Bruma | Moyen Poodle | Pasadena, CA. | In Training
- heatheroffleashsoc
- Dec 23, 2025
- 15 min read
Updated: Jan 5
Meet Bruma! š¾
Bruma is a handsome 2-year-old moyen poodle from Pasadena, California! This sweet boy has plenty of charm, but like many young dogs, heās been struggling with a few important behavior challenges. Bruma has been described as not so friendly when it comes to meeting new dogs and people, both out in public and within the home. Heās also shown that listening off leash isnāt exactly his strong suit, and he can be less than welcoming when it comes to having his food or harness handled.
Over the next two weeks, Bruma will be joining us to work on building confidence, improving his off-leash obedience, and refining his overall house manners. Our goal is to help Bruma learn how to respond calmly, trust the humans around him, and make better choices in everyday situations. Weāre excited to guide this smart boy toward becoming a more relaxed, responsive, and well-mannered companionāso stay tuned for Brumaās transformation!
12/23/2025
Today Bruma and I headed to the park for a nice stroll to get better acquainted and to introduce our first new commandāheel. This outing also gave me the opportunity to assess what Bruma already knows and where weāll be starting his training journey.
As expected, at the beginning of our walk Bruma was much more interested in checking out all the exciting sights and smells than paying attention to meāand that was totally okay! While he explored, I used light leash corrections to guide him into walking politely at my side. At first, Bruma wasnāt too sure about this new expectation, but before he knew it, he was walking nicely right where he should be. Anytime he tried to pull away for a tempting sniff, we simply repeated the same gentle corrections, and he caught on quickly.
By the end of our walk, Bruma seemed much more comfortable with me and with the introduction of his new command. He was more relaxed, engaged, and ready for the next adventureāhopping eagerly into the car to head to his home-away-from-home for the next couple of weeks!
Once we arrived, Bruma wasted no time sniffing around and checking everything out. Being in a new environment has him feeling a little nervous, which is completely normal, but I have no doubt that in a day or two heāll be settling right in.
All in all, today was a great day full of introductions. Bruma has already shown a willingness to learn, and Iām so excited to get started on his obedience journey with this sweet boy!
12/24/2025
Merry Christmas Eve! Today Bruma and I headed out to Home Depot for another productive training session. Our main focus for the day was heel, come to sit, and extended sit.
Brumaās heel is already looking good. He does have moments where he wants to pull away to check things out, but with a verbal reminder and a combination of leash and e-collar corrections, he quickly falls back in next to me. His extended sit is especially impressiveāhe has no problem holding it, which is lovely to see.
The come to sit command seems to be a bit overwhelming for him right now, which is completely okay. When he struggles with coming around my right side and sitting on my left, we take our time and patiently work him through it using the leash. Once he reaches the end goal, he gets plenty of praise so he knows he did a great job.
Last night, I had some family come into town for the holiday, and we used this as an opportunity to work on Brumaās uneasiness around strangers. At first, he was unsure of the guests and did growl, which we addressed using the off command. After some time, he began to relax and was able to approach people for sniffs and even accept some pets. When he had enough, he chose to walk to his crate and take a rest. While there was a bit of initial drama, it was nothing we couldnāt work through, and it was encouraging to see him make that progress.
I do want to note that when I went to remove his e-collar for the night, Bruma did bite my hand (Iām okayājust some swelling and bruising). Because of this, and until we can build a bit more mutual trust, Bruma will be wearing a muzzle during any handling involving his flat collar and e-collar to ensure everyoneās safety.
All in all, I would say weāve had a very productive stretch of training. Weāve covered a lot of ground already, and despite a few hiccups, Bruma is learning quickly. Heās slowly adjusting to my home and continues to get more comfortable as time passes. Bruma is a very smart boy, and Iām proud of the work he put in today. šš¶
12/25/2025
Merry Christmas from Bruma! š š¾
For todayās training, we kept things closer to home and took advantage of a break in the rain to head out for a walk. This gave us a great opportunity to get some fresh air while practicing the commands weāve been working on so far. As expected, there was a bit of initial excitement when we first started our walk, which meant a few reminders and corrections for his heel. Bruma did a nice job responding to those reminders and quickly settled in, allowing the rest of the walk to go smoothly. He seemed very happy to be out exploring and checking out his surroundings.
