Meet Jefe! Jefe is an 11-month-old Doberman Pinscher here joining our Two-Week Board and Train Program! Jefe is hesitant about meeting new people but once he warms up to you, he is quite sweet. Although, he does continue feelings of reservations with men. Jefe has a tendency to be reactive to other canines and felines even though he has both types of siblings at home. Overall, he does have an understanding of his basic commands but lacks the ability to hold his commands or focus while out in public. Leading to him pulling on the leash and simply not following his humanās instruction. Jefe also marks his territory inside and outside the home. Throughout these two weeks we will work on solidifying his basic obedience commands, holding his stationary positions both inside and outside the home. As well as learning to coexist around other canines and all humans. We hope you enjoy his two-week transformation!
Pupdate 8/5/2023
On the drive home, Jefe had his moments of being calm and comfortable to whining. Any time the whining has ceased, we always tell Jefe, something along the lines of āgood boyā so he knows that he is doing the right thing of no longer whining. As we arrived home, he explored the backyard, familiarizing himself with the new environment and was happy to have some time to frolic around.
We started the introduction to āoffā. Off we use as our general ādo not doā command. This command is very versatile, as it can be Off to sticking his nose on the ground, to hyper focusing on something else, him beginning to mark something you donāt want him to, cease barking, etc. We also worked on some leash pressure with Jefe, and he did pretty well following the direction of the leash. Even though we practiced in the backyard with no distractions. Once the boys became fully settled into the home, (and after mini working sessions with leash pressure) they took naps inside their crates. They would occasionally bark/whine when hearing a noise.
Pupdate 8/6/2023
We started off our training by introducing Jefe to the Place command. It is important to stay consistent and ensure an appropriate follow-through with each task. Please listen to the audio for todayās video regarding the Place command!
Much to our surprise Jefe was a bit hesitant starting off with the place command. Once he got the hang of it, he would test his boundaries to see what he could get away with. This was done by having one paw on the place or keeping one paw off. As long as we stay consistent, he will realize there is no give in our boundaries.
Pupdate 8/7/2023
Jefe had a great day of training today! We introduced his Come to Sit command, also known as his Recall. A solid recall for all canines is an important aspect of training to ensure a pupās safety. When we ask Jefe to Come, we want him to come to our right-hand side, loop directly behind us, ending in a seated position on our lefthand side. Once in this position we can then ask him to Heel, Sit (for an extended amount of time) or Break! (His release command). Please note that we do not use āstayā as a command. We simply repeat the last ask (in this case Sit) to remind him and/or if he preemptively breaks command. Please listen to the auto on todayās video for more information about the Come to Sit command!
Thus far, Jefe has met 4 dogs through the crate. With either him in the crate or the other pups in their crate while Jefe walks past. The first interaction was while Ramses was still here. They both instantly began reacting. A very firm āNOā was needed a few times followed by a clap of our hands to help snap them break focus. After that, they both looked without reacting. But likely because we kept space between them and preemptively told them āNoā before they had the opportunity to react.
Jefe has met (through the crate) a Siberian Husky, English Labrador, and a German Short Haired Pointer. The GSP is the only pup that is a female. Jefe had a much calmer interaction (through the crate) with the female. In any case, we are preemptively telling him āNoā and ensuring he is polite. At any point when his body stiffens/tenses up or he lingers for what we feel is ātoo longā we tell him āOff!ā and break his focus. If the dogs āsurpriseā him, he will start with a growl, which we quickly interrupt.
During our evening walks he does decently well seeing other pups at a distance. We of course keep him in āworking modeā. Today we did encounter (within 8 ft) a small reactive dog. Jefe partly tried to react but also tried to scurry off as it caught him off guard. We stayed consistent with Off and Heel, acting like nothing happened. This is to avoid feeding into the reaction and anxiety.
