Molly | German Shephard Mix | Seal Beach | In Training
- Chelsea Benz
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Please welcome Molly!
Molly is a 1-year-old German Shephard mix from Seal Beach, California! She’s come to us to join our Two-Week Community Board and Train Program. She’s a bouncy gal with a lot of energy and willingness to listen, though that can be easily distracted by digging. And if she’s not digging, she’s letting anyone who comes into the house know she’s the first to greet if she doesn’t bulldoze you over first! She’s quite the prey driven little predator and will chase squirrels or anything that might look like fun to chase; good luck if you’re attached to the leash!
Follow along as she and I get to know one another and see if maybe we can’t direct that puppy energy to being a more productive and easier companion for her mom!
Pupdate 7/8
Today was all about first impressions, building a connection, and starting Molly’s training journey! We kicked things off at a local park where we began working on the Heel command. Heeling teaches Molly to walk politely at my side instead of leading the way, helping her learn that paying attention to her handler is more rewarding than everything else happening around her. The park gave us just the right amount of distractions to start introducing this important skill while keeping things fun and positive.
We also started pairing Sit with Heel. Every time we came to a stop, Molly was asked to sit rather than standing and waiting for the next adventure. This helps build the habit of automatically checking in with her handler whenever movement stops. Over time, this creates better impulse control, improves focus, and encourages calm behavior whether we’re waiting to cross a street, greeting someone, or simply taking a break during a walk.
For our very first day together, Molly did a wonderful job! Every training partnership starts with getting to know one another, and today was all about laying that foundation. She showed a willingness to learn, and I’m excited to watch her confidence and skills grow with each session.
Great job today, Molly; we’re off to a fantastic start!
Pupdate 7/9
Today we took a trip out to Century City Mall to continue challenging Molly's obedience in one of the busiest environments we can safely train in. With the summer heat making outdoor training a bit tougher, the mall's shaded walkways gave us the perfect opportunity to work while still exposing her to countless real-world distractions.
There were crowds of shoppers moving in every direction, children running by, strollers rolling past, people carrying shopping bags, automatic doors opening and closing, elevators, loud conversations, and all kinds of new sights, sounds, and smells. It's an environment that's constantly changing, making it an excellent place to teach Molly that her commands remain the same no matter what's happening around her.
Throughout our outing, we focused on Heel, Sit, Come to Sit, and Place. Rather than rushing through each exercise, we emphasized consistency and clarity, making sure Molly understood exactly what was being asked of her before moving on.
One thing you'll notice in the video is that I'm praising Molly while she's actively holding the command, not just after she's completed it. This is incredibly important because it lets her know she's making the correct decision at that very moment. Calm verbal praise helps build her confidence, encourages her to continue making good choices, and reinforces that remaining in position is exactly what earns positive feedback. If we only praised after releasing her, she could begin thinking the reward comes from getting up instead of successfully maintaining the behavior.
Molly rose to the occasion beautifully today. Even when people walked closely by or exciting distractions appeared, she stayed engaged, frequently checked in with me, and remained willing to work. That's exactly what we're striving for. Public outings like this aren't about expecting perfection; they're about teaching her how to think through distractions instead of reacting to them. Every successful repetition builds reliability, strengthens our communication, and helps Molly understand that she can confidently navigate busy environments by looking to her handler for direction. She did an outstanding job today, and I'm incredibly proud of the progress she's continuing to make.
I'd say today was Molly-velous! Keep it up, sweet girl! Terrible attempt at a pun but I tried.
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