Brody | Miniature Australian Shepherd Mix | Sherman Oaks, CA. | In Training
- heatheroffleashsoc
- Aug 24
- 13 min read
Updated: Sep 13
Meet Brody!Brody is an 11-month-old Miniature Australian Shepherd from sunny Sherman Oaks, CA! This spirited pup has joined us for our Three Week Board and Train Program, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him.
Over the next 21 days, we’ll be focusing on sharpening Brody’s basic obedience skills and helping him develop better manners, especially when it comes to meeting new people. While Brody might be small in size, he’s got a big personality and a protective streak that sometimes gets in the way of polite greetings.
We’re looking forward to guiding Brody through this journey and helping him become a more confident, well-mannered companion. Stay tuned for his transformation, it’s going to be a fun ride!
8/24/2025
For Brody’s first day I decided to take him to the park and go for a walk to work out some of those first day jitters and get better acquainted with him. This walk was important for us because when I first came into his home to meet him and his family he was quick to let me know he wasn’t having it by barking, growling and a little nip to let me know who’s boss. After our walk he was like putty in my hands. Complete with little nose kisses and all. We also took some time to assess commands he does know, he understands sit and heel to some extent, we will work on tightening that up some. Along with teaching him down and other basic obedience skills and manners. When we got home it took him a moment to get comfortable but once I sat down to start some work I put on a National Geographic show about mammals and he got comfortable and seemed to actually watch the show! So far he is quite the character and I look forward to our work together!
8/25/2025
Today was Brody’s first full day of training, and I have to say—he did an amazing job! We headed out to a park in El Monte where we hold weekly meet-ups with fellow trainers. It was a great environment for learning and socialization.
During our session, we focused on a few key obedience skills: heel, sit, come to sit, and down, along with an introduction to the e-collar. Brody picked things up quickly and responded well to both e-collar and leash corrections. I was genuinely impressed with how attentive and willing he was to work!
When Brody tried to break a sit or down command, I gently redirected him back to the original position and had him repeat the command. After a few reps, he started to understand what was being asked of him and showed real improvement.
All in all, we made some great progress today. For just our first full day together, Brody is already showing so much potential. I’m super proud of your boy and excited for what’s to come!
8/26/2025
Today, Brody and I took our training session to a local café to work on public manners and socialization in a real-world setting. This type of environment is great for helping dogs learn how to stay calm and focused around distractions, new people, and unfamiliar situations.
During the outing, Brody did show some signs of anxiety and reactivity, particularly toward one individual. It wasn’t a generalized response to everyone, which is a positive sign—it gives us a more specific area to work on. I made sure to manage the situation calmly, giving Brody space while reinforcing the structure and expectations.
What I was really pleased to see, though, was his progress over the course of the visit. As he settled in, Brody became noticeably more relaxed. His panting reduced significantly, and at one point, he even rested his head—a small but meaningful sign that he was starting to feel more at ease.
I’ll continue to expose Brody to environments like this in a controlled and positive way, helping him build confidence and become more comfortable in public spaces. Each experience is a step forward, and I’m happy with how he handled today overall.
More to come as we keep working!
8/27/2025
Brody had a well-rounded day of training today, with both outdoor and indoor sessions focused on reinforcing core commands and introducing new skills.
Morning Session – Advancing the Basics:
This morning, Brody and I explored the neighborhood while practicing some of his foundational commands—heel, sit, and down. To increase the level of difficulty, we worked on extending the duration of sit and down, and added distance between us during those commands. At first, this extra challenge required some patience and focus from Brody, but with persistence and guidance, he began to show more confidence and comfort with the task. It’s always rewarding to see those small breakthroughs during our walks.
Afternoon Session – Introducing “Place”:
In the afternoon, we headed indoors to escape the heat and took the opportunity to introduce Brody to the place command using a raised cot. With the help of leash pressure and e-collar guidance, Brody was directed to the cot and given the choice to either sit or lie down—as long as he stayed on place, he was free to relax.
Initially, he was reluctant to stay put—his preference to be close to me at all times made it a bit of a mental hurdle. But after a few consistent redirections, he started to understand the expectation. By the end of the session, he was settling onto the cot more willingly. And true to his personality, he kept himself entertained by watching TV from his spot—it still cracks me up how into it he gets!
Brody is continuing to make steady progress in both his obedience and his ability to settle independently. We’ll keep building on today’s successes in the days to come.
8/28/2025
Today, we focused primarily on reinforcing Brody’s place command, especially with added distractions. I had a friend over, which gave us a great opportunity to test Brody’s ability to hold his position while new people were around.
This was definitely a challenge for him—he struggled to remain on his place consistently and needed some reminders throughout. It’s clear this is an area we’ll need to continue working on, especially in higher-distraction environments.
That said, Brody showed a lot of effort, and with continued practice, I’m confident he’ll improve. We’ll keep building on this in our next sessions!
8/29/2025
Today Brody and I took a trip to Santa Monica to practice some of our commands in a busier, more distracting environment. Our main focus for the outing was the “place” command, especially with increased stimulation around us.
