Freddie | Porkie | Los Angeles, CA | In Training
- priscillakhoroffle
- Aug 8
- 14 min read
Updated: Aug 21
Meet Freddie Mercury! He’s a five-month-old Porkie (that’s a Pomeranian-Yorkie mix!) from Los Angeles, California, here for our Two-Week Board and Train Program. Freddie was bottle-fed from just two days old and is incredibly bonded to people—especially his family. While he’s sweet and affectionate, he’s still learning how to behave politely in a busy household. His family is looking for help with curbing his biting during teething, keeping him from slipping away when doors open, and managing his excitement around furniture and feet!
Over the next two weeks, we’ll be working on Freddie’s basic obedience, leash manners, impulse control, and teaching him how to calm down when asked. Stay tuned for Freddie’s Two Week Transformation!
Pupdate 8/8/25
In today’s pupdate, Freddie is very much in his own little world, taking everything at his own pace. During walks, he does everything he can to stay at the very end of the leash, often circling and spinning around me instead of walking in a straight line. When he meets new people, he tends to pee—a sign of his underconfidence—so a big part of his training will be helping him gain security and self-assurance as a little dog navigating a big world.
At home, Freddie struggles to signal when he needs to go potty, so we’ll be working on building clearer communication. He’s also hesitant to go into his crate on his own, but once he’s inside, he’s calm, quiet, and well-behaved, which is a great foundation to build on. When it comes to obedience, Freddie is starting from scratch. He doesn’t have a strong food drive, so we’ll be relying on praise and affection as his main rewards.
We introduced his “sit” command today, and while he can hold it for about one second, his excitement to be close to me quickly takes over and he pops right back up to say hello. There’s a lot of groundwork ahead, but Freddie is eager to engage and we’re looking forward to watching him grow over these next two weeks!
Pupdate 8/9/25
In today’s pupdate, we focused on building the foundation for Freddie’s impulse control through his sit command. I’m rewarding him only with attention when he’s sitting, teaching him that calm behavior earns what he wants. To set him up for success, I keep him on a leash a couple of feet away from me. As usual, he loves to jump and beg for my attention, but with verbal cues to sit—and the leash keeping him from reaching me—he’s learning to stay put and wait. Sometimes, he needs me to gently nudge his butt down to help him understand what I’m asking, but he’s beginning to catch on. While he still can’t hold his sit for very long, he’s starting to connect the dots that calmness is the key to getting attention.
We’re also practicing loose leash walking every time we go outside. If he pulls, I simply stop or turn the other way instead of letting him forge ahead. He’s slowly learning that rushing out in front doesn’t get him anywhere, while walking near my legs keeps us moving forward.
On the potty training side, Freddie hasn’t had any accidents in the house so far. I’m taking him out frequently to help him learn exactly where the right potty spot is around my house. As his sit command becomes more reliable, we’ll begin using it as a cue for him to sit by the door to let me know when he needs to go outside. Each day is another step forward in setting him up for long-term success.
Pupdate 8/10/25
In today’s pupdate, we focused on two key skills for Freddie—“place” and “sit”—and he’s really starting to connect the dots with both. For “place,” he jumps onto the platform objects with ease, showing no hesitation at all. Once he’s up there, he often automatically sits or lies down, which I make sure to praise him for right away. Working on a place platform has been especially helpful for him since he’s such a small pup—it gives him a clearly defined area to stay on, helps him feel secure, and makes it easier for him to focus without getting lost in distractions around him.
His sit command showed some exciting progress today as well. Freddie no longer needs me to gently nudge his butt into position; instead, he’s responding to leash pressure alone, which means he’s beginning to understand what the command means and how to perform it himself. We’ve also started incorporating sit into his potty routine by asking for it at the door before going outside. This will not only reinforce the behavior but also help him eventually learn to use sitting at the door as his way of telling us he needs to go out.
Another great sign is that Freddie is beginning to hold his sit for a little longer each time. While he’s still eager to pop up when excitement takes over, those extra seconds of patience are exactly what we want to see as we build his impulse control. With continued consistency, these small wins will add up to big progress over the next two weeks.
Pupdate 8/11/25
Today’s pupdate is all about Freddie’s sit command! I demonstrate in the video above what many repetitions of sit should look like.
