Joaquin | Australian Cattle Dog | Alhambra, CA | In Training
- Tanner Strong
- Sep 7
- 10 min read
Updated: Sep 21
Meet Joaquin! He's a one year old Australian Cattle Dog from Alhambra, California here for our Two-Week Urban Board and Train Program! He can be friendly and sweet, but also a bit reactive to other dogs when on leash. He loves pulling on his leash to try to get where he's going as soon as possible! He has some separation anxiety, and has trouble following through with his commands around most distractions, especially dogs. Over the next fourteen days, we'll work on building Joaquin's confidence, helping him with his obedience skills, help with his manners in and out of the house, expose him to plenty of new environments, and help him become the best pup he can possibly be! Stay tuned for Joaquin's two week transformation!
Pupdate: 9/7/2025
Joaquin and I had a nice first day getting to know each other and starting to settle in! After pick-up, we stayed at the park to spend some time together and ease the transition. He was understandably a bit anxious at first—whining and looking around for his family—but after a few minutes, he began to relax and was more open to making friends.
While sitting together, he did a great job staying calm and even laid down beside me for a while, which was a sweet and promising sign. Once we got moving, though, his energy kicked in—he was eager to go and pulled forward on the leash pretty consistently. I offered him treats as a way to connect and redirect his focus, and while he took them about half the time, he sometimes wasn’t interested, likely due to nerves and all the newness.
Back at home, I gave him time to sniff around and explore his new space at his own pace. He met my dog through her crate and showed a very neutral, relaxed response—just a quick sniff before moving along. Not long after, he found her bed and decided that was his new favorite spot, curling up and relaxing like he’d been there before.
Joaquin still seems a bit unsure about the new environment, but he’s settling in nicely and showing signs of adjusting quickly. I’m giving him plenty of space, patience, and encouragement, and he’s already starting to feel more at home.
Looking forward to seeing more of his personality shine in the coming days!
Pupdate: 9/8/2025
Today was a big day for Joaquin — we met up with some other trainers and their dogs at the park! While he was definitely a bit nervous at first, we were proud to see that he didn’t have any major reactions. He stuck close and followed me around for most of our time there, showing a lot of trust and curiosity in this new environment.
His biggest challenge today was focusing around the other dogs. The excitement and activity made it hard for him to lock in on commands, but that’s totally normal at this stage. When we took a step back and moved to quieter areas of the park, Joaquin was able to refocus and engage much more calmly — a great sign!
We’ve started introducing the basic motions for some of our commands, but we’re keeping things low-pressure for now, letting him absorb things at his own pace. He did start pulling a bit when it was time to head back to the car (home is exciting too!), but overall, it was a solid day of learning and exposure.
Great progress today, Joaquin!
Pupdate: 9/9/2025
Joaquin had a really good day today and showed some clear progress in both his confidence and focus! Right from the start of our walk, I could tell he was more comfortable — he did a much better job walking with me and was more responsive to my cues. His body language was more relaxed, and he seemed to settle into the rhythm of the walk without needing as many reminders.
We headed to the park where my dog joined us, and I was really impressed with how Joaquin handled the distractions. While my dog roamed around and played nearby, Joaquin stayed engaged and worked with me calmly and attentively. This was a great opportunity to practice focus around other dogs, and he did really well.
Today, we mainly focused on refining his Heel and encouraging him to stay calm and composed, even with a lot going on around him. He showed great improvement staying by my side, checking in with me regularly, and responding to redirection without getting overstimulated.
Overall, it was a very positive and productive day for Joaquin! He’s making steady progress and becoming more confident in these types of environments. Looking forward to building on this momentum in our next session!
Pupdate: 9/10/2025
Today we’ve been working on Joaquin’s recall using the Come To Sit command — and he’s making some great progress! This exercise is all about building a reliable, enthusiastic response when he's called, and teaching him exactly where we want him to land when he gets to me.
