Mochi | Maltipoo | Los Angeles
- andyoffleashsocal
- Sep 22, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 5, 2024
Meet Mochi, an adorable three-year-old Maltipoo from Los Angeles who has come to stay with me for a fun two-week board and train experience! This 10lb ball of white fluff is here to work on some challenges, including people aggression, excessive leash pulling, and separation anxiety. He may be small, but we’re ready to tackle these behaviors together! During Mochi’s stay, I’ll teach him all the basic obedience skills he needs while providing plenty of exposure to different distractions and environments to help reinforce his training. I can’t wait to see how he blossoms during our time together!
Pupdate 9/22/2024
Upon returning home with Mochi, I introduced him to my own dog, Kilo. I was thrilled to see that Mochi showed no signs of reactivity; instead, he exhibited a cautious curiosity as they respectfully sniffed each other and then naturally disengaged without any prompts. It was the perfect first interaction! Later that evening, we began introducing the "place" command, which eventually will mean - go to the bed and stay there until released. I used the place bed to teach him about leash pressure, where the pressure engages as he’s guided to the bed and releases once he arrives. This method makes it easier for him to learn to follow leash pressure rather than resist it. After a full day of exciting new experiences, Mochi settled back into his crate and quickly curled up, falling fast asleep. It was an excellent first day!
Pupdate 9/23/2024
Today marked Mochi's first full day with me, and he did wonderfully! We kicked off the day by introducing him to my other board and train dog, Roman. At first, Mochi seemed a bit cautious and apprehensive, likely due to his small stature, but after spending the day together, both dogs gradually warmed up to each other. In the afternoon, we attended our trainer meet-up, where Mochi and I focused on leash conditioning and began formally shaping the heel position. Given the distractions at the park and that it was only his second day, Mochi performed impressively! There was a moment when he attempted to nip as I was taking him out of his crate for a potty break, but it was clear he didn’t intend to make contact. Instead of stepping back, I calmly continued to leash him up, and he seemed surprised that his behavior didn’t have the desired effect. Later in the evening, I worked on an exercise where I’d put on the leash, take it off, and present food, helping to recondition his understanding that a person approaching with a leash is nothing to fear. Overall, it was a productive and positive day for Mochi!
Pupdate 9/24/2024
Mochi started his day with some playtime in the backyard alongside my dog Kilo. Despite their size difference, both dogs played respectfully, taking turns and enjoying moments to rest. After Mochi had his breakfast, we went for a neighborhood walk where we encountered several dogs and cyclists, which triggered Mochi's instinct to bark and lunge. As we focus on establishing a formal heel command with Mochi, we will work on addressing this reactivity. In the afternoon, we began conditioning the e-collar with the place command, which involves pairing low-level e-collar stimulation with leash pressure. Over time, Mochi will learn to associate the e-collar stimulation with the directional pressure of the leash, allowing us to rely less on the leash for communication. Lastly, I’m noticing Mochi starting to warm up to my praise and affection. Initially indifferent to my silly voices and petting, he is now accepting physical touch as a reward, marking a significant step in the right direction.
NOTE* Our release word is 'Break'
Pupdate 9/25/2024
Today, Mochi and I focused on shaping the heel position. We began with numerous repetitions using food as a lure to help him understand the correct positioning. As I repeated this process, I gradually introduced leash pressure to guide him into place. My goal is to fade out the food lure and eventually rely solely on leash pressure. Once Mochi demonstrates a clear understanding of following leash cues, I will also start incorporating the e-collar into this exercise, allowing us to phase out the leash entirely in the long run. Later in the afternoon, we took another walk around the neighborhood, and I noticed a significant reduction in his reactivity to his usual triggers. We wrapped up the day with more place training, using my other board-and-train dog as a distraction, which provided an excellent opportunity for Mochi to strengthen his focus.
Pupdate 9/26/2024
Mochi and I spent our morning training session focusing on the "Place" command, and I'm thrilled to report that he has made significant progress—he now comfortably lays down on the bed, a big improvement from yesterday when he would stand or sit instead. We also continued conditioning the e-collar. As his understanding of the collar improves, I'll begin shifting my focus to the three D's: distance, duration, and distraction. Later in the evening, I took Mochi to the park to start working with a long line, which will give him more freedom as we begin to teach our recall command. I've noticed that Mochi often stands on his hind legs, whether to meet me halfway when I’m delivering food or to avoid leash pressure. While this behavior can be cute, it makes him unstable and demonstrates poor impulse control, so I’d like to replace it with a stable sit or down.
Pupdate 9/27/2024
Today, Mochi joined a group training trip to the Santa Anita Mall! While we focused on refining the same obedience skills we've been working on, the main goal today was to immerse Mochi in a new environment. Initially, he barked at passing people, particularly those who couldn’t resist fawning over him. However, with a little guidance from the leash, he quickly recovered, and as the session progressed, he started to ignore those around him! It’s natural for Mochi to bark at things he's unsure about, but allowing this behavior to continue would risk reinforcing his fears, making him think he needs to bark to make the "scary" thing go away. Today’s lesson marked significant progress in his ability to remain neutral towards stimuli that once triggered him. Afterward, Mochi enjoyed a bath and blow-dry, returning to his original fluffy white self. I’m incredibly proud of his progress!
