Layla | Pitbull | View Park, CA | In Training
- Tanner Strong
- Mar 29
- 13 min read
Updated: Apr 19
Meet Layla! She's a five year old Pitbull from View Park, California, here for our Three-Week Reactive Board and Train Program! Layla is a complete sweetie pie, but she can be extremely nervous anytime she leaves the house, constantly pulling and trying to get home. So, over the next twenty one days, we will work with Layla on her confidence to try to reduce that anxiety in new places, help with her obedience skills, and help Layla become the best pup she can possibly be! Stay tuned for Layla's three week transformation!
3/29/2026
Layla’s first day went well overall, even though she was a bit nervous to start! After picking her up, we spent some time at the park getting to know each other. She was definitely unsure of the new environment and often tried to pull back toward the car, looking for that sense of safety. Once we did head back, she hopped right in without hesitation, which told me she was ready for a break from all the new stimulation.
When we got home, Layla took some time to explore her new surroundings, and I’m happy to say she started settling in pretty quickly. As she got more comfortable, her personality began to come out a bit more, and she seems to be warming up to me already. I think she’s starting to feel safe here, and she’s been doing a great job adjusting so far.
I’m looking forward to continuing to build her confidence and helping her feel more comfortable each day!
3/30/2026
Layla’s day started off strong! She greeted the morning with a wagging tail, happy energy, and even ate her breakfast right away. We spent some relaxed time together first thing, and she was giving off really positive vibes. She went out to potty without any issues and hopped into the car like a pro! Great start to the day!
Once we arrived at the park, she showed a bit more skepticism. Although she initially hopped out of the car easily, she quickly realized where she was and tried to jump right back in. After gently coaxing her out again, we made our way (slowly but surely!) about fifty feet to a quiet field where we could settle in. With anxious dogs like Layla, taking time to simply sit and observe the environment can make a huge difference in building confidence, so that’s exactly what we did.
We spent about an hour just relaxing at the edge of the park, letting her take everything in at her own pace. When we started working on walking, she understandably wanted to head straight back to the car. Instead of pushing too much, we focused on very small wins—walking short distances, turning away from the car, and sometimes even moving in little circles. Every time Layla made the choice to turn with me on her own, she got a big celebration! Over time, she began choosing to move with me about half the time, which is a great step forward for her.
Today we used a prong collar, but no e-collar. Right now, the focus is on showing Layla that engaging with me is safe, fun, and rewarding. Introducing more pressure at this stage wouldn’t be helpful, and I want to build her confidence the right way.
3/31/2026
Layla and I stayed a little closer to home today, slowly but surely making our way farther out into the neighborhood. She was very happy to see me this morning and stayed chipper through much of our morning together, which was great to see!
As we explored, there were certain spots that Layla simply did not feel comfortable crossing. Sometimes the reason was obvious, like a storm drain that she was very unsure about, but other times there didn’t seem to be any clear reason at all. She would simply decide we had gone far enough and want to turn around and pull back toward home.
Whenever this happened, I made sure not to rush her. Instead, we took our time sitting with each new environment and allowing her to process things at her own pace. With enough time and exposure, Layla was eventually willing to cross each threshold, even if it took quite a while for her to feel comfortable. I’m proud of her for continuing to work through those moments, and each time she does, she builds a little more confidence for next time!
4/1/2026
Layla and I spent most of today gradually working our way closer to distractions, taking things nice and slow to help build her confidence. We were around birds like geese, ducks, and pigeons, as well as some other dogs. Layla had some really nice moments where she handled everything well, but there were still plenty of times where she felt unsure and just wanted to head back toward the car.
The big win today is that Layla is becoming much more willing to come to me when asked—even when it means moving away from the direction she’d rather go. That’s a huge step forward, and we’re starting to shape that into her recall command, Come To Sit. For this, I’m asking Layla to come to me, move around behind my legs, and finish sitting at my left side with her ears lined up at my knee. We’re taking our time building this, especially in public settings, so she can fully understand it without feeling overwhelmed.
Overall, while we’re moving at a slower pace in these environments, Layla is making steady progress day by day. Her willingness to choose me over her uncertainty is improving, and that’s exactly what we want to keep building on!
4/2/2026
Layla and I spent our day around the neighborhood continuing to build her confidence with leaving the home and navigating everyday surroundings. She’s starting to understand the routine a bit more, and while she still has moments of hesitation, she’s making steady progress in trusting the process and moving forward with me.
The biggest challenge of the day was definitely the trash truck. As soon as she noticed it, she locked in on it right away and became very unsure, pulling and showing a lot of nervous energy. Instead of rushing her through it, we took our time, standing at a comfortable distance, letting her observe, and slowly moving along with it. At first, she really struggled to disengage, but after a few minutes of watching and processing, she began to settle. While she’s still not a fan of the noise and movement, she showed clear improvement and started to realize it wasn’t something that was going to harm her. Moments like this are great opportunities for her to build trust and learn that she can rely on me to keep her safe.
