Pasha | Great Pyrenees | Los Angeles, CA | In - Training
- cristianoffleash
- Apr 26
- 19 min read
Updated: May 9
Pasha is a 1-year-old Great Pyrenees from Los Angeles, CA, who has joined us for our two-week board and train program. This gentle giant is a sweet and joyful presence in her family’s life, but she can get a bit too excited at times—especially when greeting guests or meeting new people, as she tends to jump up in excitement. While Pasha has made some progress with listening at home, she still struggles with distractions in new environments and hasn’t yet learned how to stay engaged when encountering unfamiliar sights or situations. She has also shown some reactivity around other dogs, which we’ll be addressing during her stay. Over the next two weeks, we’ll focus on building her obedience, improving her discipline, and teaching her better manners to help her become a well-rounded, well-behaved companion.
Stay tuned for her transformation!
Pupdate 4/26/2025
Today, I had the pleasure of meeting Pasha and her owner before bringing her home with me. She was a joy to be around—very sweet and calm during our initial introduction. On the drive home, she didn’t have any accidents, but she did pant quite a bit from anxiety. When we arrived, I noticed she was a little wet, likely from stress or excitement, so I gently dried her off with a towel. We then took a walk around the neighborhood to give her a chance to go potty and explore a bit.
During our walk, I offered her several opportunities to relieve herself, but she didn’t go. We headed back home and began settling in. Pasha met some of my family members and was calm and unbothered by them. Afterwards, we got her some water and spent some time in the backyard, where she seemed more at ease. She walked around, sniffed the area, and gradually relaxed—her panting noticeably reduced.
Later, we went into my room where Pasha met my personal dog, Hunter, who stayed in his crate. When she noticed him, she paused and observed her surroundings but remained calm, eventually walking back to the kitchen area. I placed her in her crate, and once I left the room, she was completely quiet. Within a few minutes, she had settled down and taken a nap.
After a few hours, Pasha woke up and we moved to the front yard to begin some light obedience training. We focused on leash pressure and basic cues to lay the groundwork for her training journey. Stay tuned for daily “pupdates” as we visit parks, malls, and other pet-friendly environments to help her grow more confident and well-rounded!
Pupdate 4/27/2025
This morning, I took Hunter and Pasha out for a walk together to observe how they would behave around one another. As we made our way to the front of the property, Pasha showed interest in Hunter by sniffing him and greeting him in a calm, non-confrontational way. As the walk continued, she adjusted well to our pace and remained comfortable with Hunter’s presence throughout the outing.
In the video above, we focused on improving Pasha’s door manners. She tends to be impulsive when she gets excited, so we practiced the "place" command near the door to encourage her to stay focused and understand the objective of remaining calm and stationary. While she had moments at the start where she wanted to follow me, she also had small successes that I was able to praise and reward. Over time, she began to grasp the concept and stayed on her place mat more consistently.
During the session, there was a key moment when Pasha got up but then redirected herself back to the place mat without any leash guidance—this showed she was starting to understand and take responsibility for the task. We spent a significant amount of time working through this behavior, as her impulsiveness was a recurring challenge, but she eventually managed to stay put, even allowing me to walk all the way to the front before returning to reward her. I was able to repeat this process a second time, reinforcing the behavior with praise and rewards.
Later, once she had rested, we resumed obedience training to reinforce her door manners and continue helping her adjust to this new challenge. Pasha has been staying near Hunter without any problems, typically lying down calmly indoors without causing any disruptions. She also remains relaxed in her crate and usually falls asleep there when she's tired after training.
Pupdate 4/28/2025
Today, we visited Whittier Narrows Park in El Monte, CA to work on Pasha’s obedience training and spend time with our friends from Off-Leash and their dogs. When we first arrived, Pasha was very excited to be outside, so I let her roam around to release some energy and go potty before we settled under the gazebo.
When Pasha noticed some of the other dogs, she displayed signs of fear rather than reactivity. Before beginning any structured training, I focused on walking her near the other dogs to help desensitize her to their presence and movement. This process took some time, but gradually, she became more comfortable. Once she could tolerate being near the dogs without showing fear, we moved a little closer and began to see better results. As she relaxed, we resumed our obedience work and focused on commands like heel, down, and place.
While training along the park walkway, we concentrated on recall, which tends to be a more energy-demanding task for Pasha. She’s usually slow to move when lured into position, so I’ll need to explore ways to increase her motivation and responsiveness for this command. During sit-stay exercises, she initially broke position, but with gentle redirection, she improved. We eventually extended both the distance and duration of the sit-stay successfully. After returning to the gazebo, I placed Pasha on a mat, and for the remainder of our visit, she remained calmly in place—even when other dogs walked by. She showed great impulse control during this time.
