Meet Moose! He's a five-month-old mixed breed pup from Santa Monica, California! This friendly and playful pup is here with us for our Two Week Board and Train Program, where he will be learning basic obedience and manners. He doesn't have much knowledge of basic obedience commands just yet, and he's very easily distracted by his surroundings in most environments. Moose displays a variety of common puppy misbehaviors, such as pulling on the leash, overexcitement, excessively vocalizing, and chewing on or eating things he's not supposed to. He also struggles with separation anxiety when alone, and sometimes lacks confidence when in new situations. Over the next fourteen days, we will be working on improving his obedience, confidence, and manners to set him on the right path to becoming a well-behaved pup both on and off leash. Stay tuned for his transformation!
Pupdate 10/29/2023
Today Moose and I spent the day bonding, getting to know each other, and testing his knowledge of basic commands. When he was first dropped off he was a bit nervous and whiny due to being separated from his parents, though he seemed to calm down after a few minutes which was good to see. Overall Moose appeared very happy and excited to spend time together and explore the park with me. I worked to build a bond with him and encourage engagement with me by regularly talking to him, getting his attention, and giving him praise and reward anytime he focused on me. The park where he was dropped off with me was a great location to assess his behavior while in a public environment around commonly found distractions. Such distractions included groups of people, other dogs, grassy fields, and a variety of distracting sounds and scents. I noticed he was quite distracted by everything around us, causing his focus to bounce between distractions and rarely allowing for the opportunity to focus on me for longer than a couple of seconds at a time.
After bonding a bit and getting a good understanding of his overall personality and behavior, we began testing his knowledge of commands to get an idea of his starting point and what areas of his training might need some extra work. He seemed to have some general understanding of the Sit command, however he was very inconsistent with performing it when asked and he mostly chose to ignore the command. When he did happen to listen and Sit, he was only able to hold the position for a few moments before getting back up or walking away again. He didn't seem to understand the Down command, and was not able to lie down when prompted. Moose would sometimes Come when called, though overall his recall was unreliable and he would often try to ignore the command even with some leash pressure to guide him towards me. With enough excitement to motivate him, he was sometimes more inclined to come over, however he rarely stuck around for more than a moment or two after getting to me and was quick to wander back off. He didn't seem to have any understanding of the Heel command, and was constantly running off in different directions and trying to pull on the leash. He didn't seem to understand the Place command either, and he seemed to lack confidence about jumping or climbing onto any objects he was prompted to.
After first testing out his knowledge without any food motivators, I decided to check out his obedience skills with some treats involved. He was very excited upon seeing the treats, and he quickly became a much better listener, even with some nearby distractions. He was able to perform both Sit and Down very easily once a treat was used to lure him, and he also did a good job of coming to me when called if he could see or smell food in my hand. We also tried Heel with a food lure, though he was jumping around a lot instead of walking beside me. I was however able to encourage him to jump onto a small platform for Place when a treat was used. This is all good to know, and shows that food is a great way to motivate Moose! Treats will come in handy to help him work through tough situations, and help build understanding of new skills and commands. However, the goal is for Moose to be able to perform all of his commands and display good listening skills even when food isn't used as a reward or motivator, so after he learns everything we will be gradually weaning him off treats and replacing it with physical and verbal praise.
When it was time to head home from the park, Moose was comfortable being picked up to be placed in the car, which was great to see! Any time Moose is to travel in a vehicle with me, he will be transported within a secure kennel to ensure his utmost safety. He wasn't quite sure about going into the kennel at first, but he didn't try to resist at all when guided into it, and was happy to settle down quietly for the drive home. Once home with me, we played with some toys and I gave him some time to acclimate and become familiar with the new environment. He seems to be settling in quickly, though he has been experiencing some separation anxiety anytime I leave the room, and will begin whining and vocalizing as soon as I am out of his view. I have been working him through this by practicing walking out of the room, and rewarding him anytime he remains calm and quiet. It took many repetitions, though he seems to be understanding what is expected of him and has since found a comfortable spot on the bed to look out the window and relax even if I am out of the room. We will continue working to improve his separation anxiety during his stay with me to help him learn to be comfortable and independent when by himself.
