Murphy | Shepherd/Belgian Malinois Mix | Los Angeles, Ca | In-Training
Updated: Sep 6
Meet Murphy! š¾
Murphy is a sweet 7-month-old Shepherd/Malinois mix from Los Angeles, California, who has joined us for our Two-Week Urban Board & Train Program!
Murphy already knows a few basic commands, but like many young pups, she still has some puppy habits weāll be working onāsuch as pulling on the leash, jumping on people, and playful biting.
Over the next 14 days, weāll focus on building stronger obedience, improving her leash manners, and teaching her how to make better choices both at home and out in the real world. Through consistent structure, clear communication, balanced training, and plenty of exposure to new people, places, and distractions, Murphy will learn what it means to be a calm, confident, and well-mannered companion. š¶āØ
With consistency, guidance, and lots of practice, we know Murphy is going to show everyone just how amazing she can be!
Stay tuned for Murphyās two-week transformation! š¾š
Pupdate 8/24/26
Welcome to Murphyās first Pupdate! š¾š
It was such a pleasure meeting you and getting to know you and your newest family member, Murphy!
On our ride home, Murphy did very well. She whined a little at first but slowly settled into her travel crate and relaxed for the remainder of the ride. Once we arrived home, it was time for her first introduction to Dottie! Murphy was very excited to meet her, so we went on a short pack walk while also keeping our time outside limited due to the heat. Pack walks are a great way to help both pups become comfortable with one another and understand that theyāll be sharing the same household for the next two weeks.
As you mentioned, Murphy is definitely a playful girl! She wasted no time trying to initiate play and jump around with Dottie. Ms. Dottie, being the experienced girl that she is, remained calm and allowed Murphy to sniff her and get to know her without adding to all that puppy excitement.
After our pack walk, we went right into acclimation and training mode. I gave Murphy some time to explore her new environment and introduced her to the crate sheāll be using during her stay. We played a few treat games, tossing treats inside and allowing her to go in on her own so she could begin associating the crate with something positive. Once inside, she whined for about 10 minutes before settling herself down. Great self-soothing moment! Before I knew it, she was comfortably napping in her crate. I already like what Iām seeing!
After her nap, we headed outside for another potty break. She was likely a little too nervous and distracted to go earlier, but this time she found her spot and successfully went potty outside! Of course, I made a HUGE deal about it and praised her like she had just won an award. š Her little face looked at me like, āWhy are you so excited?ā It was the cutest thing! Iāll continue taking her outside every 30 minutes to an hour to help establish a consistent potty routine.
The highlight of todayās training was Food Manners! Murphy is definitely a food-motivated pup, and the moment she saw her food, she was over-the-moon excited. Our goal is to teach her patience and self-control during mealtimeāremaining in a sit and waiting instead of lunging toward her food or breaking command before being released.
As youāll see in her video, Murphy did very well, especially considering how excited she was to eat! She showed me today that sheās a smart little pup who is eager to learn, and Iām excited to see what else she has in store for us over the next two weeks.
Great first day, Murphy! š¾š
Pupdate 8/25/26
For todayās Pupdate, we took Murphy on a field trip to the park, where we introduced her to the e-collar and determined her initial working level. š¾
As usual, we started at level 0 and gradually increased one level at a time while observing Murphyās response. She showed clear awareness of the stimulation at level 8 while remaining calm and relaxed, so this will be our starting working level. Her working level may increase or decrease depending on the environment and the amount of distractions around her.
Once we determined her working level, I put the remote away for the time being and focused on reviewing the āPlaceā and āDownā commands. Because Murphy is very treat-motivated, she was able to grasp both commands very quickly! We had already practiced them during some indoor training sessions, where I noticed right away that she is a fast learner. Today, we took those skills to the park and added some real-world distractions. Even with everything going on around her, Murphy was able to stay focused and follow through with her commands. So proud of Miss Murphy! š
The Place command is an important part of Murphyās training because it teaches her to go to a designated area, remain there, and relax until she is released. For an energetic and curious puppy like Murphy, Place helps build impulse control, patience, boundaries, and the ability to settle herself instead of feeling like she needs to investigate or react to everything happening around her. As we progress, weāll work on increasing her duration and adding more distance and distractions.
