Nordie | Maltipoo | Irvine, CA | In-Training
- priscillaoffleashs
- Aug 27, 2023
- 10 min read
Updated: Feb 29, 2024
Meet Nordie! An energetic eleven month old Maltipoo, has joined Off Leash So Cal for our Two-Week Board and Train program to work on a few behaviors. Nordie's owners struggle with handling him, as he often bites when handled near his tummy or read end area. Nordie resource guards, and pulls heavily on the leash when out on walks. When Nordie is called to come, he often ignores it, having a mind of his own.
Over these next two weeks, Nordie and I will build a solid foundation for his training, as we create a healthy relationship built on structure, mutual respect, and boundaries. We will create consistency with commands utilizing clear communcation, with the ultimate goal of being off leash! Stay tuned for his Two-Week Transformation!
Nordie and I had the chance to become more familiar with each other as we strolled around the block, exploring our surroundings. We tested what he knew, as he demonstrated he knew how to Sit, yet struggled with maintaining position. Once we got home, he explored his new temporary home, as we got him settled in. We will work on introducing him to new commands tomorrow!
Nordie and I started our day by introducing him to a few communication tools such as the slip lead and e collar. The slip lead is used to guide Nordie with directional changes of the leash. I apply leash pressure in the direction I want him to go and the second he follows the path created for him, I turn that pressure off. Any time I apply leash pressure, I apply stimulation from the e collar as well. Nordie at first resisted the leash pressure. Once I marked and rewarded the few steps he took in the direction I wanted him to go, he began to understand how to turn the pressure off. He still resists every now and then, helicoptering around when resisting, however he is learning to follow my lead, as he works through this. If we ensure he follows through each time, he begins to learn that his tantrum attacks do not result in stopping the training session. Only once he follows the directional changes of the leash, along with very light stimulation from the e collar, he receives a break as I reward him with tons of love. Towards the end of the session, these tantrums occurred less and less.
I introduced him to Come to Sit which is the action of Nordie coming around behind me to Sit on my left hand side ready to Heel. He was a natural at this and after some repetitions, learned that all of the good stuff came to him when he Sat on my left side. This is how I begin to build value with Nordie in a specific position. I Cued Nordie’s name frequently, rewarding him when he offered me his attention. This is called the name game and is a great game to practice around distractions to build engagement during training. A focused dog is a dog that is ready to work!
Nordie and I ventured out to the park where we began to work on his Heel, Come to Sit, Extended Sit, and Down. Nordie has significantly improved with his Heel, staying by my side, turning when I turn and sitting when I stop walking. If he pulls ahead, I pop the leash in a backward motion, cuing Heel. Whenever I pop the leash to guide Nordie, I also apply stimulation of the e collar, simultaneously. He is learning to check in with me and responds well to verbal praise. Nordie resists leash pressure every now and then still, but is learning to work through this, taking less time to perform.
We have been working on handling of his body as I pet him near his stomach area. Nordie rolled over for me which is a very submissive position. He is warming up to me, and even let me carry him today. By providing a leadership role with him, built upon structure, and boundaries, Nordie understands he is held accountable for his actions.
We then worked on his Down command. I guided Nordie into the Down position with slight leash pressure downwards, as I gave a visual cue pointing my palms towards the floor. Once he followed it, I released the pressure, working on short increments of time first. Good job Nordie!
Today Nordie and I l emphasized our work on his Extended Down, and Come to Sit. Nordie has been able to perform Down, however is very reluctant at times, especially when in new places. We took a step back and had him build fluency in a place he is familiar with. After many repetitions, and guidance from me with the leash, he demonstrated consistency with holding his Down for up to a minute and a half long, which is almost at our goal! I practiced petting Nordie in all areas of his body. He was very submissive, showing me his belly, allowing me to pet. I rewarded this with a Yes and a treat to let Nordie know he did a good job.
