Nova | Doberman Pinscher | South Gate, CA | In-Training
- Jose Ayala
- Oct 20, 2024
- 11 min read
Updated: Nov 2, 2024
Meet Nova! She is a four year old Doberman who has joined us for our Two Week Board and Train Program. Nova is here for basic obedience, jumping to greet, leash pulling, and counter surfing. She does well with people and other dogs, but will get overly excited at times wanting to engage in play. Nova also has a tendency of running through open doors, grabbing baby items within her reach, and taking them to her bed. Over the next fourteen days, Nova will be working on her behavior and be set up for success, with the hopes of becoming a well mannered pup. Check in to see her progress!
Nova and I spent the afternoon getting to know each other by going for a walk to establish a bond. After our walk, I introduced Nova to her recall command known as come to sit. It will consist of having Nova approach my right side, wrap around behind me, and then sit on my left. To facilitate her understanding, I applied leash tension and moved backwards to guide her towards my right. Upon reaching my side, I took a step forward, encouraging her to navigate behind me using the leash, and then asked her to sit at my left. She did very well, and through consistent repetition and positive reinforcement, she began to comprehend the task as she followed through with the command. Teaching come to sit promotes safety, and enhances overall training, as it ensures that Nova will return when called, which can prevent certain situations and allow for more freedom during outdoor activities. It also helps build trust, as she learns to respond positively to commands, strengthening our leadership as owners. Once we came home, I fed her dinner, and although she did not eat it immediately, she ate her meal throughout the evening. She did very well on the car ride home, and she is adjusting to her new environment for the next two weeks.
During today's training session, Nova showed significant progress in learning the heel command, where she walks by my left side. By implementing a technique of stopping, turning, and changing direction whenever she pulled away, Nova quickly understood the expected behavior. Although she still requires additional practice, I plan to strengthen the heel command during all our walks going forward to solidify her understanding. In addition to heel training, Nova and I focused on improving her recall, particularly enhancing her sitting position. Initially, she had a tendency to sit slightly off to the side, but through consistent rewards and guidance, Nova has shown marked improvement in maintaining a straight sit. To aid in this progress, I have utilized a wall as a visual marker to help her align correctly, resulting in significant advancements. Furthermore, Nova displayed excellent behavior by consuming her meals in one sitting and adapting well to sleeping through the night in her crate from her first day here.
Nova and I worked on place today. Place consists of having Nova getting onto a designated object and remaining there in a sit or a down. It can be of great use when guests are over, and it can also build confidence in a dog. To teach Nova, I introduced her to my place box, allowing her to sniff and familiarize herself with it to build comfort and confidence. As Nova initially showed some hesitation towards getting onto the box, I approached the training with patience and understanding, acknowledging her pace and adjusting accordingly. By applying gentle leash tension and guiding her movements, I encouraged Nova to place both paws on the box. Positive reinforcement in the form of verbal praise and affection was used to reward her every step of the way, strengthening her progress and efforts. Through consistent repetition and clear communication, Nova gradually grasped the task at hand, demonstrating a willingness to follow instructions and engage in the training process. Our collaborative efforts led to a successful session where Nova displayed improved understanding and responsiveness to the place command. Attached in today's pupdate, you will find an enclosed video tutorial showing the various functions of the e-collar. Accompanying the tutorial are photos displaying the e-collar, complete with its unique serial number, which will be allocated to Nova upon her return.
Nova and I worked on her recall by having her come from a place object, in this case, a park bench. Initially, Nova encountered some challenges in responding to the recall command, but with persistence, and verbal encouragement, she gradually began to grasp the concept of coming to me from the designated spot. During the session, Nova was distracted by the various scents emanating from the grass and the presence of a passerby that she was eager to engage with. To address these distractions effectively, I employed the use of her e-collar and gave her a little stim, in which she responds to well, and it allowed me to guide Nova's focus back to the task at hand. Through this approach, we were able to successfully navigate her distractions and improve her recall training. Today’s session demonstrated Nova's potential for improvement in recall, particularly with continued practice of her training techniques.