Pupdate 8/8/2023
Featured in our video today, you will see Jefe working on all of his basic commands. These include Come to Sit, Sit/Down/Place (holding his positions as well) and the Heel command. Now that he has a full understanding of each task, the next step is to start venturing out to public spaces and work on all the commands with various distractions. This will help solidify the commands. Jefe may test the boundaries to see what he can get away with. If you give an inch, he will take a mile! The best practice will always be staying consistent and firm with your rules and boundaries set. Never āgive upā! All that will teach him is he will get his way if he simply out suborns you. It can also be looked at as the equivalent of giving the child who is throwing a tantrum a lollipop, so they stop. At that point it becomes a learned behavior.
Pupdate 8/9/2023
Today we ventured out to a couple of parks to work on Jefeās commands in a general public location. This park had some distractions but not too much as to not overwhelm Jefe. There were other people and a few other dogs around. Jefe seems to be quite uncertain of tiny humans. He stares at them with the same intensity as he does with some dogs, more so smaller or excitable dogs. While out and about, Jefe is allowed to look, but never allowed to hyperfocus as that likely will intensify, leading to a reaction.
Anytime another dog shows any sort of interest in Jefe, that is when he has more trouble focusing and beingsā anxiety whining. We keep Jefeās brain busy by continuing to work. Whining is something we want to discourage as it can continue to escalate leading to larger issues. It is important to keep in mind that during any of these moments, we are not providing Jefe with any physical touch. Canines see that as a positive reinforcement, thinking what they are doing is okay/wanted. A close eye is kept on him, and we provide him with constant communication and structure.
We want to be proactive instead of reactive. Being proactive (steady communication) with Jefe aids in keeping his focus on us. Leading to less opportunities he has to react to the environment. We did notice Jefe does not like it when people or dogs are walking behind him. Jefe will start walking sideways to look behind him and not follow our lead. Keeping his Heel tight and preventing him from looking back will help mitigate this issue. The goal is to have Jefe not worry about the external factors and follow our lead.
Jefe has worked about numerous male trainers and walked by male patrons in close proximity without reacting. Sometimes he is cautious/hesitant of them, but we are working diligently to prevent reactive behaviors. Please listen to the audio on todays video to have an idea of how we talk Jefe through some uncertain times.
Pupdate 8/10/2023
Jefe, Ramses, Tanner, and I met up to all work together. When Jefe saw them at a distance, he was interested in saying āhiā but was able to wait until given the okay to do so. He immediately greeted Ramses with a play bow, happy to see his brother again. We spent some time walking around the park before attempting to walk the boys in a double heel. It took a few minutes for them to walk near each other without making attempts to go towards one another.
Once we started the double heel, it was quite difficult. After they got into the grove of things, they both became a bit easier to manage. Ramses was the one to often bug, punk, or initiate play. But when Ramses was more insecure Jefe felt the need to correct him. In either case we hold them both accountable to the same degree, making it an even playing field. We immediately discourage anything else other than the task at hand.
Throughout our entire time together it was observed that Jefe is more confident than Ramses. Although Jefe still struggles to be completely confident in himself, generally speaking. Jefe appears to be more unsure of people in overall in close quarters or if they seem to be directly approaching him in a stationary position. If there is space and they walk past him like no big deal, Jefe does well to pay them no mind. Regardless, we are still proactive in keeping his focus and attention on us.
Pupdate 8/11/2023
We ventured out to our local Lowes to work Jefe in a new and relatively unusual environment. We started off in the garden section before moving indoors. Initially Jefe was a bit unsure of the atmosphere. He was quite unsure of the sliding glass doors as they moved automatically. After some adjustment time and working him around these unusual items, we were able to move inside. As Jefe became more comfortable, he became more focus on us and not so much the distractions. Although that did take some time.
Jefe practiced Place on different objects to help build confidence and provide him with variety. The flatbed carts were initially a big challenge. Just because Jefe may resist or be a bit uncomfortable, we donāt want to give up. We keep persevering and reach our goal set as we always set small attainable goals. After continued practice he was practicing Place with ease.
