Kaia | Mini Dachshund | West Hollywood | In Training
- Chelsea Benz
- May 7
- 35 min read
Updated: May 27
Kaia, a spirited Mini Dachshund from West Hollywood, has officially joined us for our Three-Week Puppy Board and Train program! And she wasted absolutely no time making her presence known. Don’t let her tiny size fool you; this little girl has a huge personality, endless confidence, and a voice big enough for a dog three times her size. Kaia is full of spunk, curiosity, and determination, and she’s always ready to tell the world exactly how she feels.
Like many young puppies, Kaia has started learning that if she’s loud and persistent enough, she might just get her way. Whether it’s demanding attention, protesting boundaries, or trying to take charge of the walk herself, she approaches life with the mindset that she should be the one calling the shots. While that boldness can be adorable, it can also create challenges when it comes to leash manners, impulse control, and learning how to settle calmly in different environments. She is teething at this age, which leads to friendly but not so friendly feeling nips for her owners. Cute as she is now, the habit is not something to keep when those little chompers get a bit bigger.
Over the next three weeks, we’ll be helping Kaia build a strong obedience foundation while teaching her that guidance and structure are not only important but rewarding. We’ll focus on everything from leash work and engagement to confidence building, calm behavior, and better decision-making both inside and outside the home. Our goal is to help her channel all that personality into becoming a well-mannered companion without losing the fun, goofy spirit that makes her who she is.
Kaia has a lot to say, a lot to learn, and an even bigger journey ahead of her. We’re excited to work with her and can’t wait to show you the progress this tiny but mighty pup makes along the way. Stay tuned for her transformation!
Pupdate 5/7/2026
Today, we took to our local park and Kaia officially got introduced to one of the most important concepts in dog training: learning how to follow instead of always leading the way. We jumped right into working on “Heel,” and as you can probably tell from the video, Kaia had some very strong opinions about the arrangement. This little girl is used to marching through life on her own terms, so suddenly being asked to slow down, pay attention, and move with me instead of against me was not exactly her favorite idea at first.
Throughout our session, you can see her body language shifting constantly as she tried to process the new expectations. At the beginning, Kaia’s movements were quick and determined, with lots of pulling, darting forward, or even sitting to try and have her way anytime the leash pressure interrupted where she wanted to go. Her focus was outward on the environment rather than inward toward me, which is very common for confident, independent puppies her age; specially Dachshunds, who were bred to make decisions for themselves.
To help her work through that mindset, I spent a lot of time pivoting back and forth during our walk. Those frequent turns are intentional and incredibly important during heel work. The goal is not to confuse her, but to teach her that paying attention to my movement matters. Dogs naturally want to predict where they’re going next, and when Kaia tried forging ahead without checking in, my pivots redirected her attention back toward me. Over time, this helps build engagement and teaches her that staying mentally connected to her handler is what keeps the walk smooth and successful.
At first, every change in direction came with a bit of frustration from Kaia. You could see moments of resistance where she planted herself, looked at me, looked at the camera; anywhere that might save her from my directing. Or she tried to rush ahead again the second she thought she had an opportunity. But as the session progressed, there were small moments where she began softening; her pace slowed slightly, her attention flickered back toward me more often, and she started realizing that fighting the guidance was much more exhausting than simply working with it.
That’s a huge first step for a puppy like Kaia. Heel work is about far more than walking nicely beside someone; it teaches patience, impulse control, and cooperation. For a dog with as much confidence and personality as she has, learning that she doesn’t always need to be the one making decisions is an important part of her growth. She may not have loved the lesson today, but she absolutely started learning from it; and that’s what matters most.
This is the first step-first day! And we're hot dogging it down the path! Pretty cute, Kaia!
Pupudate 5/8
Kaia took on Day 2 of her board and train journey with a gentle neighborhood walk focused on building confidence and introducing structure. Today we continued working on “Sit” and “Heel,” while also introducing the command “Come”; which, according to Kaia, is currently more of a suggestion than a requirement.
Because Kaia likes to tug and pull during walks, I’ve introduced a training tool called the Heather’s Hero head halter. The Heather’s Hero is designed to gently guide a dog by redirecting their head and attention. It gives the handler more control in a safe, humane way while helping the dog learn proper leash manners and focus. For smaller dogs with big personalities (and surprisingly strong opinions), it can be an incredibly useful communication tool. She started off with a massive tantrum, which I was expecting. Being a new sensation around her muzzle, she didn't like it but it's important and once more I emphasize "Work through the tantrum". It's not going to get her what she wants if she acts like a little rascal.
That said, Day 2 was understandably a little overwhelming for Kaia as she adjusted to wearing the halter. New sensations can take time, especially for a spirited little dachshund who likes doing things her own way. There were moments of uncertainty during our walk, but I also started seeing small glimpses of progress. By the time we reached the door and heard “Break!” there was a noticeable little pep in her step and a bit more enthusiasm shining through.She's been eating pretty decently and I'm proud to say how good she's been holding her pees and poops until we get outside! I've tried to keep things calm and peaceful though her puppy energy demands excitement. She went outside today immediately outside and deposited on the grass as I had hoped.
Gentle praise goes a long way, and she received much of it. She seems to be keen on the attention and has thus far turned her nose to treats of different kinds, which is fine. Praise rewards are the best for pups because it's something you can always provide them when they've done good. You'll be in big trouble if you rely on treats and find yourself out of stock during a session! I've measured her food about 1/8 of a measuring cup for morning and dinner since she's used to free feeding to try and gauge where we need to be at for her intake.
Confidence and clarity take time, but Kaia is trying, learning, and slowly starting to understand the routine. Good girl, Kaia!