To ask for the sit, I simply say the word “Sit” and follow up with a gentle leash pressure upward to help guide them into position. As soon as their butt touches the ground, I praise with “Good sit!”—this reinforces the command and lets them know they got it right.
Once they’re in position, we start to build three important skills:
Duration: how long they can hold the sit
Distance: how far away I can move while they stay in position
Distractions: how well they can stay sitting while things happen around them
In this video, I’m focusing on duration. This helps teach them to stay put until they’re told otherwise, even if things get exciting around them. They’re working on impulse control at this stage, and as we practice more, they will be able to handle more distractions.
If they get up from the position before I release them, I go back to using the leash pressure and a verbal “sit” to correct them.
As training continues in busier environments, we’ll naturally get more opportunities to work with distractions—helping them become even more reliable in their sit.
When we’re ready to end the command—or any command—I use the release word “Break!” to let them know they’re free to move around.
Pupdate 8/12/25
On our trip to the park, Freddie had a great opportunity to practice being calm around distractions. We met up with other trainers and their dogs, which immediately had him buzzing with excitement. At first, he was running in circles, trying to see everyone, and barking—sometimes at dogs, but mostly at people passing by. We used the environment as a training opportunity, working on his impulse control and reinforcing calm behavior through sit and down practice. As the visit went on and he wore himself out from all the initial excitement, his ability to focus and settle improved noticeably.
Moving from the car to the benches gave Freddie a chance to work on his loose leash walking and even begin practicing heel. His leash walking is still spastic at times, but there’s progress—less charging forward and spinning around at the end of the leash than before. His sit command is coming along nicely, too. He’s starting to respond more consistently and can stay in position even when I move slightly around him. Over time, I’ll keep increasing my distance and movement so he learns to hold the sit no matter where I am.
Using his sit as a foundation, we introduced the down command. I sat on the ground next to him and guided him through the motion, rewarding him whenever he managed to follow through. At first, he was stubborn and didn’t want to lay down on command, but after a few repetitions, he started to respond to the combination of leash guidance and my verbal cue. By the end of the session, he was more willing to follow through, marking another step forward in his training journey.
Pupdate 8/13/25
Today’s pupdate is about Freddie’s place command! I demonstrate in the video above what a few repetitions of the place command look like during a training session.
To guide them onto the place object, I use gentle leash pressure in the direction of the object and reward any effort they make toward it—whether that’s looking at it, sniffing it, or placing a paw on it. Each step toward the object is a confidence-building moment. For puppies or underconfident dogs, this process helps them feel more secure exploring new surfaces and responding to guidance.
When they get onto the place object—either sitting or lying down—I offer praise, “good place!” to reinforce both their position and the command. This helps create a clear connection between their actions and your expectations.
There are four simple rules to remember when teaching place:
The place object must have clearly defined edges (like a dog bed, towel, or bench).
Only use place objects that they are allowed on. Don’t use your bed or couch if they’re normally off-limits.
Always follow through and get the “win.” If they are hesitant or struggle to climb onto an object, assist them. Helping them succeed builds both confidence and reliability.
Build duration slowly. Start with just a few seconds and gradually increase the time over multiple sessions.
Once they are on the place, we work on three main things:
Duration: how long they stay in place
Distance: how far away we can move while they remain in place
Distractions: how many things can happen around them while they stay in place
In the video, I’m working on all three. You’ll see them staying on place even when I move away, which takes practice and trust.
When we’re done with the command—or any command—I release them with the word “Break!” which lets them know they’re free to move about again.
Pupdate 8/14/25
Today’s pupdate is about Freddie’s down command! I demonstrate in the video above what some repetitions of the command look like.
To guide them into the position, I give the verbal cue “Down” and apply gentle downward leash pressure to help them understand what I’m asking. As soon as their elbows hit the ground, I praise with a cheerful “Good down!”—reinforcing the command through positive feedback.
Once they’re in their down, we begin building three essential skills:
Duration: how long they can hold the down
Distance: how far away I can move while they stay in place
Distractions: how well they can stay focused even with movement or noise around them
In the video, I’m working on duration. I ask for the down command and each time, wait a little longer before releasing them! The goal is to teach them that the down command means stay there until they hear the release word.
