Charlie | English Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Glendora, CA | In- Training

priscillakhoroffle
Jun 29
18 min read

Updated: Jul 20

Meet Charlie! She’s a three-year-old English Staffordshire Bull Terrier from Glendora, CA, here for our Three-Week Board and Train Program. Charlie is sweet and affectionate with her family, but at home, she tends to act like the alpha—especially around her two dog siblings. She’s known to get possessive over food and high-value items, and can become overprotective when guests—especially unfamiliar men—enter the home. While she’s a perfect angel at the sitter’s and even well-mannered in public on solo outings, her behavior shifts in her home environment, where she struggles with reactivity and control.

During her time with us, Charlie will be working on impulse control, calmness around food and visitors, building trust with new people, and learning to follow direction even around familiar distractions. We’ll help her understand that she doesn’t need to take charge to feel secure. Stay tuned for her 3 Week Transformation!

Pupdate 6/29/25

Charlie’s off to a curious start! At pickup, she was eager to meet me—jumping up excitedly and trying to join the conversation as I chatted with her mom. It was clear right away that she’s sweet and outgoing, but we also noticed something important: many of Charlie’s behavioral issues may only surface when she’s with her parents or in her usual environment. On the ride home, she did great in the crate—even though she’s not used to it at home—and she met a couple of men without any issues. That said, we’ll be keeping a close eye on her as she settles in and starts to feel more comfortable.

Pupdate 6/30/25

Today was a big step for Charlie as we introduced the e-collar during a calm walk around the neighborhood. Since this was her first experience with it and me, we kept things simple and started with commands she already knows, like “sit” and “down.” By pairing those commands with low-level stimulation and light leash pressure, we helped her make the connection between the e-collar cue and the behavior we’re asking for. Charlie responded really well—she was calm, focused, and showed a lot of willingness to learn.

We also spent time observing and working on her behavior around other dogs. While Charlie isn’t particularly interested in other dogs and tends to keep to herself, she handles being in shared spaces fairly well. She may growl if another dog invades her space or lingers too close for too long, but overall, she’s tolerant. She’s even able to share a couch with other dogs without issue, which tells us that her social tolerance is there—as long as boundaries are respected.

At home, she’s doing great with the men she’s met so far and hasn’t shown any signs of the suspicion or discomfort mentioned in her intake. Instead, Charlie has been sweet, affectionate, and incredibly cuddly. She loves being close and has already started to relax into her new routine. It’s a promising start, and we’re excited to keep building from here!

Pupdate 7/1/25

Today’s pupdate is about Charlie’s sit command! I demonstrate in the video above what a couple repetitions of the sit command would look like.

On the remote, I use the black ‘S’ button to mark each command as I give them. This helps catch or maintain their attention as we are working on the training. I say the command and press the black “S” button at the same time.

When their butt touches the ground in a sit, I praise with a “good sit!”, throwing the command back at them in the praise.

Once they are in their sit, there are three things we work on:

Duration: how long they stay in their sit
Distance: how far away we can be while they stay in their sit
Distractions: how many things can go around them while they stay in their sit

In the video, I am working on distance and duration. Each time they are in the sit, I walk around them, getting farther away as we progress, and also leaving them in the sit for longer. This teaches them to have stability in their commands rather than breaking it whenever they please.

As we get to practice in busier areas, we will naturally have a higher amount of distractions to train with, and their stability in the sit will increase drastically.

When we are done with the command—or any command—I release them with their word “Break!” which allows them to do whatever they want.

Pupdate 7/2/25

Charlie had a big day of learning and observation today. After a nip incident with my dad yesterday, we set out to better understand whether Charlie is truly reactive to men—or if her responses are more tied to specific behaviors. To explore this, we took a field trip to a local park where several other trainers were working, giving us the perfect environment to safely test her comfort level.

We began by working her with another female trainer to ease her into the presence of strangers. Once she was settled, we gradually introduced her to a male trainer, focusing on loose leash walking. At first, I stayed between them to give her a buffer, but as she relaxed, I stepped back to let her walk directly beside him in a proper heel. We repeated this process with a second male trainer, and both times—moving cautiously and slowly—Charlie did great. No sudden movements, just calm, steady walking. By the end, she was comfortable enough to touch her nose to one of the trainer’s open palms, which you can see in the video.