Once we returned to the house, we introduced the place command. After our walk, this was a very easy transition for Bruma. All that was asked of him was to hop up onto his place cot and lay down ā which turned out to be a welcome and relaxing break after his little adventure outside.
Throughout the day, we also worked on door manners. This exercise requires Bruma to sit calmly at the door before going outside, giving me the opportunity to step out first instead of him rushing through the door for potty or playtime. He remains seated until heās released with the ābreakā command. At first, Bruma wasnāt too sure about this idea, but with patience, consistency, and repetition, heās already starting to understand whatās being asked of him and is improving each time we practice.
We also spent time practicing food manners, and since itās the holiday, I decided to add in a special treat ā some delicious turkey! For this exercise, Bruma was asked to sit before his snack was set down (just as we do at mealtimes). Heās expected to remain sitting until he hears ābreak.ā In the beginning, Bruma made it very clear he wanted that treat right away and tried to go for it as soon as it was placed down. With consistent reminders and follow-through, heās learning to be more patient and is showing steady improvement each time we work on this.
All in all, today was a wonderful day of training! Bruma enjoyed a relaxed day around the house, loved his special holiday treat, and settled in nicely for a calm Christmas vibe. šš©
We hope you and your family are enjoying a warm, happy holiday season! ā¤ļø
12/26/2025
Today Bruma and I headed out to Kahoots to work on his commands with some fun (and challenging!) distractions. Our focus for the day was heel, come to sit, and extended sit and down, and Bruma had lots of moments to be proud of.
His heel is looking pretty solid overall. He does need a few reminders here and there, but thatās totally okayāand heās quick to fall right back into place. His come to sit is improving as well. He still gets a little mixed up sometimes, wanting to come straight to me or offering a down instead of a sit, but we patiently work through it each time. When he gets it just right, heās rewarded with plenty of pets and praise, which he clearly loves!
Brumaās extended sit and down are honestly a breezeāand thatās pretty impressive, since patience can be the hardest part for most pups. He does a wonderful job staying put until heās told otherwise.
After we got back home, Bruma and I cozied up on the couch to enjoy some cartoons together, and he definitely didnāt mind the cuddles one bit. š Iād also like to share a big milestone: last night was the first night I was able to take his e-collar off without the muzzle. We still used a leash just to be safe, but slow and steady wins the race! Itās been so lovely to see Bruma starting to trust me more and becoming more comfortable around me and in my home.
All in all, we got in some great training today. Bruma is a smart boy, and itās such a joy to watch him pick things up so quickly! š¾āØ
12/27/2025
Today Bruma and I headed out to the park to enjoy some beautiful sunshine while working his commands around real-world distractions. The park was buzzing with activity and overflowing with interesting sights and smells, making it the perfect place to challenge Bruma while still keeping things fun and upbeat.
Brumaās heel command is coming along very nicely. He stays in position most of the time and really understands whatās being asked of him. Every once in a while his excitement gets the best of him and he wants to take everything in at once, but with a quick reminder heās able to refocus and fall right back into place. His willingness to re-engage makes these moments great learning opportunities.
His come to sit command is also showing steady improvement. Bruma knows the pattern well, but occasional distractions can affect his follow-through. When this happens, we patiently work through the repetition together, and when he completes it correctly heās rewarded with plenty of praise. Those successful reps are happening more often and more smoothly, which is great to see.
Brumaās extended sit and down commands are really shining. Heās showing excellent patience and self-control, holding his positions calmly and waiting for his cue to return to me. Watching him settle in and confidently wait makes me so proud of how far heās come.
All in all, today was a fantastic day of training. Bruma thoroughly enjoyed getting out, stretching his legs, and soaking up the sunshine, all while continuing to make great progress in his training journey!Ā
12/28/2025
Today Bruma and I headed back out to the park to get some more solid training in with plenty of distractions around us. Our main focus for the day was his extended commandsāextended sit, extended down, and placeāand Bruma was more than ready to show off what he knows!
We walked around different areas of the park, stopping at benches and tables where Bruma was asked to hop up and either sit or down while we took some time to simply people watch. Bruma had absolutely no problem with this exercise and honestly seemed to enjoy observing all the park goers. He held his positions beautifully and didnāt break a single command the entire timeāso much so that I really had to work to get his attention just to break him at the end!
