Mishka | Samoyed | West Hollywood, CA

Meet Mishka, he's a two-year-old Samoyed from West Hollywood, California who is here with us for our Two Week Board and Train Program! This fluffy pup is very sweet and loving with every person he meets, but he tends to become over-excited easily, causing undesired behaviors such as excessive barking and jumping on people. He has some general knowledge of basic commands, but is easily distracted by his surroundings when in public, and struggles to listen or follow through with what is asked of him. He also likes to pull heavily on the leash, which can make walking with him a challenge. Over the next fourteen days, we will be working to improve his manners, obedience, and listening skills to set him on the right track to becoming a well-behaved pup no matter the situation. Stay tuned for his transformation!

Pupdate 9/24/2023

Today Mishka and I spent the day bonding and getting to know each other! After his pickup we visited a park together, where I tested his knowledge of basic commands to gain an understanding of what his starting point will be, as well as get an idea of what areas we may need to focus on in his training going forward. We also worked to begin developing a trusting relationship between us, which will be important for his training going forward. He seemed happy to spend time with me and eager to explore around the park together, though I noticed he was very easily distracted by his surroundings, which seemed to impede his ability to listen or follow through with what was asked of him. He often struggled to focus on me or any commands for longer than a couple of moments before redirecting his attention to something else he decided was more interesting.

Mishka was usually able to perform Sit when asked, though despite having an understanding of the command, he sometimes needed to be asked several times before he followed through with it. When he eventually listened and sat down, he was quick to lose focus and stand back up after a couple of seconds, especially if something interesting caught his attention. He seemed to have some understanding of the Down command, though he generally seemed uninterested in laying down when prompted to. When he did lie down he was often unable to maintain the position for very long, as he regularly became distracted by his surroundings. Mishka didn't seem to have much understanding of the Place command, though with a bit of extra encouragement he was able to climb onto a few low objects around the park. However, he was quite clumsy and struggled to remain still for more than a few moments before wanting to walk around or climb back off the object. He was sometimes willing to Come when called when provided with enough excitement and encouragement, though more often than not he chose to completely ignore his name and the recall command. He was also pulling on the leash a lot and veering off in different directions as we walked, and didn't seem to have any understanding of the Heel command. He did however seem to have some understanding of leash pressure when used to guide him or grab his attention, which is a good sign and is a great head start in his training journey!

After we had a chance to get to know each other at the park, it was time to head home and get him settled in! Mishka was a bit hesitant about jumping into my car at first, though when given some extra encouragement he was able to jump up without any issue. He was definitely unsure of the kennel in the car as well, as kennels are something new and unfamiliar to him. Though with a bit of physical guidance, he was able to enter the kennel and didn't try to protest or resist which was good to see. He did vocalize a bit on the drive home, though he did eventually quiet down and relax. Upon arriving home, we gave him some time to become familiar with his surroundings and spent some time together as he adjusted to the space. He seemed to be pretty tired after our trip to the park, so it was a great time to introduce him to the kennel in the room to encourage him to relax and begin developing a positive association with it. While he doesn't use a kennel at home, helping him become comfortable with the kennel will make his stay with me more enjoyable and ensure he is stress-free if he ever needs to be crated in the future. He wasn't quite sure what to think of the kennel at first, though by rewarding him for entering it willingly and relaxing inside, he warmed up to it very quickly and eventually chose to settle in for a nap while inside. We will continue building his trust with the kennel gradually throughout the day so that he can spend the night comfortably inside. So far he appears to be settling in nicely, is doing great with adapting to all these new changes, and appears to feel comfortable, safe, and happy with me!

Pupdate 9/25/2023

Today Mishka and I took a trip to a park, where we met up with some other OffLeash SoCal trainers and their pups! We focused on two aspects of his training today, introducing the Off and Come to Sit commands. This was a great opportunity to test Mishka's focus and listening skills while around other dogs. There were also other distractions around the park, such as small animals, grassy fields, and groups of people. Overall Mishka was quite distracted, especially when we first arrived at the park as he was very eager to explore and check out his environment, though after some time had passed he seemed to relax a bit as he became more familiar with his surroundings. He was mostly interested in the other dogs and with trees or other objects that he wanted to mark, though he sometimes also became distracted by smells around the park or by people walking by.

We introduced the e-collar today, as it will be a helpful tool for communication throughout his training journey. He is very familiar and responsive to leash pressure already, which gives him a great head start! Each time that leash pressure is applied for guidance or reinforcement, stimulation from the e-collar is paired with it. This will help him come to understand that both forms of pressure mean the same thing, eventually allowing them to be used interchangeably. The goal is to gradually wean Mishka off leash pressure, so that his leash can hang loose and not be needed to apply pressure with as he performs commands. When using the e-collar during training, we first give him a "freebie" where the verbal cue is given without any stimulation, and if he responds without it, great! However, if he ignores the command, then it will be reinforced with the e-collar, by pairing it with the verbal cue and adjusting the levels each time he needs to be asked again until he responds and follows through with what is being asked of him. As soon as he follows through with a command, the pressure immediately turns off and is replaced with praise and reward. Mishka is a smart boy, and he seemed to catch onto the concept of the e-collar pretty quickly, and was responding well to it!