Pupdate 10/30/2023
Today Moose and I took a trip to a park, where we began working on a new command, Come to Sit. We also spent some time improving Moose's understanding of leash pressure, as well as introducing the e-collar. The park had various distractions present, such as other dogs, groups of people and children, and small animals. Upon first arriving at the park, he was very excited and struggled to pay attention to anything that was being asked of him, and was quite distracted overall. However, once we began training and encouraging him to settle down and focus, his attitude shifted and he began paying closer attention to his training rather than everything around us. We also used some of his kibble as treats occasionally to encourage and reward him while training, and even when used sparingly it helped significantly in improving his willingness to learn and engage in training.
Pressure is a fundamental tool used in teaching basic obedience commands. The idea is that whenever a command is given, it can be paired with pressure to reinforce the command as well as provide clear communication and guidance. Once turned on, the pressure remains until Moose follows the command being asked of him. The moment he follows through, the pressure immediately turns off and a reward is given! Yesterday whenever the leash was used to apply pressure he would oftentimes try to resist it, pull in the opposite direction, and make no attempt to turn the pressure off, so it was clear he didn't quite understand the concept of leash pressure just yet. He also seemed to completely ignore leash pressure with a normal collar, so we practiced with a slip lead today, which is a helpful tool to both discourage pulling and help him develop a clear understanding of leash pressure. We spent a good amount of time focusing on teaching him what leash pressure means, and how to turn off the pressure once it's applied. He learned that trying to resist it was not successful or rewarding, and that simply following the directional pressure and paying attention to what I was asking of him was very simple and rewarding! After a while of practicing with this, he did much better and began showing a good understanding of leash pressure! In order to properly introduce the e-collar, it's very helpful for Moose to first have a solid understanding of leash pressure, as it is the most simple form of pressure due to the clear directional guidance it provides. Once he understood the leash pressure, we began adding in a new form of pressure via e-collar stimulation. By pairing these two forms of pressure simultaneously, he will come to understand that each pressure has the same meaning. With time and practice, this will allow the leash and e-collar to be used interchangeably, and eventually allow the opportunity to begin training with the e-collar only, without the need for a leash!
Come to Sit is an important command for Moose to begin learning early on in his training journey, as it will be our main form of recall. If Moose is to be allowed off-leash, it is crucial that he develops a solid and reliable recall. The goal for the Come to Sit command is for Moose to come directly to me when called, and maneuver around me to Sit on my left-hand side. Having him Sit after he gets 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. To introduce this command, we first began working on getting him to come to me when called, which was achieved by using the verbal command, stimulation from the e-collar, and guidance from the leash to get him moving in my direction. After a few repetitions of this, he began coming over to me when called more reliably, which was great to see! If there were distractions around he sometimes needed to be asked again or guided a bit with the leash, but oftentimes he listened well and came right to me once the verbal command was given without additional reinforcement. 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 circling around to sit on my left. Using treats was helpful in these moments, as he was happy to follow the hand with the piece of food in it to lure him into position. I also used a bit of leash pressure to help guide him when it was needed. Gradually we will be weaning him off the food lure and leash pressure, and replace them with hand signals and e-collar stimulation only. For his first day with this command, he did a great job overall and he is learning quickly!
Pupdate 10/31/2023
Today Moose and I visited a park, where we met up with some other OffLeash SoCal trainers and their pups! We introduced two new commands today, the Off command and the Heel command, as well as continued to practice with Come to Sit. Practicing his training around other dogs is a great way to improve Moose's dog neutrality, as it helps him understand that he does not get to greet or play with every dog he sees. The goal is for Moose to be able to ignore distractions such as other dogs so that he can focus on his training, and overall he did a great job with this today! There were also a variety of other types of distractions at the park, such as groups of people, bicycles, and many small animals such as birds and squirrels. Overall Moose was a bit excited and distracted overall when we first arrived, though after getting some excess energy out by playing and exploring around for a few minutes, he seemed to have an easier time staying on task. He did still get mildly distracted from time to time, though introducing the Off command helped significantly with this. Moose also seems to be gaining a good understanding of the e-collar, and has been responding very well to the stimulation when combined with light leash pressure to guide him. In today's pupdate, I've also included a video tutorial of the E-collar, which explains how, why, and when we use this tool in his training.
When Moose is distracted by his surroundings, it can make it difficult for him to focus on commands or listen to instructions being given to him. Moments like this are a great opportunity to implement the Off command. The goal for the Off command is for Moose to stop whatever he is doing, and focus on his handler. Off is a very versatile command, similar to "no" or "leave it", and can be used in various situations, such as to interrupt fixation on distractions, jumping on people, whining or barking, chewing on things, or any other behaviors that are undesirable or inappropriate. The Off command when paired with leash and e-collar pressures allows me to quickly grab his attention and get him to focus on me so that he can listen for any upcoming instructions. Once the Off command is given, it's beneficial to immediately follow it with another command such as Sit, Heel, Come, etc. Once his focus is regained, asking him to perform a task will help keep his attention focused and away from what initially distracted him or caused the undesirable behavior.
