Meet Kylo! He's a one-and-a-half-year-old Australian Shepard from Granada Hills, California who is here with us for our Three Week Board and Train Program. Kylo is a super sweet pup with some general knowledge of a few basic commands, but he is very easily distracted by his surroundings and often struggles to maintain the focus needed to reliably listen to what is asked of him. He has some bad habits as well, such as jumping on people, barking at the door, pulling on the leash, and getting into mischief around the house. He also struggles with a bit of anxiety and general nervousness, and has some fears that impact his daily life, such as small dogs, vacuums, stairs, and car rides. Over the next twenty-one days, we will be working to improve his obedience, confidence, and manners to set him on the right track to becoming a confident and well-behaved pup both on and off leash! Stay tuned for his transformation!
Pupdate 12/31/2023
Today Kylo and I spent the day bonding and getting to know each other! After his pickup we took a trip to a local park, where we worked to begin developing a trusting relationship between us, as this will be important for his training going forward. The park wasn't super busy today, but there were some people, other dogs, and small animals around that helped serve as distractions and help us get an idea of Kylo's responses to different stimuli. Kylo generally seemed happy and eager to explore around the park with me, though he did appear a tad nervous from time to time. He got a bit spooked by a person who was jogging along the path nearby, and he wasn't a fan of walking past the playground where there were a bunch of children running around and screaming. There was also a small dog that barked at him and Kylo tried to run away from it despite it being several dozen feet away from us already. However, he didn't seem too scared of other small dogs around us so long as they were at a distance and minding their own business. Big or small, he seemed interested in staring at the other dogs, and sometimes he tried to approach bigger dogs or people who walked past us. He was pretty easily distracted overall, and was usually more interested in sniffing around or staring at our surroundings rather than engaging with me. I offered him some treats but he didn't seem very interested in any of them and usually spit them out. At first, he wasn't super keen on getting pets from me either, and sometimes tried to back away from me if I went to pet him, but after spending some more time together he eventually warmed up to me and started to enjoy getting affection and praise from me!
After taking some time to explore the park and assess his general behavior while in public, I began testing his knowledge of basic commands to help me get an idea of his starting point and what areas of his training may need some extra attention. Kylo seemed to have some understanding of the Heel command, though he was very inconsistent with performing it. Sometimes he tried to pull on the leash in an attempt to get wherever he wanted to go, but he didn't pull too hard and was usually quick to stop pulling once he felt leash pressure. Occasionally he would walk alongside me for a few seconds when asked to Heel, though he was quick to wander back off. Similarly, his recall for Come was also very inconsistent but he seemed to have some understanding of the command. When called he would sometimes come halfway to me and then stop, and other times he completely ignored both his name and the Come verbal cue. When he did come all the way to me, he would usually walk past me and immediately wander off again. Kylo did well with Sit overall, though sometimes he needed to be asked to Sit a few times before he followed through with it. He was unable to perform the Down command when prompted, and even after being at the park for a good amount of time, he never settled down enough to want to relax and lie down on his own accord. Kylo was also unable to perform Place, and he was extremely hesitant and lacked confidence about jumping or climbing onto any objects around the park, even objects that were physically easy to reach. He was also uninterested in climbing beneath any objects for Under, and generally seemed a bit scared of approaching any benches or other seating areas.
After we had a chance to get to know each other at the park, it was time to head home and get him settled in! Kylo was very hesitant about jumping into my car, and was scared to even approach the car. I eventually got him to place his two front paws onto the back of the car, but I had to give him a boost up to get him inside as he did not want to jump in on his own. Whenever Kylo is to travel with me in a car, he will be secured in a kennel to ensure his utmost safety. We will also be using a kennel while at home for sleep or if he is otherwise unsupervised. When first loading into the kennel during his pickup, he was initially hesitant to enter it and needed some help, though when we were loading up after the park visit he went right in on his own as soon as he was in the car, which was great to see! Once inside the kennel he seemed to feel at ease, and he settled in nicely for the ride home without issue. Upon arriving home, Kylo encountered another challenge, he was very scared of the stairs. I live in a several-story building, so a flight of stairs or an elevator needs to be taken to get inside. Kylo froze and refused to walk up the stairs on his own, so I had to help him up each step but we eventually made it! We will be spending some extra time helping him overcome his fear of stairs, and will also get him used to the elevator as this is another fear of his. Once inside Kylo was a bit unsure of the new environment and wanted to stand anxiously by the door, but after some reassurance he calmed down a bit and was able to explore around. We played with some toys and he got some snacks to eat, and he found a comfortable spot on the bed to look out the window and relax. I will continue spending time with him tonight and help him get settled in!
Pupdate 1/1/2024
Happy New Year! Thankfully, there were only minimal fireworks going off around where I live last night around midnight, and with the double-paned windows the noise was reduced significantly. Kylo didn't seem to notice or mind the quiet booming sounds and shortly after was able to sleep soundly through the night. He is still adjusting to his new situation, and is having a bit of anxiety overall while at home, but he seems to be improving slowly but surely. I've been spending lots of time with him so he can feel comfortable in my home and with me, but sometimes if I leave the room he's in for a few minutes to do something, he will seem scared of me for a few minutes after I reenter, like he's not sure who I am. He's also still a bit weird about me putting a leash or collar on him, and will give me a whale eye glare and lick his teeth if I try to reach over his head to put it on, which are warning signs communicating that he is uncomfortable and wants me to back off. Once I manage to get it on he seems to relax again and doesn't mind me reaching over or touching his neck, but this is something we will need to keep working on. He's also not a big fan of my boyfriend, and has growled at him a few times when he tried to say hello and approach him. Having my boyfriend ignore Kylo seems to be helping him feel more at ease, and Kylo has worked up the courage to go and sniff him a few times but generally seems very apprehensive around him. He also is still terrified of the stairs, so we tried the elevator today. While he was a bit nervous, his response to the elevator wasn't nearly as severe as the stairs. We spent a bit of time working around both today while entering and exiting the building, and we made good progress with the elevator but he still freezes up and refuses to move up or down the stairs.
Today Kylo and I worked both around my neighborhood and at a local park to begin his training journey! Both locations had a few common distractions such as people and other dogs, but overall were on the quieter side which provided a good environment to encourage learning in these early stages of training. Today's focus was on introducing the Come to Sit command as well as introducing and conditioning him to the e-collar. Pressure is a fundamental tool used in teaching obedience commands. The idea is that whenever a command is given, it can be paired and reinforced with a form of pressure, such as from a leash or e-collar stimulation. Once applied, the pressure remains until Kylo follows the command being given, and the moment he follows through, the pressure immediately turns off and a reward is given! Kylo seems to enjoy verbal praise, physical affection, and treats, so these are all great ways to reward him and encourage the behavior we want from him. It's also important to use treats sparingly during his training, and frequently switch between forms of reward so that he does not become reliant on treats to follow through with commands. Kylo already has a good understanding of leash pressure, which gives him a great head start! By pairing leash pressure and e-collar stimulation simultaneously, he will come to understand that both forms of pressure have the same meaning. With time and practice, this will allow the leash and e-collar to be used interchangeably, and eventually allow the opportunity to begin training with the e-collar only, without the need for a leash! I've also included a detailed tutorial explaining how, why, and when to use the e-collar, so be sure to check that out!
The Come to Sit command is an important command to introduce early on in Kylo's training journey, as this will be one of our main forms of recall. Developing a solid and reliable recall is important for any pup's obedience training, though this will be especially important for Kylo to learn if he is to be allowed off leash in the future. The goal for Come to Sit is for Kylo to come directly to his handler when called, then circle around from their right side and finish the command with a Sit on the left side facing forward. While Kylo has some general understanding of the Come command already, he is largely unreliable, as he often chooses to ignore what is being asked of him and is quick to run back off after approaching. When performed in its entirety, Come to Sit ensures that he not only comes when called, but also requires him to sit beside his handler and not leave that spot unless released or given a new command. This precise positioning also sets him up to be in the correct position to begin walking in a Heel. We introduced this command by first working on teaching him to Come when called by guiding him and getting his attention using the leash and e-collar. Once he followed the guidance and approached me, the leash was used to guide him around to my left side, where he was then asked to perform a Sit. As we practiced more, he began to rely less on the leash pressure to grab his attention and guide him, which is a good sign of progress and understanding! With each successful repetition, I made sure to reward him with lots of praise and affection, to build up a positive association with the command and the act of coming to me when called.
Pupdate 1/2/2024
Today Kylo and I worked around my neighborhood and at a local park. We focused on introducing the Heel command today, as well as Come to Heel. We also continued practicing with Come to Sit. We began our training session around the neighborhood where the distractions were minimal, then once he started to get the hang of the commands we took a walk over to a local park to continue our training in a more distracting environment. The weather was very nice today, so there were lots of people, children, and other dogs visiting the park. The park was also near a busy street, which provided an additional level of distraction. Kylo did seem a bit overwhelmed by everything at first, though after spending some time training, exploring, and relaxing around the various distractions, he seemed to pay less and less attention to them. Whenever he did get distracted by something, whether it was another dog, a bicycle, or smells in the grass, we used the Off command to get his attention back on track.