Pupdate 5/9/2026
Today Kaia and I spent the day working in the backyard on building confidence and introducing two very important concepts in her training journey: “Place” and “Come.” While these commands may seem simple on the surface, they create the foundation for communication, structure, and safety moving forward.
For today’s sessions, I kept things calm, positive, and low-pressure. Rather than doing one long training session, we broke the work up into several short sessions throughout the day. This approach is especially important for puppies and young dogs like Kaia because it prevents mental burnout and keeps learning fun and engaging.
As you can see in the video, we began introducing the “Place” command by encouraging Kaia to jump onto a raised surface and remain there calmly. For a spunky pup like Kaia, this exercise is incredibly valuable because it helps build impulse control and confidence at the same time.
Rather than forcing the behavior, I used encouragement, leash guidance, excitement, and repetition to help her become comfortable with the process. Every successful jump up and every choice to move toward me helped build her confidence little by little.
We also continued working on “Come,” which ties directly into trust and engagement with the handler. Right now, Kaia is still learning that coming when called is rewarding and fun. Throughout the day, I practiced encouraging her to move toward me from different distances and angles while rewarding even the small successes. The goal at this stage is not perfection; it’s creating positive associations with choosing to come to the handler voluntarily.
These exercises are incredibly important because they begin teaching Kaia how to work through uncertainty instead of avoiding it. Towards the evening, we got just the littlest bit of confidence in her hops.
Kaia is still very much figuring things out but today showed some nice progress. She’s beginning to understand the process, and with continued repetition and consistency, her confidence and responsiveness will continue to grow. Got some hops, Kaia!
Pupdate 5/10/2026
Today Kaia and I took a field trip out to Lake Balboa for some much-needed exposure work and continued practice with her “Sit” and “Come” commands. While training at home is important for building understanding, taking those behaviors into the real world is where dogs truly begin learning how to navigate distractions, pressure, and excitement while still remaining engaged with their handler.
And for a little pup like Kaia, today was definitely a big day.
Between joggers passing by, children zooming around on scooters, bikes moving past us, ducks and geese making all sorts of commotion, and the general hustle and bustle of the park, there was a lot for her to process all at once. At the beginning of our walk, Kaia stayed glued close to my side, clearly a bit overwhelmed by the environment. While some may look at that and think she was nervous, moments like these are actually incredibly important for confidence-building.
Dogs grow by experiencing the world safely and gradually learning that they can move through unfamiliar situations without anything bad happening. Instead of forcing her into the chaos, I allowed Kaia to observe, decompress, and take everything in at her own pace. Giving dogs the opportunity to process their surroundings while still feeling secure with their handler helps create trust and resilience. The goal is never to flood a dog with stress; it’s to guide them through it successfully.
We were also joined by fellow OffLeash trainer Heather, which made for a calmer and more structured introduction to such a busy environment. Having another familiar and confident handler present can help create a more relaxed atmosphere, and Kaia benefited from having that steady energy around her throughout the outing.
We continued brandishing our Heather’s Hero during the walk to help guide Kaia through her pulling and excitement. The tool allows for gentle communication and redirection without causing pain or harm, helping her better understand leash pressure and guidance while keeping both handler and dog safe and connected. For smaller dogs especially, clear communication and proper handling tools can make a huge difference in building confidence outdoors.
Of course, nature decided to throw in a little extra challenge for us today.
It’s that time of year when goslings are hatching and growing up around the lake, which means their parents are on high alert. At one point during our walk, one particularly defensive goose decided Kaia was a little too close for comfort and began hissing and posturing toward her. Between Heather and I, we made sure the goose kept its distance and that Kaia stayed safe while we calmly moved away from the situation.
Moments like these are a huge reminder of how important it is to advocate for your dog. Dogs, especially puppies and dogs in training; look to their handlers for guidance and protection. If a dog feels they constantly have to defend themselves or navigate stressful situations alone, it can create fear, anxiety, or reactivity over time. By stepping in calmly and confidently, we show them that they do not need to handle every situation themselves.
I treat every dog in training as if they were my own, so admittedly I can get a little protective of them while we’re out and about. But that protectiveness comes from wanting them to feel secure, understood, and successful during the learning process. Building trust with a dog means showing them that you will guide them through uncomfortable moments rather than abandoning them to figure it out alone.
After all the excitement, Kaia returned home for some well-earned rest and relaxation. She settled in nicely, ate a good portion of her supper, and promptly crashed for a nap after such a mentally stimulating day.
No goose is going to get your gander on my watch, Kaia!
Pupdate 5/11
Today we headed out to the park to continue building on Kaia’s training foundation, and for only her first week, she is progressing beautifully. Last night we introduced “Down,” and today we began slowly incorporating it into our routine in a more distracting environment. As expected, “Down” is often the first command puppies are a little hesitant to fully commit to; it’s a more submissive position and asks them to give up that extra inch of independence.
Kaia definitely showed a little uncertainty at first, but she responded wonderfully to gentle encouragement and positive reinforcement. Once she realized that giving the behavior earned her big praise and excitement, you could see her confidence begin to grow.
During the session, Kaia was exposed to a lot of healthy stimulation and distraction. We trained alongside nearby handlers and dogs, which provided excellent socialization and neutrality work. This kind of exposure is incredibly important at her age because it teaches her that she can stay engaged with her handler even while exciting things are happening around her. Rather than becoming overwhelmed, she did a great job observing her surroundings and checking back in.
Her body language throughout the session was very encouraging. You can see moments of curiosity and environmental awareness, but she remains soft and engaged rather than stressed or shut down. As she works through commands, she shows thoughtful processing instead of avoidance, which is exactly what we want to see in a young puppy learning something new. When praised, her posture loosens up noticeably, showing she’s beginning to understand the game and gain confidence through success. That willingness to continue trying, even when unsure, is a fantastic trait to build on.
