, Brioche acknowledged the dog and then made the excellent choice to stay focused on me and continue working. Great job, Brioche!
As we continued through the store, she kept checking in with me throughout our outing, which is exactly the kind of teamwork weāre looking for. Those frequent check-ins show that sheās learning to prioritize her handler over everything else going on around her, and thatās a huge accomplishment.
All in all, Brioche is an incredibly smart pup who continues to make wonderful progress every day. Iām so proud of this beautiful lady and canāt wait to show you just how much sheās learned!
7/9/2026
Today Brioche and I headed out to Century City Mall to meet up with another trainer and continue fine-tuning all of her commands around plenty of real-world distractions. Brioche did a fantastic job with me, performing each command just as weāve been practicing. Since she was doing so well, I decided to throw in a little twist and have her work with my colleague instead.
This is an important part of Briocheās training because it helps her understand that no matter who is holding the leash, the expectations remain the same. As soon as she switched handlers, Brioche decided to test a few boundaries. She wasnāt too interested in holding her extended commands and her come to sit was missing a bit of follow-through. However, with a few reminders and consistent guidance, she quickly remembered what was expected of her and got right back on track. What a good girl!
Training with different handlers is a great way to build consistency and help ensure that Brioche responds reliably to everyone, not just me. Today was a great learning experience for her, and she handled it very well.
Overall, Brioche did a fantastic job with her training today and learned a valuable lesson about working with other handlers. I am so proud of the consistent progress she has been making each day and canāt wait to see her continue to grow. You go, girl!
Comments