Later in the day, we continued our training in the backyard, as I’ve noticed she has trouble staying focused in front of the house. The backyard provides a more controlled environment, and Pasha was more engaged during our session. With a few more days of consistent work, I plan to transition our training back to the front of the house.
To finish off the day, we worked on reinforcing her door manners to build consistency in that area as well.
Pupdate 4/29/2025
Today, we visited the Citadel Outlets in Commerce, CA to give Pasha some exposure to a busy environment and work on reinforcing her obedience commands in public. When we first arrived, we took an elevator down, and while Pasha was initially fine during the ride, she tried to pull forward as soon as the doors opened. We met up with a friend and used the opportunity to train around another dog, focusing specifically on Pasha’s engagement and attention on me. She tends to fixate on people or objects, so getting her to refocus took some time. However, the longer we worked, the more progress we saw in her responsiveness.
After some time, Pasha became more comfortable around my friend’s dog and was able to keep her focus on me even while walking in various directions. We then made our way to the food court to practice her "down" command amidst the heavy foot traffic. Pasha has a tendency to break her down position, so I had to reinforce it with gentle e-collar corrections and leash pressure. She tolerates her training tools well, but she can still be physically resistant if she’s unsure. Once settled again, she was able to remain calmly in position, as if she had done it many times before.
While sitting there, a nearby woman who was working struck up a conversation about Pasha’s training, complimenting how well-behaved she was compared to other dogs she had seen. Throughout the entire conversation, Pasha stayed in her down until I released her with a break command. She was then rewarded with praise to reinforce the positive behavior.
After the video ended, we continued walking around the outlets with our friends. By this time, Pasha was genuinely tired—so much so that she defaulted to lying down instead of sitting. We eventually took a break on a bench, and during that time, several people passing by commented on how impressed they were to see such a well-behaved dog in a busy public setting..
We spent the remainder of the day going over obedience at home and much play time with Hunter who Pasha is really accustomed to.
Pupdate 4/30/2025
This morning, we took Hunter for a walk, and everything went smoothly. As usual, Pasha stayed about a foot behind us throughout the walk. She’s not the most energetic dog and tends to move at a slower pace. Our walk lasted around 30 minutes before we returned home and let both dogs spend some time together in the backyard to socialize and play.
Later in the day, after Pasha woke up from her first nap, we went to the front yard to work on her obedience training. In the video above, we focus on reinforcing the “place” command, integrating it with her recall training. Pasha is capable of responding to these commands, even at random times, but she sometimes resists following through, particularly when prompted by the e-collar. I’m careful and patient, using light stimulation to guide her responses gradually. At one point, she lays on her side, trying to get attention in a playful, almost childlike way. Instead of giving in, I wait for her to correct herself and settle into the proper down position. Although she continues to be playful and distracted, I work through the distractions and eventually get her to respond to the recall.
In the second video, we’re working on door manners at the front entrance of the house. Pasha has become more confident with this training in the backyard, but the front door presents a new environment for her, which makes her uneasy. This unfamiliar setting caused her to break obedience a few times. Still, we had some successful moments where she was able to wait patiently. It’s understandable that she feels nervous when she can’t see me, especially when placed in a different area from what she’s used to. Whenever she tried to come outside before being released, I redirected her using only the e-collar. Eventually, she was able to return to her mat and remain there, allowing me to complete the exercise. By the end, she was even able to let me calmly transition into the kitchen from the front entrance and end our practice.
We spent the rest of the day working on Pasha's obedience training, with the help of my brother Nick, who happened to be home early today. Lately, Pasha has been showing signs of separation anxiety and tries to follow me whenever I'm out of her sight. To help address this, Nick has been assisting with her training, especially by reinforcing her ability to stay in place and respond to commands from people other than me.
Pupdate 5/1/2025
This morning, we followed our usual routine—starting the day with a walk with Hunter, followed by some playtime.
Today, we visited Anaheim Pet & Feed, a pet-friendly store that provides a great environment for practicing obedience training. When we arrived, Pasha was clearly excited to be out again and eager to explore, frequently trying to pull toward new scents in the environment. As we approached the entrance, she began pulling to get inside, so we took the opportunity to work on proper leash behavior and enter calmly together.