The Heel command is another important concept for Moose to learn, as he is prone to suddenly veering off in different directions and pulling while walking on the leash, making it difficult to walk with him. The goal for the Heel command is for Moose 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, fall behind, try to pull ahead, or otherwise step out of the desired position, leash and e-collar pressure were paired with the verbal command to communicate and guide him back into Heel. When he was 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. After practicing with this for a bit, he quickly began to grasp the concept and he began to understand where he needed to be when the command was given, and was even able to walk in the Heel position with a completely loose leash for good chunks of time without needing physical guidance or reminders. He did occasionally lose focus or momentarily forget the command, especially when distractions were around, though when reminded of the Heel command and provided with some guidance, he was able to fall back into the correct position. 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, and need to be reminded less and less! Moose also got into a festive Halloween spirit today, and seemed to really enjoy a small dog sweater that he wore for a couple of hours. He did a great job with his training today, and got lots of compliments on his cute outfit. Happy Halloween!
Pupdate 11/1/2023
Today Moose 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 lower to provide Moose 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. There were some moments where he got a bit excited or distracted, though he was able to refocus when prompted and seemed to understand to save his excitement for when he was given breaks to play and explore.
The first new command introduced to Moose today is the Place command. The goal for the Place command is for Moose 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. We introduced this command today using a dog cot that Moose is already familiar with, as starting with a familiar and comfortable object can help increase his confidence and chances of success with this command. Moose was happy to step onto the dog cot when provided light leash pressure for guidance, and was comfortable with performing Sit once on it. After a few repetitions, Moose 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. We then practiced Place with a variety of different objects, including rocks, low walls, benches, and other objects around my neighborhood and the park. He was a bit less sure about jumping onto some of the higher or more challenging objects, but using treats when first introducing the object seemed to help motivate him and help him overcome his hesitations. After he successfully placed on the new objects a couple of times using treats, he was confident enough to place without food motivators needed.
The other command introduced to Moose today is the Down command. The goal for the Down command is for Moose 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 up his understanding from there. To introduce this command, we used leash pressure and occasional treats to guide Moose into the Down position while the verbal command was given. Once he followed through and laid down completely, he received lots of praise and rewards followed by a break shortly after. We practiced Down on a variety of surfaces, such as on the sidewalks and pathways, in grass, and on various Place objects. He was more inclined to settle into the Down position on more comfortable surfaces like the grass, though he was also able to perform Down while on hard surfaces like the sidewalks as well with a bit of guidance. 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. We also gradually reduced the frequency of food rewards for this command, and after practicing it for a while he seemed happy to perform the command even without treats to lure or reward him. 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 in all situations.
Pupdate 11/2/2023
Today Moose and I visited a park, where we practiced each of his commands around the various types of distractions present. This park was a bit on the busier side today, and there were many people, other dogs, and flocks of birds. Similar to yesterday, Moose was quite excited upon first arriving and was very eager to explore the busy environment, though after giving him a few minutes to take in his surroundings he was able to shift his focus towards his training once we began practicing commands. Overall he did a solid job with each of his commands, and seemed to be very eager to practice any command asked of him. We used treats very sparingly today, as he has already proven to have a decent understanding of each command and no longer needs to be lured with food. Whenever treats were used, they were given occasionally either on breaks or as a special reward when he did an exceptionally good job with a particular command. He is slowly getting out of the habit of only relying on treats for motivation, and seems to really enjoy receiving verbal and physical praise as a means of reward which is great to see!
Moose did a solid job with his Heel today, and was able to follow my lead while staying in the proper heel position for most of the time, even when very little leash pressure was used to guide him or help him maintain the position. He did sometimes make small mistakes such as falling behind or trying to switch to my right side, though he was able to correct his position when asked with only minimal physical guidance. He seems to understand not to run ahead of me, or try to run off in different directions like he did frequently before we introduced this command. Moose also did a good job with his Come to Sit, and was always eager to come right to me whenever he was called! He did sometimes need a bit of physical guidance to assist his positioning for the Sit on my left side, though very minimal leash pressure was needed to show him where I wanted him to go. Moose overall did great with his stationary commands of Sit, Down, and Place. The biggest challenge was getting him to hold a Sit, as he often wanted to break the position in order to lie down whenever he got bored of sitting. While this may not seem like a big deal, ensuring that he remains in the specific position asked of him until told otherwise goes a long way in improving his overall obedience. Any time he broke a command before being released or given a new command, he was promptly asked to return to the position, which when done consistently, discourages him from breaking commands as it is always unsuccessful and unrewarding. When he waited patiently in the position asked of him until he was released, he was rewarded heavily which encouraged him to continue this good behavior.
