Mali | German Shepherd | Santa Monica, CA | In Training
- Tanner Strong
- Jun 23
- 11 min read
Updated: Jul 8
Meet Mali! She's an eighteen month old German Shepherd from Santa Monica, California here for our Two-Week Board and Train Program! She can be sweet but she starts off very nervous and skeptical of people and often barks and lunges at strangers and other dogs. She is familiar with some commands, but often doesn't like to follow through or listen at all around distractions and doesn't want to sit still for very long! Over the next fourteen days we will work on her commands and her impulse control, help her with her confidence levels, especially around people and other dogs, and help her become the best pup she can possibly be! Stay tuned for Mali's two week transformation!
Pupdate: 6/23/2025
Mali had a good first day! After picking her up, we headed home to let her settle in and explore the space. She took her time sniffing around and is already starting to feel more comfortable—she seems to be warming up to me quickly, which is always a great sign!
Once she had some time to decompress, we headed to another park to meet up with some other trainers and their dogs. I was prepared for her to be a little reactive, but she surprised me in the best way—she stayed by my side without barking or lunging, even though she was clearly a bit nervous. We focused on her Heel command around the other dogs and people, and she did a really nice job staying engaged with me. She even got to work with another trainer, and did well for them too!
She made it almost the entire day without barking, except for one moment while we were sitting around when another dog walked close to her—she let out a bark but quickly recovered. After that, we practiced working around that same dog, and Mali was able to walk alongside them without any more issues.
One thing that really stood out today is how much more confident Mali is when she has a job to do. While working on commands, she stayed more focused and relatively more calm. It was during downtime—when we weren’t actively working—that she became more restless. Giving her structure and purpose clearly helps her feel more secure, so that’s something we’ll continue to build on.
Today was a strong start for Mali, and working around other dogs and people is exactly the kind of exposure she needs to grow more confident. Excited to see how she progresses from here!
Pupdate: 6/24/2025
Today Mali and I focused on her Come To Sit command, which will serve as her formal recall. The goal is for her to respond to this cue no matter what she's doing—whether she’s sitting, playing, napping, or distracted by something in the environment. This command is a little more advanced, as it not only asks her to come to me when called but also to walk around behind me and sit neatly at my left side, with her ears lined up with my leg.
This position makes it much easier to transition right into a Heel, which we’re also continuing to practice. Mali is starting to understand both the motion and the expectation that she should automatically sit once she reaches the correct position. She’s doing a great job picking it up!
There were some added distractions today—maintenance work going on nearby and some loud children at the playground—which definitely caught her attention. Mali often wanted to turn and face the noise, so we took the opportunity to work on holding her Sit position and resisting the urge to swivel toward distractions. She improved with repetition and is learning to trust that I’ve got things handled so she doesn’t need to keep watch.
Mali also had a bit of an upset stomach today and had some diarrhea, so I added a bit of pumpkin to her food to help soothe her digestion. Hopefully she’s feeling better soon!
Pupdate: 6/25/2025
Today’s focus for Mali was confidence building through her Place command—and she did a great job stepping outside her comfort zone! The Place command is especially helpful in public settings, not just for structure and obedience, but for helping dogs like Mali grow more confident in the face of new challenges.
We introduced a variety of increasingly tricky objects to work on. Small benches required her to carefully balance as she hopped up and even more so when lying all the way down. Bleachers, with their unfamiliar texture and gaps, were particularly intimidating at first and took some extra courage just to walk across.
While she was hesitant at times, Mali responded well to encouragement and repetition. With each success, she seemed to grow more confident and started to understand that she’s capable of tackling things that initially feel uncomfortable or even a little scary. It was awesome to see her mindset shift and her willingness grow.
I’m proud of Mali for the effort she gave today—she’s learning that bravery pays off!
She ended up finishing her dinner last night with the pumpkin, which I'll keep adding for a bit. Her stool was not completely solid today, but just a little loose.
Pupdate: 6/26/2025
Today Mali and I worked on some of her commands with the leash dragging—a great way to preview how she might do off leash while still giving me the option to intervene if needed.
There were stretches where she was just as responsive and reliable as she is with the leash in hand, which was great to see! But she did have her moments of distraction, especially when other dogs walked by. Even so, she bounced back well and was able to re-engage with me after a little guidance.
