Loki | Maltipoo | Torrance, CA, In-Training
- wendyoffleashsocal
- Jul 20
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 30
Meet Loki—a sweet and spirited 6-month-old Maltipoo from Torrance, California! He’s just joined us for our two-week Board and Train Program to work on becoming a well-mannered and well-rounded pup.Loki is here to build better leash manners, as he tends to pull during walks, and to learn polite greeting behavior, since he gets a little too excited and jumps up when meeting new people. Because Loki is always with his brother Thor, we’ll also be focusing on helping him build a stronger individual identity and better name recognition.
Over the next 14 days, Loki will focus on becoming a well-mannered and obedient companion. Through consistent guidance, clear communication, and balanced training, he’ll work on his behavior both at home and in new environments—meeting people, exploring places, and navigating different experiences. With structure and consistency, Loki will show just how amazing of a pup he can be!
Stay tuned for Loki’s two-week transformation!
Pupdate 7/20/25
Hello and welcome to your first Pupdate with Loki! Today was all about gentle introductions and helping Loki settle into his new temporary home for the next two weeks. As you mentioned, Loki is a bit skittish, so we made sure to take things slow and keep the experience calm and positive.
We started by letting Loki explore his new environment at his own pace. He took some time to check out his crate and get comfortable with the space. I also introduced him briefly—through a gate—to my 1-year-old Golden Retriever. The interaction was short but positive, just enough for Loki to begin associating other dogs with calm and friendly energy without feeling overwhelmed.
Later, we went on a short pack walk with Dottie. Loki was still quite timid but started to open up little by little. By the end of the walk, I saw more energy and even a few tail wags—a great sign that he’s beginning to feel a bit more at ease!
As Thor’s trainer, Jose, mentioned, it’s common for pups to have a reduced appetite during the first few days in a new environment. Loki only ate half of his dinner tonight, but we’ll be keeping a close eye on his eating habits and ensuring he stays hydrated and comfortable.
I’m really looking forward to getting to know Loki better and helping him build confidence, improve his manners, and thrive throughout his training. Excited to share more progress with you soon!
Pupdate 7/21/25
Today we took a fun trip to Whittier Narrows Park in El Monte where Loki had the chance to socialize with other pups and trainers from Off Leash—and even got to see his brother again! This outing was a great opportunity for Loki to be exposed to a more stimulating environment while continuing his training.
In addition to socialization, we introduced the “Place” command today. This command teaches pups to go to a designated spot to settle and relax until released. It’s especially helpful during mealtimes, when guests arrive, or anytime you need your pup to calmly stay put. Loki did a great job during his first exposure and began to understand the concept quickly.
We also focused on the “Sit” command. When first picked up, Loki didn’t respond to the command consistently. But with some tasty treats he loved, we were able to reinforce the proper behavior—and before long, he was sitting reliably after every cue. Great job, Loki!
And big news—he’s responding well to his name now!
As you’ll see in the video, Loki is showing more confidence with his surroundings. He’s walking with a little more pep in his step and wagging his tail more often, a clear sign that he’s becoming more comfortable around me. It’s been so rewarding to watch his sweet personality slowly start to shine through.
I’m proud of how far he’s come already and can’t wait to see what’s next in his progress!
Pupdate 7/22/25
Today we focused on reinforcing the “heel” command with Loki. This command helps prevent pulling on the leash and encourages him to stay aligned by your left knee while walking. During our session, Loki wasn’t pulling much, which was great to see, but we concentrated on consistency—repeating the “heel” cue and pausing frequently so he could learn to “sit” at the stop and resume “heel” when we started walking again. We practiced this rhythm throughout the entire session and will continue to build on it during our daily walks.
We also continued working on “sit” and “place”—two important foundational commands that help create structure and calmness. Loki is responding well and seems to enjoy the predictability of the training.
Loki’s personality is starting to come out more each day. He’s begun to hop around excitedly when he wants something—a cute but unwanted behavior we’ll be addressing through consistent training. He’s learning that calm behavior gets rewarded, while the hopping will be ignored or redirected.
Most importantly, Loki is beginning to trust me—and that trust is key. As our bond grows, he’s becoming more responsive and eager to work, which sets the foundation for all future learning.
He’s doing a fantastic job so far, and we’re excited to continue this journey with him!
Pupdate 7/23/25
Today we focused on introducing Loki to the “come-to-sit” command, which forms the foundation for a reliable recall. This command is essential, as it teaches your pup to return to you promptly when called—an important skill for avoiding accidents or unwanted encounters in everyday situations.
We took the first steps toward teaching Loki how to return properly. With the help of some tasty treats, we were able to encourage him to move toward me and complete the motion. It’s still early, but with consistent practice, Loki will be performing this like a pro in no time!
We also continued reinforcing the “sit” command, which he already knows well, using it throughout the session to build discipline and structure.
Exciting news—Loki’s new e-collar arrived today! He wore it for the first time during our session to get familiar with the feeling. We’ll be gradually introducing its use to help gently redirect any unwanted behaviors during training, ensuring more effective communication between us.
Loki is making great strides, and I’m excited to see his progress in the coming days!
Pupdate 7/24/25
Pupdate 7/25/2025
Today we concentrated on building Loki’s manners in three key areas: Food Manners, Door Manners, and Car Manners—and this little guy is making big strides!