We are also reinforcing the Down command, which is another great tool for teaching calmness and self-control. Down asks Murphy to settle her entire body and remain in that position until released. This can be especially helpful when we need her to relax around people, other dogs, or exciting environments. Together, Place and Down teach Murphy that being calm is also a behavior we want and reward.
For her first overnight with me, Murphy did very well. After her final potty break of the evening, she settled into her crate and slept comfortably until around 5 a.m. I heard a little whimpering, so I took her outside for a potty break. Once we came back inside, she settled right back down and went to sleep. She is already adjusting nicely to her crate!
Potty training is also going very well. Murphy has successfully gone potty each time Iāve taken her outside and has even been comfortable enough to poop. Thatās a great sign that she is beginning to relax and feel comfortable in her new environment. Some dogs may hold their bowel movements when they first arrive because of the change in routine and surroundings, but Murphy seems to be fitting right into our household. šš¼
Overall, she is doing great! She definitely has that typical puppy energy and is curious about everything around her. š She is also doing very well with Dottie and becoming more comfortable around herāeven choosing to sit next to her at times.
Murphy is eating well and drinking plenty of water, especially with this heat. We also discovered that she LOVES ice cubesāour new zero-calorie treats! š§š
Another great day for Miss Murphy! Sheās settling in beautifully, learning quickly, and showing us more of her sweet and playful personality every day. Great job, Murphy! š¾š
Pupdate 8/26/26
For todayās Pupdate, we decided to stay local and practice in the backyard where we could work with minimal distractions.
Todayās focus was on increasing the duration of Murphyās commands and gradually creating more distance between her and me. Murphy definitely has a little case of āants in her pantsā š, so staying still while I step away from her can be challenging right now. She naturally wants to follow me!
For now, our goal is to have Murphy hold her Place, Sit, and Down commands for about 10 seconds before receiving praise and her release. Once she becomes comfortable with that duration, weāll gradually increase the time and distance. Weāre taking it little by little so she understands that even when I move away, her job is to remain in the command until she is released.
This type of training is important because duration and distance build patience, impulse control, and confidence. Itās one thing for Murphy to perform a command when Iām standing right next to her, but the next step is teaching her to maintain that command when I move away. With continuous and consistent practice, sheāll learn to put all those pieces together.
Murphy is now understanding Place, Sit, and Down very well. Our focus is shifting from simply knowing the commands to learning how to hold them calmly and consistently. Great progress for such a young pup! šš¼
Miss Murphy is also doing a great job learning how to settle inside the house when we arenāt training. She pays close attention to Dottie and watches what she does. When Dottie goes into chill mode, Murphy is beginning to understand that itās time for her to relax too. I love watching how she processes things and learns from the environment around her.
She still has plenty of that fun puppy energy, but sheās beginning to understand that there is a time to play, a time to work, and a time to simply relax.
She is such a sweet and smart girl, and Iām loving the progress Miss Murphy is making! š¾š
Pupdate 8/27/26
For todayās Pupdate, we took Miss Murphy on a field trip to Home Depot for some real-world exposure!
Today was all about introducing Murphy to a completely different environment filled with new sights, sounds, smells, people, and distractions. When we first arrived, Murphy was definitely curious, but she was also showing some signs of nervousness and uncertainty around the store. Instead of rushing her, I gave her time to investigate her surroundings at her own pace. Little by little, I could see her becoming more comfortable and confident. I was so happy to watch her work through those feelings!