Once inside, the variety of smells from the store shelves immediately caught Pasha's attention. I had to repeatedly use her “off” command—also known as “leave it”—to redirect her focus. This was the most distracted I've seen her in terms of scent, which actually made it a great training opportunity to reinforce the “off” command each time she fixated on something new. As she became more comfortable and confident in the environment, we moved on to some advanced training. I practiced leaving her sight briefly—about 5 to 10 seconds at a time—then returning to praise and release her for maintaining the correct behavior. We explored different areas of the store and frequently practiced her “down” command, although the slippery floor made it a bit challenging, causing her paws to slide.
During our session, a few store employees greeted Pasha. She responded well to each interaction, remaining calm and friendly. By the end of our visit, she was largely ignoring other people in the store and staying composed around the other dogs. However, one dog did bark, which caused Pasha to react momentarily. I redirected her quickly and brought her focus back.
Later in the day, we continued her obedience training at home. My brother, who had just returned from school, worked with her on-leash, helping to reinforce her response to leash pressure. Meanwhile, I focused on her e-collar training to further strengthen her responsiveness.
Pupdate 5/2/2025
Today, we focused on conditioning Pasha for loose leash walking as a foundation for future off-leash obedience. Since she has been showing good self-control during our walks, I decided to take it a step further by allowing the leash to drag and relying primarily on the e-collar for guidance.
Initially, Pasha maintained a heel position well, but as soon as she got distracted or decided to act on her own, I had to use the remote to redirect her focus. In moments where the e-collar wasn’t enough, I provided gentle leash assistance to help her understand the task. I make an effort to keep her engaged and motivated to stay on my left side. Dogs are often aware when the leash isn't in your hand, and Pasha is no exception—she occasionally tests boundaries during those moments. When practicing recall, she was hesitant at first. I used the leash for a few repetitions to reinforce the command structure. Once she completed one solid recall, I asked her to go into a down-stay while I walked around the neighborhood, increasing the distance between us. At one point, when I gave her a break command, she rolled over in a playful manner—something I try not to encourage during obedience. She corrected herself and resumed a proper down, so I repeated the break command, and she came to me, earning praise.
In the second video, we worked on door manners, which have shown improvement over the past few days. While we’re still building consistency around distractions like people, noises, and movement at the door, Pasha is starting to grasp the expectation to stay in place—even when she can't see me. I was able to enter and exit the house multiple times, and she remained in her position, showing a growing understanding of the boundary. As usual, I ended the session by releasing her with a break command, which she responded to appropriately and was rewarded for.
Pupdate 5/3/2025
This morning, Hunter and Pasha enjoyed their walk together before heading home for some playtime in the backyard. Their bond has grown significantly, and they are now virtually inseparable during play. When Hunter decides he's done playing, Pasha often follows his lead—choosing to lay beside him and even taking short naps next to him. This shows a clear sign of comfort and companionship developing between the two.
Later in the day, we visited the Home Depot in Anaheim, CA, to work on obedience training in a more distracting environment. We began in the garden section, where Pasha was comfortable and able to follow commands well. However, once we moved inside the main store, she appeared more anxious, particularly in response to unfamiliar noises and the loud forklift used to move heavy items. Despite her initial unease, Pasha was able to continue following commands, although she was occasionally distracted. In busier parts of the store, she showed curiosity toward people—making direct eye contact and at times attempting to approach them. While her interest seems to come from a place of curiosity rather than reactivity, I made sure to redirect her attention and encourage her to focus on me by keeping her head forward and centered.
After about 20 minutes, Pasha began to settle down—even remaining calm as the forklift passed nearby. We then concentrated on reinforcing her "down" command in store aisles, particularly in areas with frequent foot traffic. Each time someone walked by, Pasha remained neutral and stayed in her down position, which is great progress in her desensitization to movement and distractions in public environments. To strengthen this behavior, we continued practicing in the busiest parts of the store, helping her grow more comfortable with the surroundings, sounds, and general activity.
We finished the day with additional leash-drag work, transitioning toward more advanced off-leash obedience. Pasha also had another training session with my younger brother to reinforce her ability to respond to commands from teens and children. This helps ensure that her obedience extends beyond just one handler and prepares her to generalize commands in a variety of social settings.
Pupdate 5/4/2025
This morning, we woke up early to get our walk in before the forecasted rain began. We headed out and made it back home just as the drizzle started. Instead of letting Hunter and Pasha play in the backyard, I gave them some playtime in my room. They managed themselves well and weren’t too disruptive.
Last night, some of my family came over to visit, and Pasha had the chance to meet several people at once. She handled the greetings very well. As everyone began to wake up this morning, I saw an opportunity to work on her “place” and “down” commands. The goal was to reinforce her ability to stay in a down position and remain calm, even with distractions like people walking by or trying to engage her.