One particularly sweet moment (which youāll see in the video) happened when a little girl riding her bike with her dad stopped because she really wanted to say hi to Bruma. Her father kindly reminded her not to approach without permission, so we let a few more people pass by before I asked Bruma to break. This gave us the perfect opportunity to work on greeting manners. Although I couldnāt catch it on camera, Bruma did wonderfully! He sat patiently and calmly while both the little girl and her father pet himāsuch a proud moment for him.
To top off an already great day, I was also able to brush Brumaās teeth and remove his e-collar without any extra safety precautions in place. This is a big win and shows just how much more comfortable heās becoming with me each day.
All in all, today was a fantastic day of training. We got some really great practice in, and I couldnāt be more proud of how Bruma handled himself. Watching his confidence and trust continue to grow has been such a joy!Ā
12/29/2025
Today Bruma and I headed back out to the park to continue working on his commands, and overall he had a very strong training session. His heel is looking really nice ā he still needs an occasional reminder here and there, but thatās completely okayā¦ after all, he gets excited sometimes! When he checks back in and refocuses, he falls right back into position, which is exactly what we want to see.
His come to sit is showing great improvement as well. Thereās noticeably less confusion and fewer distractions during the follow-through, which we absolutely love to see, especially since this can be a challenging command. Bruma is becoming much more confident in understanding whatās being asked of him.
When it comes to place and his extended sit and down, those are truly a piece of cake for this smarty pants. He settles in nicely, holds his positions well, and shows excellent patience. On top of that, each day Bruma seems to trust me just a little bit more, which is incredibly heartwarming and speaks volumes about the bond weāre building together.
Overall, things are going very well ā so well, in fact, that weāll be starting to make introductions to off-leash work shortly! Bruma is doing an amazing job, and Iām very proud of the progress he continues to make.
12/30/2025
Today Bruma and I headed back out to the park for another training session, but this time we had some company ā the boss man Mike joined us! Our goal for the day was to continue reinforcing all of the commands Bruma has learned so far, with an added twist to mentally challenge him and build his independence. Todayās big focus was introducing leash dragging, an important stepping stone toward off-leash reliability.
Leash dragging gives Bruma a bit more freedom while still holding him accountable for staying engaged and responsive without relying so heavily on physical leash guidance. As expected, this new curveball caught him a little off guard at first. With the extra slack, Bruma initially thought that more freedom meant more opportunities to explore. He tested the boundaries by wanting to wander, sniff, and investigate rather than immediately staying locked into work mode.
With consistent encouragement, clear communication, and the use of hand gestures to help guide him, Bruma began to understand that the expectations remained the same ā even with the leash dragging. As the session went on, he showed improved focus and made more intentional efforts to check back in with me, which was great to see. This is a skill weāll continue to practice and polish, but I have full confidence that Bruma will catch on quickly.
Bruma continues to prove just how smart and capable he is. Even when faced with something unfamiliar, he puts in the effort to problem-solve and understand whatās being asked of him. That willingness to learn is exactly what weāre looking for. Overall, today was a very productive training day, and Iām incredibly proud of Bruma and the progress he continues to make!
12/31/2025
Happy New Yearās Eve! š
Today Bruma and I headed out to the Santa Anita Mall to continue working on his commands while working on leash dragging. There were plenty of distractions throughout the mall, which worked perfectly in our favor for todayās session! All of the commotion definitely had Bruma feeling a bit nervous, and he wasnāt shy about letting me knowāoffering a few yawns along with a little squeak.
To help him settle in, we started by simply practicing our heel around the mall, allowing him time to observe his surroundings and build confidence. As he began to feel more at ease, we were able to really get to work.
Brumaās biggest challenge right now is maintaining a consistent heel with the extra slack on the leash, and the same goes for his come to sit command. That said, with continued repetition heās showing improvement, and hand gestures have proven to be very helpful in guiding him through these moments of confusion. As expected, his extended commands continue to be a strong pointāno issues there at all!
Overall, today was a very productive day of training, and Iām incredibly proud of the progress Bruma is making each and every day. Lastly, Iād like to take a moment to wish you and your family nothing but well wishes and blessings as you ring in the New Year this evening! š„āØ
1/1/2026
Happy New Year! š
For todayās work, Bruma and I headed back out to the mall to continue practicing his commands with leash dragging. His heel command is coming along nicelyāheās starting to wander off less and is staying more connected overall. He still gets a bit distracted at times, but with a verbal reminder and a clear hand gesture, heās able to come right back into position.