What we learned today is important: Charlie doesn’t seem to be broadly reactive to men. If that were the case, she likely would have responded negatively across the board. Instead, it seems her discomfort is more about specific behaviors—possibly startled by quick, jerky, or assertive movements more commonly made by men. It’s not about gender, but about body language and energy. Today was a big win, and a huge step forward in understanding how to help Charlie feel safe and confident.

Pupdate 7/3/25

Today, Charlie and I took a trip to Daiso for a fun and focused training session. The narrow aisles were the perfect setup for practicing her heel positioning, and she picked it up impressively fast. At first, she lagged behind a bit, unsure of where exactly she should be. But with some upbeat encouragement and a little extra energy on my part, she started to get the picture—her spot is right at my side.

By the end of our time in the store, Charlie was confidently walking in a consistent heel on leash, even with the distractions of other shoppers and items around. It was a great improvement and showed how quickly she can adapt when things are clear.

One thing we’re still fine-tuning is her “come to sit” positioning. She’s having a bit of a tough time grasping that part, and when I guide her through the motion with the leash, she gets a little stubborn. It’s a work in progress, but with repetition and patience, we’ll get there.

Pupdate 7/4/25

Today’s pupdate is about Charlie’s heel command! I demonstrate in the video above what a couple repetitions of the heel command would look like.

The heel command is different from all the other commands in that it is a moving command. The dog is joining your motion rather than assuming a position in one spot. The moving position I am teaching them to be in is right next to my left leg, where their face does not go past my knee. That is the heel position we are working towards.

The dog should start and stop the heel command in a sit next to your leg. When they are in position, I say “heel”, tap the remote, and move forward at the same time. I keep walking, and whenever they leave the position next to my leg, I remind them with “heel” and another tap on the remote. We are essentially creating a safe zone near your leg where they aren’t getting reminded to be in heel.

It is important to praise your dog while they are in heel to reinforce that position. I remind them, especially when they’re in a good heel position, with “good heel!” to mark the correct position for them.

When coming to a stop, give your dog a heads up by saying “and Charlie sit”, and stop walking on the word “sit”. This alerts your dog to the change in pace, allowing them to predictably sit at the end of your heel.

To further practice, we will work around distractions such as other people and dogs, and reinforce the command as we go. We will also move the command off leash when they are ready, which will follow the same pattern as on leash.

Pupdate 7/5/25

Charlie had a great training session at the craft store today! We used the aisles to practice both her heel and come-to-sit commands, and she showed some solid progress. Her heel started off a bit loose, but the narrow space helped guide her back into position, and she quickly remembered to walk right by my leg.

We also spent time refining her come-to-sit positioning. She’s beginning to move into place more naturally on my left side, and she’s showing a better understanding that leash pressure means to follow my direction, not resist it.

To top it off, we worked on her extended sit and down commands in the middle of the store. Despite customers walking by and activity happening around us, Charlie held her positions confidently. She even stayed in command as I moved around her—demonstrating some great focus and growing stability in a busy environment.

Pupdate 7/6/25

Today’s pupdate is about Charlie’s down command! I demonstrate in the video above what a targeted repetition of the command looks like. I’m teaching them that me squatting and opening my arms does not mean “break”.

When their elbows touch the ground in their down, I praise with a “good down!”, throwing the command back at them in the praise.

Once they are in their down, there are three things we work on:

Duration: how long they stay in their down
Distance: how far away we can be while they stay in their down
Distractions: how many things can go around them while they stay in their down

In the video, I am working on all three. Each time they are in the down, I walk around them, getting farther away as we progress, and also making gestures that they think means attention. This teaches them to have stability in their commands rather than breaking it without the word “break”.

Every time they break the command, I tap the remote and remind them to “down”.

As we get to practice in busier areas, we will naturally have a higher amount of distractions to train with, and their stability in the down will increase drastically.

When we are done with the command—or any command—I release them with their word “Break!” which allows them to do whatever they want.

Pupdate 7/7/25

Today’s park trip was a big win for Charlie! We met up with other trainers and their dogs, giving us the perfect opportunity to work around real-life distractions while continuing to sharpen her obedience. We focused on her heel and building distance during commands, and despite the chaos of ducks, geese, and unfamiliar dogs, Charlie held up beautifully. She maintained her positions well, and on the rare occasions she broke, a gentle reminder was all she needed to return right back.