While she stayed in her down, I conversed with my family members and took the chance to correct her any time she tried to get up. Though she did break position a few times, she was able to settle back down relatively quickly. I gradually increased the challenge by walking around and eventually leaving her line of sight, even stepping outside the house while people were still nearby. Impressively, she held her down position through most of it. She did get up once, but after that, she allowed me to leave the house and return without breaking her command. I released her from the command after chatting briefly with my uncle.
After releasing her, I asked her to return to the mat, and she remained there for a good while, even beyond the end of the video I was recording. I continued moving around the house, and despite my family walking and talking nearby, she stayed confidently in place. Eventually, she even began to doze off, so I let her nap for a bit before taking her back to hang out with Hunter on my side of the house.
We spent the remainder of the day going over her obedience commands at home and inside the house while some of my family members were still visiting so she can socialize and desensitize herself when people are over.
Pupdate 5/5/2025
Today, we took Pasha to Wilderness Park in Downey, CA to work on her loose-leash walking and overall obedience. When we first arrived, she did well walking calmly without pulling as we made a full lap around the park. After the walk, we moved to a quieter area to focus on more structured training.
In the first video clip, we practiced heeling in an open space, making sure Pasha remained consistent through each turn without stopping or getting distracted. She stayed fairly focused despite the various scents around the park. To end the session, I gave her a recall command, and instead of coming directly to me, she chose to lie down—likely due to being tired from the earlier walk.
The second clip shows us working on her "place" command without leash assistance, using nearby benches. Although there were other dogs in the area, Pasha initially held her position well. However, when a group of dogs and their owner walked nearby, she became fixated on them. I used the e-collar to redirect her attention, but she showed some resistance—laying down or positioning herself in front of me, likely as a way to cope with the pressure. Eventually, I was able to get her back into a calm heel position, and she stopped focusing on the dogs. We continued practicing her "place" command even after the video ended, reinforcing the expectation to either sit or lie down calmly while in place.
After training, I gave Pasha some water and we took a short break. During this time, two women approached and wanted to say hello. Pasha, too tired to stand, stayed lying on her belly and happily accepted some belly rubs. Interestingly, she doesn’t seem inclined to jump on people in public, but at home—where she’s more comfortable—she’s more likely to greet family members by jumping, even if it's from excitement and affection.
Later in the day, we continued working on her obedience at home. With help from my brother after he returned from school, we created distractions like knocking on the front door—something that used to trigger barking. So far, Pasha has been responding well and showing good progress with these controlled exercises.
Pupdate 5/6/2025
Today we took a trip to Cerritos, CA to explore the mall and incorporate some training during our visit. As we approached and entered the mall, Pasha walked calmly by my side without pulling, which was a great start. Early into our walk, a woman spotted Pasha and was so surprised and excited to see her that she couldn’t resist saying hello. Pasha handled the greeting well—she didn’t jump, but she did try to roll over for belly rubs. I gently redirected her to maintain focus and keep the interaction brief for training purposes.
As we made our way around the mall, we worked on basic obedience commands like "sit" and "down." However, due to the mall's slippery flooring, Pasha would sometimes slide when performing a down. To make things more comfortable for her, I limited those commands to areas with better traction where she could maintain her position securely. We eventually reached the food court, making a full lap while passing lots of people and tempting smells from various food vendors. Pasha wasn’t too distracted by the smells but would occasionally react when someone nearby looked at her or tried to get her attention. In those moments, I used the cue “off” (our version of "leave it") to redirect her focus and keep her engaged with me.
Back in the central area of the mall where foot traffic was heavier, we practiced long-distance "downs." At first, Pasha seemed unsure when I moved farther away, but I worked patiently with her to build confidence and help her settle into the exercise. We finished up our mall session in a quieter area, focusing on recall work. She responded well to recall commands, although the slippery floor caused her to slide into a down position when returning to me, which I allowed for the time being.
After a few more training reps, Pasha was visibly tired. We stopped for some water and then headed home.
Later in the day, Pasha played with Hunter and practiced transitioning from leash dragging to off-leash obedience in front of the house. We also walked around the neighborhood with the leash dragging. Pasha stayed consistent for most of the walk, though she often tried to veer onto the grass. I redirected her back into a proper heel position whenever that happened. Her main interest during the walk was smelling the grass. If she hadn’t gone potty yet, I would release her to do so. Once she finished, she was expected to stay on the pavement for the rest of the walk.
Pupdate 5/7/2025
This morning, we started our day early—around 6:00 AM—to take Hunter for a walk. The walk lasted about 30 minutes, after which we returned home and let the dogs play in the backyard. Following their playtime, the dogs had breakfast and settled down for their first rest of the day.