The Off command is frequently used and very helpful for Kylo to learn early on. This is the general command used to communicate that Kylo needs to stop whatever he is doing, and refocus on me. It can be helpful to then ask or remind him of another command directly after, as it will help to keep his attention on target and reduce the chances of him repeating or going back to whatever unwanted behavior he was displaying. It's similar to saying "no" or "leave it", and can be used in a wide variety of situations, such as when he is fixated on a distraction, barking, sniffing or eating something he's not supposed to, jumping on someone or something he's not supposed to, etc. He caught onto this command pretty quickly, and was often able to promptly stop whatever he was doing, and return his attention to me. With time and practice, undesirable behaviors will become less and less frequent if they are consistently discouraged with this command.
The Heel command is another important concept for Kylo to learn, as he is very prone to suddenly veering off in different directions and pulling while walking on the leash. The goal for the Heel command is for Kylo to be able to follow directly alongside his handler on the left side and maintain that position while walking unless released or given a new command. He will need to pay close attention to his handler while walking in a Heel, so that he can match their pace and follow along in the proper position even if their handler turns or makes a sudden stop. This precise positioning takes a lot of practice to master, but it will eliminate pulling on the leash and veering off in different directions, and allow his handler to take the lead on walks instead of him trying to pull them around wherever he pleases. To introduce this command, I kept the leash short but loose, and ensured he stayed on my left side in roughly the Heel position as we walked. If he began to veer off, try to pull ahead, or step out of the Heel position, leash and e-collar pressure were paired with the verbal command to communicate and guide him back to Heel. When walking in the correct Heel position, the leash was loose, no pressure was applied, and lots of praise and rewards were given to communicate that he was in the desired position! After practicing with this for a bit, he quickly began to grasp the concept and stopped trying to pull on the leash, and he began to understand where he needed to be when the command was given. He also seemed to need less and less leash pressure the more we practiced, and became much more responsive to the verbal command and e-collar. He did sometimes lose focus and momentarily forget the command, especially when distractions were around, though once reminded of the command and provided with some guidance he was able to fall back into the correct position at my side as we walked. As he gets better with this command, he will have an easier time staying in the Heel position for longer periods without as much guidance, and need to be reminded less and less!
Come to Heel is another form of recall, and the goal is for Kylo to come when called and begin walking alongside his handler in the Heel position. Kylo caught onto this command very easily, and was able to be called into the Heel position from about six feet away, which is a great start! As we practice more, we'll gradually begin adding more distance between us so he can learn to perform this command even when his handler is far away from him. Kylo did great with his Come to Sit as well, and while he did sometimes make minor mistakes here and there, he was able to correct himself with very minimal physical guidance needed which is amazing to see so early on in his training! The main mistakes he made were only coming partway to me and pausing, or trying to come directly to my left side without circling around from the right side beforehand. These are things that should be easy to correct with some more practice as the command will come more naturally to him. Kylo is also catching onto the e-collar quickly and seems to understand the sensation as a means of communication when paired with verbal commands.
Pupdate 1/3/2024
Today Kylo was introduced to two new commands, Place and Down. We also continued to practice his other commands, including Sit, Heel, Come to Heel, Come to Sit, and Off. We began our training session at home, where the distraction levels were minimal to provide Kylo with a safe and calm environment to learn in. Once he showed understanding of these new commands, we took a drive over to a local park, where we continued his training in a more distracting environment. There were a good amount of distractions present at the park today, including people, children, small animals, and other dogs. We also found some nice people with well-trained, dog-neutral dogs to practice Kylo's training around, which was helpful as their dogs ignored Kylo which encouraged him to do the same. At first, Kylo was very interested in them and struggled to focus when they were nearby, but eventually he understood to focus on his commands and ignore the other pups, even when they were running around and playing fetch nearby him. Overall Kylo did well with staying focused around other kinds of distractions too, and the Off command was helpful in keeping his attention on me and his training rather than on his surroundings.
The goal for the Place command is for Kylo to jump or climb onto a designated surface, such as a bench, a bed, or other defined object, and hold a stationary command while remaining on the Place object until released or given a new command. We introduced this command today with a dog cot as our place object, which is a low, raised surface that is easy to climb on and off. Since Kylo has some anxiety about climbing or jumping onto objects, starting with something easy is crucial in setting him up for success. We first introduced him to Place while at home, by using some leash pressure and a treat lure to guide him onto the object while giving the verbal Place cue. At first, he was very hesitant to even step foot on it, but after some reassurance and practice, he was able to step up and walk over it without fear. We then began encouraging him to stop and Sit on the object, which he was again hesitant about but eventually became more comfortable with. Once he seemed to understand the behavior, we began pairing leash pressure with e-collar stimulation as additional reinforcement and communication when needed. When it came time to practice this command at the park, we had to start the introduction process again as he seemed scared of it again due to the change in environment. However, after a bit of practice he got the hang of it again and was able to Place on the dog cot without issue. In today's video, you can see just how quickly he overcame his hesitation and was able to perform the Place command confidently at the park! We kept the duration very short for today, but gradually we will work on getting him to remain in Place for longer periods of time. Practicing the Place command today also seemed to really help Kylo with the act of loading up into the car. When heading home from the park, I put the dog cot on the ground by my car and asked him to Place on it, and from there Kylo was able to jump into my car all by himself which is a huge deal for him, as this was previously a very scary and challenging ordeal for him. Ideally, we'd like him to be able to jump into the car without needing to use the dog cot, but this was a big first step for him!
The other command introduced to Kylo today is the Down command. The goal for the Down command is for Kylo to lay down completely when asked, and remain in that position until released or given a new command. This command can be difficult for some dogs to perform on command, especially if they are excitable or anxious, but overall Kylo did a great job and learned quickly! Introducing this command in a calm environment where Kylo can feel relaxed and safe is key to building his confidence and increasing his chances of success going forward. To introduce this command, we used leash pressure, physical guidance, and occasional food lures to guide Kylo into the Down position while the verbal command was given. Once he followed through and laid down completely, he received lots of praise followed by a break shortly after. He did try to resist the guidance at first, though using treats occasionally throughout the process as either a lure or reward helped grab his attention and motivate him to follow through with what was being asked of him. After some practice, Kylo was able to perform Down without needing to be guided or lured into the position, and was able to Down when asked with the verbal cue paired with e-collar stimulation as reinforcement when needed. We practiced Down both on the dog cot and on various other surfaces both at home and at the park, such as on the floor, on grass, and on pavement. He seemed most comfortable performing Down either at home on the floor, or at the park on the grass, but was able to perform it on other surfaces as well. We kept the duration for this command very short at first, to keep the training fun and rewarding for Kylo. We then gradually increased the duration by small intervals and rewarded him for his patience and confidence in holding the position. As we continue to practice this we will continue increasing the duration gradually so he can learn to remain in this position for extended periods of time. At the park, Kylo wasn't able to hold his Down for quite as long as he could at home, but this was expected as there were lots of distractions around him that were testing his focus. He was however quite confident performing Down despite various distractions being present around him, such as dogs and people.
I'm also happy to share that Kylo seems to have settled in nicely at my home, and seems to be feeling much more comfortable and happy overall. He's adjusting well to the routines we have set, and is having an easier time settling down and relaxing while at home without feeling anxious all the time. He also seems to trust me a lot more, no longer behaves scared of me when I reenter the room, and is much more interested in receiving affection and attention from me both at home and in public. We've also been working on me putting his leash or collar on him, and by using positive reinforcement to help him develop a positive association with this situation, he is now completely fine with me doing this and no longer shows signs of discomfort or stress. Kylo is still slightly uneasy around my boyfriend, but he is slowly warming up to him and is no longer actively scared of him. He doesn't seem interested in engaging with or seeking attention from him, but he will now allow my boyfriend to walk up to him and pet him without feeling the need to growl or flee. He did eat slightly less food during his mealtimes today, though this was likely due to the added treats he received during training.
Pupdate 1/4/2024
Today Kylo and I visited the Hollywood Walk of Fame to practice his commands in a distracting environment. It wasn't super busy today as the weather was pretty cold and windy, but there were a still good amount of distractions present, such as a few crowds of people, music, other dogs, and cars passing on the busy street nearby. Kylo was a bit overwhelmed by the busy environment, and seemed quite anxious overall. Despite this, he was able to follow through with all of his commands without too much issue, he just needed a bit of extra reassurance and encouragement at times. The Off command came in handy here, as it helped him refocus and stay on task when something caught his attention. He never fully relaxed while we were training here, but over time he did appear to feel slightly more confident and less overwhelmed. There was also a big set of stairs at this location, which was a great opportunity to continue working on helping Kylo overcome his fear of stairs. He was definitely nervous at first and did freeze up a few times, but with some reassurance and practice, he was eventually able to walk up and down the set of stairs alongside me without seeming to feel nervous about it.