This session was a solid step forward in her reliability and responsiveness. While she still has lots work to do, I’m happy with the progress she’s making!
Her stool was completely solid and normal today, so I'll begin reducing the amount of pumpkin added to her food little by little.
Pupdate: 6/27/2025
Mali joined me for an outing to Home Depot today, and it was a great chance to work on her commands in a busy, distracting environment! She handled a lot of it well, though there were definitely a few moments that challenged her.
She was a bit nervous at first, especially around the tighter spaces and the constant movement of people. While she wasn’t overly reactive, she did keep a close eye on anyone who passed by. Squeaky carts were a bit tough for her at the start, but she stayed close to me and didn’t try to pull away too often. After several laps around the store, she grew more confident, and we were able to walk past carts with much less reaction. Interestingly, the loud beeping from the forklifts didn’t seem to bother her much at all.
In terms of her commands, the Down position was particularly difficult for her today, which makes sense—it’s a vulnerable posture, and she’s not completely comfortable in that environment yet. We’ll keep working on building her confidence there. She also struggled a bit with holding her positions when I created distance; she often wanted to break her Sit or Down and come right back to me. I do love how eager she is to be close, but I’m also focused on helping her feel secure staying put, even when I step away.
Today was a solid exposure day for Mali, and I’m proud of how she stayed with me, followed through, and recovered even when things felt a little overwhelming. Each experience like this builds her confidence and brings her another step closer to being rock solid in new places!
Pupdate: 6/28/2025
Mali had a productive and confidence-building day today! We started with a relaxed morning at the park, then headed back to Home Depot to beat the heat. The store was less busy by the time we arrived, which definitely helped her feel more comfortable. Compared to yesterday, she settled in more quickly and was much more willing to focus and relax in the environment.
She gave me her Down commands more consistently today and did a significantly better job holding both Sit and Down positions. I was even able to create more distance—stepping several feet away—while she maintained her position. That’s a big step forward for Mali! After a few seconds of holding position, I’ve been either calling her to me or releasing her from command and giving her affection, which she happily accepts. She’s clearly still a little unsure when I move away, but this approach of slowly increasing the distance and duration is helping her build confidence without adding too much pressure.
This balance seems to be just right for her right now, and it’s great to see her making steady progress!
Pupdate: 6/29/2025
Today we continued building Mali’s reliability with her leash dragging, helping her learn to respond without needing physical guidance. While she did well overall, there were a few moments where I picked up the leash—usually when she seemed a bit unsure or uncomfortable. I don’t mind offering that support when needed, but I’m aiming for her to grow more confident and independent over time.
Her Place command remains a strong point, which isn’t surprising—it clearly gives her a sense of security and confidence. She went to Place quickly and held position nicely, even through distractions.
We also worked with my girlfriend today, who Mali’s only met a couple times. She performed fairly well for her, which was great to see! It's a good sign that Mali is becoming more comfortable working with different people, and I’ll continue to build on that as we go.
All in all, today was a solid step forward!
Pupdate: 6/30/2025
Big milestone for Mali today—she was allowed off leash at the park for the first time! With minimal distractions around, she did a good job staying close and responsive. We passed by a few dogs and even got near some people playing tennis, and Mali stayed neutral and composed the entire time. While I’ll continue using a leash in more distracting environments as she builds more confidence, today’s session was a huge step forward in her training. Way to go, Mali!
Pupdate: 7/1/2025
Today’s focus with Mali was all about building a stronger recall—specifically helping her stay put when asked and making a direct, confident return when called. This involves two big challenges for her: staying in position as I walk away, and making a straight line back when I cue her to come.
This morning, she was feeling especially playful and broke her position repeatedly to come toward me before being called. While this made for a more lighthearted session (and showed she’s getting more comfortable and less nervous), I still want her to hold her position reliably, regardless of whether she’s feeling excited or unsure. Consistency is the goal!
When we went back out later to film a quick video, Mali clearly benefited from our earlier session. She settled into the routine much faster and showed better understanding of what was expected. The place cot was a big help, giving her a clear physical target to stay on, though I’ll continue working on getting her to hold positions confidently even without that familiar comfort object.
All in all, a good step forward today—Mali’s confidence is growing, and she’s beginning to connect the dots. Lots of progress, and lots still to build on!