A very helpful command for Mishka to learn early on is the Off command. This is the general command used to communicate that Mishka needs to stop whatever he is doing, and refocus on me. It can be helpful to then ask or remind him of another command directly after, such as Sit, as it will help to keep his attention where we want it and reduce the chances of him repeating whatever unwanted behavior he was displaying. It's similar to saying "no" or "leave it", and can be used in a wide variety of situations, such as when he is distracted by something, trying to mark, barking, sniffing or eating something he's not supposed to, jumping on someone or something he's not supposed to, etc. He caught onto this command pretty quickly, and was often able to quickly stop whatever he was doing, and return his attention to me. With time and practice, the undesirable behaviors will become less and less frequent as they are consistently discouraged with this command.

Another important command for Mishka to begin learning early in his training journey is the Come to Sit command, which will be our main form of recall. The goal for the Come to Sit command is for Mishka to Come directly to me when called, and maneuver around me to position himself at my left side for a Sit. Having him Sit on my left side after he comes to me will help to discourage him from immediately wandering back off after being recalled, as he will be asked to hold that position until released or given a new command. This precise positioning also sets him up for success to begin walking in the Heel position, which will be introduced in tomorrow's session. To introduce this command, we first began working on getting him to come to me when called, which was achieved by using the verbal cue and hand signals, as well as stimulation from the e-collar and guidance from the leash to get him moving in my direction if he did not respond to the other cues. After a few repetitions of this, he had an easier time coming to me when called with minimal to no leash pressure needed, which was great! This shows he is learning both the verbal command and beginning to understand the e-collar communication. We then introduced the second part of the command of maneuvering around to my left side for a Sit. He struggled with this part a bit, and would often end up trying to sit in front of or behind me instead of on the left, though he was able to find the correct position when guided a bit with the leash.

Pupdate 9/26/2023

Today Mishka and I visited a local park, where we introduced the Heel command, as well as continued working on his Come to Sit. The park had a good amount of distractions present, including small animals, groups of people and children, as well as several other dogs. Mishka did become distracted often, especially upon first arriving, though by implementing the Off command, we were able to grab his attention away from what was distracting him and help him refocus on his training. He did sometimes need to be given the Off command a few times before he responded to it, though he seems to be developing a good understanding of what is expected of him when the command is given, which is great to see! He also appears to be getting the hang of the e-collar, allowing for effective communication without the leash needing to be used for reinforcement as frequently.

The Heel command is an important concept for Mishka to learn, as he is prone to pulling heavily on the leash and suddenly veering off in different directions, making it challenging to walk with him at times. The goal for the Heel command is for Mishka to follow directly alongside his handler on the left side and maintain that position while walking unless released or given a new command. He will need to pay close attention to his handler while walking in a Heel, so that he can match their pace and follow along in the proper position even if their handler turns or makes a sudden stop. This precise positioning takes a lot of practice to master, but it will eliminate pulling on the leash and veering off in different directions, and allow his handler to take the lead on walks instead of him trying to pull them around wherever he pleases. To introduce this command, I kept the leash short but loose, and ensured he stayed on my left side in roughly the Heel position as we walked. If he began to veer off, try to pull ahead, or step out of the Heel position, leash and e-collar pressure were paired with the verbal command to communicate his error and guide him back to the Heel position. When walking in the correct Heel position, the leash was loose, no pressure was applied, and lots of praise and rewards were given to communicate that he was in the desired position. He quickly began to grasp this concept and stopped trying to pull on the leash, and he began to understand where he needed to be when the command was given. He also seemed to need less leash pressure the more we practiced, and became much more responsive to the verbal command and the e-collar. He did sometimes lose focus and momentarily forget the command, especially when distractions were around or he wanted to go a specific direction, though once reminded of the command and provided with some guidance he was able to fall back into the correct position by my side. As he gets better with this command, he will have an easier time staying in the Heel position for longer periods without as much guidance required, and need reminders less and less!

We also continued to work on the command Mishka began learning yesterday, Come to Sit. He has shown great improvement in this command already, and seems to be catching onto it quickly! When the surrounding area was free of any major distractions, he often came right to me the first time the verbal cue was given, without any stimulation or pressure needed to grab his attention or guide him to me. When the environment became more distracting, such as if a dog or person was nearby, he was still able to come to me when called, but more often than not he did need some additional reinforcement to grab his attention and begin guiding him towards me. Overall he did a very good job with the maneuver around to my left side for a Sit once he got to me, and only needed occasional leash pressure to guide him into the correct position. When he was focused, he seemed to easily remember what to do, and followed my hand signals for guidance instead of needing the leash. When he was a bit distracted he still seemed to understand the maneuver for the most part, but would sometimes end up sitting a bit out of position, and need to be guided with the leash to readjust his position.

Pupdate 9/27/2023

Today Mishka was introduced to two new commands, Place and Down. We also continued to practice his other commands, including Heel, Come to Sit, and Off. We began our training session while walking around my neighborhood, where the distraction levels were minimal to provide Mishka with a calm environment to learn in. Once he showed understanding of these new commands, we made our way over to a local park, where we continued his training with a higher amount of distractions present. Overall he did a pretty good job of staying neutral to his environment, and seemed to have an easier time maintaining focus around common distractions such as people, other dogs, and small animals. Mishka's most challenging distraction today seemed to be trees. While trees are typically quite boring as far as distractions go, his habit of wanting to mark them can make it hard for him to focus at times. Marking is fine while he is on break, given it is outdoors and on an appropriate object, though ignoring commands or pulling on the leash in order to go mark an object is something we strongly discourage. As such, this was another instance where the Off command came in handy to interrupt this behavior and communicate our expectations to him.