Moose and I have also been spending a lot of time training around the house, and working to reduce his separation anxiety. The first few days home with me Moose was extremely clingy, and would often start loudly vocalizing, whining, and barking excessively the moment he couldn't see me or be directly in my space. This behavior occurred whether he was inside or out of his kennel, and he often would not calm down until he could see me and be close to me again. To improve this behavior, we have been routinely practicing scenarios throughout the day where I spend time away from him, and reward him for remaining calm and quiet even after I am out of his view. We kept this very short at first, only leaving him alone for a couple of minutes at a time, and gradually have been increasing the duration to a couple of hours. Taking steps to set him up for success has been a key factor in reducing his anxiety and helping him to become more independent. Before leaving him alone, it's important to ensure he has been sufficiently exercised both physically and mentally, and that he has a comfortable and safe place to relax. Providing him with some enrichment toys or treats such as a stuffed Kong to help keep him entertained while he is by himself has also been helping a lot. At this point, Moose is now much more comfortable with the idea of spending time apart from me, and no longer begins panicking the moment he is separated from me. He is learning that being alone is a great time to get some much needed rest and relaxation, and that vocalizing excessively will not get him what he wants. We still have more work to do, though he has made great progress so far and I am very proud of him!
Pupdate 11/3/2023
Moose and I visited a local shopping strip today, where we practiced each of his commands around distractions. This location was quite busy today and full of great distractions to practice around. There were many groups of people walking along the sidewalks, other dogs out on walks, as well as distractions from the nearby street such as loud noises and passing cars. Overall Moose did a fantastic job here, and didn't seem to become too focused on his surroundings for the most part. A few things caught his attention here and there, but he was able to refocus on me when prompted and followed through with everything I asked of him. We used treats today on occasion, though reserved the use of food in his training session only as a special reward for exceptional behavior or performance of a command.
While walking along the busy and narrow sidewalks around this location, the Heel command was very useful in keeping Moose close by and out of trouble, allowing us to easily walk by various distractions such as people and other dogs. Paying close attention to Moose'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 regularly 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 gradually 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 Moose's 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 or changing positions 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. Moose did a good 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 consistently, even if distractions were around. However after training here for a while, he did get a bit tired and was more prone to breaking position by laying down shortly after being asked to Sit. Similar to yesterday, we made sure to return him to a Sit anytime he broke position to keep his training consistent. Once he started to feel tired, we set him up for success by not asking him to hold a Sit for extended periods of time, and instead asked him to perform and hold a Down if we were going to be stationary for longer than a couple of seconds. As such, we spent a good amount of time practicing Down, and Moose seemed to have no trouble performing or holding the position, even with distractions around. He was able to remain in the Down position for over two minutes, which was great to see! Moose also did a good job with Place, and was typically quite confident and willing to jump or climb onto just about anything I asked him to. He sometimes needed a bit of light leash pressure to guide him during his first few attempts with a new type of object, though after a few successful repetitions, he was able to jump or climb onto most objects without any assistance. He was able to perform both Sit and Down on all the place objects we practiced with.
Pupdate 11/4/2023
Today Moose and I visited an outdoor mall, where we practiced all of his commands around a higher level of distractions. This location provided a variety of major distractions to test Moose's focus around, such as groups of people, other dogs, loud music, birds, and many interesting smells and sounds from nearby stores and restaurants. Upon first arriving Moose was eager to explore and was very easily distracted by all the exciting surroundings, though after having a few minutes to observe his environment and begin practicing some commands, he settled into a more focused mindset. He was able to perform all of his commands without much issue and maintain focus for good chunks of time, though he did sometimes need reminders with the Off command to help him refocus when distractions began to get the best of him.
