Lily | Boxer | Long Beach, CA | In Training
- Tanner Strong
- Jul 6
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 22
Meet Lily! She's a sixteen month old Boxer from Long Beach, California here for our Two-Week Board and Train Program. Lily is super friendly and playful, but often wants say hi to every dog and person she sees, even if it means pulling towards them on leash! She understands some commands but decides for herself if she wants to listen, and has a hard time coming back when asked, especially around distractions. Around the house, she tries running through the door, and chewing anything she can get her paws on, even stealing food right off the table! She also needs some work on her potty training. Over the next fourteen days, we will be working on her obedience skills, showing her manners in and out of the house, helping with her potty training, and helping her become the best pup she can possibly be! Stay tuned for Lily's two week transformation!
Pupdate: 7/6/2025
Lily and I had a good first day together! After picking her up, we spent a few minutes hanging out at the park to get to know each other—and she warmed up to me right away. She was full of energy and enthusiasm, pulling on the leash a bit, especially when someone nearby looked like they might give her attention. I asked her for a few basic commands, and while she was able to sit for me about half the time, staying in position was tough—she’s got places to be!
Once we got home, I gave her time to sniff around and explore the new space. She seems to be settling in well and is already starting to feel comfortable. We also began working on her potty training, and I’m happy to report our first win! After settling in, we headed out for a quick walk, and she peed almost immediately. This gave me the perfect chance to pair the moment with the cue “Go Potty!” and follow it with lots of praise. Catching those moments and reinforcing them is key, and Lily made it easy today with her great timing.
Looking forward to more progress and fun with this sweet girl!
Pupdate: 7/7/2025
Lily had a fun and productive day at Legg Lake today! We met up with some other trainers and their dogs, and while she was definitely excited to greet everyone at first, she did a surprisingly good job staying with me instead.
The local wildlife proved to be a bit more tempting—ducks and geese definitely stole her attention early on—but after some time walking and working together, she did a much better job ignoring them and focusing back on me. We put in some solid practice on holding her Sit for longer durations, and she started showing improvement there too.
There was only one playful moment when she got a little bored and tried to bite at the leash, but otherwise, she did a good job balancing fun and focus today. Proud of her progress!
Pupdate: 7/8/2025
Today, Lily and I began working on her Come To Sit command! This skill teaches her to come directly to me when called and finish by sitting nicely at my left side. It’s a key piece of building solid recall and helps create calm, organized behavior during transitions.
In the video above, you can see her starting to understand the pattern. She needed a bit of help with her positioning at first, but she’s already making progress and showing a willingness to learn. With continued practice, she’ll start nailing this movement more smoothly and reliably.
Great work today, Lily!
Pupdate: 7/9/2025
Today Lily was introduced to the Place command! This is a great one for both public outings and home life—whether it’s helping build her confidence in busy environments or giving her a calm, designated spot to hang out while I cook, clean, or answer the door.
At first, Lily was a bit hesitant to hop onto the cot. She gave it a cautious sniff and wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, but with a little encouragement, she started to get the hang of it. Once she realized it was a safe and comfortable spot, her confidence grew and she became more willing to return to it when asked.
This is a solid first step, and I’m excited to keep building on this foundation. With more practice, she’ll learn that the Place cot is a reliable, calm space no matter where we are!
Pupdate: 7/10/2025
Lily leveled up her Place command today by working on some slightly more challenging objects at the park! These new surfaces required a bit more thought and coordination, but she handled them really well. Each successful rep helps build her confidence, balance, and ability to generalize the command to different environments.
She stayed focused and made some solid progress — check out the video above to see how she did!
Pupdate: 7/11/2025
Lily took a trip to the Santa Monica Promenade today! With all the activity, sounds, and close foot traffic, it was definitely a more challenging environment—but she handled it like a champ.
She got a little distracted a few times when other dogs passed by too closely, but even then, she did a great job redirecting her focus back to me when asked. A few unusual sights—like large carts being wheeled between stores—made her slightly uncomfortable, but she recovered quickly and kept moving forward.
Before diving into the busy promenade, I took her over to a patch of grass and said, "go potty"—and she immediately squatted and peed. Moments like that, along with the fact that she hasn’t had any potty accidents, tell me her potty training is going really well!
Today was a big step forward for Lily. She stayed composed, responsive, and continued to build confidence in a bustling, distraction-heavy environment. Way to go, Lily!
Pupdate: 7/12/2025
Lily went to the mall today for some training! While there were a few distracted moments—especially when a tiny barking dog grabbed her attention—she still did a solid job with her commands and didn’t seem too bothered by the busier environment. She handled the crowd well and showed good focus overall. Her biggest challenge right now is staying attentive around other dogs, so we’ll be putting in some extra work on that moving forward. She’s making good progress!
Pupdate: 7/13/2025
Lily was back at the mall today for more distraction training, and she did a great job! She settled in more quickly than last time and was much more responsive overall. We encountered a few other dogs during our walk—larger ones this time—and Lily did a really good job ignoring them and staying focused. Smaller dogs still seem to be her biggest challenge, so that’s something we’ll continue working through with her.
We explored some of the outdoor areas again, but spent more time indoors today, where things were a bit tougher for her. Despite the higher level of stimulation, Lily kept checking in with me and stayed well-behaved throughout the session. She’s showing great progress and continues building confidence in busy environments!