The first new command introduced to Mishka today is the Place command. The goal for the Place command is for Mishka to jump or climb onto a designated surface, such as a bench, a bed, or other defined object, and hold a stationary command while remaining on the object. This command is useful not only while out in public places, but also while at home, as it encourages Mishka to remain calm and stationary in a specific spot regardless of what is going on around him. We introduced this command today with a dog cot as our Place object, as Mishka is a bit clumsy at times, so starting with an easily accessible and comfortable object can help increase his confidence and chances of success with this command. As we practice more we will introduce him to a variety of other Place objects to continue building his skills. Mishka was happy to step onto the dog cot when provided light leash pressure for guidance, and was comfortable with performing a Sit once on it. After a few repetitions, Mishka quickly began to understand what was being asked of him when the Place command was given, and relied less on the leash pressure to guide him.

The other command introduced to Mishka today is the Down command. The goal for the Down command is for Mishka to lay down completely when asked, and remain in that position until released or given a new command. He has some knowledge of this command already, though he is generally unreliable with performing it when asked, so we will be starting fresh with the basics and building his understanding from there. This command can be difficult for some dogs to perform on command, due to its instinctually vulnerable nature. Introducing this command in a calm environment where Mishka can feel relaxed and safe is key to building his confidence and increasing his chances of success going forward. To introduce this command, we used leash pressure to guide Mishka into the Down position while the verbal command was given. Once he followed through and laid down completely, he received lots of praise followed by a break shortly after. We kept the duration for this position very short at first, to keep the training fun and rewarding for him. We then gradually increased the duration by small intervals and rewarded him for his patience while holding the position. He was slightly more hesitant at first when practicing Down around distractions, though with more repetitions he became much more willing to settle into the position when asked. As we continue to practice this command we will continue gradually increasing the duration and level of distractions around so he can become more reliable with it.

Pupdate 9/28/2023

Today Mishka and I visited a promenade, to practice all of his commands while in a distracting public environment. We also met up with some other OffLeash SoCal trainers and their pups, which provided a great opportunity to practice Mishka's training while around other dogs. Overall Mishka was able to maintain a good level of focus, and seemed happy to engage with and focus on me regularly rather than fixate excessively on his surroundings. He was able to pay attention to his training while around distractions such as other dogs, people, cars, bicycles, and more! He still became distracted from time to time, though he was able to refocus when prompted with the Off command. The main distraction Mishka struggled with today was trees and other objects that he wanted to mark, however he was able to refrain from this behavior when prompted with the Off command.

In our session today we focused on improving his consistency and reliability with following through with commands while distractions are nearby. We practiced the Heel command a lot as we walked around the promenade, and encouraged him to focus on me and his positioning while ignoring whatever distractions may be around us. Overall he did a pretty good job with this, and he was often able to walk alongside me with a completely loose leash for moderate periods of time without needing reminders or adjustments to his position. When he wasn't quite focused enough or became distracted by something, he would sometimes fall slightly out of the Heel position. When this happened, the Off command would be given if needed to grab his attention away from the distraction, immediately followed by the verbal Heel command paired with the e-collar and light leash pressure to reinforce the command and guide him back to the Heel position. Mishka did great with Come to Sit today, and was consistently able to come directly to me and Sit on my left side whenever he was called, even while moderate levels of distractions were around us. We practiced this command by recalling him both from stationary commands and while he was out exploring on breaks, to develop his understanding of the expectations of this command regardless of the circumstances. Sometimes if he was particularly distracted by something, such as when he was invested in a smell while on a break, he did need a bit of reinforcement to grab his attention, though he rarely needed to be asked more than once or twice.

We also spent some time focusing on his stationary commands of Sit, Down, and Place. Mishka was very consistent with his Sit today, and was always quick to perform the command whenever asked, oftentimes without needing any additional guidance or reinforcement. He was able to comfortably hold the position for around one minute, even if distractions were close by, which is great progress! The Down command was a bit trickier for Mishka today, since the distractions around caused him to be excited and less willing to lie down and relax when asked to. He was able to perform Down, though oftentimes did need some physical guidance via leash pressure to encourage him to follow through with the command. Once in the Down position, he was less likely to remain in position if a distraction approached, though on average he was able to hold Down for about thirty seconds with distractions present, which is a good start! Mishka did a solid job with Place today, and seemed confident and willing to perform the command on a variety of different objects introduced to him. He sometimes needed a bit of leash pressure to guide him when first attempting the command with an unfamiliar object, though as we practiced more he gained a lot of confidence and relied less on physical guidance. We mainly practiced with Place objects that were flat and large, since some objects he was a bit clumsy with and seemed to feel unsteady on, particularly on smaller or more narrow objects such as benches, though this didn't stop him from giving his best effort! Once on a Place object, he seemed very reliable with performing and holding Sit, and was also able to perform Down with light leash pressure. His ability to remain in Place depended slightly on how comfortable he was on the object, but he averaged about the same duration for Sit and Down as he would while practicing on the ground.