The command Kylo seemed to struggle most with while at the Walk of Fame was the Heel command, as he was often prone to veering off or trying to walk ahead of me. He needed lots of reminders to stay in position, usually with a bit of physical guidance from the leash to help him maintain his Heel. When passing by people or other dogs, he would often try to leave my side to approach them, and the Off command would need to be given to remind him to ignore passerbys while in a Heel. He also tried to sniff the ground a lot, which is another behavior we don't want Kylo doing when he is asked to focus on Heel or other obedience commands. Sniffing can be a great activity to help him unwind and become familiar with his environment however, so we made sure to take frequent breaks and allow him to sniff around during these times. Kylo did okay with Come to Heel, as he did good with coming over to my left side when called, however he would usually end up walking ahead of me a few seconds after reaching the Heel position once recalled. He did very well with Come to Sit though, and he was quick to come right to me when called. He seemed very comfortable with circling around and sitting on my left side each time, and more often than not he was able to complete the entire maneuver without needing any physical guidance! Kylo also did great with Sit, Down, and Place. He was able to perform Sit and Down both without any physical guidance, and was confident enough to Place on a few different objects around the area, even objects that were higher up than he is used to. He did need a bit of leash pressure when first working with a new Place object, but after a few repetitions, he was comfortable jumping up without any guidance from the leash. We practiced a bit with having him Place on objects while I stood a step or two away from the object, which is the first step towards Send Away to Place. The goal for Send Away to Place is for Kylo to be able to walk over to a designated object on his own and Place on it while his handler is at a distance away from the object. This is something we will gradually be working on throughout his training to increase the distance in which he can be sent to the Place object from.
After our training session in Hollywood, we headed back home for a well-deserved break, and then worked on some more training once Kylo was feeling rested and refreshed. While at home, we introduced Kylo to the Under command. The goal for Under is for Kylo to climb fully underneath an object, such as a desk, table, chair, or a bench, and have him perform Down while under it. This command will be especially useful for Kylo, as he will be attending his handler in college, where he will need to be comfortable spending time underneath a desk. We introduced this command by using one of my desks at home, and using some leash pressure and treats to motivate and guide him underneath it. At first, Kylo was very hesitant and a bit scared about climbing under the desk, despite it being tall enough for him to walk under easily. He tried to resist the leash pressure, but eventually decided he wanted the treat badly enough to follow it under the desk. Once he was under the desk, I asked for the Down command, which he was able to do without any protest. Once he followed through with the command, he received a break shortly after and lots of praise! After a few repetitions of this, Kylo was more comfortable performing Under, and no longer needed a treat to lure him beneath the desk each time. He did sometimes stick out from under the desk a bit, and needed to be slightly repositioned so his whole body was beneath it, but overall he seemed to grasp the concept pretty easily. We will continue practicing this command with different kinds of objects in different locations, as well as work on increasing the duration of this command so he can learn to hold it for extended periods of time.
Pupdate 1/5/2024
Today Kylo and I visited a local park, where we continued practicing all of his commands around distractions. The park was rather busy today, with many people, children, and other dogs visiting. Overall Kylo was a bit distracted when we first arrived as he was very interested in exploring his surroundings, but he was quickly able to focus once we began training. He was able to ignore most distractions around us, and overall was very attentive and quick to follow through with what was asked of him regardless of what was going on around us.
The only distraction he really struggled with today was joggers. He seems to have a strong dislike of people when they are running, and one time even growled, barked, and tried to charge after a person who was jogging along the nearby path. Once he reached the end of the leash he quickly snapped out of it and came right back to me, but this is definitely not a behavior we want to have continue. We made it a point to work on this today by redirecting Kylo to alternative behaviors rather than reacting towards people who were running by. When Kylo began to fixate on a jogger, the Off command was used and he was asked to perform an obedience command, such as Sit, Down, or Heel. This helped to shift his focus away from the trigger and diffuse the situation so it did not escalate further. When he was able to ignore joggers as they passed and follow through with obedience commands in their presence, we made sure to give Kylo lots of praise to help him learn that this is the desired behavior we want from him, and that reactive behaviors would not be rewarding for him. We started at a good distance from the pathway where joggers were passing by, so that Kylo could see them but be far enough away to not trigger a reaction each time. We gradually made our way closer to the pathway, and continued this training anytime the opportunity arose. This is something we will need to continue working on over time, but he did make some good progress today.
Kylo did great overall with each of his commands today. He was able to perform most of his commands with minimal leash pressure needed, and responded very well to the e-collar, verbal commands, and hand signals for guidance and communication. He did occasionally need some leash pressure when he was a bit confused on what to do, but for the most part, he did not need the extra help. He did well with his Heel, and understood exactly where he needed to be when the command was given. He did sometimes get distracted here and fall slightly out of position, but after a reminder, he was quick to correct his positioning. Kylo did great with both Come to Sit and Come to Heel, and was always eager to come right to me once he was called. He seemed to easily understand the distinction between these two forms of recall, and was able to follow the verbal commands and hand signals to differentiate which one was being asked of him. Kylo did a great job with Sit, Down, and Place today, and we continued working on Send Away to Place by gradually increasing the distance in which he is sent to the Place object from. We practiced with a few different objects, and he was consistently able to be sent to the object from a distance of about four to five feet away. He was able to do it from further away, but was less reliable and sometimes needed me to step a bit closer until he followed through with it. Kylo did struggle with Under a bit at first, though with some practice he seemed to remember this command and what to do. We used a few different objects for this, including a picnic bench and a regular seating bench. He did good with both of them, but seemed more comfortable under the picnic bench as it had more space for him to easily duck under.
On another note, Kylo was able to jump into my car today without needing any help! He has been using the dog cot as a boost up for a couple of days now, and today he was confident enough to jump from the ground into the car without it. He also understands to go right into the kennel when prompted, and has been doing great on car rides. He also seems to enjoy the kennel at home, and oftentimes after a long day of training and playing, he'll walk inside on his own accord and settle in for some quiet time to unwind. This shows that he understands it as a safe and relaxing space, which is great to see! Kylo also has been doing great with elevators, and does not hesitate or become nervous while using one. He has also made fantastic progress with stairs, and no longer completely freezes up and refuses to step up or down them. Sometimes he'll hesitate for a brief moment, but is able to continue following me with a little reassurance.
Pupdate 1/6/2024
Today Kylo and I took a walk down a local shopping strip, where we practiced all of his commands around the various distractions present. There were groups of people walking along the sidewalks, other dogs, and distractions such as strollers and bicycles. The shopping strip is also alongside a busy street, so lots of loud cars, buses, and other vehicles were driving past us. Kylo was a bit overwhelmed by all the noises and distractions at first, though the more time we spent there he seemed to gradually relax and have an easier time focusing on his commands. When in quieter areas, he showed great engagement with me and was very eager to perform his commands. When the distraction level increased, Kylo did lose focus more easily but still did a great job refocusing when asked and following through with what was asked of him. We used some of his kibble as treats today to reward Kylo occasionally during training, which helped keep the training fun even in the stressful environment. He didn't seem to rely on treats for any commands, and was able to perform without them, but he did show a bit of extra enthusiasm for his commands whenever they were offered!
We also visited a few of the dog-friendly stores, where we walked around and practiced commands inside. One store we visited was a pet store, and Kylo earned a yummy treat for being a good boy and impressing the employees with his obedience skills! We also visited a dog-friendly restaurant patio, where we had Kylo practice Under beneath the table and chairs. There was another dog at a nearby table across the patio, but he mostly ignored it. He did stand up and become a bit nervous when a small dog walking on the nearby sidewalk barked at him while passing by, but he was responsive to the Off command and quickly returned to position when prompted. He did sometimes become distracted by all the smells of food around us, but he did not try to jump on the tables or beg for the food, and overall he was a very good boy!
We spent a lot of time walking along the sidewalks and inside of various stores, which was a great opportunity to practice Heel around different distractions. Kylo is still very aware of his surroundings when we are somewhere unfamiliar, though I am seeing moments of focus and engagement with me more frequently, which is great to see! While practicing Heel inside of stores, Kylo did a very good job about maintaining his positioning, and was generally more relaxed and focused. While out on the sidewalk, he still did a good job with Heel though he sometimes veered slightly towards distractions, or bumped into me when he wasn't paying close enough attention to his positioning. When given a reminder, was able to correct his positioning with minimal leash pressure needed. As usual, Kylo did a great job with his Come to Sit and Come to Heel and was always very eager to Come right to me when called. We also practiced more with his Sit, Down, and Send Away to Place, and Kylo is making good improvement with these commands as well. He was able to hold his stationary commands for longer periods today, even while some distractions were present around us, testing his focus and patience. We still have a ways to go before he can consistently reach our duration goal of two minutes, but he is making great progress!
Pupdate 1/7/2024
Kylo and I visited an outdoor mall today, where we practiced all of his commands around distractions. This location wasn't super busy today, but still contained a variety of common distractions, such as small groups of people, other dogs, and birds. Overall Kylo did an excellent job staying focused, and didn't seem to pay too much attention to any distraction in particular. In moments where he did become distracted momentarily, the Off command was effective in helping him to refocus. We also stopped by a café at the mall after our training session, where we sat on the patio together and relaxed for a bit. Kylo did a great job with Under here, and happily stayed beneath the bench I sat on until it was time to go. He did try to beg for my drink when we first sat down, but he quickly understood it was not for him and calmly returned to the position asked of him.
