Meet Obi! He is a five month old Bernedoodle who has joined us for our One Week Board and Train Program. He is here for basic obedience, leash pulling, and barking at people as well as other dogs. Obi can be very unpredictable and will initially bark at someone he first meets. The goal for Obi is to get him to understand his commands, minimize his barking, and have structured walks when out in public. Over the next seven days, Obi will work on his behavior and be set up for success, with the hopes of becoming a well behaved pup. Check in to see his progress!
Obi and I spent the afternoon getting to know each other. We went out for a walk around my neighborhood to establish a bond and I introduced him to Heel. This technique consists of having Obi walking next to me on my left side. Obi was not pulling heavily on his leash but he would either fall behind or try to veer off in another direction. By introducing him to leash pressure I was able to have more control and steer Obi in the right direction. He is easily distracted and tends to look back when someone is walking behind him. It is a work in progress, but we will continue working on it by applying Heel on every walk we go on from here on out.
Obi is still adjusting at home. He has been very nervous and is still taking some time for him to warm up to me. He did very well overnight in his kennel and will only eat if I am not around. We drove out to a local park and I introduced him to Place. It consists of having Obi getting onto an elevated object and remaining there in a Sit or a Down. It serves great purpose whenever guests are over and it also builds confidence in a dog. To teach Obi, I approached the object and guided him with leash tension to help him get on. Once he placed his front paws on the object, I released him with a “Break” and rewarded him with praise. To fully Place Obi, he was assisted by being picked up onto the bench we were working on. I asked him to Sit, then released him and praised him again. He understood the concept and caught on quickly. During the next few reps, Obi followed through and began to Place on his own with slight leash tension.
Obi and I met up with other trainers and worked around other dogs who served as a distraction to him. He did very well and did not bark, nor did he try and lunge or react towards them. We went for a pack walk and he was having a little trouble initially with his Heel as he was a little distracted by one of the dogs walking slightly behind him. Obi also got to work on his Sit as the other pups walked around him, and he was able to follow through without coming out of it.
Obi was introduced to Down today. It is one of the most difficult techniques to teach considering it being a vulnerable position to a dog. To teach Obi, I placed him on an elevated object and asked him to Sit. I tried to use his kibble to lure him towards the ground but he is not food motivated. I worked on it with slight leash tension and had to be very patient due to his nervousness. Whenever he made an intent to go down, I released tension and rewarded him with praise. It took time with a few breaks in between, but Obi was able to accomplish his Down.
Obi and I worked on all of his commands in a public area with people serving as a distraction and he did pretty well. He was still nervous and it does take him some time to adjust to his environment. What he had the most trouble with was his Extended Sit, as he would come out of it instantly whenever I stepped away. With repetition and consistency, I was able to step away from Obi and keep a short distance while he maintains his Sit. He has learned all of his commands, and in the coming days, Obi will be working on his Final.
Obi and I drove out to a local shopping center today and he did very well throughout our walk and adjusted fairly quick to his surroundings. He has made a big improvement over the week and he continues to progress the more we train together. Obi was great around people and did not bark or react to any dogs around us as we walked around. He no longer pulls on his leash, and he has successfully learned how to loose leash walk. The more consistent Obi is with his training, the more he can learn. He is very smart, picks up on things quick, and I am proud of everything he has been able to achieve in just a short time.
Obi has completed his One Week Board and Train Program and is ready to come home. I want to thank you for trusting me with Obi while he was under my care, and I am grateful for having the opportunity in being his trainer. He has opened up to me more and I will miss his companionship. I look forward to showing you what he can do, but in the meantime, here is a clip of Obi working on his Door Manners. Thank you Obi!
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