After working on what he has already learned, I then introduced him to a new command, Place. Place is great to use to help create a calm state of mind, builds confidence in a dog, prevents unwanted behaviors, and can essentially be practiced on top of any elevated surface. Dogs are naturally more confident while on elevated surfaces. I recommend purchasing an elevated dog cot to practice with both inside and outside the house. Having something familiar for Nordie to Place on while adapting to an unfamiliar environment helps bridge the transition much more quickly.
When practicing Place with Nordie, I chain the commands Place and Down together to help him voluntarily offer the behavior without much guidance needed from me. Nordie enjoyed this and fluently performed this behavior repetitively. We then built duration with this as he held it for over a minute long. Now we will begin to build distance between us for his commands as we improve his commands near daily distractions.
Nordie and I went on a trip to the park where we worked on everything he has learned this week, with added distance, utilizing a 15ft leash. There were plenty of wildlife, other dogs, and loud noises coming from the freeway which made Nordie a bit nervous at first. As we kept working through it, Nordie was more desensitized to the loud noises, continuing to follow through with commands.
We added distance between us as he held his Extended Sit and Down for up to a minute and a half which is almost at our goal! I called him to Come from about 10 feet away, and Nordie Came consistently, yet at times would Sit behind me. This may be due to a lack of confidence. I encourage him to step forward by guiding him with the leash forward, as I step forward with him.
We then practiced Place on new surfaces to keep building his confidence. For an insecure dog like Nordie, building his confidence every day is essential in counter conditioning his aggressive tendencies. He will be meeting the pack at home very soon, as being a part of the pack will also help raise his confidence!
Nordie and I focused our work on building fluency with his commands as we worked on his Extended Sit, Come to Sit, Down, Place, and Heel. He had the chance to say hi to someone new today and did well with approaching all on his own. I recommend a slow introduction for him when first meeting someone. He should approach on his terms, and only with people who will give him his space upon first meeting, not reaching out to pet him immediately.
Nordie did well with his Heel, turning when I turn and Sitting when I stop walking. We practiced Place on a new surface and Nordie had quite the jump! After we practiced on different Places, he began to test the Down, resisting leash pressure downwards. I kept the pressure there as I applied pressure from his shoulder blades to help him enter the Down position. It is important to work him through these scenarios and allow him to decompress as well, shortly after. We will keep working on pushing past his threshold daily to continue to build consistency!
Nordie and I spent the day practicing our Heel as we walked around the neighborhood, proofing his commands. Now that we are almost a week into his training, we have begun to utilize less leash pressure after he’s had a few repetitions of practice with his Come to Sit and Heel. Since we are relying less on guidance of the leash, we are using more hand signals, paired with verbal cues and stimulation of the e collar as we train with a 15 ft leash. Once he demonstrated consistency, we began to drag the leash as we worked on everything he has learned over this past week. He loves to jump onto new surfaces, and is testing Down much less frequently than before!
Nordie and I continued to work towards our Off Leash goal at home today. We dragged the leash as he performed his Come to Sit, Heel and Place with Extended Down. Nordie followed me as we practiced his Heel, turning frequently. Any time I change direction, I cue Heel to give Nordie a heads up. Tapping the stimulation from the e collar button also helps grab Nordie’s attention quickly when walking. Nordie’s Heel and recall has improved, as he hardly needs any guidance from the leash after our session!
Nordie and I ventured out to The Citadel Outlets where it was quite busy, considering the holiday today. Nordie Heeled with the pack, as he Came to Sit by my side alongside the other pup in training, Archie. They did well as they worked together, holding their Extended Sit & Down while in Place. He practiced his Greeting Manners as he received plenty of attention from friendly new faces. I marked it with a Yes as he received love, approaching when he felt ready to say hi. Seeing Archie receive attention may have helped him feel more confident with being pet as well.
Nordie and I ventured out to the park where we proofed his commands near distractions such as wildlife, other dogs, tennis courts, etc. Nordie has done well with his training while near other dogs, not reacting or pulling towards them. He stays by my side, Coming when called from distances of 10 ft or more. Nordie no longer tests me on his Down command, and is ready to be Off Leash moving forward! We will continue to proof his commands in new environments and build his confidence. I included a video of our trip to The Citadel the other day!