Kylo did a great job with Heel today, and seemed calm, focused, and happy to follow my lead as we walked around the mall together. We were consistently able to walk past most distractions without Kylo losing focus or falling out of position, which was great to see! We practiced a lot with sudden turns and stops, which helps to further build his ability to concentrate during this command and ensures he is paying attention to his positioning so that he can follow along even while his handler moves in unpredictable ways. Kylo also did a very good job about sitting immediately whenever we came to a stop, and oftentimes did so automatically without me having to ask him. He also did an excellent job with Come to Sit and Come to Heel, and was always quick to recall to me anytime the verbal cue was used. He never needed the leash to guide him to me or into the position asked of him for either of these recall commands. Kylo did great with his stationary commands as well, and was able to perform Sit, Down, Place, and Under whenever prompted. He didn't seem to like jumping onto the slatted benches seen in today's video, however. He was able to do it, but he often hesitated and needed a bit of help as the open gaps seemed to scare him, like he thought he would fall through it.There were plenty of other Place objects to practice with though, and he had no issue with any of those and was able to be Sent Away to Place at a distance of about six feet. He sometimes stuck out a bit when practicing Under, but he seems to understand the command overall and we will work on cleaning up his positioning. He was able to hold each stationary command for over a minute and a half at a time, even if distractions were present around us.We also practiced creating a bit of distance between us while he held his stationary commands. Whenever he did break a command before being released, he was immediately asked to return to position to remain consistent with our training, as we want him to understand all of his commands come with an implied stay.
While at the mall, there were lots of nice people who were impressed with Kylo's fantastic obedience skills, and wanted to come say hello to him, which was a good opportunity to work on Kylo's Greeting Manners. The goal for Greeting Manners is for Kylo to remain calm, collected, and polite while greeting people, whether it's by someone he knows or if it's someone new. Before allowing someone to approach him, we first ask Kylo to focus on holding a stationary command, such as Sit or Down, which helps to prevent over-excitement, jumping, or other impolite behaviors from occurring, as his focus is instead directed to holding the position. If he breaks position or begins behaving impolitely, he is immediately asked to refocus and return to the position asked of him. Before the greeting takes place, it's important to inform the person or people that Kylo is in training, and that they can help him learn by only petting him when he is listening, stationary, and calm. Giving him attention or praise when he is over-excited, barking, jumping up, or otherwise behaving impolitely will result in those behaviors becoming encouraged, which would be detrimental to his progress. By ensuring all praise and affection are reserved strictly for when he is holding the position asked of him and behaving calmly, we can work to encourage good behavior.
Kylo does seem a bit selective about the people he is open to greeting, as some people he did not want to be approached by, and others he was very happy to say hello to. From what I could tell, he seemed to prefer women over men, didn't like old people, and didn't like people who wore hats or hoods. Paying close attention to his body language in these situations is very important. If he showed any signs of being uncomfortable or scared, such as backing away, raising his hackles, stiff posture, or staring at them with a "whale eye", we made sure to advocate for him and his space and not allow the person to approach or pet him, which Kylo seemed to understand and appreciate. We do not want Kylo to feel like he has to protect himself by escalating the situation beyond these subtle body language warnings, as it could lead to more serious issues such as nipping or biting. When Kylo was interested in greeting someone, his body language was much more relaxed and happy, and he was curious about them and wanted to sniff them. When practicing Greeting Manners with the people Kylo was comfortable with today, he overall did a pretty good job! He did sometimes get a bit excited and break position momentarily while being pet, but he never tried to jump on anyone which was good! We will continue working on Greeting Manners with Kylo whenever the opportunity arises.
Pupdate 1/8/2024
Kylo and I visited a park today, where we met up with some other OffLeash SoCal trainers and their pups, and continued working on all of his commands around distractions. There were some other visitors and dogs at the park, and lots of small children playing on the playground. Overall Kylo did a great job staying focused today, and did excellent with each of his commands. He didn't seem overwhelmed by the distraction level here, and his anxiety levels were minimal compared to how he was just a week ago! While we were training near the other dogs, he sometimes slightly struggled to pay attention due to the distraction they presented, unless the Off command was used consistently to remind him where his attention needed to be. Generally, as long as they were at a comfortable distance away of about thirty feet or so, he was completely calm and uninterested in them, but if they were closer than that he needed regular reminders to stay focused as he would tend to become distracted, nervous, and antsy.
While Kylo behaved very well for most of our visit here, there were a few moments when he struggled a bit. One such moment was when a woman and her small child approached us from behind to watch us while we were training, and Kylo didn't seem to like this. He turned and stared intensely at them as soon as he saw them approach, and his body language indicated he was gearing up to react negatively. Had I not intervened, he likely would have barked or growled at them, judging by his intent staring, stiff posture, and raising hackles. Thankfully, the Off command quickly redirected him, which successfully snapped him out of it before it escalated beyond these subtle signs. The mother and child moved away from us and Kylo returned to happily ignoring them without further issue. He also barked at a child on the swing set in the distance, but after using the Off command he stopped and did not bark again.
Apart from these couple of moments, Kylo was a very good boy and did a great job with all of his commands! Using a long leash, we spent today focusing on practicing commands without any leash pressure, and worked on increasing distance between us for his stationary and recall commands. Long leashes are a great tool to use when practicing these areas of training while still having him safely tethered in the event the leash is needed. By holding onto the end of a fifteen foot leash, we were able to provide him with plenty of physical freedom to move and make his own choices when given a command, without being able to rely on the leash for guidance. By doing this, we encourage him to problem solve, and use his combined understanding of the verbal commands, hand signals, and e-collar to perform the command asked of him. He did a solid job with Heel today, despite the leash not being used to guide him. Overall he was very focused and precise with his positioning beside me as we walked, and often engaged by providing eye contact, which was great! He would sometimes fall out of position occasionally if he became distracted momentarily, but he never strayed too far from me and was quick to correct his positioning when prompted. Kylo did fantastic with both Heel and Come to Sit, and did not need the leash to guide him through either of these commands, and had no trouble being recalled from fifteen feet away. Kylo was also able to Sit, Down, Under, and Place without any leash pressure, and was able to hold position while I was about ten feet away and walking around him. He sometimes would want to break position and come running over to me if I went further than this away, but with more practice this behavior should become less frequent. Kylo was able to be Sent Away to Place from a distance of about five feet without any leash pressure used. He was also able to be Sent to Place on an object from six to ten feet away, but only if a small amount of leash pressure was used to provide a bit of directional guidance while the command was given. He was able to hold his stationary commands consistently for around a minute and a half today, even with distractions present around us.
Pupdate 1/9/2024
Today Kylo and I visited an outdoor mall, and continued practicing each of his commands around the various distractions present. The mall wasn't overly busy, but still had a good amount of distractions present, such as loud music, groups of people, children, and other dogs. Despite the distractions, Kylo was able to remain calm and focused, enabling him to maintain a good mindset for learning and practicing his commands. He didn't appear overwhelmed or stressed during our visit here, and overall showed a lot of confidence and relaxed behavior, which was so great to see! While taking breaks, Kylo enjoyed resting next to me on a bench and calmly observing the environment while I pet him. This is a great activity for Kylo, as it exposes him to different distractions and rewards him for calm and neutral behavior towards his environment.
We made sure to keep an eye on our surroundings for any approaching distractions that could trigger a reaction from Kylo, such as people wearing hoods, people running or jogging, strollers, and children. When such a distraction did come along, we made sure to keep a close eye on his body language and where his attention was, and ensure he did not have the chance to fixate on them. Based on his previous reactions around these kinds of distractions, we've seen that allowing him to fixate on things that make him nervous can lead to behaviors such as barking and lunging. So interrupting his fixation early allows us to prevent it from escalating and redirect him to focus on an alternative behavior. By practicing this, we successfully avoided any reactive behaviors today, even while various triggers passed by us. In today's video you can see him staying calm and collected even as a stroller and children approached us and people wearing hoods walked by, which was something that just a couple of days ago he likely would have behaved very differently around. He was also a bit scared of a big door to a restaurant we were training near, but after exposing him to it and letting him see it open and close a few times with some reassurance, he quickly got over this fear and wasn't concerned by it.
Kylo did a great job with all of his commands today! We continued focusing on practicing commands without any leash pressure, and Kylo seemed confident and eager to follow through with anything that was asked of him, even without the leash being used to guide him. Kylo was able to Heel and Come to Heel very well, and was able to follow alongside me as we walked around the mall. For the most part, he was very focused and attentive to his positioning, but when reminders were needed to adjust his positioning he had no trouble correcting himself. Kylo also did well with Come to Sit, and his recall was always solid and consistent. His positioning was also great for the most part without using the leash, though there were a few occasions when he needed to be asked to reposition himself, such as if he sat a bit crooked or too far from the desired position beside me. Kylo did fantastic with his stationary positions, and was able to perform Sit, Down, Under, and Place with ease and hold the positions reliably, all without any leash pressure needed. He was able to perform and hold stationary positions for two minutes or longer consistently, even while I was at a distance from him. He did not need me to be right in front of him when asking for the command for him to understand and follow through with it, and he was comfortable with me walking around or away from him without feeling the need to break position and follow me. We also spent some more time practicing Send Away to Place, and Kylo was a superstar with this! Once he was familiar with the object we were practicing with, Kylo was able to be sent to place from a distance of around ten feet away consistently, without any leash pressure needed to direct him on where to go! He was also able to be sent to Place from around fifteen feet away, though every now and then he would pause before getting to the object and need to be asked for the command again.
Pupdate 1/10/2024
Today Kylo and I visited a beach, where we practiced all of his commands with minimal leash to no pressure. Kylo has been doing very well at parks and malls, so we switched things up and took a trip over to Venice to work on his training and test his skills in a different type of environment. We visited a sandy beach, a pier, and a walking trail beside a bike trail, all of which had their own unique set of distractions to work around. Kylo also enjoyed spending his breaks running around on the beach and exploring the areas with me, which was a fun and enriching way to get some of his extra energy out while helping him associate the busy beach environment with a positive experience. There were a few moments where he became a bit stressed and overstimulated due to the busy environment, but he recovered quickly and seemed to enjoy his time here overall!