Back at home, we worked on her Place command, which she handled very well indoors with no issues. Since she was doing so well, we raised the difficulty by practicing outside. She was a bit more hesitant in that environment, but even with the added distractions and nerves, she still performed nicely and showed good understanding of what was being asked.
Overall, Layla had a productive day. She’s continuing to build confidence step by step, and even though new or intimidating things can still shake her, she’s learning how to work through them instead of completely shutting down.
4/3/2026
Layla and I spent some time at the park today working on her Place command, and she did a pretty good job! While most of the practical use for Place is at home, like having her relax on her bed while I’m cooking, eating dinner, or busy with something, she’s been doing awesome with that already. Today, we focused on using Place in a more exciting environment to help build her confidence out in public.
She started off a bit skeptical and unsure of the surroundings, which is totally normal for her, but once we got into working mode and made the Place command fun and rewarding, I started to see a shift in her! She began to open up more, engage with me, and show a little more confidence.
Using Place this way helps her learn that even in new or slightly uncomfortable situations, she has a “job” to focus on, which gives her clarity and helps her feel more secure. I’m really happy with the progress she showed today, and it was great seeing her start to come out of her shell a bit more!
4/4/2026
Layla had a busy and exciting day at the park today! There were quite a few distractions around, including baseball games, basketball, and even some volleyball. At first, all the noise and movement, especially the basketball, were a bit overwhelming for her, and it was clear she wasn’t quite sure what to make of everything. However, the more time we spent working through it, the better she started to settle in and ignore all the activity around her.
As Layla grew more comfortable with the busier areas, it really helped her confidence overall. When we moved into the quieter parts of the park, she was able to relax more easily and seemed to enjoy herself a bit more. It was great to see her start to work through those tougher moments and come out more confident on the other side. Overall, a really productive and positive day for Layla!
4/5/2026
Layla and I took our usual trip to the park today, continuing to build on her confidence in a variety of situations. She’s been making steady progress out there, and I’m really happy with how she’s starting to settle in and trust the process more each day.
I also wanted to highlight something else we’ve been working on, her Door Manners! The goal here is for Layla to wait calmly and politely at the door until she’s invited to go out. This part has actually come pretty naturally to her, and she’s done a nice job showing patience at the threshold.
Where she needed a bit more help was after the door opened, she would sometimes hesitate, not want to leave, or try to pull back inside once we stepped out. Since confidence is a big focus for her, we’ve been using these everyday moments as training opportunities, helping her feel more comfortable and committed to moving forward.
I’m happy to say she’s been improving a lot! Layla is becoming more willing to follow through and step outside with me, and she’s showing more confidence each time. We make sure to practice this consistently every time we go in and out, and it’s really starting to pay off.
Overall, another solid day for Layla with some great progress in an area that will make a big difference in her daily routine!
4/6/2026
Layla had a big day today! We met up with several other trainers and their dogs at a new park, which brought a lot more activity and distractions than she’s used to. At first, Layla was pretty nervous taking everything in, and it took her a little time to settle and feel comfortable in the new environment.
The longer we stayed, the more her confidence started to grow. She began relaxing, paying more attention to me, and became much more willing to perform her commands despite everything going on around her. It was great to see her start to work through those initial nerves and make better choices as she got more familiar with the situation.
Today was a really important step forward for Layla. Experiences like this help build her confidence and teach her how to stay calm and focused even in busy environments. I’m really proud of the progress she made!
4/7/2026
Layla and I headed back to the park today, and with a few dog distractions around, she showed a bit more comfort in the environment compared to before. She’s still taking things in at her own pace, but it’s nice to see her starting to settle in and feel a little more at ease with everything going on around her.
One thing I did notice was that she was a tad slower getting into the car today. She’s usually pretty happy to hop right in, so this tells me we’ll want to continue taking things nice and slow and making sure she feels confident every step of the way. Small changes like that are helpful in guiding how we move forward with her.
Aside from that, Layla was very good for me today! She continues to show progress, and with a steady, patient approach, she’s heading in the right direction.
4/8/2026
Layla and I had a fun and productive morning at the park today! We caught the sprinklers running! When I first picked her up, she was completely terrified of them, so this was a great opportunity to check in on her progress.
We spent most of our time hanging out near the sprinklers, giving her the chance to observe and process them at her own pace. At first she was a bit unsure, but she settled in much quicker than before and didn’t try to avoid them like she used to. As she grew more comfortable, we started walking around the sprinklers, and she handled it really well! We even mixed in a little playtime nearby, which is a big step forward for her confidence in that kind of environment.
Layla is making steady progress and showing more bravery each day. It’s been awesome to watch her confidence grow!
4/9/2026
Layla had a nice day today! She spent some time continuing to build her confidence and did a good job settling into the routine. She’s making steady progress and becoming more comfortable.