Pupdate 9/28/2024
Today, Mochi and I revisited a nearby park where he previously struggled to focus. On our first visit, he was disinterested in food and barked at almost every passerby. However, after building a better relationship with him, I was pleased to see significantly improved engagement during this trip. We dedicated most of our time to reinforcing stability in his behaviors; he's now responsive to my cues, though he still has difficulty maintaining them for extended periods. Later in the evening, I repeated our training session, this time layering in the e-collar, and Mochi performed even better. I believe the e-collar will be an invaluable tool for you to help keep Mochi accountable after our board and train program concludes.
Pupdate 9/29/2024
Today, Mochi and I concentrated on reinforcing the heel command while placing greater emphasis on the e-collar. The heel command means "walk with me, stay with me, and sit when I stop," with no stopping to sniff, bark, or relieve himself. I've noticed a significant improvement in Mochi's marking behavior during walks over the past few days. While I want him to have the opportunity to relieve himself, I'm working to prevent this from becoming an obsessive and territorial habit. Instead, I’ll provide designated breaks from the heel position, during which he can take care of business as needed. This distinction helps Mochi understand that when he’s in the heel position, the focus should be on me rather than searching for his next pee spot. This approach is especially useful in areas where excessive marking is not appropriate, like a neighbor's lawn or in a store. I’m pleased to report that Mochi can now heel short distances with the leash dragging behind him, showing remarkable progress in understanding the e-collar in just one week!
Pupdate 9/30/2024
Today, Mochi and I had a great time at the group trainer meet up in the park! We focused on enhancing his recall skills using an e-collar and a long line, which has been an effective approach for us. Additionally, we continued practicing his heel command while introducing various distractions, which is proving to be quite beneficial.
I’ve noticed that whenever we’re out, people often approach us, eager to pet Mochi. Initially, I would decline these requests to help him learn to remain neutral around new individuals. We spent considerable time practicing "down" and "place" commands in public spaces until Mochi exhibited no signs of reactivity. I’m pleased to share that we’ve made significant strides, and I’m now comfortable allowing strangers to pet him, provided we establish a few ground rules. First, I instruct Mochi to lie down before allowing anyone to approach. I also make sure to communicate to onlookers that if he gets up, they should cease petting and allow me to guide him back into position. I’m proud to say that Mochi has shown remarkable progress with this exercise, calmly permitting several people to approach and pet him while maintaining composure throughout the interactions.
Pupdate 10/1/2024
Today, Mochi and I had our training session at the hardware store! His obedience commands are solid at this point; we just need to practice in different environments with more distractions. The more exposure Mochi receives, the more confident he will become! There were some moving Halloween decorations that initially startled him, but after several repetitions of the heel command, he gradually understood that the decorations weren't a threat. This was a perfect example of using an obedience skill to help him overcome a fear. I’m also proud to share that Mochi didn’t react at all while we were inside and even accepted some pets from the store manager.
Pupdate 10/2/2024
Mochi and I made it to the park early this morning to avoid the heat. We practiced his heeling and recall skills around the perimeter of the dog park, using the dogs inside as distractions. Mochi performed impressively, showing no signs of reactivity during our session. Later in the afternoon, we focused on crate training. It’s important for Mochi to view the crate as a safe and comfortable space he can use when you're not home or when guests arrive. It’s also the safest option for travel and visits to the vet, where he might need to spend time in a crate. Teaching Mochi to enter his crate and self-soothe is an invaluable skill, and I’m proud to say that he now enters on verbal command and has remained calm without excessive whining while inside.
Pupdate 10/3/2024
Mochi and I had a fantastic afternoon training around downtown Montrose! We encountered several other dogs, and although Mochi needed a little reminder from the leash and e-collar, he quickly re-engaged with me. His recovery time has significantly improved; in the past, it was challenging to regain his focus in such a bustling environment. I also noticed that loud trucks and cars can sometimes startle him, but today was a breakthrough as he confidently maintained his sit while we patiently waited at the crosswalk. Later in the evening, we focused on Mochi's food manners, teaching him to stay on a place bed or in a down position while I prepared his meal. Given his food motivation, this was initially a challenge, but Mochi has now learned to remain calm in his down position until I give him the release command to eat.
Pupdate 10/4/2024
Today was a productive day for Mochi! We focused on practicing his threshold manners to help him learn not to rush out of doorways, and he did great with that! We also worked on his "down" command around the front door, where he demonstrated his ability to stay calm while I entered and exited. Additionally, we showcased his fantastic progress with food manners — Mochi is now able to hold a "down" position patiently while I prepare his food and only gets released once I place his bowl down. I'm so proud of his dedication and improvement!
Pupdate 10/5/2024
Today, Mochi and I visited the park to challenge his skills in a more distracting environment. He is making excellent progress toward being off-leash, though he occasionally requires reminders through leash pressure. We also seized the opportunity to have another trainer work with Mochi, simulating the dynamics of our session scheduled for tomorrow. There are still instances, particularly around other dogs, where Mochi can lose focus and needs the support of the leash or e-collar to refocus. Overall, I am incredibly proud of the progress we've achieved in such a short time!
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