Some distractions were more challenging than others for Kylo during training, but overall he did a good job staying focused and working through any struggles that we encountered. The sand was one challenge, as it seemed to distract Kylo a bit and make him feel very excited and playful, but after walking along some sandy areas for a few minutes he seemed to have an easier time staying focused on his training and not letting the different texture beneath his feet throw him off. He was a bit nervous around the bicycles nearby as well, and often would turn around completely to stare at them as they passed. When he began to fixate on a bike or break a command due to one, we used the Off command and reminded him of the task at hand, which helped him understand to not focus on them. After spending some time training and rewarding him for neutral behavior near the bike trail, he learned to ignore them and no longer seemed anxious around them, letting them pass by without his attention centering on them. Kylo seemed to effectively ignore most people we encountered today, though there was one incident where he reacted towards an older lady who was walking by us while at the pier. She was wearing a big hat and had a walking cane as well, which may have contributed to his response. We were off to the side, having him hold a Sit beside me to let a crowd pass by, and Kylo jumped up from his Sit, barked at her, and tried to rush towards her. I did see his body tense up right before the reaction occurred, but it happened too quickly for me to interrupt it before it escalated. The lady was in the back of the crowd so neither of us saw her coming, then she emerged through the crowd in front of us, and Kylo reacted to her almost as soon as he saw her. I immediately used the Off command and used the leash to prevent him from approaching her, and he quickly snapped out of it, came back to me, and returned to his Sit, allowing the woman and the rest of the crowd to continue walking by without further issue. More work will need to be done with Kylo around these kinds of triggers before he can safely be allowed off leash.
Apart from his reaction toward the lady and the other challenges we faced today in this environment, Kylo overall did a solid job with his commands. He was definitely excited to explore his surroundings today, especially when we first arrived, but after spending a bit of time training and allowing him to become accustomed to his surroundings, he had an easier time staying calm and focused. He did struggle with Heel for a bit today, as he sometimes wanted to walk ahead of me when being asked to Heel instead of next to me as he usually would. He needed plenty of reminders and occasional light leash pressure to maintain the position asked of him. He was reluctant to stay in Heel at first but eventually did get back into the rhythm of it without needing the leash to guide him. Kylo's recall was always great today, and no matter what distractions were present he was always quick to come right to me anytime he was called, whether it was for Come to Sit or Come to Heel. He didn't need the leash to guide him for these commands at any point today. Kylo also did great with each of his stationary commands, and was able to perform Sit, Down, Under, and Place all without any leash pressure. When it came to Place and Under, he did need a bit of an introduction to some of the objects before he was fully comfortable with them, but after a few repetitions he got the hang of it and was able to practice commands with them with ease. He was able to be Sent Away to Place from about ten feet away consistently. He was also able to hold each position for about a minute and forty-five seconds, which is slightly shorter than his average yesterday, but due to the added distractions it is understandable. We will continue working on improving his reliability with holding stationary commands for extended periods of time while in distracting areas.
Also, his paws did get a bit wet and sandy while at the beach, but before loading into the car he was a very good boy and happily handed me his paws to clean him up before we headed home.
Pupdate 1/11/2024
Today Kylo had a more relaxed day of training, where we focused on improving his house manners and practicing his commands around the neighborhood. We also spent a good amount of time working to address the reactive behaviors Kylo has been exhibiting, by exposing him to triggers in a controlled and productive manner. Kylo is a little over halfway through his board and train program, and already we are seeing a huge improvement in his habits, behaviors, and confidence! While there is always more work to do, his training is truly beginning to pay off!
Kylo is now very comfortable inside my home, and no longer displays any anxious or fearful behaviors within the home environment. He has been a very good boy and has not been getting into any mischief around the house such as chewing on or destroying things. He did sometimes become tempted to do this during his first few days with me, but with constant supervision, interrupting undesirable behaviors, and teaching him alternative behaviors, he has since stopped completely. Now, instead of thinking about chewing on furniture for example, when he has the urge to chew he will find his toy and chew on that instead. Kylo is very quick to learn what we like and what we don't like, we just need to communicate to him in a way he understands. It's also important that he receives plenty of mental and physical exercise and enrichment daily, as meeting his needs helps him feel more calm and relaxed. We have also been working hard to help Kylo overcome the fears he initially had. Some examples are walking up or down stairs, taking the elevator, or jumping into the car. With lots of reassurance, rewards, and practice, he has completely overcome these fears! His confidence has increased dramatically, and he now associates these once very scary tasks with fun, pleasant, and rewarding experiences!
We took several walks around the neighborhood today as usual, and Kylo has been doing better and better each day with his commands and overall behavior! He has been doing pretty well dealing with various distractions overall, though some are more difficult for him to remain neutral to than others, as he is still a bit unpredictable with certain dogs and people. We spent today focusing on addressing his behavior around other dogs, as my neighborhood has plentiful dog distractions during the morning and evening hours. He rarely reacts towards dogs that are minding their own business at a comfortable distance away, but he struggles to remain neutral towards them if they get too close, bark at him, or behave erratically, as he will often feel the need to fixate, bark, or try to rush at them. When encountering a person or another dog while on walks around the neighborhood sidewalks, we have been practicing stepping off to the side and allowing them to pass by while having Kylo sit beside me. This helps to create a bit of distance, gives Kylo a simple task to focus on, and allows me to easily control the situation if needed. In cases where a dog passing us is behaving poorly or is on a long leash, if distancing ourselves further away is not an option in the moment, I place myself in front of Kylo to create a physical barrier, which Kylo has come to appreciate. If Kylo is feeling uncomfortable, his first instinct is to protect himself by reacting and lashing out, so it's important we take the pressure off him and show him that he can trust his handler to advocate for his space and deal with the situation appropriately instead.
We spent some extra time today working around barking dogs, as this seemed to be a big trigger for him today that led to a few reactions. Some of my neighbors let their dogs in their front yards, and some like to bark at passerbys from behind the fence, so these were great opportunities to expose Kylo to this type of distraction in a controlled manner. We brought some of the kibble from his meals along with us during our walks, and used it frequently to reward him for calm and neutral behavior in the presence of these challenging situations. By the time our evening walk concluded, Kylo was able to walk past and practice commands near barking dogs behind fences without reacting toward them, as he knew focusing on me would be much more rewarding for him. He still needs more work around other dogs before this issue has been overcome, but he made some great progress today!
Pupdate 1/12/2024
Kylo and I visited a Home Depot today! This was another great environment to work around new kinds of distractions, and put Kylo's obedience skills and focus to the test. There were lots of new noises, sounds, and smells around the store, as well as groups of people walking around shopping. There were lots of big, noisy carts being pushed around, as well as some machinery like forklifts occasionally passing through the aisles. Overall Kylo wasn't quite sure what to make of all this when we first arrived, and did seem a bit nervous and stressed by all the clamor and commotion. However, with a bit of reassurance, he quickly realized that there was nothing to worry about, and soon had no trouble keeping his composure as we practiced his commands around the store. Any fears he had initially were quickly overcome, and by the end of our session Kylo was able to walk through the store confidently without worrying about anything in our surroundings. I used a few bits of his kibble as treats during our first few minutes inside the store when around scary distractions, and this seemed to help him quickly re-associate them with positive experiences. He was also able to pass groups of people, even old people or people wearing hats, without showing any signs of fixation or oncoming reactivity, which was really great to see!
We started off the training session as usual, practicing all of his commands using as minimal leash pressure as possible. He did need some light leash pressure in the first few minutes of arriving to help guide him through some tense moments, but once he got more comfortable with his surroundings he no longer needed any assistance from the leash to follow through with his commands. He did so well in fact, that we were able to do some training with the leash dragging along the ground in areas where there wasn't a ton of foot traffic. Doing this is a great way to test how Kylo might behave while off leash, as it gives him full physical freedom while still allowing me to step on the leash or grab it should it be needed for any reason. He never needed me to pick up the leash to keep him near me or to help him with any commands today, but I did go ahead and grab a hold of it to keep the walkway clear when people or machinery were passing by to ensure his safety and the safety of those around us. We will continue practicing his training with the leash dragging in the coming days whenever possible, as it is a great way to prepare him to soon reach the goal of being fully off leash! Kylo did spectacularly with his Heel today, and at no point did he ever try to leave my side while inside the store, even while the leash was dragging and not being used at all. He understood exactly where he was supposed to be, and needed very few reminders to maintain or correct his positioning. On occasion, he did lower his nose to the ground to quickly sniff as we walked, but he knew not to keep his nose glued to the floor or let it distract him from his position beside me, and was always quick to focus back on me when asked. Overall he engaged with me a lot today during Heel, and was great about giving me eye contact and his full attention, even while passing by major distractions such as loud carts. We also practiced having Kylo Heel beside me as I pushed a cart around, which is a great way to prepare him for real-life scenarios. He was a bit unsure of this new situation, but once given the Heel command he was able to ignore the cart and follow alongside me without issue. Kylo's Come to Sit and Come to Heel were both flawless today, again even without the leash being used at all. When a recall command was given, Kylo was always eager to come right over and fall into the position asked of him, as he really does seem to love being close to me. Even though he thrives off being close to his handler, he was also comfortable with being at a distance away from me when asked for a stationary command, which is important! During stationary commands, we practiced having me step away and walk around "shopping" at a distance from him while he remained in position. He did great with this, and did not seem tempted to break position to come running over to me unless asked to. He was able to hold Sit and Down anywhere in the store for over two minutes without any issue. He also sat very nicely beside me even while we stood in the crowded checkout area while I bought a bottle of water, and he didn't seem phased by all the people and sounds around him. There weren't many places inside the store to practice Place or Under, but we did find some benches outside the store that were great to practice with, and he did very well as expected!
