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Penny Lane | Irish Terrier Mix | Los Angeles, CA | In Training

Tanner Strong

Meet Penny Lane! She's an eleven-month-old Irish Terrier Mix from Los Angeles, California here for our Two-Week Board and Train Program! She's incredibly sweet and cuddly, but finds it very difficult to listen to any commands, and struggles with most distractions, especially squirrels and other dogs. She often barks at them, and pulls all over the place on her leash. She also needs a little extra help with her potty training. Over the next fourteen days, we'll work on her obedience skills, help with her barking and reactivity towards distractions, work on her manners in and out of the house, help with her potty training, and show her how to be the best pup she can possibly be! Stay tuned for Penny Lane's two week transformation!

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Pupdate: 1/19/2025


I picked up Penny Lane today and spent some time at the park to get to know her. Sheā€™s incredibly sweet and even hopped onto a few benches with me for some cuddle time. On the walk, she pulled quite a bit and barked at a few other dogs. She seemed fairly uncomfortable with all the distractions around.


During the drive home, she was quiet, which made for a smooth trip. Once we arrived, she spent some time exploring and sniffing around my home. She was a little nervous at first, but she seems to be settling in nicely. So far, Penny Lane has been a joy to have, and Iā€™m excited to see her personality shine as she gets more comfortable!

Ā 

Pupdate: 1/20/2025


Today, Penny Lane had a big training session at Whittier Narrows Park with several other trainers and their dogs. When we first arrived, she was quite reactiveā€”barking a lot and pulling heavily on her leash at the other dogs. However, after a few minutes, she started to settle down, although she would occasionally bark when another dog moved or made a noise.


We spent most of our time working on her Heel command. My goal is for Penny Lane to walk calmly at my left side with her ears in line with my leg. This has been a challenge for her since sheā€™s used to pulling wherever she wants, but with the help of the leash and her new E-collar, sheā€™s starting to make progress. Once we got into the rhythm of training, her focus improved, and she didnā€™t bark at the other dogs for the rest of the session.


Once we made some progress, we practiced holding a Sit near the other dogs to help her get more comfortable in close proximity. She did fairly well, as seen in the video above.


After such a productive day, Penny Lane was ready for a well-deserved nap at home. On a great note, sheā€™s also had zero potty accidents indoors so farā€”way to go, Penny Lane!

Ā 

Pupdate: 1/21/2025


Penny Lane had a great training session at Almansor Park today! There were a few other dogs around, and I was really impressed with her progressā€”she passed by them without barking! She was still curious and interested in the other dogs but managed to keep her composure, avoiding both pulling and barking.


We continued working on her Heel, which showed noticeable improvement compared to yesterday. Penny Lane is starting to understand whatā€™s expected of her, and Iā€™m thrilled with her progress so far.


The most challenging part of the park turned out to be the pond. Penny was fascinated by the geese and ducks, watching them intently. She didn't bark or pull but was definitely interested and kept her distance from the water's edge.


We also worked on her Come To Sit command, which will be how we call her to us. The goal is for her to come to my right side when called, move around behind me, and sit neatly at my left with her ears aligned to my leg. Itā€™s a tricky skill, and Penny Lane has a tendency to spin too far and end up in front of me. Using bits of her kibble to guide her into the correct position made a big difference, and sheā€™s starting to get the hang of it!


Ā 

Pupdate: 1/22/2025



Today, Penny Lane and I went to the park for another fun day of work! She did a great job overall, though the area near the pond is still the most challenging for her. That said, she showed improvement compared to yesterday, which is a big win.


At about the thirty-second mark in the video, you'll notice we pass a dog who lunges and barks at her. Penny Lane gets distracted but stays composedā€”no barking or lunging, which is excellent progress. Her commands are becoming more solid every day, and she's starting to show much better focus and reliability during our sessions.


After a long day of work and progress, Penny Lane was more than ready for a nap once we got home. Proud of this sweet girl and excited to see her continue improving!


She still has not had any potty accidents, and continues to go potty outside whenever we leave.

Ā 

Pupdate: 1/23/2025


Penny Lane had an exciting day at Wilderness Park! This park has a pond like others we've visited, but Penny Lane didnā€™t seem to mind it at all. She was on her best behavior as we walked around the pond to warm up, even passing other dogs, geese, and squirrels. Typically, squirrels are her sworn enemies, but today she didnā€™t seem to notice the ones we passedā€”a big win for her focus and impulse control!


We dedicated much of our time to working on her Place command using various benches around the park. Penny Lane has been practicing Place indoors on her place cot, but doing it outside on benches was a new challenge. She had no trouble jumping onto the benches, but staying put was a different story. She kept wanting to come back to me instead of holding her position. After some consistent practice, she started to get the hang of it, staying in Place for longer periods.


Place is an excellent command for building Penny Lane's confidence and teaching her to stay on a designated object, even when there are distractions. It's also super practical for everyday lifeā€”whether Iā€™m cooking, cleaning, or entertaining guests, sheā€™s learning to stay calm and settled. After a productive training session at the park, Penny was more than happy to curl up for a nap on her place cot while I cleaned and made dinner.


Sheā€™s making great progress, and Iā€™m so proud of her work today!

Ā 

Pupdate: 12/24/2025


Today, Penny Lane and I spent most of the day at the park, focusing on her commands with the leash dragging. The goal was to see how she might perform off-leash while still having access to the leash if needed. It was a challenging exercise for her, as she often wanted to wander off when she realized I wasnā€™t holding the leash.