All in all, Kaia absolutely knocked it out of the park today. For this only being her first week, you’d think she’s been doing this much longer! I’m incredibly happy with her progress so far, and you should be too. She’s showing all the signs of a smart, willing little dog that’s developing a strong training relationship.
On the potty-training side of things, she’s doing marvelous as well. Kaia is beginning to hold it consistently and is having much more success going outside. We’re continuing to utilize crate training alongside encouragement outdoors to help build a reliable routine. If she doesn’t go potty outside, she spends a little more time back in the crate before trying again, which helps prevent accidents while reinforcing the habit of going outdoors. She’s also starting to indicate when she needs something, though admittedly sometimes that “indication” is just her wanting attention from me! Either way, she’s making steady progress and learning more every day.
Until next time, I can’t wait to share more of Kaia’s journey with you!
Today we took Kaia on a big adventure to Home Depot! For a young pup, places like that are incredibly important for socialization and confidence building. Between the carts rattling by, power tool noises, automatic doors, new smells, and people constantly moving around, it can feel like a whole new world to a little dachshund. Exposing her to these environments in a calm, positive way helps teach her that busy places are safe and nothing to worry about.
At first, it definitely took her a little time to settle in and process everything around her. You could see her taking it all in with cautious curiosity; lots of sniffing, looking around, and checking in for reassurance. That’s perfectly normal body language for a puppy learning a new environment. As the outing went on, though, her posture softened noticeably. She became more casual with the movement around her, less hesitant about the noises, and more willing to focus back on us instead of every distraction. That’s a huge win!
We went through all of her commands while working around those distractions, and she did a great job. We especially practiced her greeting manners with people who wanted to say hello. Kaia kept her little booty planted instead of popping up with excitement, which is exactly what we want to encourage. Sitting calmly for greetings helps build polite habits early and teaches her that calm behavior earns attention and praise.
Her body language during greetings was really nice to see. She stayed engaged and curious without becoming overwhelmed. A relaxed body, willingness to approach, soft attention toward people, and remaining seated all showed that she was learning to feel comfortable while still listening and thinking through the excitement. By the end of the trip, she looked much more confident navigating the busy environment.
Once we got home, it was time for some well-earned rest and relaxation. Kaia is also continuing to do well with her potty training! She still likes to take her time sniffing every inch of the grass before deciding where the perfect potty spot is, but that’s okay. Sniffing is how puppies gather information and settle themselves before going. Day by day she’s becoming quicker and more consistent, and that progress is exactly what we like to see.
Until next time!
Pupdate 5/13
Today Kaia and I made another trip to The Home Depot to continue building on her obedience work in a more challenging environment. Places like Home Depot are incredibly valuable for training because they provide controlled exposure to all sorts of distractions; shopping carts, loud noises, different flooring textures, people passing by, and new smells. The goal isn’t just teaching commands in quiet spaces but helping Kaia learn how to stay focused and confident even when the world around her feels busy and exciting. It's also great to be consistent so she knows it's not just a one-off situation. Desensitizing her at a young age will ensure these types of places will be nothing to blink at in the future.
Throughout today’s session, it became very clear that “Down” is still our most difficult command to consistently execute. That’s completely understandable for a pup like Kaia. Unlike “Sit” or “Come,” the “Down” command naturally places a dog in a more submissive and vulnerable position. While Kaia absolutely enjoys affection, belly rubs, and praise, asking her to fully lay on her stomach in the middle of a high-traffic environment can feel a little overwhelming right now. For a confident little personality like hers, that vulnerability takes trust and repetition to build. The important thing is that she’s still trying, and we’re continuing to reward every bit of progress she offers. Confidence isn’t built overnight, and we’ve got plenty of time to help her realize that “Down” is a safe and rewarding place to be.
After our outing, we headed home for a quick recharge and nap before continuing more training around the yard. Working in familiar environments after public exposure helps reinforce what she’s learning without quite as much pressure, and Kaia continues showing flashes of really nice engagement when she settles into the routine.
As for potty training, Kaia did have a mid-day accident in her crate today. At her age and stage of development, occasional setbacks are still very normal, especially with all the stimulation and schedule adjustments that come with training days. To best accommodate this, I’ll continue closely monitoring her timing between potty breaks, making sure she’s given frequent opportunities to succeed outside, and adjusting crate intervals as needed so we don’t push beyond what she’s comfortably capable of holding right now. The goal is to create as many successful repetitions as possible while helping her gradually build consistency and awareness. I’ll be keeping a close eye on her progress in that department moving forward.
Of course, once training wraps up, Kaia’s favorite part of the day begins: playtime. She is an absolute little rascal when she gets going and has no shortage of personality or energy to throw around. That playful spirit is one of the best things about her, and it’s always rewarding seeing her balance hard work with being able to just enjoy herself.
I’m hoping to bring better news tomorrow as Kaia continues finding her footing and building confidence day by day.
Until next time!
Pupdate 5/14
Today Kaia and I took a trip out to Sean Brown Park to enjoy some sunshine, exercise, and a healthy dose of environmental exposure training. With its rolling hills, children’s playground, and the occasional clusters of dog lovers socializing throughout the park, it made for an excellent opportunity to continue practicing our obedience work around real-world distractions and elevated energy levels.
Kaia started the outing very meekly at my side. Her body language early on showed a bit of uncertainty, with cautious steps, frequent scanning of the environment, and a tendency to keep herself tucked close while she processed all the movement around her. Between excited children running, dogs passing by, and the general buzz of the park, she initially wasn’t quite sure what to make of it all. Rather than forcing the issue, we allowed her time to settle into the environment and build confidence through structure and repetition. Once we found our rhythm together, you could visibly see her body begin to soften. Her movements became looser, her focus returned to me more consistently, and she started working with much more clarity despite everything happening around her.