Pupdate 9/29/2023

Mishka and I visited a busy street along a local shopping strip today, where we continued practicing each of his commands around various distractions. This location provided a variety of distractions and challenges, including groups of people, other dogs, trees, busy narrow sidewalks, and passing cars on the nearby street. Overall Mishka did a great job of staying focused while in this environment, and understood to focus on his training instead of his surroundings. He did sometimes become distracted by various things, though the Off command was successful in helping him refocus and return to ignoring the distraction.

While walking along the busy and narrow sidewalks around this location, the Heel command was very useful in keeping Mishka close by and out of trouble, allowing us to easily walk by various distractions such as trees, people, and other dogs. Paying close attention to Mishka's body language is helpful in determining his level of focus and where his attention is directed at. Making eye contact and engaging with me reguarly during Heel is great to see, and is rewarded and encouraged heavily! Looking around at his surroundings during Heel is fine as well, though if he becomes fixated on something and is fully intent on staring at it, he is prone to falling out of the Heel position by suddenly veering off or starting to pull towards whatever had caught his attention. As such, it's important to interrupt fixating behaviors with the Off command before they escalate further, as it helps keep him focused on the task given to him. Overall he did a solid job with Heel, and seemed to understand where to be when the command was given. He typically was able to walk alongside me with a completely loose leash, and only needed light leash pressure from time to time when he needed some extra guidance. We also practiced a good deal with Come to Sit today, by recalling him from various distances and around various types of distractions. We continued working on improving his responsiveness to the verbal cue and hand signals, to help him become more reliable with the command without needing leash pressure to guide him towards me or into position beside me.

We also spent some more time practicing with his stationary commands of Sit, Place, and Down. We focused on improving his ability to hold the position asked of him for longer periods of time by building up his patience and confidence. Any time he successfully waited in the position asked of him until he was released or given a new command, he was rewarded and given lots of praise to communicate his success! Whenever he broke the command by getting up before he was asked to, no reward was given and he was immediately asked to return to the position, which discouraged him from attempting to break the command again as it is consistently unsuccessful in getting what he wants. Mishka did an excellent job with Sit, and was always quick to follow the command whenever and wherever he was asked to. He was able to remain in this position for about a minute and a half consistently, even if distractions were around. Mishka did a bit better with the Down position today, and seemed more comfortable performing it when asked. When only a few distractions were around, he was able to Down when prompted without needing any physical guidance. If the nearby distraction level was high, he was still willing to perform the command, though he sometimes needed slight leash pressure to guide him into position. Once in the Down position, he was better about holding the position until released or given a new command, and was able to consistently remain in position for about a minute at a time. Mishka also did great with Place, and was confident and willing to jump or climb onto just about anything I asked him to, only rarely needing light leash pressure to guide him on his first attempt with a new type of object. He was able to perform both Sit and Down on all the place objects we practiced with.

Pupdate 9/20/2023

Mishka and I visited an outdoor mall today, where we practiced all of his commands around distractions. This location contained a variety of common distractions, such as groups of people, other dogs, and birds. Overall Mishka did an excellent job staying focused today, and didn't seem to pay too much attention to any distraction in particular. In moments where he did become distracted, the Off command was effective in refocusing him. While the mall we trained at was an outdoor space, his marking habits would not be appropriate here, so extra attention was paid to Mishka to ensure this behavior was prevented. Upon first arriving there was an object he was tempted to mark, though he was interrupted with Off command and asked to Heel with me as we walked past it, which redirected his focus onto a new task. This was successful in communicating that this behavior was not desired, and he understood not to try to mark the object or anything else while in the mall.

Mishka did a great job with Heel today, and seemed calm, focused, and happy to follow my lead as we walked around the mall together. We were consistently able to walk past all kinds of distractions without Mishka losing focus or falling out of position, which was great to see! We practiced a lot with sudden turns and stops today, which helps to further build his ability to concentrate during this command and ensures he is paying attention to his positioning so that he can follow along even while his handler moves in unpredictable ways. He was very responsive to the verbal command and e-collar whenever his positioning needed to be adjusted, and little to no leash pressure was needed to guide him. Mishka also did an excellent job with Come to Sit, and was always quick to recall to me anytime the verbal cue was used. He sometimes needed light leash pressure to guide him through the maneuver to my left side, though he was usually focused enough to rely on his knowledge of the command and my hand signals instead of the leash. Mishka did great with his stationary commands as well, and was able to perform Sit, Down, and Place whenever prompted to. He sometimes needed a small amount of physical guidance for the Down command, though more often than not he was able to follow the command without it. He was able to hold each command for over a minute and a half at a time, even if distractions were present around us. Whenever he did break a command before being released, he was immediately asked to return to position to remain consistent with our training.