If they do break the position early, I gently guide them back into the down with leash pressure and calmly repeat the command. This repetition and consistency helps build reliability and focus, even in the face of distractions.
As we begin working in more public or busy environments, their ability to stay in a down will continue to improve.
When we’re done with the command—or any command—I release them with their word “Break!” which lets them know they’re free to move and be themselves.
Pupdate 8/15/25
On our trip to the mall, Freddie got to practice his training in a busy environment. With people walking in every direction, he was definitely very excited—almost as if he wanted to meet every single person who passed by. This made it a perfect opportunity to work on his heel command. At first, he struggled to stay with me around all the distractions, but after some repetition, he began to fall into a steady pace. He still needs quite a few leash corrections to remind him not to rush ahead, but the big win is that he’s stopped sprinting out in front of me. Now, he just drifts forward a bit, so we’re fine-tuning exactly where I want him to be in heel position.
We also worked on his place command, using taller objects. Freddie sometimes hesitates the first time he approaches a new place surface, showing a bit of uncertainty, but with encouragement, he gains confidence quickly. After that first success, he’s eager and happy to jump onto the object every time. The mall setting also gave us a great chance to reinforce his impulse control and practice both sit and down. His improvement here is huge—where before he would only hold a position for a second or so, now he’s able to remain sitting or lying down while I step away without getting overly excited or breaking position.
We’re still putting time into his “come to sit.” The automatic sit at the end is coming along nicely, but the U-turn behind me to get into position is still a bit confusing for him. Even so, his progress across multiple commands is showing, and each outing helps him become more focused and confident in the middle of busy, real-world distractions.
Pupdate 8/16/25
On our trip to Home Depot, Freddie had the perfect chance to work around lots of real-world distractions. There were staff walking by with carts, machinery moving around, and shelves being restocked with big, noisy products. With all that going on, Freddie definitely struggled at times to contain himself—especially when he saw people walking toward us, since he always wants to greet them. We used these moments to work on neutrality around people, showing him that when we’re out in public, he doesn’t get to run up to everyone. By calmly walking past people without letting him approach, he’s learning that being out and about doesn’t mean greeting every passerby.
The aisles at Home Depot also gave us a great setup to polish his heel command. Freddie tends to forge ahead, but by using the corners of the aisles, I could make turns in front of him so he learned that stepping out in front means running into my leg. Walking close to the aisles also helped guide him into position right by my side. As he improves, we’ll start moving away from those physical barriers so he understands that, even without the wall next to him, he’s still expected to stay tight in heel position.
We also had plenty of chances to practice place on new objects. Freddie doesn’t have any trouble with the act of jumping up, but some of the taller objects made him pause at first. With encouragement, he worked through that hesitation and built up his confidence, which is exactly what these exposures are for. Overall, Home Depot was a fantastic training field trip—Freddie faced plenty of challenges, and each one gave us a chance to reinforce calmness, focus, and confidence in a busy environment.
Pupdate 8/17/25
Today’s pupdate is about Freddie’s heel command! I demonstrate in the video above what a few repetitions of heel look like in action.
The heel command is different from most other commands because it’s a moving position—the dog is joining your motion rather than holding one spot. The heel position I’m teaching is right next to my left leg, with their face not going past my knee. That’s the “safe zone” we want them to consistently stay in.
The dog should start and end the heel command in a sit by my left leg. To begin, I say “Heel” and step forward, using gentle leash guidance to help them find the correct position. If they drift too far forward, lag behind, or move away from my side, I simply guide them back into place with the leash and repeat “Heel” as a reminder.
It’s important to praise while they are in position, so when they’re walking nicely by my side, I mark it with a cheerful “Good heel!” to reinforce the correct spot.
When it’s time to stop, I give them a heads-up by saying, “And Freddie, sit,” then stop walking on the word “sit.” This allows them to predict the stop and smoothly transition into a sit at my side.
As we progress, we’ll practice heel around more distractions—like other people and dogs!