Overall the most challenging command for Moose today was Heel, as the increased distractions caused him to be less focused on his positioning than usual. When in quieter areas of the mall Moose engaged with me regularly during Heel and had no issue following alongside me in the proper position with a completely loose leash, which shows he has a good understanding of the command. However, when walking through busier areas with lots of people, smells, and noises, he was more prone to losing focus and he seemed to rely on leash pressure to guide him a bit more than he usually would. We worked him through this by using the Off command when needed, providing physical guidance with the leash, and giving him regular reminders to maintain the position asked of him. Rewarding him each time he made a good decision, such as ignoring a tempting distraction, engaging with me, or walking nicely beside me, helped to encourage him to perform Heel even in the presence of distractions. After spending some more time practicing around busy areas of the mall Moose did seem to improve a bit with staying focused and in the correct position with a loose leash for good chunks of time, which was good to see! Going forward we will keep working on this area of his training and focus on exposing him to a wide variety of environments, situations, and distractions so he can continue to improve. Moose overall did great with Come to Sit today, and was reliable, consistent, and quick to respond once the command was given. We practiced this command around distracting areas as well, to test his ability to ignore interesting distractions and choose to come to me when recalled. He did great with this, and no matter how interested he was in something else he was able to stop whatever he was doing and come right to me once the verbal command was given. He also seemed to have no issue finding the correct position to Sit at once he got to me, and needed minimal to no leash pressure to guide him through the maneuver. Moose also did very well with his stationary commands today, and was generally very confident and patient with any position he was asked to perform or remain in. He was able to jump onto a variety of Place surfaces at the mall, and didn't show any hesitation even when practicing with a brand new object. He seemed to understand to wait on the Place object until released or given a new command, and didn't try to jump down before being asked to. He did very well with Down also, and was always happy to settle into the position whenever and wherever he was asked to, even in busy areas which is a great sign of his confidence! He was able to hold Down for over two minutes consistently, and rarely needed to be reminded to return to or hold the position. Moose was overall much more patient with the Sit command today, and wasn't as prone to breaking the command as he has been in previous days. There were a few times here and there where he was tempted to lie down after holding the Sit for a while, though after a quick reminder he understood that he needed to hold the Sit until told otherwise. He was consistent with holding Sit for about a minute and a half today, even with distractions present.
Pupdate 11/5/2023
Moose and I visited a Petco today! It was quite busy and had various distractions present, such as other dogs, people, and lots of treats and toys. Despite all of the distractions, Moose overall did a good job staying focused and on task. After giving him some time to adjust to his new surroundings, he became very eager to listen and train as we practiced each of his commands. His biggest distraction was mostly the other dogs. If another dog nearby was calm and quiet Moose didn't pay them much mind, though if they were barking and behaving excitedly then he would sometimes become a bit excited up himself and needed to be asked to focus back on me.
While working on his commands, it was clear to see that his progress is coming along very nicely! He was always very willing to perform commands when asked, and showed excellent understanding of the verbal cues, hand signals, and e-collar stimulation to communicate with him. With this in place, the next step in our training journey is to help Moose become consistent and reliable with all of his commands, even with the absence of leash pressure. So today, we practiced his commands with a long leash, which can be used to simulate being off-leash and provide him with physical freedom to make his own choices while still having him safely tethered. When asking for a command, we first give him a "freebie" by using only a verbal cue and a hand signal. If he does not respond and follow the command with those alone, then the e-collar is used to provide additional reinforcement and communication. At this point, he was typically able to respond and perform the command, though if he seemed to be confused and couldn't quite figure out what to do after several attempts, only then we would apply light leash pressure for direct physical guidance. By using only the e-collar at first and reserving leash pressure for only when he truly needs it, we can gradually teach him to not rely on the leash for guidance when performing commands. Eventually, this will lead to the leash becoming unnecessary during training, and allow it to either hang completely loose and unused, or be removed entirely for off-leash training!
Moose was able to perform Heel with relative ease today, and he was happy to follow alongside me as we walked around the store, and past various types of distractions. He did occasionally veer off or lag behind slightly when passing by something particularly interesting, though he was usually able to correct himself when prompted. He sometimes needed very light leash pressure to guide him, though more often than not he understood where to position himself without needing the leash to show him where to go. Moose also did great with his Come to Sit, and regardless of the distraction level around us was always able to come right to me when called. He does need a bit more work with his maneuver around to Sit on my left side without leash pressure though, as he sometimes tended to sit out of the proper position unless given slight guidance with the leash. Moose did very well with his extended Sit, Down, and Place, and was overall consistent with holding each position for as long as was asked of him without getting up or needing to be reminded to stay. Towards the end of the session, Moose did get a bit tired and was prone to trying to lie down instead of holding his Sit if he was asked to hold it for longer than about a minute, though after a few reminders he understood to hold his Sit until told otherwise.