As we strolled around the store, we came across the Halloween section and some pretty scary-looking statues. Boy, was Murphy scared! I meanā¦I was a little scared too, so I definitely donāt blame her! Those monsters were not her favorite. We took our time around them and allowed her to observe and process everything without forcing the interaction. I was even able to capture the cutest picture of her next to the ghost dogs! š¶š»
Once I saw that Murphy was becoming more comfortable with the environment, we began incorporating her Place, Sit, and Down commands. This is an important part of her training because we want her to understand that her commands apply everywhereānot just at home or in a quiet backyard. Practicing in new environments helps build her confidence, focus, and ability to listen even when distractions are present.
Miss Murphy also gained quite a few fans from customers throughout the store! At one point, she looked like she was doing detection work, sniffing and investigating different objects throughout the aisles. It was really cool to watch her curiosity come out as she became more comfortable with her surroundings
At home, Murphy continues to do great with her crate training. When itās time to rest or go to sleep for the night, she may whine for a short period, but she settles herself quickly. Sheās learning that the crate is her space to relax and decompress.
Potty training is also going great! Every time we head outside for a potty break or walk, Murphy takes care of business. Iām very happy with the consistency and progress sheās showing.
Overall, Miss Murphy is doing great! She has settled nicely into my home and would happily follow me everywhere if I let her. She is slowly learning that there is also a āchill buttonā in life. I love seeing her fun, high-energy puppy personality, but I especially love watching her learn that she can be calm, relax, and simply enjoy doing nothing sometimes.
Today was another great step in building Murphyās confidence and obedience in the real world. So proud of her progress!
Pupdate 8/28/26
For todayās Pupdate, we took Miss Murphy on a trip to our local Petco to stay out of the heat while continuing to expose her to different environments.
Immediately upon entering the store, Murphy showed some signs of nervousness and fear. Similar to yesterday, I didnāt rush her. Instead, I gave her time to explore and process the new environment at her own pace. With so many unfamiliar sights, sounds, smells, people, and animals, there was definitely a lot for this young girl to take in!
With each step, I could see that Murphy was unsure of what might be around the next corner. We took a couple of laps around the store, allowing her to sniff, observe, and slowly become more comfortable with her surroundings. She was especially intrigued by the sounds of the birds and the little mice in their enclosures.Ā Her curiosity definitely started peeking through!
Poor Miss Murphy! New environments can still feel overwhelming for her, so building her confidence is going to take some time. Thatās exactly why these exposure outings are so important. With positive, consistent exposure at a pace she can handle, our goal is to help her learn that unfamiliar places donāt have to be scary. We donāt want to force her through her fear; we want to give her opportunities to investigate, recover, and become more confident with each new experience.
During our time at the store, I was also able to regain Murphyās attention and practice the commands weāve been working on over the past few days. Being able to work through commands in a new environment is an important step because it teaches her that Sit, Down, Place, and her other commands still apply even when the environment changes and distractions are present.Ā
At home, Miss Murphy is doing amazing with her Food Manners and Door Manners! She is learning to slow down, wait patiently, and practice better impulse control instead of allowing that puppy excitement to take over. Potty training is also going great, and she continues to be consistent when we take her outside.
Regarding her anxiety medication, as requested, I have continued observing Murphy while she has been without it. So far, she has been doing well. At home, what Iām seeing is typical puppy energy, while in unfamiliar environments she continues to show nervousness as she processes everything that is new to her. Iāll continue monitoring her behavior closely and keeping you updated on what I observe.
Murphy is settling in beautifully with us and is now sleeping through the night with no accidents!Ā Sheās becoming more comfortable with our routine, and I love watching her personality come out more and more.
We still have confidence to build, but every new experience is another opportunity for Murphy to learn and grow. Loving her progress and so proud of Miss Murphy!