Pupdate: 7/14/2025
Lily had a great day today working alongside some other trainers and their dogs! She even got the chance to practice her commands with a few different people—an important part of making sure she understands her training and isn’t just performing for me because she likes me!
At first, Lily was a little hesitant to offer a Down or hold it for very long, especially with new handlers, but after a bit of guidance and repetition, she started to get the hang of it. She showed some nice focus and adaptability as the session went on, and she did a solid job following direction from multiple people. This kind of experience really helps solidify her skills and build her confidence around new people and dogs. Great work, Lily!
Pupdate: 7/15/2025
Today we took a step forward in Lily’s training by introducing leash-dragging exercises. Letting the leash drag gives me a clearer picture of how she might perform off leash, while still allowing me to intervene if necessary. She responded really well overall—especially in low-distraction areas—holding her commands and staying engaged with me.
The real challenge came when we got closer to the geese and ducks. Naturally, those caught her attention, and there were a few times when I felt the need to pick up the leash to help her refocus. But to her credit, Lily made a lot of good decisions on her own and frequently chose to stay with me rather than give in to the distractions. It’s clear she’s starting to understand that sticking with me pays off. A solid day of progress and a good step toward more reliable off-leash behavior!
Pupdate: 7/16/2025
We continued working on Lily’s off-leash reliability today with some more leash-dragging practice! You’ll notice in the video that it looks like I’m talking to myself—my mic gave out during recording, so we’ll be sure to get another take soon with proper audio.
As for Lily, she did an okay job! Her commands were more consistent than before, and she’s starting to show better reliability even when distractions are present. We started our day in a quieter area with just a few distractions, then took a break during the heat of the day before heading back out in the evening when things were a little busier.
She’s making noticeable progress with the birds—much less fixation and better focus overall. Other dogs are still her biggest challenge, but even there, she’s starting to regain composure more quickly. All in all, a really solid step forward today!
Pupdate: 7/17/2025
Lily joined me for a training trip to Home Depot today—this time alongside another dog I’m working with! Since both girls love to play and can get easily distracted by other dogs, the main challenge was helping them stay polite and focused around each other in a busy public space.
At first, there was definitely some excitement and interest in playing, but once we started moving through the store, they both settled in nicely. Lily did especially well navigating the tighter aisles and staying polite around people, even when we had to walk very close to shoppers.
Her biggest challenges today were holding a Down command in the store, where she seemed a little unsure about lying down in that environment, and maintaining a consistent Heel during turns—especially with another dog so close. She had a tendency to drift or bump slightly, but with more practice, that’ll improve!
Overall, it was a great learning experience for Lily and her training buddy. We’ll definitely be coming back to Home Depot for more of this kind of structured socialization!
Pupdate: 7/18/2025
Lily was back at Home Depot today for another training session—and while it was a bit more crowded than yesterday, she rose to the challenge! We continued focusing on her two biggest goals: staying focused around another dog and holding her Down command in a busy environment. Both were a little tougher for her today due to the extra activity, but she still did a good job and showed great effort overall.
A big win: Lily went potty right when asked in the grass before we entered the store—an excellent step in the right direction for her potty training!
We’ll keep working on her impulse control and focus, especially around other dogs, but today was another step forward for this sweet girl!
Pupdate: 7/19/2025
Today Lily took on one of her biggest challenges yet—we went to the Santa Monica Pier! At first, she was understandably a bit unsure. The bustling crowds, unfamiliar smells, and tight walkways made for a pretty overwhelming environment. She started off a little nervous, taking in everything with wide eyes and needing a few minutes to settle.
But once we walked up and down the pier a few times, she really started to get the swing of things. Her body language softened, her pace evened out, and she began to check in with me more often. The crowds didn’t bother her nearly as much after she warmed up, and even the other dogs we passed along the way didn’t seem to throw her off course too much.
For her first time in such a high-energy, crowded, and unpredictable location, Lily did a good job! It was a big step forward for her confidence and her ability to stay focused in public.
Pupdate: 7/20/2025
Lily went back to the Santa Monica Pier today and did a little better than last time! With the sights, sounds, and crowds, it’s definitely a challenging environment—but she handled it with more confidence and focus today. Because of her improvement, she even got some off-leash time!
While off leash, Lily stuck close, responded well to her commands, and made good decisions even with distractions around. She still glanced at other dogs and the occasional skateboard or stroller, but she was quick to check back in and stay engaged. We also practiced some commands on benches and other objects, and she was up for the challenge.
Overall, a great outing! Lily’s growing trust and responsiveness are making it possible to give her a little more freedom—and she’s earning it.
Pupdate: 7/21/2025
Lily had a fun and social day at the park today! We met up with other trainers and their dogs, giving her a great opportunity to practice her manners and focus around lots of new energy. One of the highlights of the day was when she got to meet another trainer’s personal Boxer who looks just like her—she was so excited about it and clearly felt a special connection!
She also had the chance to work closely with a few of the other trainers, and she handled it like a pro. Lily seemed to enjoy the attention and the variety, showing off her social side and staying pretty engaged throughout. It was a great experience for both confidence-building and having some structured fun. Great job, Lily!
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