While at the mall, there were lots of nice people who wanted to come say hello to Mishka, which provided great opportunities to practice with his Greeting Manners. The goal for Greeting Manners is for Mishka to remain calm, collected, and polite while greeting people, whether it's by someone he knows or if it's someone new. These manners apply both while out in public and while at home. Before allowing someone to approach him, we first ask Mishka to focus on holding a stationary command, such as Sit or Down, which helps to prevent over-excitement, jumping, or other impolite behaviors from occurring, as his focus is instead directed to holding the position. If he breaks position or begins behaving impolitely, he is immediately asked to refocus and return to the position asked of him. Before the greeting takes place, it's important to inform the person or people that Mishka is in training, and that they can help him learn by only petting him when he is listening, stationary, and calm. Giving him attention or praise when he is over-excited, barking, jumping up, or otherwise behaving impolitely will result in those behaviors becoming encouraged, which would be detrimental to his progress. By ensuring all praise and affection are reserved strictly for when he is holding the position asked of him and behaving calmly, we can work to encourage good behavior. Over time, Mishka will come to understand that impolite behavior will not be rewarding for him and that the only way to get what he wants and say hello to people is to listen and remain calm. Mishka did try to jump up the first few people he greeted today, though he quickly realized that doing this would lead to him being ignored and given the Off command, which wasn't very rewarding for him. Once he calmed down, the people were able to pet him and give him lots of attention, which he loved! The next few greetings he was definitely excited about, and sometimes broke position by standing up momentarily, though he understood not to jump up on them, and was able to express his excitement in more polite ways such as tail wags and kisses. With more consistent practice, Mishka will continue to improve with this and learn to replace his bad habits with good manners!

Pupdate 10/1/2023

Mishka and I visited an outdoor mall today, where we practiced all of his commands around distractions. This location had a variety of common public distractions, such as groups of people, other dogs, music, and more. Despite the busy surroundings, Mishka was able to maintain excellent focus and was able to perform all of his commands without becoming too distracted by anything in particular. Overall he seemed calm, happy, and eager to practice his commands. He also understood not to mark any trees or other objects while in the mall, which was great to see! As we walked around various areas of the mall Mishka was able to follow along very nicely in the Heel position, and rarely needed the leash to guide him for this command. He did a great job of sticking beside me even as we walked past other dogs, through crowds of people, and past interesting smells and sounds around the mall. He also was very reliable with his Come to Sit, and was always quick to respond and come right to me anytime he was recalled. He didn't seem to have much trouble with the maneuver to my left side either, and was quite consistent with his positioning for his Sit. On occasion he sat slightly out of position initially, but he had no trouble correcting himself when asked without needing the leash to guide him. Mishka also did a solid job with each of his stationary commands. He was able to perform Sit with ease regardless of our surroundings, and could remain in position consistently for at least two minutes at a time. He was usually able to perform Down without any physical guidance, and was able to hold the position consistently for about two minutes. Mishka was also able to jump or climb onto just about any object or surface he was asked to without any hesitation, though he sometimes needed to be reminded to stay still while on the object as he sometimes wanted to stand up and sniff around.

We also visited a dog-friendly café, where we sat on the patio together for a quick snack. There were some other guests with dogs at nearby tables as well, some of whom wanted to bark at or play with Mishka, though he was able to effectively ignore them despite the major distraction they presented. There were also people and staff walking by regularly, sometimes holding plates of food which created another great set of distractions to practice around. While at the café, I asked Mishka to perform and hold a Down beside our table, to encourage calm behavior and prevent him from walking around, begging for or stealing food, or trying to get into mischief during our visit. Overall he did a very good job and was able to stay in the position asked of him for an extended period of time. He did sometimes stand back up or Sit up if something distracted him momentarily, though after being reminded a few times he was able to settle into a Down comfortably and patiently until it was time to leave. Despite all the distractions, Mishka understood that this was a time to be calm and relax, and not a time to play or become over-excited.

Pupdate 10/2/2023

Today Mishka and I visited a park, where we practiced all of his commands around distractions. The park had distractions such as people, other dogs, and small animals. As usual, Mishka's biggest challenge was his marking habit, as there were lots of trees, bushes, and other objects that he wanted to mark. While this behavior is acceptable on appropriate objects while on a break, ignoring or breaking a command to go mark something is never okay, so we always interrupted this behavior with the Off command if it occurred while practicing commands. Allowing him to break a command or pull towards an object to mark it rewards him for the bad behavior, and teaches him that he can get what he wants even if he doesn't follow the rules. By reserving this only for when given permission while on a break, we can improve his self-control, and teach him that there is a time and place for this behavior and that his priority should be to focus on his training. If he tried to mark something while we were actively training, we prevented him from doing so, then used the object as a distraction as we practiced his commands and rewarded him for ignoring it and not attempting to mark it again.

We also worked on his commands with as minimal leash pressure as possible today. While Mishka will be staying on leash throughout his training program with us, teaching him to not rely on leash pressure as much will allow his handler to have an easier time training and visiting places with him. As we continue to train, Mishka will continue becoming more comfortable and familiar with each command, allowing him to have an easier time following through with what is asked of him using only verbal cues, hand signals, and the e-collar for reinforcement if needed. The goal is for Mishka to be able to perform any command asked of him with a completely loose leash, with it being present as a safety measure and backup tool rather than the primary method of communication and guidance. Transitioning away from leash pressure is a gradual process, and is something we have been slowly working towards throughout his training thus far. The absence of leash pressure or other physical guidance allows Mishka to problem-solve when given a command, and use his knowledge and other indicators to determine and follow through with what is being asked of him. At this point in his training, we are reserving the use of leash pressure only for when Mishka truly needs it, such as if he can't quite determine or follow what is being asked of him after several attempts without leash pressure.