Pupdate 11/6/2023
Today Moose and I visited a park, where we practiced each of his commands around distractions, while continuing to focus on training with minimal or no leash pressure. The park wasn't overly busy, though there were a variety of common distractions present such as people and children, small animals, grassy fields, and other dogs in the surrounding area. Upon first arriving Moose was as usual excited and eager to explore, though he quickly shifted to a focused mindset ready for training once we began practicing commands. He showed a great amount of engagement with me today, and was regularly checking in and giving me his full attention. When something did begin to distract him, he had no trouble refocusing once given the Off command which was great to see!
We implemented the long leash during our training again today, and Moose did an excellent job of making good decisions and following instructions despite the additional freedom granted to him! He understood not to stray too far from me, and didn't seem to rely on leash pressure in order to perform any of the commands asked of him. Since he was doing so well, we went ahead and practiced dropping the leash and having it drag along the ground as we trained, which is a great way to see how Moose might behave while off-leash while still having it within reach should it be needed. Moose didn't seem to notice or mind the complete absence of leash pressure, which is a great indicator that he will soon be ready for off-leash training! Going forward, we will continue doing leash-dragging exercises in different locations and environments to prepare him for the transition to being off-leash.
Moose did excellent with his Heel, and understood to stick directly beside me, match my pace, and ignore distractions around us as we walked around, even when the leash was not being used at all to guide him. Whenever slight adjustments needed to be made, he had no trouble correcting his positioning with the verbal command, hand signal, and e-collar for communication and guidance. We also practiced adding extra distance between us for his recall and while he held his stationary commands, which is a great way to improve his reliability with these commands as well as teach him to remain calm and focused even when his handler is not directly beside him. Moose does tend to want to be close to me, which is great in many ways though it's also important that he learns to be independent and confident in situations such as this. Moose did a very good job with his stationary commands today, and even with the lack of leash pressure and additional distance between us, he understood to hold the position asked of him until told otherwise. There were a few times when he would try to follow me if I stepped away too quickly, though after a reminder he understood to stay where he was until released or given a new command. Moose overall did great with his Come to Sit as well, and was always eager to come running to me whenever he was called, even from greater distances than he is used to. He was oftentimes able to perform the maneuver around my back to sit on my left side on his first try, even without the leash being used to guide him! He sometimes needed to be asked to reposition if he sat slightly out of the desired position, though he never needed me to grab the leash and physically guide him. Providing extra emphasis on the hand signals seemed to help a lot with providing the guidance he needed to perform the command without the leash.
Pupdate 11/7/2023
Today Moose and I visited a park, where we met up with some other OffLeash SoCal trainers and their pups! Practicing his training around the other dogs was a great way to help Moose learn to be neutral to major distractions. Upon first seeing the other dogs and trainers he was a bit excited and wanted to greet and play with them, though he quickly understood that he and the other pups were there to train and focus on their individual work instead of having playtime together. I made sure to reward him when he focused on me, and once we began training he was happy to give me his full attention as he knew it would lead to good things! He is now very motivated to work for praise and physical affection, so treats are optional as an occasional reward and no longer a requirement to help keep Moose engaged as we train. He also really enjoyed playing and running around in the field with me during our breaks, so this was another great way to reward him for a job well done!
We continued working on Moose's obedience skills while keeping the leash unused and dragging along the ground. Overall Moose did a fantastic job with each of his commands, and at no point did I need to grab or use the leash to guide him or reinforce any commands. Some commands were a tad sloppy at times, though this is something we can work to clean up and improve as we continue practicing his training. Moose did great with his Heel, and always chose to remain beside me as we walked even while having the physical freedom to position himself wherever he chose to. He was very focused on me, and was able to tune out the distractions around us so he could follow my lead. When practicing on the grass, sometimes the leash dragging would create mild tension as he dragged it along which confused and distracted Moose a bit at first, though he quickly learned to ignore it when he realized I was not communicating to him with the leash. Whenever adjustments needed to be made to his positioning, he was able to correct himself without needing any help from the leash. Moose also did a very good job with his Come to Sit, and was always very eager to recall to me anytime he was asked. He was quite consistent with his maneuver and positioning as well, though occasionally he needed to be asked to readjust himself if he ended up sitting a bit crooked or out of the desired position. Each of his stationary commands were solid as well, and he had no trouble performing and remaining in any position asked of him, even with distractions around or while I was at a distance from him.