Pupdate 1/13/2024
Kylo and I visited a local park today, where we continued practicing all of his commands around distractions with the leash dragging. The park was quite busy today today due to the weekend, so there were plenty of distractions including people, dogs, bikes, strollers, and children. Kylo overall did such a great job today, and we are beyond proud of him and his progress so far!
Before jumping into the training session, Kylo and I found a nice bench to sit together at, which was a great way to allow Kylo to adjust to the busy environment and take in his surroundings. We practiced using the Off command to interrupt any fixation, and used some of his kibble as treats to reward him for calm and neutral behavior. He was a bit worked up at first, especially if distractions came right by us, but after a short period of time he relaxed significantly and was more focused on me than anything around us. Using treats and praise work very well to help him build a more positive association with different kinds of distractions, especially with ones that he is often nervous or reactive around, such as joggers, dogs, and children. Today upon seeing these triggers, instead of getting worked up and ready to react negatively, he simply observed them for a moment, then looked to me ready for a reward, as he has begun to associate seeing triggers with good things coming his way! The only time he really seemed to react at all today was when a small child spotted us across the park and came running straight for us to say hello to Kylo. He did a good job ignoring the kid at first, but when it became clear they were going to come right up to us, Kylo began to tense up. It was clear it would escalate further if the situation were play out, so I stood up from the bench and stepped in front of Kylo before the kid got to us. I told the kid that Kylo is training right now and he doesn't want to be pet, and the kid understood and turned back around. As soon as I stepped in front of Kylo, I saw his body immediately relax, and he looked to me with understanding. As I've mentioned before, advocating for Kylo's personal space and paying attention to his body language is very important in keeping him and others safe. He really seems to understand and appreciate that his handler will be there to quickly identify his discomfort, and advocate for him when he needs it, so that he doesn't feel the need to protect himself by reacting.
During our training session, we spent most of the time practicing semi off leash, by having the long leash drag along the ground behind him. I never needed to step on the leash or grab hold of it to prevent him from running off or to get him to follow commands, and he hardly seemed to notice that I wasn't holding the leash as we trained. I did ensure the leash was within reach when certain triggers were nearby, but Kylo did great today and thankfully this remained as just a precautionary measure and was not needed. Having Kylo focus on commands while triggers or distractions in general were around seemed to help him stay on task and not fixate on anything around us. He made some minor mistakes here and there with his commands, but he always was quick to correct himself when asked. It's important to remember that he is a dog and not a robot, but the more practice he gets, the more consistent and reliable he will become! He did great with Heel, and never strayed far out of position despite the complete physical freedom to do so. He was always quick with his Come to Sit and Come to Heel, and did great about coming straight to me when called no matter how far away I was. We practiced with distances of over twenty feet away today without any issue. Kylo also did exceptional with all of his stationary commands today, including Sit, Down, Under, Place, and Send Away to Place. He was able to hold each position for over two minutes, even while I was fifteen feet or more away from him and walking around him. He was also able to be Sent Away to Place from fifteen feet pretty consistently. He did occasionally need me to take a step towards the object and re-ask the command, but for the most part he understood exactly what to do as soon as it was asked of him. Kylo also had some fun learning a fun little trick, spin! While not a necessary obedience command, Kylo is a very smart pup and learns new behaviors easily, so adding in fun extra tricks now and then is a great way to keep training interesting and entertaining for him!
Pupdate 1/14/2024
Today Kylo visited an outdoor mall to work on his training. This is the same outdoor mall we visited last week, and Kylo seemed to remember the location! It was a bit busier today however due to the weekend, so there were some crowds of people, children, and several other dogs. Upon first arriving, we used a similar method as yesterday of finding a bench to sit on together and giving Kylo some time to acclimate to the busy surroundings before we jumped into the training session. Kylo was a bit excited at first and a bit nervous about all the commotion around him, but he quickly settled down and became very neutral to his surroundings. We also had a great opportunity to work on his dog neutrality today, when a person with a dog in a stroller came to sit beside us. The little dog was very barky, and had a lot to say to Kylo! He was startled and unsure where the noise was coming from at first, but once he spotted the dog he became very fixated on it, so we used the Off command and reminded him not to focus on it or get worked up. He did try to get up from his Down and crawl away from the stroller dog, but I asked him to stay where he was and rewarded him for doing so. After about thirty seconds Kylo began to ignore the dog and focus on me, and after that point he didn't seem interested or scared by it anymore. Once we began walking around and training, Kylo still became distracted by things here and there but overall was very responsive to the Off command and understood where his focus needed to stay.
We started off working with the leash dragging as we have for the past couple days, and he did a wonderful job as usual despite the extra distractions around. We were able to pass by and through crowds of people, past other dogs, and other kinds of distractions without Kylo giving them anything more than a quick glance before checking back in with me. We did still make sure to keep a close eye on his body language and ensure we advocate for his space when needed. When we were coming up on another dog, a child, or a potentially triggering person, we made sure to create some distance from them, which effectively kept them at a comfortable distance from Kylo so he never felt the need to react. After we'd been here a while, Kylo seemed to calm down significantly and overall did not appear nervous or overwhelmed. He was doing so well with his commands and behaviors, and the leash remained unused the entire time, so for the last stretch of the session we went ahead and practiced all of his commands completely off leash! He did amazing with this, and didn't seem to notice the lack of the leash whatsoever! He behaved as he usually would by following through with all of his commands as if it were still there and being held by me. He was able to Heel with great skill, perform Come to Sit and Come to Heel without issue, and was able to perform Sit, Down, Under, Place, and Send away to Place effortlessly. He was able to hold the position asked of him for over two minutes consistently, even as I walked away and around him at a distance of over fifteen feet away. He also was able to be Sent to Place from fifteen feet away consistently, though we did usually need to practice from a bit closer to avoid him having to weave and dodge around crowds of people to get to the object as the walkways were sometimes a bit congested with foot traffic.
During our visit here, Kylo had many admirers who stopped to watch him train, and were very impressed with his skills! He didn't seem to pay any attention to people so long as they didn't come right up to us and stood at a comfortable distance away of around ten feet or so. He was comfortable with me walking away and approaching others to talk to them while he held his position where he was asked to. We had many people ask to pet Kylo, as he was very popular today! However, we had to be a bit selective in who we allowed to approach Kylo due to his human reactivity and anxiety around certain people. Before attempting any greetings, we made sure Kylo was on leash, and informed the person that he was in training and how to appropriately greet him. We don't want to allow people to crouch over him or put their face or other body parts right into his face immediately, as this can be seen as threatening for a nervous or reactive dog. By having them first stand at a comfortable distance and allowing Kylo to observe them and smell them from that distance, we can watch his behavior and determine if a greeting would be possible. Some people he immediately was wary of and would begin to tense up if they tried to get any closer, and others he seemed more okay with. The ones that Kylo was tense about we simply told that he wasn't interested in being pet by them, and they understood and wished us good luck in his training! The few that Kylo seemed okay with, we allowed to get closer to him while I watched him carefully for any warning signs. If Kylo began to get uncomfortable at any point, I immediately stopped the greeting and thanked them for their help in his training. Kylo only ended up letting one person pet him today, and it was someone who I had stopped to talk to for several minutes which seemed to help Kylo recognize that they were friendly and not a threat after watching us interact. By the time they went to say hello to Kylo, he was calm and happy to meet them, and enjoyed getting pets from them while he held a stationary position. Unfortunately with every other person who tried to approach Kylo without plentiful time to adjust beforehand, he would only let them get about five feet away before he would start showing signs of oncoming reactivity. He even growled and lunged at one person who made a sudden movement when approaching Kylo during a greeting attempt, though I used the Off command immediately and he sat back down and relaxed again.
Pupdate 1/15/2024
Today Kylo and I visited a park, where we met up with some other trainers and their pups! This was a great opportunity to work on his behavior and neutrality around other dogs, as well as Kylo's greeting manners with the other trainers. The park was also full of other kinds of distractions, such as dogs, people, children, and small animals. Kylo overall was very focused today, and he was able to ignore most distractions with relative ease! He did get a bit uneasy when we walked past the playground where there were lots of kids running around and screaming, but apart from that he was very calm and confident throughout our visit. As always we made sure not to let any kids or unknown people come running up to him or invade his personal space, and Kylo seemed to recognize this and appreciate when I stood up for him and kept them at a comfortable distance away. He did such a good job around all of the challenging distractions we encountered today, like the other dogs, bicycles, joggers, and "scary" people. He understood not to fixate or react to them at all, and remembered our previous training of having him observe the trigger, then redirect his focus back to me to check in and receive a reward! We used some kibble here and there, but mainly used praise and physical affection as a reward today. We were even able to train in close proximity to the other trainer's dogs, and Kylo did not show any signs of nervousness or reactivity. He did become a bit startled momentarily when a park visitor's dog barked at him in passing, but he shook it off quickly and focused back on his training without issue.