We also practiced walking past dog distractions. At first, she was definitely curious about the other pups, but with a quick cue to remind her of the heel, she was right back at my side. After that, passing by both dogs and people became smooth and effortless.

Something that’s become clearer over the past few days is that Charlie genuinely enjoys attention—from just about anyone. Even men! She’s been happily wagging her tail and following my dad around the house hoping for pets, and she’s taken treats from male trainers with no hesitation. It’s becoming more apparent that Charlie isn’t reactive to men as a group—she’s reactive to tense, unpredictable, or overwhelming energy. Unfortunately, those behaviors are more common in how some men approach dogs “playfully,” which can come off as threatening to a dog like Charlie. But with calm, respectful interactions, she’s proving to be open, affectionate, and eager to connect.

Pupdate 7/8/25

Today’s pupdate is about Charlie’s place command! I demonstrate in the video above what a couple repetitions of the place command would look like.

When they are either in a sit or down on the place object, I praise with a “good sit!”, throwing the command back at them in the praise.

There are four rules when it comes to the place command:

The place object must have defined edges or boundaries (a dog bed, towel, or bench are good place objects.)
Only place on objects your dog is allowed to be on. Don’t place on the bed if they’re not allowed on the bed, and don’t place on the antique table if they’re not allowed to be on it.
Always get the “win” when practicing the place command. If they struggle to place on a tall object, help them up. Consistently following through with the command builds confidence in your dog and accountability.
The duration they are expected to be in place is built over time. We start low, a few seconds or minutes, before building up the time they are in place over many repetitions.

Once they are in the place, there are three things we work on:

Duration: how long they stay in place
Distance: how far away we can be while they stay in place
Distractions: how many things can go around them while they stay in place

In the video, I am working on all three, as both people and dogs pose as great distractions. They have learned to remain in place even when people are around, even petting them.

When we are done with the command—or any command—I release them with their word “Break!” which allows them to do whatever they want.

Pupdate 7/9/25

Charlie took a huge step forward during our trip to the Santa Anita mall! This outing marked the beginning of our off-leash heel work, and she handled it like a pro. I walked her around the busy areas with the leash dragging behind her, and despite the crowds, noises, and distractions, Charlie stayed focused and right by my side.

We also put in solid reps on her place command, practicing around kids, shoppers, and general foot traffic—and she didn’t break once. Her sit and down commands were equally strong. I’ve been working on her understanding that just because I step away doesn’t mean she should, and she’s starting to really get it. When I say “good sit” or “good down” and move away, she knows to hold her position until released.

It’s been amazing to see how far she’s come—especially in her impulse control. Charlie is learning that calm and steady gets her further than reactive or anxious behavior, and she’s rising to the challenge with every session.

Pupdate 7/10/25

Today we introduced Charlie to send to place, and she picked it up faster than expected! We started simple—having her go to a new place object from right beside it. With each successful rep, I stepped a little farther away, gradually increasing the distance while helping her build confidence. I also made a point to step back as she climbed onto the place so she could get used to seeing me from farther away while holding her position.

Even though it was her first session with this skill, Charlie caught on quickly. She was focused and eager to work, showing that she’s really starting to enjoy the process. And true to her personality, once we wrapped up the serious training, she celebrated by rolling around playfully on the carpet area—definitely ending the session on a happy note!

Pupdate 7/11/25

Today’s pupdate is about when Charlie and I took a training trip to Target, and like any real progress, it came with a mix of wins and challenges. We continued working on her off-leash heel with the leash dragging, but this time, Charlie had a harder time staying focused. She was very curious about all the new sights and smells and kept stopping to sniff things as we walked by. When I’d correct her and ask her to return to heel, she sometimes looked a bit confused, showing that she’s still piecing it all together. It was a reminder that training isn’t a straight line—it’s two steps forward, one step back. She’s learning, and I’m not holding the off day against her.

That said, there were some real highlights too. Charlie did an excellent job holding her sit and down as I walked away, even with people moving past us in a busy store environment. Her confidence to remain still and steady without me right next to her is growing fast, and it’s something we’ll continue to strengthen in even more distracting settings.