Pupdate 8/18/25
In today’s trip to the park, Freddie had the chance to train around plenty of real-world distractions as we met up with a few other trainers and their dogs. He was definitely very excited to see everyone and sometimes barked at the other dogs, but the nice thing was that he calmed down fairly quickly and was able to refocus on his work. With so much activity around him, I noticed he was a little more prone to wandering off, but overall he still held onto his obedience pretty well. It did take a few leash corrections to keep him in heel, but that’s part of the growth—learning to hold his position even when distractions are pulling his focus elsewhere. This has been one of the biggest areas of progress for him so far.
As we practiced, I also saw how his impulse control tends to drop when he gets more tired, which is completely normal for young dogs. To keep him set up for success, we work in shorter, more frequent sessions that keep his focus sharp. A big part of our training today was his “come to sit” command, and Freddie did really well with it. At first, he needed a bit of leash guidance to help complete the U-turn, but once he settled into training mode, he was able to do the turn on his own. Sometimes he was even a little too eager and would cut in between my legs instead of going fully around, but with repetition he’s getting better at understanding the exact movement.
We’ve also been building his confidence with place by encouraging him to jump onto picnic benches at the park, as well as into the car this past week. Freddie definitely has some wings—once he gathers the courage to go for it, he’s more than happy to leap up. Overall, his obedience on leash is coming together nicely, and the continued practice around distractions will only help him sharpen his focus and control.
Pupdate 8/19/25
Today’s pupdate is about Freddie’s come to sit! I demonstrate in the video above what a few repetitions of the command should look like. The key to this exercise is how they make a U-turn behind me and finishes in a sit at my left side—the same place where the heel command begins. You’ll see me working on cleaning up this position in the video! I’m teaching him to sit parallel to me rather than facing me from the side.
To guide them through the motion, I use clear verbal cues along with gentle leash pressure to help shape their U-turn behind me and guide them into the sit position. If they slow down or become distracted on their way in, I simply repeat the “Come” command to keep them on track.
I’ll say “Sit” once they arrive in the correct position. Over time, that reminder will be phased out so they understand that “Come” means to come all the way in and sit by my side.
When they finish the command correctly, I praise with “Good come!” to reinforce the behavior and help them associate the word with the whole pattern.
As they build confidence with the U-turn motion, we’ll start practicing recalls from farther distances and in more distracting environments.
When we’re done with the command—or any command—I release them with their word “Break!” and give them lots of love.
Pupdate 8/20/25
In today’s update, Freddie and I took a trip to the mall where we were able to put all of his obedience skills together—and capture it all on video to show just how far he’s come. When Freddie first started training, he was a little whirlwind of energy: constantly pulling to the end of the leash, spinning in circles, barking at people, and barely able to hold a sit for even a second. He wanted to meet everyone he saw, and impulse control was a real struggle for him.
Fast forward to now, and the difference is incredible. At the mall, Freddie showed off how much calmer and more focused he’s become. Instead of charging forward or spinning around, he was able to walk in heel, keep his attention on me, and work through the crowds of people without losing his cool. He practiced all of his commands—sit, down, place, heel, and come to sit—and showed just how much impulse control he’s developed.
Watching him go from that excited, crazy little pup to a dog who can stay composed in such a busy environment is a huge milestone. The progress is clear, and it’s exciting to see how his training has truly transformed the way he handles the world around him.
Pupdate 8/21/25
In today’s pupdate, we focused on polishing his manners, and he’s really showing how much structure helps him shine. For car manners, he knows to sit in front of the car before I even open the trunk. He waits calmly in that position until I release him, and only then does he jump into the car. This simple routine keeps things safe and controlled, even when he’s excited to go for a ride.
His food manners have also come together nicely. When I set his bowl down, I tell him “leave it,” and he understands to wait until I release him with “break.” Even with his food right in front of him, he shows patience and control, holding back until he’s told it’s okay. It’s a big shift from instinctively rushing to eat, and it gives him a chance to practice impulse control every day.
We’ve also worked a lot on his door manners. Before I open the door, I place him in a sit. He stays there while I step out, put on my shoes, and grab his leash, and he doesn’t move until I tell him to come. With the excitement of heading outside, this is a big accomplishment, and it shows how much progress he’s made in waiting calmly for direction. These manners make everyday life smoother and are a great reflection of all the training he’s been putting in.
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