Pupdate 8/12/2023
Jefeās true sweet and loving personality has come into full effect while at home. Heās made friends with Mike and with his Chocolate Labrador Oso! They are now all the best of pals and love to run around, play together, and semi share toys. Both like to take it from the other once they walk away for a moment.
Jefe time to time displays some pushy behaviors to Oso. While monitoring their play, here are a few things we look for to discourage. Jefe is not to sniff/obsess over where another dog has just gone potty. This is a dominant behavior leading to marking and over obsessing. Nor is Jefe allowed to stick his nose in any caninesā private areas. Dogs donāt need to push their nose in someone elseās business to get to know them. A simple sniff is all we allow. Jefe at no point should be posturing over another canine either. This is where he stiffens his body, stands up tall, and leans over a dogās shoulders. These are also all things another canine should not be doing to Jefe. It should always be an even playing field.
If at any point we feel the play interaction is becoming too escalated, we call the dogs off of each other. Even if the break is only for 30 seconds, it helps decompress the situation and prevents any potential issues. We are so happy Jefe has been able to make new friends and make great strides in canine interaction. Always keep in mind he may not like every dog he meets, just as we donāt like every person we meet. We suggest meeting the same puppy friends a few times before letting them interact and play together as well.
Pupdate 8/13/2023
We took a trip with Jefe down to Huntington Beach to work around higher distractions. Jefe was quite overwhelmed with the number of distractions initially. We continued to Heel him around to help him adjust and work through some of the nervousness/anxiety. Jefe was cautious around the bikes and skateboards zooming by.
Constant communication is provided to him to better work him through any issues.
Overall, Jefe did pretty well with the distractions, all things considered. His weakness is those smaller āexcitableā dogs. This one in particular was barking at Jefe. If we can catch these interactions before Jefe has an opportunity to react, that will be the best practice. When this small dog had Jefeās attention, we continue with our task and continued reinforcement. The moment we lack in our part, the pups will begin reverting back to old habits.
Jefe is pictured with his other puppy pal Daisy.
Pupdate 8/14/2023
This morning Jefe embarked on a journey to Starbucks. He had some moments of foraging ahead but was easily manageable. Inside of the Starbucks Jefe and Oso felt the need to play. While this can be cute, thereās always a time and place for play time. So, after 30 seconds we intervened to end the play for the time being. The boys were then permitted playtime when appropriate again.
When Jefe does not have the e-collar on, it is much more difficult to reinforce any task. While for the most part he will respond to our cues, he will push his boundaries. Today while playing he became pushy with the toys and growled at Oso when he came near. We immediately told Jefe Off, and brought them inside, ending the playtime. At this moment, it would have been much more efficient to have the collar on.
Our next stop for the day was at a park to work on semi-off leash work. There were moments where the leash was dragged or tied off to his collar. Jefeās focus went to small yapping dogs here and there. As well as the squirrels around the park. In both cases he attempted to go towards the other animal. Within seconds, we immediately increase the levels on the remote, and more firmly ask Jefe to Come. Swift responses will yield the best results.
An important note with the remote and e-collar system is we need that stimulation to be more distracting than the distractions. Somewhere quiet, numbers are lower, somewhere with more distractions, numbers are higher. Itās always going to be dependent on the canine at that moment in time. So, your numbers will always be changing.
Pupdate 8/15/2023
We took a trip to our local mall and boy oh boy was it busy! We spent a lot of time just walking around to help him acclimate to the environment and work with his nerves/anxiety. It wasnāt until the end of our visit (about 45- 1 hour) that Jefe became more tired/relaxed.
During our time there, Jefe was on high alert, constantly looking/turning around to see whatās going on, and occasionally veered off to sniff people/peoplesā bags. There were a few times he would simply move out of position due to being distracted overall. Small children still make him a bit nervous but not enough to react in any way. In any case, we keep his attention on us, watch him diligently, and create a little space when possible.