Kaia’s stubborn streak definitely made an appearance today, particularly with “Down.” At this point it has absolutely become a battle of wills; but not an uncommon one, especially for a confident little dachshund who enjoys keeping tabs on the world around her. While Kaia understands the command and can perform it initially, maintaining the position is where the challenge lies. Those extra few inches of elevation give her a sense of control and awareness of her surroundings, and giving that up in stimulating environments is something she’s still negotiating with me on.
To work through this, I’ve been focusing heavily on consistency and follow-through rather than repeating commands over and over. Once placed into “Down,” I calmly guide her back into position anytime she attempts to pop back up prematurely. The goal is teaching her that the command isn’t just the action of laying down; it’s remaining there until released. We’re also rewarding moments of calm compliance heavily, so she begins associating relaxation and stillness with positive outcomes instead of feeling like she constantly needs to monitor everything around her.
Her body language during these moments tells the story well: she’ll often hesitate, hover slightly, or shift her weight forward as if debating whether listening is truly necessary. It’s less confusion and more determination, which honestly fits her personality perfectly.
Always that side eye at the end before she breaks command. Sassy little girl!
That same stubbornness carried over into “Sit” and “Come to Sit” today as well. Kaia definitely had moments where she wanted to test just how serious I was about expectations and follow-through. Dogs, much like people, occasionally have days where they push boundaries a little harder to see what changes and what stays consistent. While it can be frustrating at the moment, these are actually very important training days because they help solidify accountability and reliability long term.
One area where Kaia continues to shine, however, is her “Heel.” Her progress there is turning out marvelous. Even with distractions nearby, she’s beginning to move with much more purpose and understanding at my side, checking in more naturally and maintaining position with increasing confidence. Seeing that improvement while navigating a stimulating environment like the park is a huge win for her.
By the end of our session, we did achieve successful executions across most of our commands, even if some took a little extra persistence today. Kaia is proving herself to be smart, spirited, and incredibly opinionated; which makes the victories all the more rewarding when they happen. Going forward, “Down” will remain our primary area of focus as we continue building duration, confidence, and consistency until she’s exactly where she needs to be.
Until Next Time!
Pupdate 5/15
Today Kaia took on one of the busiest environments yet; the beautiful Westfield Century City Mall. Honestly, the first clue about how today was going to go should’ve been breakfast time… because Miss Kaia decided she wasn’t particularly interested in eating her breakfast this morning. For puppies, that can actually be pretty normal from time to time, especially during developmental phases, teething, exciting routine changes, or even on days where their brains seem more focused on the world around them than food itself. Sometimes young dogs simply wake up feeling a little more distracted, overstimulated, independent, or “too busy” for breakfast, and today definitely turned out to match that energy.
Between the constant foot traffic, new smells, rolling strollers, elevator noises, food aromas, conversations, and general hustle and bustle, Century City was a huge day for our little lady’s growing brain. Busy environments like this can be incredibly stimulating for young dogs, and it’s very normal for focus and responsiveness to temporarily dip when they’re processing so much information at once.
At the start of our outing, Kaia made it very clear she had opinions about participating in today’s lesson plan. We worked through all of our commands, but she was definitely feeling a bit stubborn and independent-minded today. In highly stimulating environments, puppies will often test boundaries more than usual. It isn’t defiance in a negative sense; it’s part curiosity, part overstimulation, and part “let me see if I really have to do this right now.” Her body language told the story perfectly: moments of avoiding eye contact, delayed responses, extra sniffing, checking out the environment instead of the handler, and a healthy amount of puppy sass sprinkled in between. She was alert, engaged with the surroundings, and clearly trying to weigh whether listening or sightseeing was more rewarding in the moment.
The important part? She worked through it.
With consistency, patience, and calm follow-through, Kaia eventually settled in and completed everything being asked of her. That ability to regroup and re-engage is a huge win. Confidence building isn’t about immediate perfection; it’s about learning how to navigate distractions, frustration, excitement, and stimulation while still finding her way back to her handler and expectations. Today challenged her mentally, and while she protested a bit at first, she still got there in the end.
Potty training has also shown some wonderful progress lately. We’ve seen much calmer, more consistent behavior overall, and because of that, the “happy pee” incidents have greatly improved. By keeping greetings low-pressure and encouraging calm emotional responses, Kaia is learning better emotional regulation and bladder control at the same time. Big improvement there, and she deserves credit for it!
Overall, today was absolutely Kaia’s day to test the limits and see what she could get away with. She tried very hard to convince everyone she was the one running the show… but unfortunately for her, she Kaiak’ed up Sass Creek without a paddle. Better luck next time, Kaia!
Pupdate 5/16
Today Kaia and I took advantage of the beautiful weather with a trip out to Chatsworth Park for some continued training and exposure work. Days like today are incredibly valuable for a young puppy because they allow us to practice commands in a real-world environment full of distractions, new smells, people passing by, distant dogs, open space, and all the exciting things that naturally pull a puppy’s attention in every direction. Training outside of the home is where confidence, focus, and communication really begin to grow. Just the kind of distractions we needed.
Kaia came into the park feeling a bit more comfortable than previous outings, and while she still has moments where the environment feels “bigger” than she is, she continues showing small signs of progress that are worth celebrating. Our biggest focus today remained “Down,” which is still proving to be her most challenging command. This is very normal for puppies, especially one as expressive and independent as Kaia. Building trust and confidence with it takes patience and repetition.
