Meet Dexter! He is a five month old Goldendoodle who has joined us for our Two Week Board and Train Program. Dexter is here for basic obedience, leash pulling, jumping to greet, and nipping. He gets easily distracted by people and other dogs, but can be a little nervous around them both at times. Dexter will occasionally nip or throw a tantrum when he does not get his way. Over the next fourteen days, Dexter will be working on building a strong foundation and be set up for success, with the hopes of becoming a well-mannered pup. Check in to see his progress!
Dexter and I spent the afternoon getting to know each other. As you may have noticed during pickup, I took him for a walk throughout the park to establish a bond. He was not necessarily pulling on his leash, but he did get ahead of me a few times. To correct his behavior, I introduced Dexter to Heel. This technique consists of having Dexter walk next to me on my left side. I introduced him to the E-Collar as well, and he responds to it at low levels. Anytime Dexter would get ahead of me, I would turn around, walk in the opposite direction, and guide him towards me with leash tension. Dexter is a quick learner and it did not take long for him to understand what I was asking. We will continue to work on Heel as it will now be applied on every walk we go on.
Dexter was introduced to his recall which is known as Come to Sit. This technique consists of having Dexter come towards my right, going around behind me, and sitting on my left. He did very well and understood the concept while working on it at home. When it came to practicing in the park, Dexter had a little trouble following through due to him being in a new environment and trying to adjust to what was going on around him. It is not uncommon for dogs to have difficulty following through with new behaviors in new environments due to distractions and unfamiliar surroundings. It is important to continue practicing Come to Sit in a variety of environments to help Dexter become more comfortable and confident with the technique. With patience, persistence, and consistent training, Dexter should eventually become more comfortable and proficient with the Come to Sit recall technique in a variety of environments.
Dexter was introduced to Place. This consists of having Dexter get onto an elevated object and remaining there in a Sit or a Down. Like I explained at pickup when you asked about having Dexter in a specific spot when someone is at the door, Place can be of great use for that sole purpose. It also works as a confidence builder for dogs in general. By walking Dexter towards the object and using leash tension, he was able to place his front paws on the elevated surface, which was rewarded with praise. To have his back legs get on, I assisted him by picking them up and then asking him to Sit. We worked on a few reps, and even though he still needed guidance, Dexter began to follow through. He still makes a climbing effort instead of hopping on, but with more practice and a few running starts, I have hopes that Dexter will grasp onto it and begin to hop on.
Dexter and I worked on what he has learned so far in his training. His recall is coming along pretty good the more we work on it, as it is one of the important skills for a dog to have. His Heel has progressed really well due to our morning and evening walks which can be very helpful to strengthen good leash behavior. His Place is also pretty good, even with a dog distraction, and although Dexter went into a Down when originally asked to Sit, I corrected his behavior by resetting and working him through it. It is not uncommon for dogs to make mistakes during training, but keep in mind to remain patient and consistent with corrections.
Dexter was introduced to Down today. This technique can be one of the most difficult behaviors to teach a dog considering the fact that it can make a dog feel vulnerable being in a submissive position. To teach Dexter, I first ask him to Sit, then begin to to guide him towards the ground with leash tension. If he made an intent to sit up, I proceeded to place my hand above his back end and apply pressure anytime he tried. Dexter understood the concept fairly fast, and after a couple of attempts, he was able to follow through.
Dexter and I took a drive to work around different distractions such as bicycles, people, skateboards, and other dogs. Throughout our walk he was very distracted with everything around him, and it took him some time to adjust to his surroundings. Once adjusted, we worked on his Place and Down. He did pretty good, and even though his Down still needs a little more practice, he followed through despite everything going on around him.
Dexter and I had another beach day and we began to work on distance and duration Sit with a fifteen foot long line around distractions. We have been working on it at home by increasing distance in increments of five seconds. For example, one foot back is five seconds, two feet back is ten seconds, three feet back is fifteen seconds and so on. Anytime Dexter followed through I released him with a “Break” and rewarded him with praise. He is doing very well for being a highly distracted puppy. I will continue to practice with consistency, and gradually make my way to the end of the long line.
Dexter and I have been working on socialization with other dogs. He was a little nervous when he was introduced, but eventually he became very social and began to engage in play with his buddy Wesson. Socialization is very important to teach a dog at a young age. It helps them develop good behavior and communication skills with other dogs as well as humans. It also helps to prevent fear and aggression towards other dogs, which can be a common problem for dogs that lack socialization. When introducing Dexter to other dogs, it is important to do it gradually and in a controlled environment. I also supervise the interaction to ensure that he is playing nicely and not too rough. In addition, exposing Dexter to a variety of people and public settings full of distractions can help him become well-rounded and adaptable. By providing these experiences in different settings, it helps Dexter become a confident and well-behaved companion.
Dexter and I went out for a walk around the neighborhood today and we practiced his Heel by having his leash drag. He did get a little ahead of me a few times, but by redirecting in the opposite direction, Dexter followed through. We also worked on his Sit and his Down, which he did pretty well with. What he needed assistance with was Place, as he sometimes needs a little leash guidance to get him onto an object. He still needs more practice, and by having him follow me and getting onto the object myself, he is understanding what I am asking and working through it. With a running start, I am able to have him jump on rather than climbing on. With his final week in training, Dexter will now be preparing for his off leash experience.
Dexter and I met with other trainers at a local park today and worked on some leash dragging exercises with dogs serving as a distraction. He was having some trouble with his recall but we are continuing to work on it to have it cleaned up. Dexter also came out of his Sit, but by resetting and having him Sit in the same spot, I was able to correct his behavior and have him follow through. It is normal for dogs to have some trouble with commands when there are other dogs around to distract them. By remaining consistent and having clear communication, it can strengthen the behavior which avoids the unwanted behavior from Dexter.
Dexter and I have been working on his Greeting Manners. He has learned that he is to remain in a Sit or Down whenever he is approached by someone that wants to say hello. In the beginning of his training, Dexter would come out of his position whenever I stepped away and would also try to nip in a playful manner, but throughout his Program I corrected his behavior and he began to understand the concept. Repetition and consistency were once again key, and Dexter has now managed to successfully be greeted without coming out of his stationary position.
Dexter and I began to work on some off leash exercises today and he did really well around distractions such as people and bicycles that passed by. His recall has made an improvement, and his Down has made progress as well. His Place and Sit still need a little more practice, but we are working through it. Dexter will now be working off leash for the remainder of his Program as we continue practice runs to begin filming his Final.
Dexter and I worked on his Final today and he did really well. Everything he learned was pieced together and I am proud of how far he has come along these past two weeks. Dexter is very bright and as long as his training remains consistent, he can be capable of so much more. Given his age and excitable temperament, Dexter is full of energy and I highly recommend taking him on routine daily walks with a structured Heel to work through some of that energy. Dexter also enjoys his playtime whether it is with another dog or if he runs around the backyard by himself with my supervision.
Dexter has completed his Two Week Board and Train Program and is ready to come home. I want to thank you for trusting me with Dexter while he was under my care and for also giving me the opportunity to be his trainer. I am looking forward to showing you what he can do and how bright this energetic pup is. He was a great companion and he will be missed. His Final video will be up very soon, but here is a peek at Dexter working on his Door Manners. Thank you Dexter!