As we practiced his recall, he is quite confused and tried to cut corners due to the busy environment. He would still come to us but would not fully complete the command. Nonetheless, we were very proud of Jefe and his ability to be around such a busy environment!
Pupdate 8/16/2023
Our adventure today took us out to Cerritos Mall. It didnāt seem quite as busy as our local mall yesterday, but Jefe was much more anxious today. Not only was his head and ears on a constant swivel, but he kept releasing himself early from stationary commands. We could also visibility see the body trembles in Jefe. At the very beginning of our trip there was a small dog in a stroller who was going crazy towards Jefe. He managed to follow our lead with consistent reinforcement but was very thrown off by this small dog.
The Cerritos mall also echoes much more as itās all tile and is pretty open. That could have been another factor as to why Jefe was more nervous. It took him about the same amount of time as yesterday to settle down a bit and be more comfortable.
Jefe managed to perform all his commands without any assistance from the leash as it was tied off to his collar. Small mistakes were made here and there like releasing early from commands, not fully completing his recall, and foraging ahead a bit. But all things that we will continue to polish up.
Pupdate 8/17/2023
Both Jefe and Ramses had the opportunity to work together and further better their double heel. They had time just being around each other before actually interacting to simply aid in the overexcitement. Starting off the work, they did not have nearly as much of a rough start as last time. After a quick little wiggle burst, they heeled together much more seamlessly, and Jefe was off leash!
We suspect that it may be better to keep Jefe on the outside, while Ramses is the one closest to our leg. It is important to keep an even playing field for both at all times for all parts of their lives. They both can sit, down, break, and heel simultaneously but sometimes one pup needs an extra few reminders. If that is the case, stay consistent and follow through with your task.
Off is an extremely beneficial command for both dogs. Any time their nose goes to the ground, they stare/hyper fixate on anything, or try to push each other around, we immediately provide them both with Off! They have become well versed with stopping what they are doing. If they do not immediately respond, we provide the command again with lower levels of stimulation. This helps give extra reinforcement. Off can still be utilized while in stationary commands as well.
While just hanging out around the park, we allow the boys to venture around to explore a bit away from us. (We do keep a long line attached to Ramses) If at any point you feel they have gotten too far away from you, you simply call their name or complete a full Come to Sit command. They have been doing great with this and of course love the extra bit of freedom that comes with it. Of course, we always keep a watchful eye on them as they can be sneaky at times!
Pupdate 8/18/2023
We continued to work on Jefeās Door Manners and Food Manners/Food Refusal, Greeting Manners and Car Manners while with us. We ask Jefe to sit/down and wait before going in/out of any and all doorways. Even if the door is left open. This will also prevent Jefe rushing out to the door and into the street. If at any point Jefe tries to be the first one through the door, call him back in, close the door, place him in a Sit/Down and try again. Even if he wasnāt ārunning awayā continuing this practice will ensure Jefe understands he cannot cross through doorways without being invited through.
For Food Manners/Refusal we continued to have Jefe wait to be released for his meals. The refusal part comes in to ensure Jefe doesnāt eat anything on the ground he isnāt supposed to. This really applies to human food as he may ingest something not good for him. Keeping his nose off of the ground while Heeling will also aid in preventing marking behaviors.
For Car Manners we would like Jefe to go in/out of the crate and car on command. Once he got comfortable with the crate, heās done well! Even if you donāt utilize a crate in the car, the manners still apply! Greeting Manners with new people come in time as he may not immediately be comfortable enough to greet strangers all the time. When he is comfortable, we donāt want him jumping, pawing, pushing/leaning.
Everything Jefe has learned during his training program is transferable to the home, in public, with different people, any type of environment really! He canāt wait to come home and how off how smart he has become over the last two weeks.
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