4/10/2026
Layla and I had such a fun day today! From start to finish, she brought great energy and a positive attitude to everything we did. Whether we were out and about or just spending time together, she was engaged, happy, and a joy to work with.
She continues to show off her personality more and more each day, and it’s been great watching her grow in both confidence and responsiveness. Layla is really starting to understand what’s expected of her, and she’s making great choices along the way.
Overall, just a really fun, easygoing day with Layla—she’s been awesome!
4/11/2026
Layla had a really nice day today, and I’m starting to see some encouraging progress in her confidence! It’s not a huge jump all at once, but those small improvements are exactly what we’re looking for. She’s slowly becoming more sure of herself as we go through our daily routines, and that’s making a positive difference in how she carries herself and responds to things around her.
She continues to grow and learn each day, and it’s clear she’s putting things together. Behavior-wise, she’s already a great dog, and her responsiveness to training is something I really like seeing. As her confidence builds, I expect that responsiveness to become even more consistent.
Overall, a solid day for Layla, and I’m really happy with the direction she’s heading!
4/12/2026
Layla had a bit of a tougher start to her day thanks to the rain this morning. She’s definitely not a fan of getting wet, and it showed early on as she took a little longer to settle in and get going. That said, she worked through it like a champ and didn’t let it completely derail her.
Once the rain cleared up, we switched things up and headed to a different park for a new experience. Layla adjusted well and ended up doing a nice job exploring and staying engaged with me. While the rainy start was a small setback for her, I’m happy with how she pushed through and finished the day on a positive note!
4/13/2026
Layla had a productive day back at the park! It was a bit more crowded this morning, which made things a little more challenging for her, but she worked through it nicely. On top of that, we spent a good amount of time around some noisy park maintenance vehicles—something she’s usually not a big fan of.
The great news is that with enough exposure, she started to settle in and became less concerned with the noise and movement. By the end, she was noticeably more comfortable and able to focus better, which is exactly what we want to see. Nice progress from Layla today!
4/14/2026
Layla took on a new challenge today as we worked near the tennis courts to introduce some fresh distractions! The fast movements and sounds were a bit spooky for her at first, and she had a few moments early on where she felt unsure. However, with some time and patience, she started to settle in and grow more comfortable in the environment.
Even while feeling a little nervous, Layla maintained great manners throughout our session. She stayed polite, listened well, and showed that she’s learning how to work through those unsure moments instead of reacting to them. One highlight was how nicely she held her Place on her cot, she even earned a few compliments from people passing by for how calm and well-behaved she looked!
Overall, this was definitely a tougher day for Layla, but she handled it really well. Days like this are so valuable for building her confidence, and I’m proud of the progress she’s making!
4/15/2026
Today we worked through a lot of the same exercises, but added a new challenge by moving closer to the basketball courts for extra distractions. It took Layla a few minutes to settle in and get comfortable with all the activity, but she stayed patient and worked through it nicely.
Once she found her rhythm, she really started to follow through on her commands and finished the session strong. Using her Place command on the benches made a big difference—it helped her stay grounded and focused even with everything going on around her.
I’m really proud of how she handled herself today. She pushed through that initial uncertainty and showed some great progress!
4/16/2026
Layla had a really standout day today, and I’m extra proud of her! We explored a brand new park, and this was by far the best she’s handled a new environment so far. In the past, she’s needed a bit more time to settle in, but today was a big step forward. When we first arrived, she did a quick sniff around, took care of business, and then almost immediately turned her attention right back to me—without lingering on the car like she sometimes does. That’s a huge win!
From there, she carried that same mindset throughout the rest of the day. She stayed engaged, responsive, and confident in a completely new setting, which is exactly what we’ve been working toward. It really felt like things clicked for her today, and she was able to move through the environment with much more ease and trust.
Overall, this was easily her best day yet, and I’m very excited about the progress she’s showing. Way to go, Layla!
4/17/2026
Layla had another great day at the park! Today we put most of our focus on her Down command. While she’s been very consistent with this at home, performing it out in public has been a bigger challenge for her. Down can be a tough ask for more nervous dogs since it puts them in a vulnerable position, so building confidence with it is a big step.
I’m really proud of how she handled things today. It took time, patience, and teamwork, but Layla started to understand that she could relax into the command even in a more distracting environment. As we worked in different spots around the park, she gradually became more comfortable and began offering some really nice Downs.
This was a meaningful breakthrough for her, and a great sign that her confidence is continuing to grow. Awesome job, Layla!
4/18/2026
Layla and I headed back to Almansor Park today for another training session, and she continued to impress! With a patient and consistent approach, she stayed responsive and showed a nice level of confidence throughout our time there. We worked on all of her commands—Come To Sit, Heel, Place, and Down—and she handled each one very well without much trouble. As long as I remained calm and confident with her, she followed through beautifully.
Layla has made such great progress over these past few weeks, and it’s been really rewarding to watch her grow. I’m going to miss her when she goes home, but I’m proud of everything she’s accomplished!
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