Pupdate 8/29/26
For todayās Pupdate, we focused on Door Manners, Heel walks, and increasing the duration and distance of Murphyās Sit and Down commands.Ā
With Miss Murphy, weāve been practicing two types of Door Manners:
Stationary Door Manners
Murphy is placed in a Sit, Down, or Place while I approach and open the door. Her job is to remain in that positionāeven with the door completely openāuntil I give her the release command. This helps build impulse control, patience, and boundaries while teaching her not to rush or bolt through an open door.
Ā Moving Door Manners
For this exercise, Murphy approaches the doorway with me but must stop and wait at the threshold instead of automatically walking through. She waits for me to give her permission before proceeding. This teaches her that just because a door opens, it does not automatically mean she gets to walk through it.
For a young, energetic pup like Murphy, practicing both types of Door Manners is especially helpful because it teaches her to slow down, control that puppy excitement, and look to me for direction before making her next move. Weāve been practicing both since she joined us, and as you can see in todayās video, she is slowly beginning to understand what is expected of her.Ā
We also worked on Murphyās Heel to address her habit of pulling during walks. Our goal is to teach her that walking means staying alongside me rather than pulling ahead and deciding where weāre going. I noticed Murphy naturally favors my right side, so for now, that is the side weāve chosen for her Heel position.
Using a high-value reward, I kept Murphy engaged and positioned at my side as we walked. Occasionally, I would stop and ask her for a Sit before continuing our Heel. As she started understanding what I wanted, I gradually varied how often she received the reward. Before long, she was successfully following through without needing a treat every time! She is such a smart girl and catches on incredibly quickly.
Our biggest challenge right now continues to be duration with her Sit and Down commands. Miss Murphy still has those little puppy āants in her pantsā and wants to move! We started with her holding the commands for about 10 seconds, and weāve now gradually increased that to 15 seconds while also working on creating more distance between us.
It may sound like a small increase, but those extra seconds are helping Murphy develop patience, impulse control, and an understanding that a command continues until she is released. We donāt want to rush the process. As she becomes successful and confident at 15 seconds, weāll continue gradually increasing the duration and distance.
Little by little, sheās getting there! Miss Murphy is eager to learn, incredibly smart, and picks things up so quickly. So proud of the progress this sweet girl continues to make!Ā
Pupdate 8/30/26
For todayās Pupdate, we took Miss Murphy on a trip to the park to practice her commands with some light distractions and officially incorporate the Recall command, āCome.ā
Weāve been practicing Recall at home with little to no distractions, and now that Murphy has a better understanding of what is expected of her, it was time to take that command into a real-world environment.
For Murphy, the Recall command (āComeā) is especially important because she is young, curious, energetic, and still learning how to control those puppy impulses. Recall teaches her that when she hears āCome,ā she needs to stop what she is doing and return to her handler. Not only is this an important obedience command, but it can also be an extremely valuable safety skill.
As we continue progressing, weāll gradually increase the distance and level of distractions so Murphy learns that even when something exciting catches her attentionāa person, another dog, an interesting smell, or something new in her environmentāreturning to her handler when called is the priority.
As you can see in todayās video, Murphy is such a quick learner! When I call her, she is already beginning to understand the positioning we want. She comes toward me, moves around my left side, loops behind me, and finishes at my right side near my knee. This positions her perfectly to transition directly into her Heel walk. She is doing great!
With every training session, Murphy is also showing wonderful improvement with the duration and distance of her Sit and Down commands. Remember those little āants in her pantsā we had at the beginning? Well, Miss Murphy is learning how to settle! She is now allowing me to create approximately 10ā15 feet of distance between us while maintaining her command, and she has worked her way up to approximately ONE MINUTE! That is amazing progress from the 10ā15 seconds we were working on just a few days ago.
Because she is showing such great improvement, I also started expanding her understanding of Place beyond the training cot. Today, we used a park bench as her designated Place. This helps Murphy understand that āPlaceā isnāt about one specific objectāit means going onto the designated area I give her and remaining there until released. She did outstanding and was able to extend her Sit and hold her position beautifully. So proud of you, Murphy!