Mishka did a great job with his Heel today, even without the leash being used to guide him. We utilized a long leash to provide him some extra room to make decisions and mistakes, to create learning opportunities and further build his understanding of the command. Practicing this command without leash pressure is a great way to see his skills with this command, as it shows each time he makes the decision to stick in the Heel position on his own accord despite the physical freedom granted. Once the command was given, he understood to follow alongside me and not to veer off or walk ahead of me, and very rarely did the leash ever need to be used to help him maintain the position. Mishka did great with his Come to Sit as well, and was able to perform the command in its entirety without any leash pressure needed. We also practiced this command utilizing the long leash, to create extra distance between us. Once the verbal cue was given, he was usually quick to respond and come directly over to me, and even if he was distracted by something he was able to be recalled using the e-collar for additional communication. Once getting to me, he did a great job with the maneuver to my left side for a sit, and more often than not he found the correct positioning on the first try. If small adjustments needed to be made, he was able to correct himself without the leash to show him where to go. He did excellent with his stationary commands as well, and was able to perform Sit, Down, and Place all without any leash pressure. He was also able to patiently hold each command for at least two minutes at a time consistently, even with distractions present around him. We used the long leash to create distance between us as he held the position, which worked to further improve his confidence, independence, and obedience.

Pupdate 10/3/2023

Today Mishka and I visited a few locations, where we practiced all of his commands around distractions using minimal to no leash pressure. We took a walk along a busy street and visited a Petco and a dog-friendly café. Each environment provided its own set of distractions, such as groups of people along the street, many other dogs at the Petco, and scents at the café. Overall Mishka did a great job staying focused during his training no matter what environment we were in, and was able to perform all of his commands with very minimal or no leash pressure needed. Whenever something did begin to distract him, the Off command was effective in helping him refocus and maintain neutral to his surroundings. He also understood not to mark anything while inside the Petco or at the café, though while walking along the street he was sometimes tempted to mark objects such as trash cans or light poles. As always, we made sure this behavior was reserved only for breaks, and he understood not to break commands even if near an object he wanted to mark.

The busy street was a great place to practice his Heel as we walked along the sidewalk, and he did excellent with sticking right beside me without any leash pressure needed even as we walked past groups of people and other distractions. We also worked some more on his automatic Sit when coming to a stop, which is especially useful while waiting at crosswalks or stopping to talk to people. The idea is that whenever his handler stops moving, he should be paying enough attention to not continue walking without them, and instead perform a Sit beside them until prompted to continue walking. Teaching him not to walk ahead and into streets is an important lesson, as it improves his understanding of the boundary a street represents, and encourages him to stop and wait patiently until his handler gives the go-ahead to cross together. Automatic Sit is also a great habit to have when stopping to meet or talk to people, as it sets him up for success to have calm and polite Greeting Manners, which is another area of training we worked on today anytime someone wanted to say hello to Mishka. Overall he did a good job with his Greeting Manners and did not try to jump on or bark at anyone, though he did sometimes struggle to hold the position asked of him while being pet due to his excitement. As always, we informed the person petting him of his training to ensure Mishka was only given affection when listening and being polite to remain consistent with his training.

Training at the Petco and café provided more great opportunities to continue practicing Mishka's commands around different types of distractions. There were many other dogs at the Petco walking around with customers, as well as tempting treats and toys in nearby aisles. The café also had lots of yummy foods and smells around to serve as a distraction during our visit. While at Petco we practiced with each of his commands, including Heel, Come to Sit, and each of his stationary commands. He was sometimes a bit distracted by the other dogs if they were within a few feet of him, though he was able to ignore them when prompted and understood that he was not going to be approaching or playing with them. He also was interested in checking out the treats and toys when we walked down those aisles, though he was able to keep his focus on the command asked of him. At the café we mostly worked on Mishka's extended Sit and Down, and worked to improve his patience and ability to remain stationary and calm even with distractions around. Overall he did a great job, and while the surroundings were distracting at times, he understood that his job was to remain stationary in the position asked of him no matter what was around us.

Pupdate 10/4/2023

Today Mishka and I visited a shopping plaza, where we practiced all of his commands around distractions using minimal leash pressure. Overall Mishka did a fantastic job staying focused and performing each of his commands even while numerous distractions were present. He also didn't seem to rely on the leash to guide him, and was able to follow any command given without any physical guidance. He did great with his Heel, Come to Sit, and each of his stationary commands of Extended Sit, Extended Down, and Extended Place. Today was a bit hot out, so we made sure to avoid training in the sun, take lots of breaks in the shade or indoor air-conditioned areas, and drink lots of water!