Nordie and I enjoyed an eventful day at the beach while we worked on everything he has learned so far, Off Leash! He Came to Sit on my left hand side consistently when called from distances of a record of 30 ft today. He Heeled by my side, following my lead as we walked underneath the pier, jumping onto Place on different surfaces. There were other dogs walking around the beach which Nordie did great with, holding his Extended Down and Sit for up to two minutes minimum.
It is important to realize that reactivity can stem from a place of insecurity in a dog. We must not react before Nordie even has a chance to react. Being proactive instead of reactive (meaning giving Nordie a job to do before he even notices a dog is nearby) is essential in preventing Nordie from being reactive. If a dog is not given proper structure or guidance in a scenario they feel unsafe in, they will take matters in their own hands in hopes of scaring away whatever it is they are unsure of. Often times the leash creates added tension to an already nervous pup, which causes them to feel trapped, with nowhere to escape. We can use the leash as a communication tool to guide Nordie, instead of pulling him into a state of uncertainty. If he is off leash, then simply positioning ourselves in between him and a reactive dog will help prevent unwanted interactions with unfamiliar dogs.
By remaining consistent and applying clear communication, Nordie will be set up for success in these scenarios, as he will feel more confident with following clear instructions from his leader.
Nordie and I began to film content for his Final video today as we ventured out to the beach, working on his commands Off Leash. There were reactive dogs, bicyclists, skateboards, and crowds of people near us as he Heeled by my side, walking below the pier. He came when called from distances of 10 ft away or more, and did great with working near big distractions as he held his Extended Sit, Down and Place for up to two minutes. Nordie is very engaged while training, awaiting the next job to perform. Excellent work Nordie!
Nordie and I took a trip to the beach where we had the chance to work on his greeting manners with friendly new people. It is important to communicate to whoever is saying hi to him, to only pet him if all four paws are on the floor. I also communicate to them to not pet his belly area, even if he rolls over. We don’t want to reinforce insecure, submissive behaviors as we are trying to build confidence in Nordie. Most aggression stems from fear/insecurity.
Nordie responded well to saying hi, as he Sat the entire time while he received attention. I let him know he’s doing a great job by marking it with a Yes as he meets new people. A little reassurance from his handlers goes a long way when encountering new people. I noticed that Nordie’s stool appeared a little loose today so I added a small amount of pumpkin to his diet to help him digest his food.
Nordie had some fun in the sun today while playing with his furry friends! He has been much more social lately, engaging in play more frequently with breaks in between. He enjoys the elevated cot, and gravitates to it all on his own without any guidance needed from me. Every now and then Nordie displays signs of dominance by attempting to hump other dogs when overstimulated. I cue Off to Nordie when he tries to do this, which he responds to very quickly.
Once he released some energy, we practiced his Door Manners. Nordie is expected to hold his Sit or Down when near a threshold. The door opens if he waits patiently, however will close on him if he releases himself preemptively. He is expected to see any doorway as a boundary, waiting for his handlers release to cross.
We emphasize our work on distance away from each other, which I recommend keeping up with to prevent his separation anxiety from escalating. It is best to never make it a big deal when you come and go so Nordie doesn’t see it is a big deal either. Crate training also greatly helps with separation anxiety, especially when at home with Nordie. Periods of time alone throughout the day helps prepare him for time apart. Nordie has overall become more confident, can hold his Place and Extended Sit for a minimum of two minutes, and can Come to Sit from about 15 ft away. I recommend constantly taking Nordie to new environments. Since he can be a nervous boy at times, desensitization to new places will only further improve his training. He is a loving boy who needs a lot of guidance, structure and leadership to thrive and follow instructions. He has come a long way and we can not wait to show you what he has learned. Thank you for trusting me with Nordie!
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