That said; today we finally started seeing tiny little breakthroughs. Kaia offered me a few small inches toward the ground on her own, hesitating less and thinking through the request instead of immediately resisting it. While it may seem minor from the outside, these little moments are actually huge stepping stones in dog training. Progress is rarely a giant leap overnight; it’s built through dozens of tiny victories stacked together. Today it felt like Kaia quietly saying, “Okay… maybe I’m starting to understand.”
Outside of command work, we also spent time simply existing calmly in the environment, rewarding neutrality and helping her learn that she does not need to react to every sound, movement, or distraction around her. These calmer moments are just as important as obedience itself because they help create a more balanced, thoughtful puppy rather than one constantly operating at full speed.
Kaia also had a good breakfast this morning before our outing, which helped keep her energy and motivation up during training. After all the mental stimulation, fresh air, and exercise from the park, we returned home for some much-needed rest and recovery. Puppies do a tremendous amount of growing both physically and mentally during sleep, and after a productive training session like today, the naps are well-earned.
Overall, today may not have been about massive flashy victories, but it absolutely was about progress; and with puppy training, those small inches eventually become miles. Kaia is continuing to build confidence, understanding, and trust day by day, and today gave us a few encouraging glimpses of what’s starting to click for her.
Also, no accidents thus far! We're maintaining a calm environment for her to keep the success going! Good job Kaia!
Pupdate 5/17
Today’s pupdate for Miss Kaia took us on another public training adventure; this time to Lowe's Home Improvement for some continued exposure work and command practice! While stores like Lowe’s and The Home Depot may seem very similar on the surface, they actually provide slightly different training environments for dogs. Home Depot tends to be a bit louder and more industrial with harsher echoes, heavier machinery sounds, and a faster pace overall. Lowe’s, while still busy, often has a slightly calmer flow of foot traffic and wider-feeling aisles, making it a great middle ground for building confidence while still introducing plenty of distractions.
Today’s focus was primarily on duration work and “Heel,” two areas that require a lot of patience, consistency, and mental engagement from a young pup. Duration work is especially important because it teaches a dog not just how to perform a command, but how to maintain it even when the world around them is moving, rattling, squeaking, and trying to steal their attention. That’s a big ask for a little dachshund with curiosity running at full speed.
Kaia came into the store noticeably more thoughtful than some of our earlier outings. Rather than immediately trying to surge forward into every smell and sound, she checked in with me more frequently and spent much of the trip keeping herself loosely within my orbit. Her body language told a really nice story today; her tail stayed neutral to slightly wagging through most of the session, and while she still had moments of uncertainty, they were shorter-lived and easier for her to recover from.
You could see her processing the environment rather than simply reacting to it.
Heel work continues to be a growing process, but there were several genuinely nice moments today where Kaia settled into position and moved alongside me with a softer leash and calmer pace. For a puppy with her amount of personality and determination, those little stretches of focus matter a lot. She still occasionally drifted outward when something exciting caught her eye, but compared to earlier sessions, she was far less frantic about it and much easier to redirect back into work.
Our duration exercises also showed some encouraging progress. Kaia still has that classic “Okay… but for HOW long?” expression when asked to hold commands, but she’s beginning to understand that remaining calm and committed earns her success. You can almost see the gears turning in her head now before she decides whether or not she wants to pop up and investigate something else. That pause; that moment of consideration, is actually a very important step in training progression.
Overall, it was a solid outing for the little hotdog today. Not perfect, not polished, but productive; and that’s exactly what we want.
Confidence is slowly building, communication is improving, and the foundation is getting stronger each trip out. I'm hopeful to see just a bit more energy focused on her commands and restraint than excitable dashes.
You got this, Kaia!
Pupdate 5/18
Today’s pupdate for Kaia brought us back out to Whittier Narrows Recreation Area for another big training day; and this session came with a few really exciting breakthroughs for our little dachshund girl.
With Kaia becoming more familiar with public environments and the structure of our outings, today we introduced a training collar into the session to help create a little more clarity and precision with commands. The purpose of the tool is not punishment, but communication. Especially with a clever, independent pup like Kaia, timing and consistency matter tremendously. The collar allows for cleaner feedback during moments where excitement or distractions might otherwise overpower what we’re asking of her. The goal is always guidance and understanding, and today she responded thoughtfully to that added layer of communication.
Whittier Park was active today as well, with multiple trainers working their own dogs nearby. That kind of environment can be extremely stimulating for a young dog; new scents drifting through the grass, leashes moving everywhere, dogs training at different energy levels, handlers calling commands, excitement building from every direction. For many puppies, that amount of activity can completely scatter their focus. Kaia, however, showed some really encouraging emotional growth.
At the beginning of the session, her body language still carried some uncertainty. She scanned the environment carefully with alert little eyes and a slightly cautious posture, trying to absorb all the movement around her. A little herky and jerky this way and that. But instead of shutting down or spiraling into overstimulation, she gradually settled into the work. As we moved through commands, you could visibly see her start checking in more often and using me as her anchor point rather than letting the environment completely pull her away.
One of the biggest discoveries today was realizing Kaia has a playful motivation trigger through movement and engagement; specifically, my beanie getting dropped onto the ground. The second it hit the grass, her whole demeanor shifted. Her eyes lit up, her posture loosened, and suddenly training became less like “work” and more like an interactive game she wanted to participate in. That’s a huge find. Discovering what naturally motivates a dog is one of the most valuable things you can uncover during training because it helps us build enthusiasm and engagement in a way that feels rewarding to them personally.
And then came the big victory.
Kaia finally offered a full “Down” on her own.
