Meet Otis! An excitable One year old Portuguese Water Dog has joined us for our One-Week Board and Train Program to work on a few behaviors such as jumping whenever overly excited. During that over excitement, he loves to table surf, and nip excessively at whoever he demands attention from which results in a bite or ripped clothing. While out on walks and dogs are present, Otis reacts by excessively barking, pulling, and jumping on his handler. Otis redirects his reactivity in a manner that escalates to biting quite hard.
Over this next week Otis and I will focus on building a healthy relationship built off mutual respect as we implement consistent boundaries, clear communication, and build a solid foundation for his training to help him be the best pup he can possibly be! Stay tuned for his One-Week transformation!
Otis and I spent the day becoming more familiar with each other as he explored his new surroundings. He met the other pups through the fence and was quite excited to see them. We worked on building a bond as we played tug of war in the backyard. As we tested what he knew, he sat quite consistently and responded well to guidance of the leash as we walked around together. He can be jumpy which I corrected with a pop of the leash upwards as I cued Off then Sit.Ā I recommend always keeping a short leash on Otis even while indoors, to have the ability to promptly correct unwanted behaviors such as jumping or nipping. After some bond building, we worked on crate training which Otis is great with! He did not resist as I guided him towards the crate to eat his dinner. We will keep implementing boundaries over these next few days as we introduce Otis to new commands moving forward!Ā
Otis 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 Otis 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. Otis 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, by jumping and biting the leash but is learning to follow my lead. I corrected this with a pop of the leash and a firm Off command.Ā
I then introduced him to Come to Sit which is the action of Otis coming around behind me to Sit on my left hand side ready to Heel. He was a natural at this and learned quickly 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 Otis in a specific position. I Cued Otis 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!Ā
Otis and I took a trip to the park today! We explored our surroundings as we Heeled together making frequent turns, having him Sit whenever I stop walking. Otis responds well to verbal praise while Heeling, which I recommend using frequently with him while on a walk. Dogs donāt know they are doing a great job unless we praise them with marker words Yes or good boy. We emphasized our work on his Extended Sit, and Come to Sit utilizing a 15ft leash. After many repetitions he demonstrated consistency with holding his Sit for up to a minute and a half long, which is almost at our goal!Ā
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 Otis to Place on while adapting to an unfamiliar environment helps bridge the transition much more quickly.Ā
When practicing Place with Otis, I chain the commands Place and Down together to help him voluntarily offer the behavior without much guidance needed from me. Otis enjoyed this and fluently performed this behavior repetitively. We then built duration with this as he held it for a minute long. Now we will begin to build distance between us for his commands as we improve his commands near daily distractions.Ā
Otis and I ventured out to the beach where we worked on proofing his commands as we prepared him for his final video! There were plenty of dogs to train near, some even reactive. Otis did not react to any of these dogs, staying by my side and engaged with me which is great! Any time a dog is within close vicinity, I effectively communicate with Otis by reminding him to Heel, as I apply slight leash pressure towards me to guide him in the direction I want him to go. At times he will try to veer off the side of me. When he is in the Heel it is important to hold him accountable at all times, until released. During the Heel he should not be sniffing the floor, pulling ahead or outwards. He should match his handlers pace, and check in frequently when he hears his name.Ā
I cue Heel before we move forward from a stationary position, and anytime there is a change of direction or pace. I pop the leash in a backwards motion if he pulls ahead, as I cue Heel with a few taps of stimulation. Stimulation from the e collar is always paired with leash pressure, as I give verbal cues simultaneously. By holding Otis accountable for every unwanted action, and giving him an alternate behavior to perform such as Heel or Place, we diffuse the situation and prevent unwanted behaviors from reoccurring.Ā
It is important to realize that reactivity can stem from a place of insecurity in a dog. We must not react before Otis even has a chance to react. Being proactive instead of reactive (meaning giving Otis a job to do before he even notices a dog is nearby) is essential in preventing Otis from being reactive.Ā 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 Otis, instead of pulling him into a state of uncertainty. By remaining consistent and applying clear communication, Otis will be set up for success in these scenarios, as he will feel more confident with following clear instructions from his leader.Ā
Otis and I had the opportunity to film content for his final video at the beach! There were plenty of distractions to proof his commands near, which Otis did great with. He checked in with me frequently, while he held his Extended Sit and Place paired with Down for a minimum of one and a half minutes.Ā
Once we got home we played a game of tug of war, which triggers him to be very excited. Once he is overly excited, he begins to nip and jump. I am sure to have his e collar remote handy whenever we play to establish boundaries. If he begins to jump, the play stops as I stimulate him as immediately when he jumps, to correct the behavior. After a few repetitions Otis understood that the jumping was never rewarded. He began to Sit voluntarily which I rewarded with continued play.Ā
Otis and I started our day with a stroll around the neighborhood as we worked on proofing all of his commands. We utilized a 15 ft leash as we built distance between us while he held his Extended Sit and Down. As we Heeled making frequent turns, we encountered a couple of reactive dogs which caught Otisā attention, however, once I cued Heeled making a few 180 turns along with a pop of the leash and stimulation of the e collar, Otis focused on the task at hand. We then continued our walk, as I gave Otis frequent breaks to explore his surroundings.Ā
Otis and I spent our day together working on all of his commands as we strolled around the neighborhood. After about 10 minutes his anxiety gradually mellows down which is a very big improvement as before it took him up to an hour before he seemed somewhat relaxed in new environments. 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 Otis doesnāt see it is a big deal either. Crate training also greatly helps with separation anxiety, especially when at home with Otis. Periods of time alone throughout the day helps prepare him for time apart.Ā
Otis 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 Otis 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 Otis!Ā
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