Outside of our formal training sessions, Murphy continues to make progress too. She has bonded really well with Dottie, and the two girls are finally comfortable enough to play together. Itās so cute watching Murphy learn how to interact and play with her!
Potty training is also going great! Murphy has chosen her favorite potty spot, and when I take her there, she pretty much knows exactly what she is supposed to do. She is becoming very consistent with her routine, which has been wonderful to see.
It is incredibly rewarding watching Murphy learn, gain confidence, develop self-control, and mature right before my eyes. She still has all that fun puppy personality, but each day she is learning how to channel that energy and make better choices.
Amazing job today, Miss Murphy! Keep it up, smart girl!
In addition to todayās update, I have included an e-collar tutorial of the device Murphy will be going home with. This is for you to familiarize yourself with the E-collar, but I will also go through everything in person with you.
8/31/26
For todayās Pupdate, we took Miss Murphy on a field trip to Whittier Narrows, where she had the opportunity to meet some of the other OffLeash trainers and pups!Ā
When we first arrived, I gave Murphy a few minutes to explore and take in her new surroundings. As weāve learned about Miss Murphy, she is a very curious girl and can become easily distracted when entering a new environment. This is completely normal, especially since it was her first time at this park and there were so many new sights, sounds, smells, people, and dogs for her to process.
Giving Murphy a little time to investigate allows her to satisfy some of that initial curiosity before asking her to shift her attention back to me and get into training mode.
Once her curiosity settled, Murphy noticed the other OffLeash pups from a distance and immediately wanted to pull toward them. Of course, for a young and social pup like Murphy, wanting to run over and meet the other dogs is completely natural! However, this gave us the perfect opportunity to work on impulse control and neutrality around other dogs.
Our goal is not for Murphy to believe that every dog she sees means itās automatically playtime. Instead, we want her to learn that she can notice another dog, remain calm, and continue listening to her handler without needing to pull toward or interact with them.
Throughout our meet-up, we practiced all of Murphyās known commands with the added challenge of having dogs, trainers, people, smells, and activity happening around her. She definitely showed moments of distraction, which was expected, but she was able to redirect her attention and continue working.Ā
This is an important next step in Murphyās training. She has been doing very well practicing her commands at home and in lower-distraction environments, so now weāre beginning to increase the difficulty. Weāll continue working in higher-distraction environments so all those exciting things around her gradually become more neutral and less important.
The goal is for Murphy to understand that Sit, Down, Place, Heel, and Come mean the same thing whether weāre at home, at the park, around other dogs, or surrounded by distractions.
Miss Murphy is making great progress! Now itās time to challenge that smart puppy brain a little more and put everything she has learned to work in the real world.Ā
Great job today, Murphy!
9/1/26
Today we took Murphy to the Citadel for more environmental exposure!
Iāve noticed that Murphy can be very apprehensive when entering new and unfamiliar environments, so today we used the busy shopping center as an opportunity to build her confidence around crowds, noises, movement, and new surroundings.
Initially, Murphy was very timid, and her body language showed that she was feeling a little unsure. Instead of rushing her, we took some time to simply walk around and window shop while making the experience positive with treats, praise, and plenty of encouragement. Little by little, she began to relax and feel more comfortable in her surroundings.
Once I noticed her confidence improving, we transitioned into training mode and practiced her known commands. She was still a little apprehensive at times, but she was able to work through those feelings and successfully complete her commands. Thatās great progress!
We took another lap around the shops, and Murphy did an amazing job maintaining her Heel command. She did so well that a gentleman actually stopped us because he was impressed with her heel walk! He asked if he could greet her, which gave us the perfect opportunity to practice her greeting manners. Murphy did beautifully, remained well-mannered, and earned some very well-deserved affection.
It was definitely a warm day, so we made sure to take things at an appropriate pace, but Miss Murphy did amazing working through the crowds, distractions, and unfamiliar environment.