In the first video, we revisit door manners—this time practicing without a leash. Pasha remains calm and composed, showing no signs of anxiety or eagerness to rush through the door as I move in and out. Thanks to consistent practice over several days, she now reliably holds her position on the first command, without needing reminders. Once the exercise is complete, I give the cue for her to heel, and she calmly joins me as we exit together. The second video highlights Pasha’s car manners. She waits patiently as I open both the car door and the crate inside. When given the "place" command, she confidently and smoothly loads herself into the car without hesitation.
Later in the day, once Pasha had regained her energy, we went on a walk around the neighborhood without Hunter, focusing on off-leash walking. I was pleasantly surprised to see how well she stayed close to me, showing minimal interest in veering off onto the grass. The only time she was allowed on the grass was to relieve herself—after which she followed a "sit" command while I cleaned up.
Our walk was relaxed and slow-paced, as Pasha tends to be less energetic during extended movement, but she remained steady and attentive throughout. When we returned home, we worked on her recall. At this point in our routine, she often defaults to a "down" position when she's tired, so I incorporated that into the recall exercise. She performed well today, showing consistent responsiveness—much better than on previous days, when she had been more resistant to completing the task.
Pupdate 5/8/2025
Today, we visited Whittier Narrows Park in El Monte, CA, to train around some of our friends from Offleash. We started the session with Pasha on a leash to help prepare her for off-leash work around other dogs. After about ten minutes of structured training, I removed the leash. Pasha responded well overall, though she occasionally gave in to impulses—such as trying to greet another dog or sniff someone’s foot.
As the session progressed, she began to settle down nicely. Eventually, she was able to lie down calmly and let dogs and people pass by without reacting, which was great progress. We worked on reinforcing her sit and place commands to build consistency, especially while other dogs were relaxing nearby. This setup allowed her to focus on our commands while managing distractions.
I continued to walk her off-leash, using hand signals to keep her engaged. She performed well for most of the session. However, at one point, something seemed to startle or bother her, and she began to walk away in the opposite direction. When I tried to redirect her, she resisted and attempted to distance herself further. I approached her calmly to avoid triggering a chase response, and fortunately, she did not bolt. After that moment, I decided to put her back on the leash for the remainder of the visit.
Following that brief incident, Pasha remained in a down-stay position for the rest of our time at the park without any further issues. Overall, the visit went well, although she did show some signs of independence by trying to separate herself when unsure of a situation. While she is capable of off-leash obedience, this experience reminded us that she may need closer supervision in unfamiliar environments to ensure she stays reliable.
Back at home, we continued her training. She did well off-leash as I moved in and out of the house. For added safety, we also worked on-leash in the front yard. As usual, she enjoyed some playtime with Hunter, and the two remained their usual playful, inseparable selves.
Pupdate 5/9/2025
Today marks Pasha’s final day of boarding, so we began the morning with a walk, joined by Hunter. As always, the two of them enjoyed some quality playtime together, both in the backyard and in my room—just like they have throughout her stay.
Later, we headed over to the Citadel Outlets in Commerce for one last off-leash training session. Since the weather was warming up quickly, I made sure to guide Pasha to shaded areas while working on her commands. We began with recall exercises, then practiced heeling toward a nearby bench, where I had her hold a position for a while. After that, she resumed heeling beside me before being placed in an extended down. While holding her down-stay, most passersby didn’t bother her, but one man did walk closely behind her. It startled her momentarily, but she maintained her position with confidence and composure. I gave her a release command and praised her for executing her obedience so well under pressure.
By that point, the heat and the activity had started to wear her out, so we took a water break on a bench. While we were resting, a couple approached to ask about Pasha’s breed. We had a nice conversation, and they asked if they could say hello to her—which went very smoothly. A little later, another woman stopped to greet her, and Pasha was calm and welcoming. Once she seemed to regain some energy, we took a slow lap around the outlet center. Though it wasn’t fast-paced, we completed the full circuit before taking another rest. During this final break, I let her simply observe the crowds, and each time she remained calm and unbothered, I praised and petted her for displaying such good manners.
We spent the rest of the day reviewing her obedience before preparing her to return home. Her training journey is coming to a close, and working with a Great Pyrenees like Pasha has been an eventful and rewarding experience. She has shown me that, with the right guidance, she’s more than capable of learning and understanding. I’m truly going to miss her—especially the bond she’s formed with Hunter, who found in her the best friend he never knew he needed. Pasha has never shown anything but joy and affection in the house, and I’m incredibly grateful for the time we’ve spent together over the past two weeks. Now, as our time comes to an end, she’s ready to return to her family and show them all that she’s learned!
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