Food Manners
We’ve been working on food manners with Loki since day one. Initially, he was quite fidgety and had a hard time sitting still. So before we could even approach structured feeding, we focused heavily on mastering the “Sit” command. Once he understood that, we introduced food protocol using “Sit” followed by a clear “Break” to the bowl.
During his first few feedings, Loki was hesitant—timid even—to approach the bowl when asked. To build his confidence, we used a high-value treat to guide him and paired it consistently with verbal cues. Now, he’s beginning to connect the dots!
That said, he’s gotten a little too eager. To help him regulate his excitement, we’ve introduced food denial as a correction. If he breaks command, the food is momentarily removed. After a short pause, we give him another chance with “Sit” and then “Break” as a reward. And just like that—yay! He gets his food! He’s catching on quickly. Great job, Loki!
Door Manners
We’re working on two types of door manners:
Everyday Exits/Entries – Before going through any door, Loki is asked to sit and offer calm eye contact. Once he’s settled, he gets an enthusiastic “Break” to move forward with me.
Controlled Greetings or Door Distractions – This is for when someone’s at the door or when we need him to stay back. Today we practiced with a 15-ft leash. I had him “Place” near the door and walked away. He held position for a few seconds but did get up and try to follow. We had to reset a few times, but he’s showing improvement. This one will take a bit more consistency, and we’re up for the challenge.
Car Manners
Because of his small size, Loki is likely used to being carried into the car with his brother. Today, we worked on helping him load up on his own using a small step stool. He was understandably hesitant, so we used some of his favorite treats for motivation. It’s still a work in progress, but he made a few brave attempts. We’ll keep practicing to build his confidence.
Lastly, Loki is really settling in well at home. He’s eating great, his playful personality is starting to shine, and he’s getting along wonderfully with Dottie. It’s been such a joy to watch him come out of his shell!
Pupdate 7/26/25
We took a trip to a local park to expose Loki to a new outdoor environment full of distractions, while focusing on two key goals: building his confidence with jumping on various surfaces and reinforcing his “down” command.
Loki can be a bit timid when it comes to jumping onto different surfaces, so today’s session was all about helping him feel safe and supported. He did great with the platforms he felt comfortable approaching on his own, and although he needed a little help with some of the higher ones, he confidently jumped off them all—huge progress!
We also revisited the “down” command, which had been a bit of a challenge just a few days ago. Loki is now holding the position more consistently—slow and steady improvement, and we’re here for it.
Another big focus today was the “come-to-sit” command. While this one hasn’t exactly been Loki’s favorite, today marked a breakthrough: he completed the entire movement without any leash guidance! Major win for Loki, and a proud moment in his training journey. There’s still more work ahead, but today was definitely a step in the right direction.
Pupdate 7/27/2025
Today we took Loki on a field trip to the local Petco to introduce him to a variety of new sights, smells, and sounds. While he was initially very nervous, I offered him plenty of verbal praise and reassurance to let him know he was safe with me.
As we strolled through the store, Loki cautiously explored the different aisles and showed interest in the various animal enclosures. We also took the opportunity to practice some of his known commands, though he was clearly distracted by the hustle and bustle of the environment.
Loki is definitely a sensitive and cautious pup, but that’s okay—confidence takes time. With continued positive exposure to busy environments like this, he’ll gradually begin to feel more comfortable. It’s all about taking baby steps, and Loki is well on his way.
Pupdate 7/28/25
Today’s training focus was on the "come-to-heel" command and practicing heeling with a dragging leash. "Come-to-heel" has been one of the more challenging commands for Loki, but today he made some real progress! He successfully completed the command off-leash several times on his own—and I was absolutely over the moon watching it happen.
We also continued working on the “heel” command. After a week of consistent on-leash practice, we took things up a notch by letting Loki drag the leash while he heeled. He did great for a few minutes but eventually got a little spooked. Still, I know he’s capable, and with continued practice, I’m confident he’ll get more comfortable.
Pupdate 7/29/26
Today we took Loki to Whittier Narrows, where he got to spend some time training alongside other pups and trainers from Off Leash. One of our main focuses was helping Loki build confidence jumping onto various surfaces and heights. Being a bit vertically challenged, this wasn’t the easiest task for him at first—but with patience and practice, he started getting the hang of it! He even nailed his “load up” onto a higher platform—go Loki!
We also worked on his Come-to-Sit and Heel commands. Although he wasn’t too thrilled about leash dragging today, we practiced on-leash instead, and he handled it well. We followed up on his other commands too, and he’s showing great consistency with Sit and Down—especially staying in place. He’s making awesome progress all around!
Pupdate 7/30/25
Today was a big win for Loki!
We focused on conquering one of his long-standing fears—loading up into the car—and today, he finally did it! We've been working on this using a stepping stool and incorporating a great exercise recommended by one of our experienced trainers. With some encouragement and practice, Loki discovered the power in his little hind legs and started jumping up on his own!
Not only did he do it once—he jumped into the crate multiple times, clearly enjoying himself. It was such a proud moment to see him physically develop a skill he's been working on since day one.
We're still continuing to reinforce all his commands. Loki understands them well, but his consistency dips when we're working off leash. That said, he is absolutely callable and responsive—it just seems like he needs a bit more time and repetition to build that solid off-leash reliability. Right now, he's most confident working on leash, where he executes all commands beautifully.
With clear guidance and consistent communication, I'm confident Loki has the potential to become a fully off-leash pup—if that's your goal for him. He's doing wonderfully in every other area, and it’s been such a joy watching his personality continue to shine through each day.
Go Loki!!
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