Meet Millie, the spirited Doberman Pinscher. Millie is a sweet and energetic girl who adores long walks, playful moments with her family, and engaging in extended hikes and jogs with her dad. Her love for play extends to toys, but occasionally her exuberance results in a strong prey drive, and her attention span tends to be short.
Despite Millie's joyous nature, her tendency to lose focus hampers her obedience. Additionally, she experiences bouts of car anxiety, leading to excessive barking and car seat chewing fueled by high energy. While her parents cherish her deeply, they recognize the value of well-rounded obedience training to alleviate Millie's short attention , helping her harness focus and control her energy more effectively.
Puldate 12/19/23
Upon receiving Millie, my immediate focus was on building a strong bond and foundation of trust between us. To achieve this, I began an assessment to understand what commands she comprehended. Later, I practiced heeling with her, emphasizing the importance of her following my lead.
In the video, I demonstrated heeling by incorporating varied turns in different directions, creating a dynamic environment to encourage Millie's focus on me rather than the surrounding world. Given her challenge in maintaining focus for extended periods, this step is crucial for our ongoing progress. It is essential for Millie to grasp that, as the one walking her, I am the central focus during our walks. This establishes the groundwork for a comprehensive obedience training that will effectively navigate distractions and temper her prey drive, ensuring a more controlled and harmonious experience.
Pupdate 12/20/23
Millie's adventure today involved introducing obedience at home and a visit to Home Depot. Despite her initial excitement, she learned quickly that a change in behavior patterns was expected. This shift left her visibly disappointed, with a noticeable pout throughout our time at the store. To maintain a positive environment, I balanced training with plenty of praise, scratches, and belly rubs.
During our outing, Millie demonstrated excellent heeling skills but continued to express her desire to break away when excited. Reinforcing the new manners became crucial, and I reminded her consistently. We also introduced sit and down commands, overcoming her initial resistance, though not without some adorable pouting.
Recognizing Millie's intelligence and sweetness, the training approach with Millie emphasizes kindness and breaks for a well-rounded experience. This journey with Millie is exciting, and I look forward to sharing more updates soon.
Pupdate 12/21/23
During our West Covina library visit with Millie today, my focus was on working Millie before the potential rain (while creating a conducive atmosphere). I chose this area to challenge and address Millie's high prey drive due many squirrels living there. Despite this, she showed gradual improvement and increased comfort compared to yesterday's outing. While she occasionally required assistance with the place and down commands, it wasn't as challenging as the previous day.
Consistently, I offered Millie praise and occasional treats to express appreciation for her hard work, acknowledging the discomfort of her position. A notable moment occurred during obedience training when she attempted to pull towards a squirrel, underscoring the importance of being vigilant and predicting her behaviors. Millie, being a quick dog, requires constant awareness to prevent unexpected pulls.
On a positive note, Millie showcased impressive progress, mastering a basic understanding of cues more swiftly than most dogs. Her ability to heel properly for a short duration is promising, and our goal is to gradually extend the time she can maintain this behavior. Overall, Millie's performance was commendable, reflecting her dedication and quick learning abilities.
Pupdate 12/22/23
In todays adventure, Millie's commitment to practicing commands like "place," "heel," and and "sit" at the park reflects significant progress in her obedience training. While occasional challenges persist with the "down" command, her gradual improvement is evident. Notably, Millie's demeanor has shifted, displaying less resistance and more cheer and joy, enhancing the overall training experience. This positive atmosphere aligns perfectly with our goal for Millie to enjoy herself during our sessions and the stay overall.
As we strolled past small businesses later on, an unexpected delight awaited Millie – the opportunity to take a photo with Santa! This added a festive touch to our day, further contributing to Millie's positive training environment. Stay tuned for more!
Pawfolio Entry 12/23/23
Today, Millie underwent training at Whittier Narrows, where she was challenged with all her cues. While she's progressing well in understanding commands, she tends to respond to "come" only when the leash is in my hand, without requiring any tension. During our walk to the park, an encounter with a squirrel tested her due to her overactive pre-drive, resulting in a typical reaction, but we managed to redirect her focus by using the e-collar. When we reinforce positive behavior, we also engage her with leash tension to break her attention from potential distractions.
Heel training is proving beneficial, emphasizing focusing on the person walking her rather than the surroundings. Millie excels overall, though she struggles a bit with balancing on thin elevated platforms. Despite her initial challenges, she exhibits a more positive demeanor during obedience sessions than previous.
It's noteworthy that Millie shows reactivity when other dogs pass her kennel, indicating a potential issue we aim to address. Engaging the E collar and creating controlled scenarios will help manage this behavior, preventing aggressive responses. Addressing these concerns early on is crucial, ensuring a well-behaved Millie indoors and outdoors, particularly in the presence of small prey.
Puldate 12/24/23
Today, Millie had a delightful day immersed in the festive spirit. As a reward for her exceptional hard work, we took her for a nice stroll through the neighborhood and park, working on her attention while heeling—and also focusing on addressing her overreactive prey drive in certain situations.
Although we didn't encounter small squirrels, Millie had positive interactions with small dogs, displaying good behavior distinct from her response to squirrels. Throughout the walk, Millie showed her observant nature, often fixating on distant birds. To maintain focus, we used the collar, redirecting her attention to us.