Moose is also making great progress in working through his separation anxiety. This has been a gradual process, though each day he is improving and learning to be more independent, calm, and confident even when I am not with him. He is now at the point where he can comfortably spend several hours alone, in a different room, or in his kennel without crying or feeling anxious, which is very good to see! He can also sleep comfortably through the night without excessive vocalizing. He is of course very happy to see me and spend time with me whenever I am with him, though he is now able to relax and enjoy his time without me needing to be constantly near him or within his view. As always, ensuring he is fulfilled both mentally and physically through training and exercise before leaving him alone is key in setting him up for success! The only thing Moose is still struggling with a bit is when he hears or sees me leaving through the front door. This causes him to panic a bit as he realizes I am leaving the house completely and going somewhere without him, and he will bark and cry as a result. To work him through this, we have been working on desensitizing him to the sound and sight of me walking out of the door, and rewarding him for calm behavior. He seems to be picking up on this and isn't quite as scared of me leaving anymore, as he understands that I always come back, that barking and vocalizing will not improve the situation, and that staying calm is the best option. More work will need to be done before he is completely comfortable with this concept, though he's learning quickly and doing a great job!
Pupdate 11/8/2023
Today Moose and I visited an outdoor mall, where we practiced all of his commands around distractions. He has been doing an excellent job lately and is comfortable with performing all of his commands without using the leash to guide him, so we went ahead and removed the leash completely to begin training off-leash! This location had a good amount of distractions present also, such as groups of people, other dogs, and music, though Moose didn't seem to mind the busy surroundings and did a great job staying focused and engaged with me. This was a safe place to begin testing out his off-leash skills as it is away from any major risks such as busy streets, which is an important factor to consider when deciding whether to have Moose off-leash, especially when he is still new to the concept. Moose didn't seem to notice or mind the absence of the leash, and performed all of his commands excellently! Despite having complete physical freedom, he never strayed too far from me and made great decisions throughout our entire session. He did a very good job with his Heel, and was always directly beside me following my lead as we walked around, even when we passed by major distractions such as crowds of people or other dogs. If I made a sudden turn and he wasn't paying full attention, he would sometimes lag behind slightly, but he was always quick to catch back up and return to position when prompted. He also did a fantastic job with Come to Sit, and was very consistent and reliable with both his recall and maneuver into position for a Sit beside me. Moose also had no trouble performing and holding Place, Sit, and Down for extended periods of time, at least two minutes or more, without breaking the position asked of him. He was very brave today and was confidently able to Place on any object I asked him to, even objects that were unfamiliar, had uneven surfaces, or were higher up than he is used to.
While at the mall we also had a lot of great opportunities to practice Moose's Greeting Manners! This is an area of his training that we have been practicing organically throughout our time together, whether it be when meeting new people out in public or when greeting me or other people who enter the house. The goal for Greeting Manners is for Moose to be calm and polite whenever someone is greeting him. Moose loves people, and is always very happy and eager to say hello to anyone who approaches him. Prior to working on these manners, Moose had a habit of jumping all over people when he was very excited to greet them, which isn't a behavior we want him to default to as he could accidentally scratch or injure someone. To work on this, anytime Moose is to be greeted, we first have him hold a stationary position such as Sit or Down, that way he is focused on holding that position and is discouraged from breaking the position. When allowing someone new to say hello to him, it's important to inform them of his training before they greet him so they understand how to help him learn good manners! Always reserve praise and affection only for when he is calm and listening to instructions, and if he tries jumping or otherwise behaving poorly, no reward is given and the Off command is used to interrupt the behavior. This reinforces the concept that the only way to get what he wants, which is to receive affection and praise, is to display good manners! Moose caught on quickly to this concept, and has been doing very well with his Greeting Manners. Today he was able to politely greet many new people at the mall, and while he was still very excited, he was able to display his happiness and excitement in better ways than jumping, such as with tail wags and kisses!
Pupdate 11/9/2023
Today Moose and I visited a local park and continued practicing all of his commands while off-leash. The park had a variety of distractions to practice around, such as other dogs, grassy fields, groups of people and children, and some small animals such as birds and squirrels. Moose seemed to have lots of energy today and was a bit distracted at first, so before jumping into his training we spent some time walking, running, and playing around the park together to help him burn some excess energy. Once he had calmed down a bit and had a chance to familiarize himself with the area, we went ahead and continued to practice his off-leash obedience commands. Overall he did a fantastic job, and he was happy to follow any instructions given to him without issue!