One thing that definitely worked in our favor: Charlie loves jumping onto things. So we’ve been using that to our advantage by having her place on different objects throughout the store. Not only does she enjoy it, but it also helps her practice impulse control and holding commands in unfamiliar spaces. All in all, a productive day—ups, downs, and lots of learning!

Pupdate 7/12/25

Today Charlie and I took a trip to the Brea Mall to work on her heel around the hustle and bustle of a busy weekend crowd. With all the noise, movement, and people weaving around us, it was the perfect environment to challenge her focus and control. I kept her leash in hand this time—just to be safe with so many unexpected variables—but Charlie did really great overall. She stayed close, never straying too far from my side.

There were a few moments where she seemed hesitant, especially when the crowd got a little denser. But with some gentle encouragement, she was able to work through it and return right back into her heel position. I was especially proud of how she remembered to automatically sit at the end of our heel, even in such a distracting space. Charlie also held her sit and down commands solidly, keeping her cool even as people walked past her.

Each outing like this builds more of her confidence and consistency, and today showed that she’s definitely learning to handle herself in real-world, high-traffic environments.

Pupdate 7/13/25

Today Charlie and I took her off-leash skills to the next level with a full trip to Daiso—completely off leash, no warm-up. As soon as we walked into the store, I unclipped her leash to test if she could remember her training right from the start. And she absolutely impressed me. Charlie followed right into heel position, and while she lagged a little in the beginning, she quickly adjusted and came back to walking close to my leg.

We really used the aisles to help her dial in that positioning. Instead of walking a foot away from me, she started staying nice and tight by my side, and it finally seemed to click for her today. Beyond just heel work, Charlie held her sit and down commands really well, even with all the store activity happening around her.

Her come to sit is also looking solid now. She still has little moments where she’s a bit stubborn about following through the first time I call her, but each session, she’s getting quicker and more consistent. Overall, it was a big step forward for Charlie’s reliability and focus, even in busy, real-world settings.

Pupdate 7/14/25

Today, Charlie had another chance to work alongside a male trainer as part of checking in on her progress around men. A couple of days ago, she did growl at my dad, which we believe was triggered more by his tone and sudden movements than anything else. Charlie is definitely sensitive to sharp or assertive gestures, and it puts her on high alert. But with other men, her behavior tells a different story.

With my fiancé, for example, she’s a total cuddle bug—she’s even whined for his attention before and tries to climb onto his lap for extra pets. And during today’s trainer meet-up, when one of the male trainers came up to say hello, Charlie greeted him with a wagging tail.

We worked her alongside another male trainer as shown in the video, starting with on-leash heeling to help her settle into his presence. Once we moved onto the sidewalk, we let the leash drag and walked her through all of her commands. Charlie did really well—she stayed focused, responsive, and didn’t show any hesitation or discomfort.

Today reinforced that Charlie’s sensitivity around men really depends on the person and their energy. It’s not a blanket issue; it’s case by case. As long as the interaction is calm and respectful, she’s more than capable of staying relaxed and engaged.

Pupdate 7/15/25

Today, Charlie and I practiced her under command, helping her learn to tuck herself under chairs and small spaces in public. At first, she needed a little encouragement to actually get under the object—sometimes she’d hesitate or try to hover next to it—but once she settled into her down, she did great holding her position as I walked around her.

Along with under, we continued working on her off-leash heel and reinforcing her stability in sit and down while I stepped farther away from her. Overall, Charlie is handling herself really well out in public. Her focus is there, and she’s showing more consistency each outing.

One thing we’re continuing to build on is her confidence in crowded environments. Right now, she can get a little confused or hesitant when navigating through larger groups of people, but with more outings like this, she’s learning how to stay calm and follow through even with all that movement happening around her. Each session helps her get more comfortable with what to expect as we move in and around crowds, and she’s definitely on the right track.

Pupdate 7/16/25

Today Charlie and I took another trip to the mall to put all of her obedience skills to the test in a busy, real-world environment. This time there were dog distractions in the mix, and while Charlie was definitely interested at first, she showed solid control—disengaging each time I gave her an “off” command and refocusing on me.