Mishka is not only excelling with his skills and manners while out in public, but he has also made great progress in his behavior inside the home as well! House manners are something we have been working on little by little each day since day one. Even seemingly mundane day-to-day tasks can provide excellent opportunities for training! These manners include areas such as Food Manners, Door Manners, and Car Manners. The goal for Food Manners is for Mishka to be able to hold a stationary command while his food is prepared and set in front of him. He is then asked to remain in that position until he is released before he can get up and eat his food. Mishka doesn't have a ton of food drive naturally and tends to ignore his food if left sitting out for him all day, so setting up scheduled mealtimes and incorporating it into his daily training has helped build a positive association with food and encourage him to eat when fed. Waiting in front of the food bowl in a stationary command builds anticipation and turns the food into a reward once he is released to eat it. Mishka likes to work for his food, so this is a great way to engage his mind while ensuring he gets his daily nutrition. Similarly, asking him to perform commands or tricks and rewarding him with his kibble can be another great way to get him to eat his food as well as sneak in extra training and mental stimulation during mealtimes.

Another area of manners we have been working on is Mishka's Door Manners. The goal of Door Manners is for Mishka to hold a stationary position while near a door and remain there until released or given a new command, such as Come or Heel. He is asked to hold the position at the location asked of him, and not break the command even if the door is left open, if someone is knocking on it, or if people walk in or out of it. This practice teaches important boundaries, and prevents impolite and possibly dangerous behaviors such as trying to escape through open doors, shoving past people when walking through doors, and rushing over to jump on or bark at people who enter through the door. With daily practice, Mishka has made great progress with his manners related to doors, and understands to follow instructions no matter what distraction may be present. He has great manners with every door in my house now, including bedroom doors, the backyard door, as well as the front door. After Mishka has been asked for a stationary command, a door can be left wide open, and he understands to not walk through the doorway unless given permission to, and when invited he can walk nicely through the doorway without shoving through it to get ahead. Having proper Door Manners is also a great way to set Mishka up for success with in-home Greeting Manners as well, as he is prompted to hold the position asked of him and discouraged from jumping or barking at anyone who enters through the door. We have also been working to discourage Mishka from barking excessively at the door if he hears something outside, as this is another great way to implement the Off command.

Having good Car manners makes transporting Mishka easy, safe, and as hassle-free as possible. Since Mishka and I travel in the car almost every day, this is another area of his training we have been practicing organically during his time with us. The goal for Car Manners is for Mishka to be confident and willing to jump into the car when prompted without needing any physical assistance. Once in the car, the goal is for him to willingly enter a kennel when asked, without needing to be physically guided inside. At OffLeash SoCal, we ensure our dogs are secured in individual kennels while being transported in a car to ensure their utmost safety during their stay with us. Mishka was not kennel trained prior to his stay with me, so introducing it and building a positive association with the kennel was a key part of ensuring he remained happy and stress-free anytime he needed to be inside one. While he was definitely unsure of the kennel in the very beginning, he has now learned to feel very safe and calm while in the kennel, either in the car or while at home. Mishka is happy to enter the kennel on his own when asked, and is comfortable with settling in for car rides or sleep time without protest or excessive vocalization. Mishka was also a bit clumsy and sometimes struggled to jump into my car on his own, but with consistent practice, he has learned how to confidently jump into the car when asked without needing any help!

Pupdate 10/5/2023

Mishka and I visited the Santa Monica Pier today, where we put his skills to the test at this highly distracting location! There were large crowds of people, other dogs, loud music, and many other distractions present. Despite the bustling environment, Mishka was able to maintain excellent focus regardless of what was going on around him! He did a fantastic job with everything that was asked of him, and was able to perform all of his commands with ease. We also had the chance to film some fantastic footage that will be used in putting together his final video, so be sure to check out the sneak peek in today's video!

During our training, we continued practicing each of his commands with minimal leash pressure around different types of distractions. Mishka was happy to follow alongside me in the Heel position as we walked around the pier, through crowds of people, and past other dogs. He sometimes veered slightly out of position if he wasn't quite sure which path to take when moving through a busy area, though he was always quick to correct himself and find the Heel position again when prompted. Mishka was also confident and comfortable with performing Extended Sit, Extended Down, and Extended Place. He understood to remain in the position asked of him, and was able to stay still for multiple minutes even while I was at a distance from him or while numerous distractions were passing by. He also excelled with Come to Sit, and was very consistent and reliable with his recall and positioning for the command each time. He never relied on leash pressure to guide him through any commands today, and displayed great understanding and obedience with his commands using only verbal cues, hand signals, and e-collar stimulation.

We also had many opportunities to practice Mishka's Greeting Manners here, as there were lots of nice people who complimented his great obedience skills and wanted to come say hello! He did a great job with this and was gentle and polite to everyone he met! He didn't try to jump on or bark at anyone, no matter how happy or excited he was to say hello and be petted by them. As always, we ensured Mishka remained in a stationary position when being greeted, and informed others of his training so they understood when to praise him so they could help him continue learning good manners. He was very happy to say hello to and receive affection from all the nice people!

Pupdate 10/6/2023

Today Mishka and I visited an outdoor mall, where we practiced all of his commands around distractions using minimal leash pressure. The mall had various distractions to test Mishka's focus around, such as groups of people, other dogs, music, and flocks of birds. Despite the busy and populated environment, Mishka did an excellent job staying focused and on task as we continued his training today. He also understood not to mark anything while at the mall, including the various trees and other landscaping that he typically would be tempted to mark on. Before we entered the mall, we encouraged him to go potty and allowed him to mark at an appropriate area outside, which seemed to help him settle down and show self-control regarding this habit once we entered the mall.