Brody did show a few signs of anxiety early on—such as pinned-back ears and panting—but he handled the environment well overall. As the session progressed, he began to settle in and relax, which was great to see.
I’m very impressed with how he performed in such a high-traffic area! It was a big step forward in building his confidence and reinforcing his training under real-world conditions.
All in all, it was a great outing and a solid training day for Brody!
8/30/2025
Today, Brody and I hit the trails for some fresh air and fun! But before we could fully dive into adventure mode, we started with a bit of recall training—specifically working on his “come to sit” command.
Brody did a great job overall! Anytime he tried to break position, I calmly guided him back into the spot I had asked him to hold. After a few consistent repetitions, he really began to understand what was expected of him—smart boy!
During our session, we had an unexpected but exciting moment when a group of horses passed by. We moved off the trail, and I had Brody sit and wait. He handled it like a pro and stayed calm the entire time. The riders even complimented how well-behaved he was!
Once training was wrapped up, we headed off to explore, and Brody was clearly in his element—sniffing, trotting, and loving every minute of it.
I’ve included some photos of Brody at the end of the video so you can see how much fun he had today!
Until next time!
8/31/2025
Today we took things a little easy and spent some time reinforcing Brody’s commands during a nice, relaxed walk around the neighborhood. Slowing down the pace gave us a great opportunity to focus on consistency and responsiveness in different environments, and Brody handled it all with his a calm and curious attitude.
Partway through our walk, we wandered over to a local baseball field. Brody was very intrigued by the open space and new smells! We met a few friendly people there who were kind enough to let us snap a fun picture right on the pitcher’s mound. He posed like a pro, definitely a natural in front of the camera!
Overall, Brody is doing really well. He’s staying engaged, responding to commands with increasing reliability, and seems to enjoy the process. His confidence continues to grow, and it’s been wonderful to see how far he’s come. Great job today, Brody!
9/1/2025
Happy Labor Day from Brody!
We took advantage of the holiday today by heading out to Santa Monica for a training session with some real-world distractions! With plenty of people and dogs around, it was the perfect setting to challenge Brody and work on his focus.
Today’s training focused on heel, extended down, and some solid place work. I’m happy to report that Brody did amazing! He stayed engaged, responded beautifully to commands, and held his positions even with all the exciting sights and sounds around us.
I’m incredibly proud of the progress Brody is making—his confidence and consistency are growing every day. Keep up the great work, Brody!
9/2/2025
Today’s adventure took us to the bustling Century City Mall, where Brody got some excellent real-world practice with his commands amidst the lively crowd of shoppers and fellow furry friends.
Brody handled the environment like a pro—navigating the noise, distractions, and foot traffic with calm confidence. His extended sit and down commands are really coming along, showing impressive focus even in such a stimulating setting!
He also took some time to greet a few new friends—both human and canine—with his usual friendly charm.
All in all, today’s outing was a big success, and I’m so proud of the progress Brody continues to make!
9/3/2025
Today’s adventures took us out to El Monte, where we met up with a group of fellow trainers and their dogs. We ran through our usual commands, but also added a fun twist — a group exercise focused on testing each dog’s reactivity to people and other pups.
Brody did a great job! He stayed focused for most of the session and handled the added distractions like a champ. We’re seeing progress every day, and I’m super proud of how far he’s come.
Check out the video above — we had just as much fun making it as Brody did showing off!
9/4/2025
Today, Brody and I headed back out to a local coffee shop to continue working on his reactivity and public manners. While it wasn’t quite as busy as our last visit, it still offered a great training opportunity. We focused on his extended down command, and I’m happy to report that he did very well!
Brody showed noticeable progress staying calm and focused, even with the occasional distractions around us. With continued exposure to these types of environments, I’m confident he’ll only get more comfortable and consistent. Great work today, Brody!
9/5/2025
Today we took our training on the road and headed out to Santa Monica to practice commands in a more distracting, high-traffic environment. At first, the hustle and bustle of the busy streets made Brody a bit nervous, but he adjusted quickly and was ready to work!
Despite all the sights, sounds, and smells around us, Brody did a great job staying engaged and responsive. He showed curiosity about his surroundings, but still managed to stay focused on me and the commands I was giving. I’m really proud of the progress he’s making — way to go, Brody!
9/6/2025
Today, Brody and I headed out to the mall for some window shopping and a great opportunity to practice his commands in a busy environment. The hustle and bustle of the food court provided the perfect setting for some real-world training—and Brody did so well!
He was a little nervous during extended sits at first, mostly because he wanted to stay close, but he quickly got the hang of it. It’s clear that the more we work together, the more in tune he becomes with me and his commands. His focus continues to improve, and it’s exciting to see his confidence grow.
Also—he’s an absolute star wherever we go! People can’t help but admire him, and it’s so fun to watch him shine in public settings. You truly have a star in the making on your hands!
9/7/2025
Today we kept things close to home and focused on some important foundational skills. We spent a bit of time working around the neighborhood, but the bulk of our training today centered on house manners, with a special focus on food manners.