We practiced her under command in a crowded seating area, as well as place and send to place at a nearby water fountain. The fountain was a new and slightly intimidating spot for her at first, especially with the sound of the water and the unfamiliar surface. It took a few tries, but by the end, she was confidently hopping up onto it with no hesitation.

Her heel work also showed real progress today. Unlike earlier outings, she wasn’t lagging behind or drifting away from my side. Her pace stayed consistent, and her confidence navigating through crowds has noticeably grown. Instead of stopping and scanning her surroundings, she’s learned to stick with me and keep moving.

We even paused a few times to chat with strangers, and Charlie handled it well—no signs of discomfort, just a little restlessness when she tried to get up from her sit, which is a small detail we’ll keep polishing.

Overall, Charlie is feeling really solid in her obedience now. She’s made big strides since the start of her training, and I’m proud of how far she’s come both in her skills and her confidence out in public.

Pupdate 7/17/25

Today Charlie had a really solid training session during our trip to Home Depot. With plenty of people, carts, and even giant floor-sweeping machines moving around, it was the perfect environment to challenge her focus and obedience.

We focused a lot on her send to place and under commands. For send to place, we practiced using wooden planks as her place object, which was a little tricky for her at first. She hesitated and stalled in front of the wood a few times, but with some reminders, she worked through it and started climbing on confidently. She’s also getting better at walking out in front of me on her own to find her place object instead of waiting for me to guide her all the way up. I’m even able to send her from farther distances now, which shows real progress.

Her under command is coming along perfectly. She had no problem getting under chairs and benches and laying there calmly, even with all the store activity happening around her.

We also had a chance to practice her greeting manners. One of the male staff members came up to say hello, and Charlie handled it beautifully. She wagged her tail, scooted up to him for pets, and showed clear, happy body language without any hesitation or nervousness.

The entire trip, Charlie stayed right next to me in an off-leash heel, walking confidently and close to my leg without any confusion in her commands. Today really showed how much her confidence and consistency have grown. She’s handling new environments and distractions with more clarity and reliability each time we go out.

Pupdate 7/18/25

Charlie has really grown in her everyday manners, and it shows in all the small routines we’ve been practicing. First up are her car manners. When it’s time to load up, Charlie knows to sit calmly by the trunk while I get everything ready. She waits patiently until I give her the “up” command to hop in—no rushing or jumping ahead, whether we’re at home or out in public.

Her door manners have also come a long way. I have her sit by the door while I open it and step through. She holds that sit until I release her, showing steady impulse control even when she’s ready to head out.

When it’s time for her food, I can put her in a sit and give her a “leave it” command, and she’ll wait until I say “break” before going to her bowl. It’s a simple routine, but it really highlights the focus and patience she’s developed through training.

All of these little things add up to a dog who’s not just obedient, but also calm and respectful in everyday life.

Pupdate 7/19/25

Today marks Charlie’s last day of training, and we couldn’t be prouder of how far she’s come!

One of Charlie’s biggest challenges coming into the program was her behavior around men. While she initially showed some hesitation and even growled at certain individuals, we quickly learned that her reactions weren’t about men as a whole—but more about specific behaviors or energy. When approached calmly and respectfully, Charlie has been nothing but sweet and affectionate. She’s taken treats, wagged her tail, and even sought out attention from male trainers and family members. It’s clear now that she isn’t men-reactive—it just takes the right approach to earn her trust.

Charlie’s obedience has come a long way. She’s working confidently off leash in public spaces, holding her heel position closely and consistently, even around distractions like other dogs, people, carts, and loud noises. Her sit, down, and place commands are solid, and she’s able to hold her positions while I move around or step away. We’ve even been able to build distance and difficulty into commands like send to place and under, and she handles them with growing confidence.

Her manners have also come together beautifully. Charlie now waits patiently to be loaded into the car, sits calmly by the door until released, and shows great food control when asked to sit and “leave it” until she hears her release cue. These everyday routines have become second nature to her and show the impulse control and clarity she’s developed through training.

Charlie came in with a few big question marks, but she’s leaving with a solid foundation, better communication, and a calmer, more focused mindset. We’re so proud of her progress—she’s a smart, sensitive, and loving girl who just needed the right structure to shine.

Charlie | English Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Glendora, CA | In- Training

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