We started off the training session working with a loose leash to give Kylo some time to adjust to the environment, which he did great with as expected! After Kylo was warmed up and in a good mindset for training, we began working on his off-leash skills around appropriate areas of the park. The big field and the walking path were great places to train off leash, but we did keep him on leash when working very close to other dogs, around the parking lot, and near the playground, to ensure his safety and the safety of those around us. We also kept him on leash during greetings again, but today he did a much better job with his Greeting Manners! He was greeted by a few of the trainers, and even let them pet him without any issue! These are people who he has seen and been around before during previous meet ups with them, but this was his first time getting close and saying hello to them, and he did such a great job! He was very calm and polite, and happily held stationary positions as he was greeted. As always, we kept a close eye on his body language, but he never tensed up or showed any signs of reactivity which was really great to see!
Kylo did a fantastic job with his commands both on and off leash today, and never seemed to rely on the leash to perform any of his commands. He naturally did make a few minor mistakes here and there, but these were great learning opportunities for him and he was always quick to correct himself once he realized an error. He did great with Heel, and always stuck right next to me without any issue. He sometimes veered off or ahead ever so slightly if he got distracted a bit, but after a verbal reminder he was able to quickly return to position and remain there with very few reminders needed. His Come to Sit and Come to Heel were both good as well. We practiced his recall from large distances while off leash today, and his Come to Sit was nearly perfect despite the huge distance he was called from. His Come to Heel was also pretty consistent, but there were a rare few times when he got a bit too excited on the run over to me and ended up shooting past me instead of falling into position beside me. We worked on it a bit, and after a few repetitions he got better with it and understood to slow down and walk alongside me instead of running past. Kylo also did great with all of his extended stationary commands, and had no issue performing or holding Sit, Down, Under, and Place. His Send Away to Place was also very reliable even from distances over fifteen feet away.
Pupdate 1/16/2024
Today Kylo and I started off our day of training by visiting a Petco where we practiced commands around the store. The Petco wasn't super busy today, but Kylo seemed very nervous as soon as we stepped inside, for reasons I couldn't quite determine as there didn't seem to be anything specific that triggered it other than the store itself. There were some distractions like employees, shoppers, carts, and an occasional dog, but Kylo didn't seem very distracted by any of these in particular. Even when in completely empty and quiet areas of the store Kylo was still very timid, anxious, and uncomfortable. He did seem to calm down slightly after spending some time walking around together with lots of reassurance, but he never fully relaxed and was still showing signs of stress and fear, such as quivering, excessive panting, and having wide open eyes. We kept him on leash while inside the store not only because he was feeling so anxious, but also because of the store's policy, which we should always be respectful and mindful of. We were however able to practice with the leash dragging towards the end of our visit, which he did well with as usual. He overall still did a good job with his commands despite his anxious state while inside Petco, but he was a bit more hesitant and slower to respond when asked to do something than he normally is.
After Kylo's rough time at Petco, we decided to head to the park to provide him with a more relaxing and enjoyable environment. There were some other dogs, people, and children around the park to serve as distractions, but he didn't pay much attention to them even when they were fairly close by. We started out the session on leash to get him warmed up to training while shaking off some of the stress of the previous location, but he soon proved it to be unnecessary as he quickly adopted a confident, focused, and calm mindset. Kylo seemed much happier and relaxed while at the park, allowing him to easily focus on commands and enjoy his time here. He did great while off leash here, and was very eager to perform any command asked of him, while doing so with great skill! We also had some fun today playing fetch with a ball while he was off leash, and Kylo had a blast doing this! We incorporated the game into our training, by using it as both a distraction and a reward. We practiced having him hold stationary positions while I threw the ball, asking him to wait until released to go chase it, as well as using it during other break times as a reward for jobs well done with his other commands. He loves the ball, and will work very eagerly for it when it is presented to him. While this isn't his main form of reward in our usual training, it is a fun way to motivate, engage, and exercise with him in environments like this! At times he did get a bit too excited for the ball and would perform commands a bit sloppier than usual, but by staying consistent in what was being asked of him, he understood he needed to focus and perform it correctly to get what he wanted.
Kylo did well with Heel both inside the Petco and at the park, and always understood to stay glued to my side when the command was given. While on leash, it was always completely loose and remained unused, and while off leash he behaved just as he would if he were on leash, never straying far from my side. While at Petco, Heel was Kylo's strongest command, as he very much wanted to be right next to me for moral support at all times. At the park, he did sometimes lower his nose to try to sniff the grass here and there, but after a few reminders he was able to stay focused on me without becoming distracted by the grass. We were able to Heel past many different distractions off leash without him fixating, losing focus, or falling out of position. Kylo did well with his Come to Sit and Come to Heel in both locations, and performed them with very minimal errors. For Come to Heel, he did run past me once before circling back into position while we were using the ball as a reward during our park training, but after a reminder, he understood not to do this again. Kylo did okay with his stationary commands at Petco, and while there weren't any suitable Place or Under objects, we did work on Sit and Down a lot. He was able to perform the commands easily enough, but due to his nervous state, he sometimes struggled to hold them as long as he normally would, especially if I tried to create distance from him. He averaged about one minute before he would get antsy or spooked and feel the need to stand up or come running over to me before being asked to. At the park, Kylo was able to perform Sit, Down, Under, Place, and Send Away to Place all without any issue, and was able to hold them for extended periods while I was at a large distance away from him, even with multiple major distractions present around.
Pupdate 1/17/2024
Today Kylo and I visited a dog-friendly indoor mall! This was a busy location that was great to put Kylo's off leash skills to the test at around plenty of distractions. There were crowds of people, other dogs, small children, smells of food, and loud music playing throughout the mall. There were also lots of potential triggers for Kylo's reactivity, such as people with hats, old people, and children running around, however, he was a very good boy today and did not react to anything even in the slightest! He was a bit overwhelmed by the busy and noisy environment at first, but the more time we spent here the more he calmed down and had an easier time relaxing and enjoying his training.
We started the session on leash as he adjusted to his environment, but he quickly proved it to be unnecessary as he was very focused and skilled with all of his commands without the leash needing to be used at all, so we transitioned to off leash training. When Kylo is off leash it is especially important to provide constant structure and consistency with his commands, all while paying close attention to where his focus is directed and how he is feeling based on his body language. He did get briefly distracted by a few things here and there, but with the Off command, we were able to return his focus to his training and avoid fixation before it occurred. Kylo performed Heel with great skill, even while walking past all kinds of distractions. He understood to stay right beside me no matter what, and remain there unless released or asked to perform another command. His Come to Sit and Come to Heel were also both essentially flawless today, and he had no issue at any point coming right to me when called and falling into the position asked of him. He also did very well with Sit and Down and at no point did he struggle with either of these commands. Kylo did sometimes get mixed up between Under and Send Away to Place when working with the same type of object. Sometimes when approaching a bench that he had placed on before, and I was about to ask for Under, he would run to the object and Place on it without being asked to. When this happened I simply recalled him, ensured he was focused and awaiting my command, then approached the object again and asked for the Under cue, which he understood to follow. After we practiced this a few times and corrected any errors, he understood to wait for the cue without assuming the command that would be asked of him. He was confidently able to remain in any stationary position asked of him for extended periods of time while many types of distractions were present around us.
We also had a few opportunities to work on Kylo's Greeting Manners today! Overall he did so much better with this than expected, and we are so proud of him! He still wasn't the biggest fan of strangers approaching or petting him, but he was generally much more calm about it today and did not show any serious signs of discomfort and no signs of oncoming reactive or defensive behavior. I found that having him hold a stationary command on a raised object, such as a bench, seemed to help a bit with boosting his confidence and helping him feel more open to being greeted today. As always, we took measures to encourage success as well as ensure the safety of those who greeted him. This included keeping a close eye on his body language, being willing to end the greeting should it be needed, and carefully selecting the people who would be allowed to greet him. Kylo was still not comfortable with older people or men approaching him, but he did very well with most young women we practiced with, even allowing some to come up and pet him without any issue. Some of these people he was curious about and quite liked, and others he mostly ignored but tolerated their affection. With all the greetings we practiced today, Kylo understood to not get up from his position, and remained calm and stationary unless released or given a new command.
Pupdate 1/18/2024
Kylo and I visited the Santa Monica Pier today! We continued practicing all of his commands off leash around the highly distracting surroundings present. There were numerous crowds, plenty of other dogs, flocks of birds, food, and loud music, all of which served as great distractions to test Kylo's skills around. Upon first arriving in the morning hours it was a bit quieter however, and as the day went on it gradually got busier over time. This seemed to help give Kylo time to become familiar with the unfamiliar environment and adjust to the increasing level of distractions. Overall he was very confident and focused during our visit here despite the busy environment! He did get a bit tired towards the end of our session as we had been walking around a lot which is expected, but he was still happy to stop by the sandy beach afterwards and run around in the sand a bit! We also got some great footage of Kylo performing his commands at the pier, so be sure to check out today's video for a sneak peek of his final transformation video!