No excessive hesitation, no prolonged negotiation, she made the decision herself and committed to it. For a command she has consistently struggled with emotionally, this was a massive moment. “Down” asks for vulnerability. It requires a dog to lower themselves physically and mentally in an environment full of distractions and uncertainty. For a naturally alert little dog like Kaia, that can feel like giving up control of the situation. But today, surrounded by other trainers, dogs, movement, and noise, she trusted the process enough to lower herself willingly.
The body language during that moment honestly said everything. You could see the brief internal debate in her expression, the little pause where she thought about resisting; before her posture softened and she folded down into position. Once there, she didn’t immediately spring back up either. She held it. That confidence beginning to replace uncertainty.
Overall, Kaia handled herself very well today. She wasn’t perfect, and we still have plenty of polishing ahead of us, but this session showed real progress in both mindset and communication. More importantly, she’s beginning to understand that training is not something happening to her, it’s something she can succeed in with us.
Huge win for the tiny sausage today.
Good girl, Kaia!
Pupdate 5/19
Kaia had a wonderful training day at Lake Balboa today! This environment is full of exciting distractions; walkers, bikes, birds, new smells, children, and plenty of activity, making it an excellent place to continue building confidence and neutrality in public spaces.
As you can see in the video, Kaia handled herself beautifully. She showed a much calmer and more thoughtful mindset throughout our outing, settling into the environment quicker and making noticeably better choices on her own. One of the biggest things we look for in these busy settings is a dog’s ability to stay mentally connected despite everything happening around them, and Kaia did an excellent job with that today.
Her body language showed a growing level of comfort and understanding. She was more relaxed through her shoulders and movements, checked in frequently, and recovered nicely from distractions without becoming overwhelmed or overly fixated. That ability to acknowledge something interesting and then re-engage is a huge step in building reliable public manners.
We worked through her commands around all the activity and she rose to the occasion very nicely. Even with exciting sights and smells around her, Kaia stayed engaged and responsive, showing us that she is beginning to understand what’s expected of her in these stimulating environments. Public outings like this are not easy for young dogs; there is so much information for them to process, so seeing her remain composed and cooperative is something to be very proud of.
Overall, Kaia had a very successful day and continues to show steady progress each outing. She’s building confidence, learning how to settle herself in busy places, and proving that she’s capable of making good choices even when the world around her is exciting.
Great job today, Kaia!
Pupdate 5/20
Today’s pupdate for Kaia was a BIG one; we packed up and headed out to the always-busy Third Street Promenade for some advanced public exposure and training work, and honestly? Kaia rose to the occasion far better than expected.
The Promenade is an incredibly challenging environment for dogs, especially a young puppy still learning how to process the world around her. Between the crowds of people, music echoing through the walkways, bikes and scooters zipping by, food smells drifting from every direction, children running around, storefront noises, and the constant movement everywhere you look, it can easily overwhelm even more experienced dogs. That’s exactly why places like this are so valuable in training.
Controlled exposure to busy environments teaches a dog how to regulate their emotions, remain connected to their handler, and work through distractions without completely losing focus.
And today, Kaia genuinely impressed me.
Right from the beginning, her body language showed a noticeable shift in maturity compared to some of our earlier outings. Instead of immediately becoming frantic or overstimulated, she approached the environment cautiously but thoughtfully. Her head stayed active, taking everything in, but she recovered from distractions much faster and repeatedly chose to re-engage with me instead of staying locked onto the chaos around her.
What stood out most today was her ability to settle through stimulation rather than needing the environment to become quiet first. That’s a huge developmental step for dogs. Anyone can focus in a calm room; learning to think clearly while the world is buzzing around you is the hard part. Kaia had several moments where crowds passed closely by, loud sounds erupted nearby, or exciting movement crossed her path, and instead of spiraling upward into overexcitement, she visibly worked herself back down and stayed present.
Heel work especially showed improvement today. There were stretches where she moved alongside me with a much softer, more natural pace, checking in frequently and carrying herself with more confidence. You could see less uncertainty in her movement overall. Rather than pulling impulsively toward every new thing, she seemed more interested in navigating the environment with me.
And perhaps the biggest accomplishment of all: Kaia handled the social pressure of the environment beautifully. Public spaces like Santa Monica are full of people wanting to look at, talk to, or interact with a tiny dachshund puppy. For many dogs, that level of attention can either create stress or overexcitement very quickly. Kaia, however, stayed surprisingly composed. Curious? Absolutely. But she worked through it without falling apart mentally, and that’s a tremendous sign for her future confidence.
There’s still polishing to do, of course. We’re still building consistency, sharpening commands, and continuing to develop reliability in stimulating environments. But today felt less like surviving the outing and more like Kaia beginning to understand her role within it.
She may be low to the ground, but her confidence is reaching new heights. Good girl, Kaia!
Pupdate 5/21
Today’s pupdate for Kaia was all about something just as important as public outings and big distractions: manners at home. While field trips and exposure work help build confidence in the world, household structure is what creates consistency, safety, and clear communication in everyday life. For a little dog with as much personality and determination as Kaia, these foundational lessons matter tremendously.
We started the day working on door manners, which is one of the most underrated but important exercises for any dog to learn. The goal is teaching Kaia to remain calm and wait respectfully at thresholds even when the door opens. For many dogs, an opening door immediately triggers excitement and impulsive behavior; darting forward, rushing outside, or trying to squeeze through before being invited. While it may seem harmless at home, this can become dangerous very quickly near streets, parking lots, busy sidewalks, or unfamiliar environments.
Door manners teach a dog impulse control and reinforce the idea that movement happens with their handler, not independently of them. For Kaia specifically, this exercise also helps slow her busy little brain down. Rather than reacting first and thinking second, she’s learning to pause, check in, and wait for direction. Today she showed some really nice moments of restraint where you could see her body preparing to move forward, only for her to stop herself and hold position instead. That mental pause is a huge piece of maturity development.
