Dylan | Labrador Mix | Burbank, CA | In Training

Meet Dylan! This charming ten-month-old Labrador mix hails from Burbank, California. Dylan is currently enrolled in our One Week Board and Train Program, where he'll be honing his basic obedience and manners. In the past, he has shown an overwhelming enthusiasm when encountering other dogs and people, often resorting to jumping and vocalizing. We're also dedicated to refining his leash etiquette, as he tends to pull during walks. Additionally, Dylan has been caught in the act of counter surfing, darting out the door, and making unsanctioned chew toys out of items. During his stay with us, our primary focus is to address these behaviors and establish a foundation of obedience. With some structure and a focus on basic obedience, we're committed to helping Dylan become the best version of himself. Stay tuned for the amazing journey he'll embark on these next few days!

---

Pupdate 11/05/23

Upon welcoming Dylan into our training program, we immediately assessed his current skill set. It was evident that he had a partial grasp of certain commands when provided with some guidance, yet distractions easily derailed his focus.

Back at home, we initiated our training regimen, introducing fundamental commands such as "heel," "sit," "come," "off," and "break" during our walk. Our "come to sit" command involved him circling around us and sitting in the "heel" spot on our left side, ensuring a smooth recall. This setup not only prevents Dylan from coming and immediately departing but also allows us to transition seamlessly into heeling if needed.

Considering how distracted he was during the outdoor walk, we opted for some indoor sessions to enhance our effectiveness with these commands. Through guidance and reinforcement, we observed significant progress in his comprehension of "heel" and "come to sit." While he occasionally attempted to pull or cross over to the opposite side, a gentle application of leash pressure helped him regain the correct position.

Dylan is also making notable advancements in his understanding of the "sit" command. Importantly, our "break" command serves as the release signal. All of our commands have an implied stay. What that means is that he has to stay in position until he's released or given another command. Any deviation from the desired command results in putting him back into position.

---

Pupdate 11/06/23

Today, Dylan and I embarked on our training session in a park, surrounded by several other dogs and trainers. Our focus was on reinforcing fundamental commands, including "sit," "come to sit," "heel," "off," and "break." In addition, we had the opportunity to introduce the "place" command into Dylan's repertoire.

Due to all of the scents and the atmosphere, Dylan occasionally found himself distracted. Nevertheless, we made notable progress in his "heel" command. While he still exhibited moments of dragging behind to sniff at things, he didn't pull forward as much.

Occasionally, Dylan expressed his excitement through vocalization, but we managed this behavior with gentle leash pressure and redirecting him with other commands, effectively minimizing his whining.

After our park session, Dylan and I continued our training at home. We worked on refining his commands. Notably, we started incorporating duration into his "sit" and "place" commands. Dylan demonstrates proficiency in maintaining his position, yet his concentration tends to waver whenever a distraction passes by. We also did several sessions where we would just focus on getting his attention. Everytime he would look at us, he would receive a reward. After several repetitions, we were able to get better engagement throughout our sessions.

---

Pupdate 11/07/23

Today, Dylan and I worked out in a park. We gradually progressed throughout the day, starting in the house and gradually adding distractions until we reached the park. Prior to our sessions, we performed engagement exercises, which helped him focus better. Dylan's performance at the park was better than yesterday. Although he vocalized around other dogs and people, he didn't lag behind as much to observe them and maintained eye contact for longer periods. Whenever he fixated on a distraction, I instructed him to "off," which is our leave-it command, and rewarded him with praise and play as soon as he complied. We successfully went through all of his known commands, which include "sit," "heel," "come to sit," and "place." He still requires some guidance when circling around for the "come to sit" command. His duration for "sit" and "heel" is improving, and we also began introducing the "down" command.

---

Pupdate 11/08/23

Today, we had a productive training session that involved various locations: school, park, and home. We introduced longer durations and incorporated mild distractions while working outside the house. Although he stayed focused for an extended period, he did get distracted towards the end of the session.

At the school and park, we diligently reviewed all the commands he's learned. Given the higher distraction levels in these settings, we began with a brief engagement game to sharpen his focus. While our focus was better than yesterday, there were occasional moments of vocalization and fixation on the distractions. To address this, we employed leash pressure and issued clear commands to guide him back on track.

Back at home, we continued to reinforce his "down" command. Although some leash pressure was still necessary, he responded more swiftly compared to the previous day. Our training is making steady progress, and we're working on minimizing distractions and strengthening his responses to commands.

---

Pupdate 11/09/23

Today, we practiced all of our commands diligently. Exploring a new park, navigating a shopping plaza, and working around the house, we covered a variety of environments. Dylan, while making progress in extending his focus, still requires consistent reminders, especially for the "down" command where he needed guidance still. He needs some extra guidance for his " come to sit" when he's distracted but his "sit" and "heel" have been improving greatly.

He was especially distracted at the shopping plaza and park. He need some guidance while in the middle of commands when people were walking by. Once he got into position, he did remain in it even when people were walking by.

---

Pupdate 11/10/23

Today, we diligently practiced all of his commands while also refining his manners. Dylan, while opportunistic, is making progress—consistency is key. Reinforcing commands and returning him to them ensures continued improvement. The second you aren't consistent, he won't be. Positive strides are evident in his door manners, and his food etiquette is great. We focused on enhancing command duration and managing distractions, particularly when encountering any high level activity such as a dog or person running or playing. We did get time to adventure around a nearby trail and he had a fun time.

---

Pupdate 11/11/23

Today, we visited a mall to complete filming Dylan's final. Initially, he was somewhat distracted, but with some engagement reps, we successfully regained his focus. Despite a momentary excitement over dogs, he remained in a sit command, reinforcing the importance of consistent structure. Establishing clear rules and boundaries for Dylan is key to shaping his behavior. Consider envisioning the desired day-to-day interactions and reinforcing those expectations, whether it's not rushing out the door or maintaining a calm demeanor when greeting others. We want to maintain a consistency in what we do. 

The day continued with an overall review of commands and house manners and also training sessions at the park.

Be sure to watch this video before our turnover. It'll introduce the ecollar which we will be using this in our lesson