Pupdate: 7/2/2025
Mali had a big day today! We met up with some other trainers and their dogs, giving her a great chance to work around new people and pups. One of our main exercises was a double Heel with another dog I’m working with. At first, Mali was unsure about walking so close to another dog, but after a few minutes she settled in and held her position with growing confidence—she really impressed me.
She also got the chance to work with a few other trainers throughout the day. While she’s definitely growing attached to me (she gave a heartfelt bark the first time I walked away while someone else was handling her), she quickly adjusted. By the end of the session, I was even able to step out of view while she worked with others, and she hardly noticed at all.
It was a great combination of social exposure, trust-building, and fun for her today. She handled everything well and seemed to enjoy herself throughout the experience!
Pupdate: 7/3/2025
Mali had a great outing to Santa Anita Mall today! It wasn’t too crowded, which made for a perfect introduction to this new environment. Compared to her first visit to Home Depot, she started off with noticeably more confidence—a very encouraging sign of her continued growth.
She was with another dog I’m working with, who she’s grown quite fond of, and having him by her side definitely seemed to boost her confidence even more. While she stayed on leash throughout the session, she handled the outing really well, taking in the sights, sounds, and new distractions with composure.
This was a solid first mall trip for Mali, and a strong step forward in both her public manners and environmental confidence!
Pupdate: 7/4/2025
Mali had a more relaxed day today, focusing on her indoor manners, with an emphasis on door etiquette, which you can see in the video above. She’s doing a great job learning to respect boundaries and thresholds, an important skill for maintaining calm behavior around the house.
In the video, she’s positioned right in front of the door, but our goal is for her to remain composed and not react—even if she’s across the room—when the door opens. Ideally, the door opening becomes a nonevent, something she doesn’t feel the need to investigate or rush toward. We’re also applying this mindset to other thresholds, like gates, fences, and even indoor spaces—such as the kitchen, which is a no-go zone for the dogs. Mali’s catching on quickly and doing very well with these expectations.
We also heard a few fireworks last night, and Mali didn’t seem bothered, which is great to see! Hopefully tonight will be just as uneventful for her.
Nice work today, Mali!
Pupdate: 7/5/2025
Mali took on a brand new environment today with a trip to the Santa Monica Pier! With the sights, smells, and sounds of the ocean, crowds, and food stands all around, there was plenty for her to take in. As we made our way down the pier, she occasionally got ahead of me, but was quick to fix her position when reminded.
To help her ease into the experience, we spent the first 20 minutes just relaxing in a shady spot, letting her observe the environment without asking too much of her. Once we got moving again, she handled her commands well while I held the leash. However, when I dropped the leash to simulate off-leash work, she showed a bit of clinginess—pressing into me during Heel and trying to sneak in cuddles between my legs when recalled.
We worked on maintaining appropriate space and independence during these moments, and she made some nice progress. For today, I kept the leash on to give her a little more structure, but I’m happy with how she handled this brand new challenge. For her first time at the pier with me, Mali did well, and I’m excited to keep building on this!
Pupdate: 7/6/2025
Mali was back at Santa Monica today, and we took the opportunity to warm up and do some off-leash work! While she did respond to her commands and showed that she’s capable, it was clear she was feeling a bit uncomfortable with full freedom in such a stimulating environment. To support her while still building confidence, she was allowed off leash for just a few minutes at a time. This approach worked well—giving her space to succeed without overwhelming her. These short, focused bursts gave us a glimpse of her off-leash potential!
Afterward, Mali enjoyed a well-deserved nap on her favorite place cot back at home. She earned it! Later this evening, we’ll head to the park for a more playful training session to help her decompress and enjoy some learning in a setting that’s a little more fun for her. Great work today, Mali!
Pupdate: 7/7/2025
Mali and I spent the day at Legg Lake, where we met up with some other trainers and their dogs. She had a great time taking it all in and handled the environment like a champ! Mali seemed relaxed and at ease around the other dogs, showing polite curiosity without any tension. Even with geese, ducks, and squirrels roaming around, she kept her cool and stayed focused. It was a peaceful, confidence-boosting outing for her, and I loved seeing how calm and content she was the whole time. Way to go, Mali!
Comments