For Kylo's safety, we kept him on leash during the walk from the parking structure over to the pier, as we had to walk alongside some busy streets. Once we got down to the pier, we began with a warm-up and Kylo quickly proved the leash unnecessary, so we removed it and began training off leash! He was able to stay focused, calm, and on task at all times, and hardly became distracted by anything, even major distractions. Whenever he did become slightly distracted, he was always quick to respond to the Off command and understood to bring his attention back to me and the task at hand. I made sure to reward him a lot for his good behavior, to communicate that this is exactly what we wanted from him! I also make sure to advocate for his space at all times as usual. There were a few instances where passing people reached out to pet him without asking, at which point I stopped them before they did so, and asked them to refrain from doing that, as he is training and it makes him uncomfortable. During these moments Kylo calmly held the stationary position asked of him without issue and did not react at all. There were also a few times when a small child kept trying to walk up to Kylo to give him a hug while the mother encouraged it, and even after being asked to give us space they persisted, so we simply got up and walked away from where they were to avoid that situation. There was another time when a small dog was barking and lunging at him from a table about ten feet away while we were working on an extended stationary position, which Kylo did his best to ignore but after about ten seconds of being barked at, he decided to stand up and give a small woof back at them. At this point I used the Off command and recalled him to create some more distance away from the dog, which Kylo immediately responded to and had no trouble disengaging, returning back to the stationary position, and ignoring the small dog.
We practiced a lot of Heel while walking around, and Kylo was fantastic about always staying right next to me and following my lead no matter where we went or what was going on around us. We were able to walk through crowds of people and past all sorts of distractions with only minimal adjustments or reminders needed to help him maintain the position. Kylo also did great with his recall, and was very reliable for both Come to Sit and Come to Heel. We spent some time at a restaurant patio at the pier, and he did a fantastic job staying in the Under position beneath the table I sat at. There were plenty of distractions such as yummy food, people and dogs walking past, and birds walking right up to him, though he ignored everything and was content to relax in the Under position until it was time to leave the restaurant. He was consistent with all of his other stationary commands as well, including Sit, Down, Place, and Send Away to Place. He was able to hold each position for extended periods of time, even while numerous distractions were around us. Â I am extremely proud of Kylo's overall performance today, and the progress he has made through training is truly paying off!
Pupdate 1/19/2024
Kylo and I visited an outdoor mall today, where we continued practicing all of his commands around distractions while off leash. The mall was a bit busy today, with many groups of people, children, and other dogs. There was also loud music and smells of food around us which added to the level of distraction in the environment. Despite the busy environment, Kylo handled his training like a pro and did such a great job staying calm and focused during our entire visit here! The few times here and there when he became slightly distracted, he had no trouble immediately refocusing when prompted.
Kylo did a very good job with his Heel today, and followed alongside me effortlessly as we walked around the mall and passed all kinds of distractions. He was even able to Heel easily past a small dog who was barking at him from a few feet away, and apart from a quick glance in its direction, he paid it no mind and did not break his position! He also did great with his Come to Sit and Come to Heel, and was able to perform both of these recall commands without any issue today even with added challenges such as increased distance and distractions. Kylo was also very consistent and reliable with all of his stationary commands, and was able to perform Sit, Down, Under, Place, and Send Away to Place perfectly! He was confident in performing any position asked of him, and always understood to remain exactly in the position and location asked of him until released or given a new command, even after several minutes had passed or while distractions were present around us.
Kylo has been doing an amazing job with his obedience commands, and has also made massive improvements overall in his behavior! Reactivity from him is now extremely rare and unlikely, even towards triggers that once prompted reactive behaviors from him nearly every single time they were encountered. This was accomplished by consistently exposing him to these once reaction-triggering distractions, helping him to create positive experiences around them, and instilling new habits and alternative behaviors when encountering them. Now, instead of seeing a trigger and instantly getting nervous, worked up, and feeling the need to resort to barking, lunging, or growling, he can simply observe it calmly, and then shift his focus away and to his handler. As his handler, one of the most important things we can do to ensure his success, safety, and happiness is to show him that we are someone who he can rely on to read his emotions, handle situations, lead him, and protect him by advocating for him at all times. As such, these duties are very important to continue even after he goes home, as failing to do so may result in these reactive tendencies returning. Kylo is still prone to some minor anxiety here and there, but overall his confidence has risen drastically and he has come such a long way in overcoming this issue. With consistent training and exposure to different environments and stimuli, I know Kylo will continue making great progress in this!
Pupdate 1/20/2024
Today was Kylo's last full day with me, so we spent the day putting all of his learned skills to use to have a great day together! We visited a local park for more training, exploring, and fun! There was a bit of rain today which we were thankfully able to avoid for the most part, but Kylo didn't seem to mind the rain at all even when it began to drizzle a bit. The park was pretty quiet today with the distractions being far and few in between due to the rainy weather, but this allowed for Kylo and I to have plenty of space for fun activities and training! He was a very good boy and followed all of his commands expertly without any issue at all. He was always eager to listen and focus on me, and had so much run running around, playing fetch, and enjoying his off leash freedom! He got a bit wet from playing in the rain today, but he was a very good boy as always for his grooming session once we returned home, and was very calm and polite while I wiped him down and brushed him out!
Kylo is not only excelling with his skills and manners while out in public, but he has also made huge transformations in his behavior inside the home as well! During the heavy rain hours of the day, we focused on touching up his House Manners. House manners are something we have been working on little by little each day since day one. Even seemingly mundane day-to-day tasks can provide excellent opportunities for training! These manners include areas such as Food Manners, Door Manners, and Car Manners. We also spent some more time getting him desensitized to household cleaning objects, such as brooms and vacuums, which he now does very well with! He used to want to chase and bite at these objects whenever they were used around him, but now he is able to calmly observe them while holding a stationary position without being scared or trying to attack them!
The goal for Food Manners is for Kylo to be able to hold a stationary command while his food is prepared and set in front of him. He is then asked to remain in that position until he is released before he can get up and eat his food. He had some prior training in Food Manners before coming to me, but overall it was a bit inconsistent, as some days he would become over excited and try to jump on me, jump on the counters, or rush to eat his food as soon as it was set down despite being asked to wait. As we practiced this every day, he quickly learned to be polite and patient even when faced with very tempting distractions such as food directly in front of him! He also needed a slow feeder when first arriving as he had a habit of gobbling up his food a bit too quickly, but after working on his self-control a bit he is now been able to eat at a good pace out of a regular bowl without issue.
Another area of manners we have been working on is Kylo's Door Manners. The goal of Door Manners is for Kylo to hold a stationary position while near a door and remain there until released or given a new command, such as Come or Heel. He is asked to hold the position at the location asked of him, and not break the command even if the door is left open, if someone is knocking on it, or if people walk in or out of it. This practice teaches important boundaries, and prevents impolite and possibly dangerous behaviors. Kylo definitely struggled with this at first, as he had many poor habits related to doors, such as trying to escape through open doors, shoving past people when walking through doors, jumping on the door, and barking or jumping on people who enter through the door. With daily practice, Kylo has made amazing progress with his manners related to doors, and now understands to follow instructions no matter what distractions the door may present. He has great manners with every door in my home now, including bedroom doors, the backyard door, as well as the front door. After Kylo has been asked for a stationary command, he can ignore knocks, a door can be left wide open, and he understands to not get up or walk through the doorway unless given permission to, and when invited he can walk nicely through the doorway without shoving, jumping, through or trying to rush out. I've even been able to invite guests into my home without him breaking position, barking, or jumping on them while they enter. Once he's had the time to observe them and see me interact with them, he seems to be more calm about greeting them once released and does not feel the need to bark or jump on them.
Having good Car manners makes transporting Kylo easy, safe, and as hassle-free as possible. Since Kylo and I travel in the car almost every day, this is another area of his training we have been practicing organically during his time with us. The goal for Car Manners is for Kylo to be confident and able to jump into the car when prompted without needing any physical assistance. Once in the car, the goal is for him to willingly enter a kennel when asked, without needing to be physically guided or lured inside. At first, this was one of Kylo's biggest challenges we faced each day, as he was scared of both the car and the kennel, and often put up a resistance towards either when asked to load up. With lots of practice and reassurance, Kylo managed to get over his fears and build his confidence up massively! He now associates the car with fun trips, and is always eager to jump right into the car and load himself into the kennel as soon as he is asked to! He now seems to enjoy the kennel a lot as well, and understands it as a safe place for him to settle down and relax in, whether it be at home for rest time or during car rides.
Kylo has made such an amazing transformation in these past three weeks, and the differences in him are truly night and day! He came to us with some severe anxiety and reactivity, and struggled heavily whenever he was in a public or unfamiliar place due to his tendency to immediately become nervous, distracted, and overstimulated by everything around him. He has since learned to stay calm, focused, and neutral to his surroundings even in the most busy of places. He has also overcome his reactivity towards dogs, people, and other triggers, and has learned to trust his handler to deal with situations rather than feeling the need to react negatively when encountering triggers. He has overcome so many fears he once had as well, such as vacuums, stairs, and small dogs! His acquired obedience skills and good behavior have allowed him to finally be able to safely enjoy the freedom and fun that comes with being off leash, which opens the door for training and fun times without the hassle of a leash! While he may seem like a whole new dog, he is still the same goofy, loving, and playful pup he always has been, and with his new obedience skills, he is even more of a joy to be around and take with on all sorts of adventures! Kylo has truly been such a pleasure to train and share my home with, and I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to help this good boy become the best version of himself! With his amazing intelligence and eagerness to learn, the sky is the limit for this pup, and I know he has a very bright future ahead of him wherever life may take him! Good boy Kylo!