During today’s session, I noticed Nova had a fear of stairs. Dogs can develop a fear of stairs for a variety of reasons such as lack of exposure, meaning If a dog has not been exposed to stairs during their developmental stages, they may be uncertain or fearful of them. Dogs learn about their environment through exploration, and a lack of experiences can lead to anxiety. Negative past experiences such as slipping or falling from stairs may also play a role, and can create lasting apprehension. It can also be a lack of confidence. Dogs that are naturally timid or anxious may struggle more with unfamiliar situations, including stairs. If they lack confidence in their surroundings, they may be hesitant to navigate stairs. To work Nova through it, I relied on leash tension and verbal encouragement. When she would take a step forward, I released tension and rewarded her with verbal praise. I continued this process at a pace that suited Nova, taking breaks as needed to avoid overwhelming her. Slowly but surely, Nova began trusting me as her guide, and after many attempts, I was able to have Nova follow through. Remember, every dog is unique, and the duration of the training process will vary. Some may overcome their fear quickly, while others may need more time. Consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement through verbal praise are essential in this journey. By using leash tension thoughtfully and encouraging your dog with your voice, you can help them build the confidence needed to navigate stairs successfully.
Today I focused on training Nova to maintain the down command. While she demonstrated a basic understanding of the concept coming into her program, she still struggled with remaining in the position. To address this, I employed a strategy that emphasized consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement. Given her existing proficiency, I introduced leash tension as a gentle corrective measure to reinforce the command without causing her discomfort. During our session, I held the leash with a relaxed grip, allowing some slack, but prepared to apply gentle tension if she attempted to rise. The key to our success was the timing of this tension; as Nova showed signs of wanting to get up, I applied slight downward tension on the leash while verbally cueing "down" to guide her back into position. It was crucial to use this tension sparingly, ensuring it served as a reminder and not a punishment. After successfully maintaining her down, I released her with a "break,” and provided plenty of affection, giving her the idea that staying down is desirable and rewarding. This approach is aimed at helping Nova understand that remaining in the down position leads to positive outcomes, which will be very helpful in the coming days as I introduce her to distance and duration with a fifteen foot long line.
In my recent session with Nova, I guided her through the transition from a controlled training environment to a more dynamic public setting, showing her development and capacity to adapt to various distractions. Having established a solid foundation with Nova's command recognition and execution in low distracting areas, I initiated a session at an outdoor shopping center to expose her to a more stimulating environment. During our walk through the shopping center, I carefully observed Nova's behavior and responses to her surroundings. This acclimatization phase was crucial as it allowed her to familiarize herself with the sights, sounds, and movements typical of a public space. Once Nova appeared comfortable in her environment, we progressed to practicing her commands amidst these new distractions. Throughout the session, Nova maintained a commendable level of focus. While she occasionally glanced in the direction of passersby, her ability to remain in the heel position by my side demonstrated her understanding of the task at hand. This behavior reflects not only her training, but also her growing confidence in navigating public spaces with minimal guidance. This session underscored the importance of gradual exposure to distractions in a controlled manner, allowing Nova to enhance her skills while building her confidence in real world scenarios. Overall, this experience has contributed to Nova's development of a well mannered and attentive companion, capable of handling the challenges of a busy environment with poise and reliability.
Nova and I worked on place a little more by having her get onto an object of a different surface and texture. By incorporating different textures and surfaces into the training, I can enhance Nova’s adaptability, focus, and confidence. Dogs often learn best in a specific environment, but by practicing on various textures, they become adept at understanding that place applies universally, regardless of location. This adaptability is crucial in real world situations, whether at home, in public spaces, or during travel. Furthermore, training on different surfaces can significantly improve Nova’s confidence. Dogs like Nova may initially feel uncertain on unfamiliar textures, such as slippery floors or uneven ground. By guiding her through these experiences and rewarding her successes, we as owners can help Nova build trust in her abilities. This confidence translates not only to the place command, but to other commands and situations they may encounter in life. Practicing place on various surfaces reinforces Nova’s ability to remain calm, which can be particularly beneficial in distracting environments.
During our training session today, Nova and I had the opportunity to collaborate with other trainers and their pups. The presence of these additional pups provided a valuable distraction, which was instrumental in helping us focus on enhancing both the distance and duration of Nova's commands. Throughout the session, I observed that Nova performed admirably when executing her sit. However, she faced some challenges in maintaining her down, often attempting to rise and follow me instead. She also became overly excited and wanted to engage in play, which is something dogs do in general when they are not interested in performing certain behaviors. Since she has learned that initiating play leads to positive reinforcement such as attention or affection, she used it as a strategy trying to avoid the behavior she did not want to perform. To address this issue, I implemented a strategy that involved a series of resets and repetitive practice. Through this methodical approach, I was able to guide Nova in overcoming her difficulties and improving her ability to remain in her down position despite the distractions present. Overall, the session proved to be productive, as it provided both a learning experience for Nova and an opportunity to refine her obedience skills in a dynamic environment.