Next came food manners; and this was a very important session for Miss Kaia.
To practice restraint and boundaries, I placed down an especially tempting reward: chopped-up hot dog pieces. For a dachshund, this might as well have been buried treasure. The purpose of this exercise is teaching Kaia that not everything accessible to her automatically belongs to her. Dogs naturally explore the world through impulse and opportunity, so learning restraint around food is essential for both safety and respect.
This kind of training helps prevent behaviors like snatching dropped food, counter surfing, rushing hands for treats, or grabbing unsafe items before a handler can intervene. More importantly, it teaches the dog how to regulate excitement even when something highly rewarding is directly in front of them.
Kaia definitely knew the hot dogs were there immediately; her nose went into overdrive and her eyes locked onto the prize with absolute seriousness. You could practically see her little internal negotiations happening in real time. But rather than diving in recklessly, she worked through the exercise and gradually began understanding that patience and permission were what earned access to the reward. That kind of self-control is difficult for puppies, especially food-motivated ones, and she made some very encouraging progress today.
Lastly, we worked on car manners. Because Kaia is such a tiny little thing, we use a ramp to help make getting into the vehicle safe and accessible for her. Dachshunds are especially prone to back and spinal issues due to their structure, so preventing repeated jumping in and out of elevated surfaces is incredibly important for their long-term health.
But the key part of today’s lesson wasn’t simply using the ramp; it was teaching Kaia to confidently navigate it on her own.
Building independence with the ramp matters because it creates trust in the process and confidence in her movement. If she relies entirely on being picked up every single time, it can create hesitation, dependency, or resistance later on. By learning to calmly walk the ramp herself, she develops body awareness, coordination, and confidence while also keeping her physically safe.
At first, Kaia approached the ramp with understandable caution. Her little feet slowed down, her posture got lower, and she carefully evaluated whether this strange incline was truly trustworthy. But once she realized she could successfully navigate it, her confidence visibly improved with each repetition. By the end, she was far less hesitant and began to understand the routine.
Overall, today may not have had the excitement of a big public outing, but these are the kinds of lessons that create a well-rounded dog. Manners at doors, around food, and during transitions like loading into a car all help shape a calmer, safer, and more thoughtful companion.
She’s learning that good manners aren’t just for show… they’re the wurst thing to skip. Good girl, Kaia!
Pupdate 5/22
Today we headed back to the Promenade alongside fellow off-leash trainer Heather and her pup Maddie, another dog hard at work in training. The environment was especially lively today with a runner's event happening, side venues set up throughout the area, food carts, crowds, noises, movement, and excitement everywhere you looked. While it may seem like “just a walk,” these kinds of outings are incredibly important for a dog’s development and confidence building. Exposure work teaches dogs how to exist calmly and safely in the real world, especially when things are unpredictable, noisy, and overstimulating.
For Kaia, today was definitely a bigger challenge day. She was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of activity surrounding us, which is completely understandable. There were moments where I needed to create a little more distance from the excitement and give her the opportunity to decompress and re-center herself. Knowing when to take a few steps back is actually a huge part of good training. Pushing a dog too far past their threshold can create stress and frustration, while recognizing their limits helps build trust and confidence over time. Today was one of those valuable learning days where listening to Kaia’s body language mattered most.
Even while feeling overwhelmed, Kaia still made some very good choices. She continued to stick with me, checked in frequently as if asking, “Are we okay?” and looked to me for guidance throughout the outing. Those check-ins are a wonderful sign that she’s building engagement and learning that her handler is a safe place during uncertain or stimulating situations. That trust is far more important than perfection.
Overall, Kaia did a good job today despite the intensity of the environment. Busy exposure days like this can be mentally exhausting for dogs, so after all the excitement we headed home for some well-earned rest and relaxation. Sometimes the biggest victories are simply showing up, working through the challenge, and leaving with confidence still intact; and Kaia did exactly that today.
You did good today, Kaia!
Pupdate 5/23
Today we took things to the backyard for a little bilingual training session with Kaia! For your request, we're starting to integrate Spanish into her understanding. And please forgive me if my pronunciation is a bit off. As mentioned in the video, we intentionally focused on only three commands today rather than throwing too much at her all at once. This is an important part of building confidence and understanding; especially for a young dog learning that multiple words can mean the same behavior. By keeping the session smaller and more focused, Kaia is able to process the information clearly without becoming mentally overloaded or frustrated.
Bilingual training is a fantastic way to strengthen communication and engagement because it encourages dogs to truly listen instead of simply reacting to patterns or tone. It helps sharpen their thinking skills and builds stronger obedience foundations in the long run. While it may sound simple to us, learning two verbal cues for one behavior is a pretty big mental workout for a little pup!
And honestly? Kaia handled it really well today. You could see her taking those little moments to think things through before making the correct choice, which is exactly what we want. Slow and thoughtful learning creates more reliable behaviors down the road, and she showed some really promising progress during our session.
I'm also happy to report no accidents! Her potty training has made it so long as she goes, she should be good for a few hours. Just making sure she's not left entirely unattended is key. The longer she doesn't have an oopsie, the better chances she'll learn to try and hold it!
Lots of praise, lots of encouragement, and plenty of little wins today for our smart little sausage student!
Pupdate 5/24
Today Kaia took her bilingual studies on the road as we headed over to Sean Brown Park to continue building on her new commands! During today’s session we officially introduced “Junto” for Heel and “Sienta” for Sit, and Kaia honestly picked up on the concept surprisingly well. You could really see the gears turning as she began connecting these new verbal markers with behaviors she already understands. That’s a huge confidence boost for her learning process and a great sign that she’s staying mentally engaged during training.