Millie's intentions are genuinely positive, responding well to head scratches and treats. Back at home, she enjoyed lounging on the cot in the living room. When people passed by, she greeted them with a friendly sniff, demonstrating excellent manners and refraining from jumping. Millie's overall behavior reflects her well-intentioned and amiable nature.
Puldate 12/25/23
Today, Millie had a delightful time at the park. Despite initially breaking her cues in a burst of excitement, she eventually settled down and successfully followed through on everything I asked of her. Her reward was the opportunity to play freely, enjoying the scent of grass. Despite occasional hiccups like fixating on birds or munching on grass, we gently redirected her focus, adding treats and praise in the festive spirit of Christmas. After addressing her mild reactivity issues, we enjoyed a pleasant picnic with positive scenarios reinforcing good behavior. Millie, not a fan of sharing toys, kept to herself, but the afternoon was filled with joy, treats, and the company of dogs and friends. Overall, it was a really nice time in the park. At home she relaxed and napped in the living room.
Potty update: Millie held her potty throughout the night and Urinated/ Defacated in the PM. She has a specific place in the concrete that she likes to urinate on.
Pupdate 12/6/23
Today, Millie's day kicked off with a brisk neighborhood walk, followed by home obedience training to refine her skills. Despite initial challenges requiring leash tension, she successfully grasped cues like "come to sit."
The park session revealed improved responsiveness, particularly in the "come to sit" command, displaying enhanced accuracy and reduced treat reliance. Proud of her progress, we addressed and overcame some tendencies to break cues with consistent reminders.
During a squirrel encounter, Millie exhibited great self-control. In the video recording, she showcased focused attention on heel despite squirrel distractions. Overall, Millie's remarkable advancement and positive changes leave us excited for the upcoming week. Stay tuned for more highlights of her journey!
Potty Training Update: No accidents in kennel, Poops and Pees in AM on concrete specifically
Pupdate 12/27/23
Today, we're focusing on Millie's cues, and her cuteness never fails to amaze – it starts a bit shaky, but she consistently follows through, allowing me to walk quite a distance away. Her ability to maintain cues for an extended time is truly impressive. The only challenge arises when she decides to challenge me and break her cue. Occasionally, she does this quirky thing of running between my legs. When I ask her to "down" and kneel down, she willingly tucks herself between my legs, a behavior that remains a mystery. Despite this, Millie is on her way to becoming a superstar.
Potty Training Update: No accidents in kennel, Poops and Pees in AM on concrete specifically
Pupdate 12/28/23
Today, Millie underwent training at the Santa Monica pier to address her energetic prey drive and engage in exposure training. The outing doubled as a chance for aid fellow trainers to capture content. Amid the enjoyment, the sun's intensity eventually wore Millie out. However not before some teachable moments—particularly when birds crossed her path. Being a standout in her class, she confidently ignored the passing bird, marking a significant shift in Millie. Although a bit fatigued from the heat, she showcased remarkable progress.
Later, we focused on refining her manners at the park—a topic with minimal challenges but one we regularly address. This also provided another opportunity for outdoor exploration. Overall, Millie had a fulfilling and eventful day.
Potty Training Update: No accidents in kennel, Poops and Pees in AM on concrete specifically
Pupdate 12/29/23
Today, I accompanied Millie to the Santa Monica Pier to address the challenges we encountered yesterday. Our primary goal is to refine and master her exuberant behavior and over active prey drive. I trust this video will demonstrate her remarkable progress, providing insight into Millie's dedicated efforts over the past week and a half. Please take note of the small birds featured in the video as Millie executes her cues.
Potty Training Update: No accidents in kennel, Poops and Pees in AM on concrete specifically
Pupdate 12/30/23
(Please hear audio)
Today we trained indoors and worked on impulse control while holding Place. We want Millie to be able to be inside, well mannered, while your entire family enjoys a movie with her.
Potty Training Update: No accidents in kennel, Poops and Pees in AM on concrete specifically
Pupdate 12/31/23
Today, Millie successfully navigated her cues at home and showed impressive control over her impulses and prey drive. While she excels in focusing through distractions, occasional reminders are needed to help her recenter. Overall, Millie has been a delightful and joyful companion to work with. Her lack coordination stems more from fear than stubbornness, and through confidence building and reassurance, she has expanded her skill set and willingness. It's crucial to recognize Millie's soft and gentle nature, approaching her training with that in mind. The e-collar serves as an effective communication tool, but moderation is key. Millie's motivation lies in joy, love, and treats.
Potty Training Update: No accidents in kennel, Poops and Pees in AM on concrete specifically
Pupdate 1/01/24
Millie and I spent the day working at home, going through cues and reinforcing good manners while birds played in the lawn. Despite her hyperactive prey drive, Millie behaved exceptionally well, ignoring the tempting distractions. Afterwards, she relaxed and lounged on her special cot in the living room. With visitors in our home, it provided a great opportunity for her to greet people, exhibit good manners, and feel welcomed as part of the social scene. It's evident that Millie loves being around people, especially in a home environment.
Potty Training Update: No accidents in kennel, Poops and Pees in AM on concrete specifically
Pupdate 1/2/24
On Millie's last day, we ensured her manners were top-notch. She displayed remarkable behavior, no longer darting through doors or causing a commotion during car rides. Millie has made significant progress since her arrival. The remainder of the day was all about Millie having a good time, unwinding, and earning some fantastic treats.