The goal is for Joaquin to come when asked, loop around behind me, and finish in a nice, focused sit on my left side, with his ears lined up to my leg. This kind of precision helps build strong habits and sets the stage for more advanced locations, such as the mall, down the line.
He’s really starting to connect the dots and is showing better engagement during each session. You can check out the video above to see how he’s doing — I’m so proud of the effort he’s bringing to the table!
More updates coming soon as we keep building this foundation. Way to go, Joaquin!
Pupdate: 9/11/2025
Today, Joaquin went on a bit of an adventure! We explored parts of downtown Alhambra for a change of pace and some fresh training challenges. We headed out early—before most of the stores opened—so it was a little quieter than it would be later in the day, but still a great introduction to a busier, more stimulating environment.
Joaquin was definitely feeling a bit nervous with all the new sights, sounds, and smells. It was harder for him to focus on me at times, but despite the distractions, he still managed to stay responsive and follow through on his commands. It’s clear he was putting in the effort even though it was a tougher day for him emotionally.
Overall, it was a solid step forward for Joaquin. These kinds of outings are important for building his confidence, and today laid a good foundation for future visits to busier spots. Proud of the progress he made today!
Way to go, Joaquin!
Pupdate: 9/12/2025
Today, we focused on practicing Joaquin’s Place command, and wow—what a difference! One thing that really stood out was how much more confident Joaquin seemed throughout the session. It’s amazing to see him getting comfortable and showing such progress.
Check out the video above to see how we’re working on the Place command together. Keep up the great work, Joaquin! Can’t wait to see what’s next!
Pupdate: 9/13/2025
Joaquin had a field trip to Home Depot today! At first, he was a bit unsure of the environment — the echoey aisles, carts, and new smells were a lot to take in. However, as we spent more time there, his confidence grew, and it was great to see him settling in and adapting.
There were a couple of moments when he showed interest in sniffing passersby, and his Heel command wasn’t quite as sharp as I’ve seen in quieter locations. That said, he did a great job overall navigating a very stimulating space and kept his composure well. It was a great opportunity to stretch his skills in a real-world setting, and he handled it like a champ!
We’ll continue building on this progress and reinforcing those focus skills in more dynamic environments.
Great work today, Joaquin!
Pupdate: 9/14/2025
Today we took another trip to Home Depot to continue working on Joaquin’s comfort and confidence in busy public spaces. While he was still a little nervous at first, he settled in much more quickly than before — a great sign of progress!
Throughout the video, you’ll notice Joaquin frequently looking up and checking in with me, which is exactly the kind of engagement we love to see. It shows he’s staying connected and seeking reassurance in a challenging environment.
It was really nice to see him begin to enjoy the outing a bit more today. Little by little, Joaquin is building up his confidence — and we’re so proud of him!
Pupdate: 9/15/2025
Joaquin had a productive day at the park with a group of other trainers and their dogs! He was a little uncomfortable at first with one particularly pushy dog (totally fair — Joaquin knows his boundaries!), but once that dog settled down and gave him space, Joaquin was fine and handled the interaction maturely.
He’s also been doing exceptionally well with the little dog I’m currently working with. They make a great pair — calmly heeling side by side, sitting together, and even sharing a place cot like pros. It's been great to see Joaquin showing much more solid social skills and impulse control.
Overall, he's making great strides in his confidence and communication around other dogs. Proud of this guy!
Pupdate: 9/16/2025
Today Joaquin and I took a trip to Santa Anita Mall! We started at the park this morning for a bit of a warm-up, then headed to the mall! We started off with a short walk around the outdoor promenade to help him get oriented, then spent the majority of our time exploring inside the mall. He was a little curious and slightly unsure at first, but he settled in nicely and grew more confident as we moved along.
One of the more challenging moments came on the upper level, where the glass railings gave a clear view of the floor below. Joaquin was understandably hesitant to walk too close to the edge, but with encouragement, he handled it like a champ. We'll continue working on this to build his confidence in more open, elevated spaces.