Nova and I focused on enhancing her distance and duration skills by introducing a variety of public distractions. We drove out to an outdoor shopping center where I strategically planned to expose her to a lively environment. To begin the session, we took a leisurely walk around the area, allowing Nova to acclimate to her new surroundings and the various stimuli present. Once she appeared comfortable, we proceeded to practice her sit, down, and place, while navigating through the distractions of passing pedestrians and other dogs. Nova did very well maintaining her positions despite the numerous distractions, which garnered positive remarks from onlookers regarding her composure. She did have a little trouble with her heel as she tended to pull ahead of me, but I am working on it to have it cleaned up, as Nova is now in preparation for her off leash experience.
Nova and I have been working on her commands with her leash dragging. Our sessions began in the secure confines of my backyard, where we utilized the environment's safety to focus on her training. With the leash dragging, I encouraged Nova to explore her commands in a low pressure setting, allowing her to familiarize herself with the necessary skills for effective communication. Throughout our sessions, Nova has demonstrated consistency and responsiveness to her commands. Her progress was noteworthy, prompting us to transition from the enclosed backyard to public spaces, where distractions are greater, and the training becomes more challenging. This step was crucial in assessing her ability to generalize the commands learned in a controlled environment to real world situations. In public, Nova exhibited self control and adherence to commands, showing her readiness to engage in more advanced training exercises. Her adaptability and focus amidst distractions have been a testament to the effectiveness of our training methodology. As we approach the final stages of her training, we are now preparing for her to work fully off leash, which represents a significant milestone in her development. The culmination of our efforts will be shown in her final video, where we aim to highlight her impressive skills that we have built throughout this process.
Nova came into her program with a tendency of running through doors. Throughout the course of her training, I addressed her tendency to bolt through doors without regard for commands. Recognizing the importance of impulse control in ensuring both her safety and the safety of others, I established a clear set of protocols designed to strengthen the desirable behavior. Anytime we approached a doorway, I instructed Nova to sit, thereby creating a predictable routine that she could follow. When Nova demonstrated an inclination to break her sit or move towards the door prematurely, I utilized a systematic approach by immediately closing the door and repositioning her back into a sit position. This method emphasized the importance of waiting for a specific cue before proceeding. As Nova began to grasp the concept of waiting at doorways, I gradually introduced distance and duration to further challenge her understanding and self control. This strategy allowed for the development of her patience and response to commands in a variety of situations. There were a few instances in which she attempted to go through the door independently, but with the help of her long line, I was able to maintain control and redirect her behavior effectively. With repetition and consistency, Nova has developed a reliable understanding of the expectation to wait for my cue before proceeding through any doorway.
Nova and I have been working on her food manners. She came into her program with a basic understanding of the concept of waiting for her meal, however, she exhibited a tendency to prematurely approach her food bowl, often sitting up and moving closer within just a few seconds. This behavior indicated a need for reconditioning to reinforce her patience and self control during feeding times. To address this, I implemented a structured program that involved gradually increasing both the distance from her food bowl and the duration she was required to wait before being allowed to eat. This systematic approach allowed Nova to adapt progressively to the expectations set for her, fostering a deeper understanding of the importance of restraint and obedience. Throughout the training process, I observed improvements in her behavior as she became more adept at maintaining her position and waiting patiently for longer intervals, showing her ability to learn and adapt to new commands. The incremental methodology not only contributed to Nova's immediate success in food manners, but also laid a foundation for future training opportunities. By emphasizing patience and self-discipline, I aimed to cultivate a more harmonious feeding experience that aligns with her behavioral development goals. Nova's progress reflects her dedication and willingness to learn, and I am confident that with more consistency, she will maintain these positive behaviors moving forward.
Nova has completed her Two Week Board and Train Program and is ready to come home. I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity in being her trainer, and for trusting me while she was under my care. She was a great co-pilot, and I will miss her companionship. She has learned so much in such a short amount of time, and I look forward to showing you what she has learned. Remember to always remain consistent with her training so that you may continue setting her up for success. Thank you Nova!
Comments