Meet Max! A loving One year old Golden/ Lab / Collie mix from Santa Monica, CA who is here for our One Week Board and Train Program. Max has joined Off Leash So Cal before in the summer and learned some obedience. He is also currently enrolled in a service dog course with his owner. Over this next week, Max and I will primarily focus our work on his Leash Manners, Greeting Manners, and overall impulse control as he often is not consistent with his commands whenever somebody he is familiar with is around. Stay tuned for his One Week Transformation!
Pupdate 12/11/2022
As soon as Max and I got to his new temporary home, we went on a stroll around the neighborhood to test what he knows. He was quite consistent with his commands yet not engaged. We will be focusing our work on his engagement throughout this week. Once we went inside we hung out together in the backyard and he went into the kennel voluntarily. We will begin working some more on obedience and manners tomorrow at the park!Ā
Pupdate 12/12/2022
Max and I went on a trip to the park to emphasize our work on a few behaviors such as his Come to Sit, and Heel, along with Greeting Manners. I guided him with directional changes of the leash, utilizing leash pressure to help him come around me and Sit on my left hand side. He picked this up quickly, and was much more engaged today as we trained. We played the name game to help keep the engagement consistent. I called his name then marked it with a Yes before rewarding him as we Heeled together. This helped him check in with me more frequently. We then went on a pack walk with other pups. Max was very curious of the other pups, but continued to work with me as I Cued off whenever he tried to interact on his terms. If he veered outwards away from me, I popped the leash towards me along with stimulation of the e collar. After a few leash pops he stayed close by my side, offering eye contact.
Another trainer said hi to Max, and Max became a bit excited. We will keep working on his impulse control around familiar faces.Ā
Pupdate 12/13/2022
Max and I ventured out to The Citadel Outlets where we worked on his Come to Sit, Extended Place, Heel, and Greeting Manners. A friendly person wanted to say hi to him as we were training. He was in the Down so I tested the waters by letting her pet him in the Down position. Max struggled with this even while I applied leash pressure downwards along with stimulation of the e collar. I released him, put him in the Sit position where he successfully held his Sit the entire time while being pet. Having him hold his Place paired with Sit and Down may help him with Greeting Manners moving forward as dogs are very visual and it helps to have a visual target.Ā
Once we Heeled around the outlets, Max did great with staying by my side and turning when I turn. I reward him every other time he checks in with me which has made him much more engaged. Great work Max!Ā
I noticed today that Max had not been eating his morning meals. After some exercise, Ā I fed him outside of the kennel where he was more comfortable with eating. I will keep trying different methods to entice him to eat, like utilizing his kibble during training as rewards.Ā
Pupdate 12/14/2022
Max and IĀ started our day with working on his Food Manners. He is expected to hold his Sit or Down while being fed. After the food bowl is placed on the floor, that is not his cue to get up. His cue to eat is when I release him with the Cue Break. Although tempted, Max was able to hold his sit while I eventually went out of sight.Ā We then practiced Greeting Manners with a friend he met a few times before already. Max was very excited, and I let him think for himself. I could be proactive and put him in a sit but sometimes it is good to test the waters, and correct his mistakes. He tried to jump initially. I corrected it Cuing Off and applied stimulation. We then tried it again and he did not jump the next time.Ā
After working on Greeting Manners, we went out to the local park where we Heeled together. Max was very fluent with his Heel and everything he has learned. Now we will begin to film for his final video tomorrow!Ā
Pupdate 12/15/2022
Max and I ventured out to Hollywood today where we proofed his commands some more with many distractions present. There were reactive dogs, loud bus noises, loud music, and crowds of people. He practiced his Greeting Manners with friendly people and at home as well with my mom who he has practiced saying hi to each day. He was successfully able to hold his Down the entire time while being pet today. Although excited, his impulse control is improving each day.Ā
We began to film for his final video where Max absolutely killed it. He held his Down and Sit for two and a half minutes consistently and hit a record of four minutes at one point!Ā Which is definitely past the goal set for him.Ā Max is a confident boy who is checking in frequently as I reward him on an intermittent ratio reward reinforcement schedule. I capture him offering eye contact, mark it with a Yes and reward at random times. The placement of the treats is always on my left hand side to build value in that position. As he gets rewarded randomly, he is also learning that eye contact while in new places is when he gets the tasty treats!
Pupdate 12/16/2022
Max and I went on a trip to The Del Amo Mall where we proofed all of his commands. We Heeled through the mall together, playing the name game and testing his automatic Sits. We worked on his Extended Sits and Downs while in public areas as well, even while the Ā childrens train passed by with the loud horns. Max does well with his Heel, only needing guidance occasionally. When I need to guide him through a confined space, I pop the leash towards me and cue Heel. The directional changes of the leash pops tells Max where to go. Once he follows, the pressure is turned off. If he makes a good turn with me or is very engaged, I mark it with a Yes. It helps to change pace, and change direction every now and then to keep his attention. I attached a preview of his Final video from Hollywood Blvd above!Ā
Pupdate 12/17/2022
Max and I spent the day working on all of his manners such as Greeting Manners, Door Manners, and Food Manners. He practiced saying hi to my family which he has seen on a daily basis. Max is very friendly so his excitement will always remain. What helps him work through his excitement is management, and structure. He should have a leash on whenever greeting people and the e collar as well to reinforce any commands given. Without the leash or e collar there is no way to help him follow through with commands when familiar faces are present. I communicate to whoever is petting him, to not make it a huge deal when saying hi.
If we make it a big deal each time, he will as well. We want to promote calmness when saying hi to him and the petting should stop immediately if he gets up. By repeatedly practicing this, Max will continue to understand he only receives attention when he is a good boy with all four paws on the floor.Ā
We then went on a stroll around the neighborhood to work on his Heel which he has improved with. He checks in frequently which I capture and reward often. He sits when I stop walking and turns when I turn as well. Max is naturally a good boy who needs some structure to be the best pup he possibly can be. We canāt wait to show you what he has learned, thank you for trusting me with your sweet boy!Ā
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