His come to sit is looking great, with no major complaints there. With his extended commands, Bruma continues to do very well. Every once in a while he may break, but once reminded of the expectation, he patiently waits to be told to break again.
Bruma also brought so much happy, positive energy to todayās session, and we absolutely love to see it! His enthusiasm and upbeat attitude made training that much more enjoyable and really highlights the confidence heās building as we work through his commands.
His house manners are improving beautifully as well. Bruma is now offering a sit at mealtimes and before heading outside without even being asked, which is such a wonderful reflection of his growing impulse control and understanding of expectations.
Iām incredibly proud of the work Bruma put in today. Heās really starting to get the hang of things and is checking in more consistently as we move through our training. All in all, Bruma is making great progress, and today was another fantastic step forward! š¾āØ
1/2/2026
Today Bruma and I headed out to the park to continue practicing his commands, but this time we took things a step further by removing the leash entirely. This was a new challenge for Bruma, and at first it definitely caught him off guard. His initial instinct was to take advantage of that freedom and run off to explore, but we were quick to call his attention back to me and remind him of what was expected ā staying engaged at my side and maintaining his heel.
Once Bruma began to understand that the expectations remained the same even without the leash, everything started to click. With that foundation re-established, we moved on to incorporating the rest of his commands, and he executed them beautifully. His responsiveness and willingness to work really stood out during this portion of the session.
We also challenged Bruma by asking him to place on several different objects that were not his usual place markers. At first, he was unsure and took a moment to process what was being asked of him, but once he realized he could do it, his confidence skyrocketed. You could truly see how proud he was of himself ā and I was just as proud of him!
Bruma also held his extended commands very nicely and performed his come to sit perfectly each and every time. His focus, effort, and growing confidence made todayās session especially rewarding.
All in all, today was a fantastic day of work with a lot of meaningful progress made. Bruma continues to impress, and Iām so proud of this boy and how far heās come!
1/3/2026
Today Bruma and I headed out to the park bright and early to get some work in before the rain decided to join us, continuing to polish up his commandsāand today Bruma did it all off leash! He had a few moments where he tried to veer off the path to check things out, but I was able to quickly bring his attention right back to me each time.
Aside from those brief moments of curiosity, Bruma did a spectacular job. He performed each command as expected and stayed engaged with the work. There may have been a moment or two where his come to sit wasnāt exactly where I wanted it, but thatās totally okayāwithout the use of a leash, that can be a tough one, and itās an easy fix moving forward.
All in all, Bruma really impressed me today. Heās not only understanding his training more and more each day, but heās also proving to be such a good listener. I couldnāt be more proud of this sweet guy and the progress heās making!Ā
1/4/2026
Today Bruma and I headed out to Home Depot to continue working on his commands around real-world distractions. While I would have loved to work him fully off leash, since we were inside a store we made sure to be respectful and practiced all of his commands with leash dragging instead. This gave Bruma a bit of freedom while still holding him accountable for staying engaged and responsive.
As we moved throughout the store, Bruma handled everything beautifully. He performed each command just as expected and showed excellent awareness of his surroundings. He navigated around people, carts, and busy aisles with ease, maintaining his composure and focus even with plenty going on around him. His ability to work calmly and confidently in a public setting really stood out today.
Itās clear that Bruma is truly getting the hang of taking his commands on the road and applying them consistently outside of our usual training environments. By the end of the session, you could really see how proud and confident he felt in his work, which is always such a rewarding thing to witness. Iām extremely impressed with how much progress Bruma has made and how much confidence heās built through our work together. He continues to prove just how capable he isāgreat job today, Bruma!Ā
1/5/2026
For our last day of work together, Bruma and I headed out to the park to put the finishing touches on his training and film his final video. Bruma did an amazing job working through all of his commands today, and I couldnāt be more proud of the effort he has consistently put in during his time with me.
One of the most special parts of this journey has been the incredible amount of trust Bruma and I have built together. Watching his confidence grow and seeing how willingly he works alongside me has been so rewarding. Itās a true testament to how smart, eager, and sweet he is.
I truly hope everything Bruma has learned here helps set you both up for continued success as you move forward together. With consistency and continued practice of his new manners, I know heās going to thrive in your day-to-day lives.
Iād also like to take a moment to sincerely thank you for trusting me not only to care for Bruma, but for giving me the opportunity to work with him on his obedience. He has been such a joy to train and is truly a very special boy. It has been an absolute pleasure working with him, and I will miss him dearly! šš¶
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