After getting home from the park, we continued our training at home and worked on his house manners. 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 Moose 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. Moose loves food, and naturally becomes very excited during mealtimes, and he had some bad habits such as jumping on me, barking, and rushing in to eat his food the moment it was within sight. At first, Moose definitely struggled with holding the stationary position asked of him when food was present, though with consistent practice at each mealtime, he now has excellent discipline and self-control and he understands to wait patiently until the release cue is given!
Another area of manners we have been working on is Moose's Door Manners. The goal of Door Manners is for Moose 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 through people's legs when walking through doorways, and rushing over to jump on or bark at people who enter through the door. Moose has been struggling with some anxiety related to doors that lead outside, as he becomes a bit panicked if he thinks he is going to be left alone at home, so this was another challenge to overcome when practicing these manners. However, with daily practice, Moose has made great progress with his door manners and separation anxiety overall! After Moose has been asked for a stationary command, a door can now be left wide open, and he understands to not walk through the doorway unless given permission to, and once invited he can walk nicely through the doorway. I can now also walk out of the front door and close it behind me without him panicking or excessively vocalizing until I come back, though he will still sometimes whine a bit which is something we will continue to work on.
Having good Car manners makes transporting Moose easy, safe, and as hassle-free as possible. Since Moose 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 Moose 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 or lured inside with food. Moose was a bit hesitant about entering the kennel in the car during the first few days with me, though he has since overcome his hesitations and is now comfortable with entering the kennel and settling in for the ride without issue. Also, now that Moose has built up his confidence by practicing the Place command daily, he is able to jump into my car on his own! However my car is a bit high up for him to reach, so I oftentimes will either set down a place cot for him to use to get into the car easier, or have him jump in from the side door.
Pupdate 11/10/2023
Moose and I visited an outdoor mall today, where we continued working on each of his commands around distractions while off-leash. The mall had a good amount of distractions present, such as groups of people, other dogs, birds, and smells from nearby restaurants. Moose was able to ignore most distractions with ease, though he did get a bit distracted by a dog who was barking and play-bowing at him while we were walking past. He wanted to go play with the other dog, though when the Off command was given he promptly returned his attention to me and understood not to approach or go play with the other dog, and we were able to continue our Heel past the dog. I made sure to reward him by giving him lots of praise and a break to have some fun and play with me, which further reinforces his training and teaches him that paying attention to his handler and ignoring even the most tempting distractions will result in a more positive outcome than what the distraction would provide! Moose did an excellent job with his Heel overall, and was able to follow my lead, match my pace, and stay close to me even as we passed by various distractions. Every now and then he needed a reminder to adjust himself slightly, though he had no issue returning to the Heel position when prompted. Moose also did a very good job with his Come to Sit, and was able to be recalled from a large distance without issue. He was also very consistent with his positioning, and was typically able to perform the maneuver flawlessly on the first attempt. Moose did fantastic with his stationary positions as well, and had no trouble with Sit, Down, or Place. He showed great patience, discipline, and confidence as he performed and held the position asked of him until released or given a new command. I was able to step back to about fifteen feet away, and walk around him at a distance without him feeling the need to get up and follow me.
We also spent a good amount of time sitting on a bench together and watching our surroundings calmly, and he did great with this! He was content with staying in Place directly beside me, casually watching the people, dogs, and other distractions pass by us without becoming fixated on or phased by anything in particular. This is a great display of his good socialization skills in a public setting, and shows his ability to remain calm and relaxed even in busy areas!
Pupdate 11/11/2023
Today was Moose's last full day with me, meaning 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 and productive day together! We visited a shopping mall, 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 off-leash, 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! As usual, he did a great job with performing all 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. He made a few minor mistakes here and there, but he was always quick to correct himself and focus back on me whenever he was reminded. We also got some great footage of Moose practicing his commands at the mall which will be used in putting together his final video, so be sure to check out today's pupdate video for a sneak peek!
Moose 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, even while off-leash! 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 run 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 massively improved with his overall manners as well, and is now a very well-mannered and polite pup both at home and in public! Moose has also made massive progress in overcoming his separation anxiety, and has learned how to be independent, comfortable, and quiet even when he's by himself.
Moose 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 playful 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 Moose!
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