So proud of the confidence she is continuing to build! Great job, Murphy!
9/2/26
Today we took Murphy back to the park, where we challenged her with a higher level of distraction by walking throughout the area and exposing her to different sights, sounds, and unexpected movements.
As Iāve mentioned before, Murphy can show some fear or uncertainty around unfamiliar noises and sudden movement. We continued working through those moments with lots of praise, positive reinforcement, and treats to help her understand that she is safe and can confidently move past those distractions.
As Murphy became more comfortable in her environment, we decided to challenge her a little more and transitioned into some off-leash work.
And this little girl did NOT disappoint! Murphy followed all of her commands and did an amazing job staying focused on me despite everything happening around her.
Yay, Murphy! I absolutely love seeing her growth and confidence develop. She is still a puppy, but she is already showing so much maturity by listening, staying engaged, and following through with what is being asked of her.
I am so proud of Miss Murphy! Keep it up, sweet girl!
9/3/26
Today we focused on food manners and door manners with Murphy. These two exercises are a great way to help her build patience, impulse control, and overall self-control.
During our training sessions, Murphy was sometimes anticipating my release command and trying to move before being released. When given a verbal āNo,ā she was able to recognize her mistake and self-correct. We simply reset her and started the exercise again so she could follow through correctly.
I was really happy to see Murphy beginning to understand what is expected of her and making better choices on her own. She is still a puppy and learning, so moments like these show just how much progress she is making.
Great job today, Miss Murphy!
9/4/26
Today we focused on cleaning up and reinforcing all of Murphyās obedience commands, both on and off leash. She has been doing an excellent job staying engaged, listening to direction, and following through when commands are given.
The one command that still needs a little extra work is Down. Murphy tends to get excited and will sometimes take a few steps forward before settling into the position. At this stage, our focus is on improving precision, impulse control, and helping her understand that the command should be completed exactly where it is given. With continued repetition and consistency, I am confident this will continue to improve.
Overall, Murphy has made great progress with her obedience. The consistency and structure she has received throughout her training are helping her become more responsive, confident, and reliable in different situations.Ā
Her relationship with Dottie has also been an important part of her development. Having a balanced dog around allows Murphy to practice appropriate social skills, read canine body language, and learn how to interact in a healthy way. Their relationship has grown tremendously, and they are officially BFFs! They enjoy playing and roughhousing together while continuing to build positive social experiences.
Very proud of Murphy and the progress she continues to make!Ā
9/5/26
For todayās final Pupdate with Murphy, we reviewed all of her commands once again and highlighted her Food, Door, and Car Manners. Murphy did an amazing job demonstrating each one, and it was such a great way to wrap up her two-week training journey. Seeing her complete these exercises with confidence and self-control really shows just how much she has grown during her time with me.
Through consistent training, repetition, structure, and positive reinforcement, Murphy has developed a strong foundation in basic obedience. She is such a smart girl and has been incredibly receptive to learning what is expected of her. While she is still very much a puppy, she is already beginning to show great impulse control for her age. Of course, she will continue to mature, and maintaining consistency at home will be an important part of strengthening everything she has learned over these past two weeks.
Knowing Murphyās background and some of the uncertainty she experienced early in life, it truly warms my heart to see how far she has come. Even more importantly, Iām happy knowing she is going home to a family that is willing to invest the time, love, structure, and consistency she needs to continue thriving. She is very lucky to have you, and I know you are just as lucky to have such a special girl.
I am incredibly proud of Murphy and all the progress she has made. She has shown me that with clear guidance, consistency, lots of praise, andāof courseāa few yummy treats, she is eager and willing to learn.
It has truly been my pleasure training Miss Murphy. Not only is Dottie going to miss her BFF, but we are all going to miss that sweet, playful puppy energy she brought into our home. Thank you for trusting me with your girl and allowing me to be a part of her training journey. Keep up the great work, Murphy!
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