While walking around the mall, we practiced a lot with the Heel command, and Mishka did a great job of staying right next to me no matter the situation. He understood not to veer off or pull ahead, and was able to follow alongside me as we made turns, sudden stops, and walked past all kinds of distractions. Every now and then he would fall slightly out of position, but was able to correct himself once reminded of the verbal command. The hand signal was beneficial in providing Mishka a visual cue to focus on while Heeling, and the e-collar was a great way to catch his attention and reinforce the command when additional communication was needed. Mishka did great with his Come to Sit as well, and was able to be recalled at any time and in any situation. We practiced this command from various distances, and even while I was about fifteen feet away at the end of the long leash, Mishka had no trouble finding me and coming right to me when he was called. As usual, we practiced this by recalling him both from stationary positions and organically when recalling him while he was exploring his surroundings on a break, which further builds his reliability and responsiveness to the command no matter what he may be doing.

Mishka also did great with all of his stationary commands, and was able to perform and hold Sit, Down, and Place with ease and for extended periods of time. Once asked a stationary command, Mishka understood not to move or get up from the position until he was released or given a new command. I was able to create distance between us without issue, and he was calm and patient no matter how far away I walked from him. We practiced his stationary commands around all kinds of distractions, and even when distractions increased, such as a group of people walking right by and cooing at him, or another dog barking or trying to pull toward him, Mishka was able to ignore them and not let the distractions get the best of him. We also made sure that if Mishka was asked to hold a stationary position or practice another command for an extended period of time, that he was in a cool spot and out of the sun. Paying attention to environmental factors such as heat is especially important for Mishka, and selecting an appropriate area for training or spending time in will set him up for success and ensure he is safe and comfortable.

Pupdate 10/7/2023

Today Mishka and I visited a busy outdoor mall, and practiced all of his commands around a high amount of distractions using minimal leash pressure. There were large crowds of people, many other dogs, and plentiful distractions all around. Despite the busy environment, Mishka did a fantastic job with all of his commands and was able to remain neutral to his surroundings so he could focus on his training!

He did a fantastic job with his Heel, and he understood to follow alongside me as we walked around the mall and through distracting areas. He was able to maintain the Heel position without any leash pressure needed, even while making sudden directional changes or stops. He did sometimes walk slightly ahead or behind me, though he was able to refocus and correct his position when prompted. Mishka also did excellent with his Come to Sit, and was always consistent with coming right to me when called without needing leash pressure to get his attention, guide him towards me, or through the maneuver to my left side. He did a great job with his stationary positions as well, and had no trouble performing Sit, Down, or Place whenever prompted to. He was able to hold each position for extended periods of time even with large numbers of distractions around. Mishka was very popular here, and many nice people stopped to compliment how cute he was and his fantastic skills in obedience. Lots of people also asked to pet him and say hello to him! This provided many great opportunities to practice some more with his Greeting Manners, and Mishka did such an amazing job with staying calm and listening to instructions no matter how excited the person greeting him was or how happy he was to say hello! He did not try to jump on anyone or behave impolitely in any way, and he was able to maintain the position asked of him until he was given the release cue. Overall Mishka seemed to have a great time at the mall today, and really enjoyed all of the attention he received!

Pupdate 10/8/2023

Today is Mishka's last full day with me, and he has officially completed all fourteen days of his Board and Train Program! We spent the day putting all of his learned skills to use to have a fun day together! We visited a shopping strip along a busy street, where he had a fun time checking out the area and getting lots of attention from all the nice people. Later in the day, we visited a local park to explore around and play fetch together, which he had a blast with! At each location, we continued to practice all of his commands, to ensure his training stays fresh in his mind so he can continue to be the best version of himself even after he goes back home to his parents! As usual, he had no issue performing any of his commands today, and was always happy and enthusiastic to follow through with anything that was asked of him regardless of any surrounding distractions.

Mishka has learned and progressed so much in the short time we've had together, and has transformed into a very well-behaved canine companion in any kind of environment! He has gained the necessary skills to remain calm, focused, and obedient even in the most distracting of areas, and is very eager to please and follow through with anything that is asked of him. He has mastered walking in the Heel position, and is happy to follow alongside his handler instead of always trying to pull where he pleases. He has developed a solid and reliable recall, and can now be trusted to always come when called, from just about any distance or around any type of distraction. He can also perform stationary positions with ease, and has gained the confidence and patience necessary to hold these positions for however long is asked of him regardless of his surroundings. He has also massively improved with his overall manners, and is now a very well-mannered and polite pup both at home and in public!

Mishka has been such a pleasure to train and share my home with, and I'm so grateful to have been a part of helping him become the best version of himself! He's still the same goofy, loving, and loyal pup he's always been, but now has fantastic skills in obedience that make him even more of a joy to be around and take on all sorts of adventures! His developed skills and manners will allow him and his family to enjoy their time together wherever life may take them. With his high intelligence and eagerness to learn, the sky is the limit for this pup! I'm confident he has a very bright future ahead of him in his continued training journey with his family! Good boy Mishka!

Mishka | Samoyed | West Hollywood, CA | In-Training

Recent Posts

Commentaires