Brody did a great job practicing patience and self-control. Before mealtime, I asked him to sit and wait calmly as I placed his food down. He’s doing quite well holding his position for longer periods before being released to eat—go Brody!
One area we’re continuing to work on is helping him feel more at ease when I step out of sight during these exercises. It’s clear that Brody really values keeping tabs on his people, which is very sweet—but we’re gently helping him build confidence being on his own, even for short stretches.
Overall, it was a productive day and a big step forward in building calm, independent behavior at home. Proud of this guy!
9/8/2025
Today we headed out to El Monte for our usual weekly meetup with other trainers and their dogs. It was a busy, stimulating environment—perfect for testing Brody’s skills!
At first, Brody had a bit of a tough time settling in and focusing on what was being asked of him. With all the activity around, his attention was definitely elsewhere. But after some repetition and encouragement, he started to snap out of the distraction mode and really dialed in. Once engaged, Brody worked through his commands with much better focus and responsiveness.
Overall, it was a valuable session in helping him build consistency even in more distracting environments. Great job pushing through, Brody!
9/9/2025
Today, Brody and I took another trip to the mall to work on strengthening his obedience in a public setting. This environment is full of real-world distractions—people walking by, background noise, different smells—which makes it a great place to challenge and grow his skills.
Our main focus today was on extended sit, down, and place commands, with an added layer of difficulty: distance. We gradually increased the space between us to help build Brody’s confidence in holding positions even when I’m not right next to him. This can be especially tough in a busy area, and it’s completely normal for dogs to feel a little unsure at first.
As expected, Brody did show some initial signs of anxiety when I created more distance. He would occasionally break position or look around for reassurance. But with consistent, gentle reminders and lots of positive reinforcement, he began to settle into the routine. The more reps we did, the more confident he became—demonstrating that he’s starting to trust not only the commands but himself in these situations.
One of the highlights today was seeing Brody hold a place command while shoppers walked by just a few feet away. Even with all the movement and noise, he stayed focused and calm, which is a huge win for his confidence and progress.
We wrapped up the session with a short walk through the mall to decompress, letting him observe the environment at a relaxed pace. Overall, I’m really proud of how Brody handled today’s session—he pushed through initial uncertainty and ended strong.
Great job, Brody!
9/10/2025
Today, we put Brody’s reactivity to the test with a big outing—to the local skate park! With all the noise, fast movement, and unfamiliar sights, it was the perfect setting to challenge his impulse control.
And what a success it was! While he definitely noticed the action around him, Brody steadily adjusted and showed impressive self-regulation toward the end of our visit. It was clear he was working hard to stay focused and composed, and this experience really laid a solid foundation for building even more confidence in high-stimulation environments.
We’re so proud of the progress he’s making. Go Brody!
9/11/2025
Today, Brody and I headed to the park for a focused training session. The goal? Repetition, repetition, repetition — really locking in those core commands and helping him build confidence through consistency.
We worked on “sit,” “down,” “place,” “come,” and “heel.” Each command was practiced multiple times in different parts of the park, with varying levels of distraction — other dogs, squirrels, bikes, you name it! Brody stayed engaged and worked hard throughout.
He’s showing great improvement with “heel,” staying close and attentive as we walked. “Place” was a major highlight — once directed to a bench or designated spot, he held position patiently, even with plenty going on around him. That level of impulse control is a big step forward! Recall (“come”) is also going well! He shows some hesitation at times but he’s great about pushing through!
Brody brought great energy and focus to today’s session. It’s clear he’s starting to connect the dots, and his enthusiasm for training is shining through. Couldn’t be prouder of the effort he put in today!
9/12/2025
Today was a big day for Brody—we headed back out to the park for a refresher on his commands and a little photo shoot to show off just how handsome he is (and let’s be honest, he knows it!).
Brody was absolutely on point with all his commands today. Whether it was sitting, staying, or coming when called, he nailed it across the board! What really stood out, though, was how well he handled distractions—especially joggers and cyclists zipping by. While I wish I had caught it on camera, it was one of those moments where I was just too impressed to look away.
It’s clear that all the work we’ve been putting into managing his reactivity is really starting to pay off. He may still need a gentle reminder now and then, but you can see how hard he’s trying. His focus, patience, and progress were so encouraging today!
Proud of this pup and excited for what’s next on his journey!
9/13/2025
Today marked our last official training session together — and I decided it was time to trade the “sit” and “stay” for some well-earned play! After all, all work and no play makes Brody a dull boy!
We headed out to the park and found a quiet, secluded spot where Brody could have a little freedom to stretch his legs and just be a dog. We played one of his absolute favorite games — Fetch! — and let me tell you, that tail never stopped wagging. It was the perfect way to celebrate how far he’s come.
It has truly been my absolute pleasure to work with your boy. Watching Brody grow in confidence, skill, and spirit has been a joy. He’s smart, eager, and full of heart — definitely on the path to becoming a star puppy.
Thank you so much for trusting me with him and giving us both the opportunity to learn and grow together. I genuinely hope the work we’ve put in together continues to benefit you both and lays the foundation for a strong, lasting bond.
Here’s to a bright and happy future for Brody! 💙🐾
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