One of the most important parts of introducing new language cues is practicing them in a completely normal training environment rather than isolating them into some special “language-only” session. Dogs don’t generalize naturally the way humans do, so it’s incredibly valuable for Kaia to learn that these commands apply everywhere; whether we’re in the backyard, at the park, around distractions, or during everyday walks. By blending bilingual commands into a regular training outing, we help her understand that the expectation stays consistent no matter the environment or wording being used.
Sean Brown Park gave us plenty of opportunities to reinforce this with natural distractions all around us, and Kaia handled herself very nicely. She’s starting to realize that even though the words may sound different, the job remains the same; and that’s a big step forward in communication and obedience. Safe to say our little bilingual dachshund is proving she’s got both brains and sass packed into that tiny frame!
Pupdate 5/25
Today Kaia took another big step forward during our training session at Whittier Park where we continued sharpening her bilingual commands alongside fellow OffLeash trainers and their dogs. Working around multiple handlers and dogs creates a much more realistic environment full of movement, excitement, smells, and distractions; which makes it one of the best ways to strengthen reliability and focus in a young pup.
We continued reinforcing her English and Spanish commands, helping her understand that communication and expectations remain the same no matter which language she hears. Kaia is adapting to this incredibly well, and it’s been impressive watching how quickly she’s connecting the dots between the two. Training bilingually not only keeps her mentally engaged, but also builds stronger overall command recognition and handler awareness.
One of the biggest wins today was her improved restraint around other dogs. Previously, Kaia’s first instinct was often “MUST GO SAY HELLO RIGHT NOW,” but today she showed much better self-control and decision-making. While we still had a few little hiccups here and there; which is completely normal for a young, social puppy, she recovered much faster and was able to redirect her attention back to work far more consistently than before. That’s real progress.
Training around other balanced dogs also helps teach neutrality. The goal isn’t for Kaia to ignore the world entirely, but to understand that she doesn’t need to rush toward every dog she sees. Learning how to calmly exist around distractions without reacting impulsively is a huge foundation piece for future public outings and reliable obedience.
By the end of the session, Kaia looked noticeably more confident, thoughtful, and composed while working through the environment. Little miss sentient hotdog is slowly learning that not every dog she sees is an invitation to launch herself across the park, and honestly, that’s a pretty big accomplishment for her.
Kaia was certainly hot dogging it for the crowd, today!
Pupdate 5/26
Today Kaia and I headed back to Chatsworth to continue our bilingual training adventure, and the cooler cloudy weather made for the perfect training atmosphere. With fewer distractions from the heat and a nice calm breeze rolling through the park, Kaia was able to stay much more focused and engaged throughout our session. At this stage in her program, it’s becoming very clear that she’s truly starting to understand that commands remain the same no matter which language they’re delivered in.
We continued practicing her bilingual obedience using both English and Spanish cues, and Kaia handled the transition beautifully. Whether asked to “Sit” or “Sienta,” “Heel” or “Junto,” she’s beginning to respond with much more confidence and less hesitation. This is a huge milestone because it shows she’s no longer simply reacting to patterns or body language; she’s actually learning to associate the commands themselves with the desired behavior. That kind of understanding builds stronger communication, better consistency, and a more adaptable dog overall.
One of the nicest parts of today’s session was seeing how much calmer and more restrained Kaia has become compared to where she started. Previously, nearby dogs and activity would immediately pull her attention away, but today she showed far better impulse control and checked back in with me much more naturally. Even when curious about her surroundings, she recovered focus quickly and stayed mentally “in the game.” Those little moments of choosing engagement over distraction are what really show training progress.
Kaia’s confidence is growing alongside her understanding, and it’s been rewarding watching this tiny pup tackle such a big learning curve with so much personality. She’s becoming more fluent by the day; safe to say this little sausage is officially becoming a bark-lingual expert. Sorry for the bad pun! Also, no accidents thus far! Crate training's been a big help for that!
And here's a bonus photo of her rushing to me when I told her "Break!". I caught the moment she was mid-propelling herself!
Pupdate 5/27
Today was all about letting Kaia simply enjoy being a puppy. After three full weeks of hard work, new experiences, challenges, and learning, we decided to end her journey on a happy and pressure-free note. Training is incredibly important, but so is balance. Dogs, especially young puppies like Kaia, need time to decompress, explore, play, and just exist without constantly being asked for structure or obedience. Giving her that freedom today helps reinforce that training is not stressful or overwhelming; it’s simply a part of life, and life should still be fun.
She really had a blast on her last day with me and playing with myself and my girlfriend. She can really gun it when she wants to!
We spent the day enjoying the little things together, allowing Kaia to relax mentally while still carrying all the confidence and understanding she’s built over the course of her stay. Watching her now compared to the day she first arrived has been genuinely rewarding. The timid little hotdog with a big voice has blossomed into a much more confident, thoughtful, and responsive pup.
She’s learned how to work through distractions, communicate more clearly, and trust both herself and her handler in new environments.
What’s been especially impressive is how smart and adaptable Kaia proved herself to be. From learning bilingual commands to improving her restraint around dogs, people, food, and busy environments, she consistently showed us that underneath all that dachshund sass is a very bright little girl eager to understand the world around her. She may still have her goofy moments, as every puppy should; but she’s leaving with a stronger foundation, a calmer mind, and a whole lot more confidence than when she first waddled through the door.
It’s truly been a pleasure watching Kaia grow over these past three weeks, and we couldn’t be prouder of how far she’s come.
She really mustard up all her courage and proved she’s the top dog of the bun! Way to go, Kaia!
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