Throughout the outing, Joaquin was very well-behaved! He ignored a variety of distractions, including other dogs—most of them small—with no issues. There was one moment where an alleged service dog pulled toward us hard, but Joaquin maintained his composure and walked by calmly and politely. It's worth noting that remaining calm seems to be easier for him while he's moving rather than sitting still, so we'll continue practicing polite behavior in stationary situations too.
All in all, a great training day and another step forward for Joaquin!
Pupdate: 9/17/2025
Joaquin had another solid day back at the mall! We're continuing to meet him where he's at, and today that meant spending more time hanging out in busy areas without too much walking. This kind of work is challenging for Joaquin—not only because of his breed, but also due to some nerves that still come up in stimulating environments.
Our main focus today was his Down command. Joaquin is quick and responsive when asked to lie down, but holding that position—especially in a busy public space—is still a work in progress. That’s totally understandable, as lying down can feel vulnerable for a dog, particularly one who’s still building confidence in unpredictable settings.
We took a two-part approach today. First, I gave him the verbal Down cue in various spots around the mall. He’d respond promptly, but often popped back up at the first sign of a distraction. It was good practice, and helped reinforce the motion and the cue.
Then we headed to the food court. Instead of asking him to lie down beside my table, I simply ignored him and started eating lunch. With no pressure, Joaquin first sat, then chose to lie down on his own—a big win! I praised and rewarded him for this offered behavior, and he settled more easily as the session went on.
This calm, no-pressure strategy seemed to really click with him, and we’re starting to see signs that he's becoming more comfortable in these high-distraction environments. Great progress for Joaquin today!
Pupdate: 9/18/2025
Today we worked on Joaquin’s off-leash recall, and he did a good job! For now, we’re focusing on practicing this skill in safe, enclosed spaces like the house or a fenced area.
Without the leash, Joaquin was still responsive to the command and came when called with little hesitation. His positioning on the recall wasn’t as tight as it is when he's on-leash, but that’s totally normal at this stage and something we’ll continue to fine-tune with practice.
We kept the environment as distraction-free as possible to help him succeed, and he handled it like a champ! Way to go, Joaquin!
Pupdate: 9/19/2025
Today was another big adventure — we went back to the mall! Joaquin did great overall, especially while roaming and shopping. He handled the busy environment with more confidence and stayed focused throughout most of the outing.
We spent some time sitting and eating at the food court, and he showed noticeable improvement in staying calm and settled while we ate. He did get a little excited when it was time to get up and leave (so much to see and sniff!), but overall, we were really proud of his behavior.
To balance the structured outing, we headed to the park afterward so Joaquin could unwind and have some fun. He definitely enjoyed the chance to stretch his legs and just be a dog.
Great work today, Joaquin!
Pupdate: 9/20/2025
Joaquin and I had a great time at the park today! It’s always nice to give him a little time to decompress and have fun outside, and he was all smiles the whole time.
For today’s video, I wanted to show off some of the manners we've been working on at home. These exercises have really helped with his impulse control and are making day-to-day life much more manageable for both of us. One area we've focused on is food manners. Joaquin is learning to wait politely when food is placed in front of him, instead of trying to gobble it up right away. He’s doing a great job understanding that patience pays off. We've even practiced around dropped food, and he’s starting to leave it alone instead of immediately going for it—which is not only impressive but also super important for safety.
We’ve also been working on door manners. Rather than charging out the moment the door opens, Joaquin is learning to wait and walk through calmly with me. This small shift has made a big difference in how we transition in and out of the house, and it helps keep things safer and more relaxed.
Lastly, Joaquin has made great progress with his car manners. When it’s time to go for a ride, he now hops into the car when asked and heads straight into his crate. No more pulling or hesitation—just a smooth, cooperative routine that makes travel much easier.
Each of these skills has been a daily practice, and it's been rewarding to see how much they’re helping him settle throughout the day. Joaquin is doing such a great job, and I’m proud of the progress he’s making!
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