Each time Penny Lane made a mistake, I would step on the leash, pick it up, and guide her back into the correct position. Sheā€™s incredibly smart and seems to understand when the leash isnā€™t in my handā€”she still thinks that means she can do her own thing. Because of this, I know her training will require slow, consistent work to help her transition successfully to off-leash commands.


After taking a break midday, we returned to practice again. This time, she did a little better, which you can see in the video above. We kept the distance very close and practiced Heeling for just a few steps at a time. Each successful command was met with plenty of breaks and praise, which seemed to encourage her.


Today was probably Penny Laneā€™s toughest day of training so far, but she gave it her best effort and made some progress. Taking it slow and steady is working well for her, and Iā€™m confident sheā€™ll continue to improve with time!

Ā 

Pupdate: 1/25/2025


Today, Penny Lane and I took a trip to Home Depot to work on her training and socialization. It was her first time in a large indoor store like this, and I was curious to see how sheā€™d handle the new sights, sounds, and smells.


From the moment we walked in, Penny Lane did a fantastic job staying in a Heel position. She remained at my side and seemed to take comfort in knowing I was leading the way. The first few minutes were a bit overwhelming for her. She was alert, looking around and taking everything in, but as we continued walking, she began to settle and gain some confidence.


The real challenges came when we stopped moving. During those moments, she seemed the most unsure and hesitant, especially if there were loud noises nearby. The lumber section, in particular, was a tough spot for her. The clanging of wood, the beeping of forklifts, and the general hustle and bustle of the area sometimes startled her. She would jump a little or try to back away, but with some encouragement and patience, she managed to keep going.


For her first time in an environment like this, Penny Lane did incredibly well. She stayed focused for the majority of our time there, and although she was on edge at certain moments, she showed a lot of potential. With more practice and exposure, Iā€™m confident sheā€™ll become much more comfortable and composed in similar settings.


Since it might rain tomorrow, itā€™ll be a great opportunity to return to Home Depot for another session. Indoor locations like this provide an excellent chance to work on her confidence and focus around distractions, and Iā€™m looking forward to seeing how she improves on our next visit.

Ā 

Pupdate: 1/26/2025

Today, we made another trip to Home Depot to escape the rain and get in some training. While the weather kept us indoors, it added a unique element to our session since we could occasionally hear the rain tapping on the roof. Penny Lane did just as well as yesterday when I had the leash in my handā€”she stayed close and focused for most of the time. Her responsiveness and ability to stay engaged have been steadily improving, which is always great to see.


However, I wanted to challenge her a bit more, so I practiced dropping the leash to see how she would handle being less tethered to me. Thatā€™s where things got more difficult for her. Without the leash in my hand, she struggled to maintain the same level of attention and often started to wander off. While she did come to me when asked, it usually took a second command before she fully responded. Itā€™s clear this is an area weā€™ll need to keep working on to build her confidence and reliability when sheā€™s given more freedom.


On a positive note, she didnā€™t seem as concerned about the usual store noises compared to our last visit. The sound of carts, people moving around, and lumber noises didnā€™t faze her. Occasionally, the sound of the rain caught her attention, but even then, she stayed relatively calm.


Overall, Penny Lane did a good job today. Sheā€™s making steady progress, but thereā€™s still work to do to get her to the point where she listens just as well off-leash as she does on-leash. Itā€™s always a joy to see her progress, and Iā€™m excited to keep helping her grow.

Ā 

Pupdate: 1/27/2025


Today, Penny Lane and I headed to Maple Park for some training, and Iā€™m happy with how well she did. As usual, she was rock-solid with the leash in my hand, responding quickly to commands and staying focused. However, the real progress came when we moved on to practicing with the leash draggingā€”a skill we've been working hard to refine.


After a nice warm-up to get her energy focused, we started with the leash dragging. In the past, Penny has struggled to remain as attentive without the guidance of a held leash, but today was different. She surprised me with her responsiveness and ability to make good decisions on her own. Most of the time, she came when called promptly and stuck by my side when she needed to. Her body language seemed more confident and engaged, which was exciting to see.


Thatā€™s not to say we didnā€™t have a few moments where I needed to step on or pick up the leash. A couple of distractions got the better of her, but these moments were far fewer than in previous sessions. The improvement was significant, and it gave me a real boost in confidence about how far sheā€™s come.


This session felt like a turning point for Pennyā€™s leash-dragging work. Sheā€™s starting to understand whatā€™s expected of her even when Iā€™m not actively holding the leash, and her choices are becoming more thoughtful and intentional. Thereā€™s still work to be done, but Iā€™m incredibly proud of the progress she made today and canā€™t wait to see how much further we can go. Way to go, Penny Lane!

Ā 

Pupdate: 1/28/2025



Penny Lane made some solid strides in her training today! To continue building her off-leash reliability, we used a shorter leash to further replicate the sensation of being off-leash while still maintaining control. She handled this adjustment fairly well and listened to commands for the majority of our session. Sheā€™s learning she needs to follow through each time she's asked without me needing to pick up the leash.


The most challenging part of todayā€™s session was her Down command. This position can be tough to work on, especially in environments with distractions, as it puts her in a vulnerable state. At first, she found it hard to settle and hold the position, needing some guidance with the leash to follow through. There were moments when she wanted to pop up and follow me as I moved, but we worked through it with patience and consistency.


After a solid warm-up, Penny Lane began to show improvement. She started holding her Down with more consistency and was able to remain in position longer, even as I moved away. Though she occasionally needed reminders, she showed determination and ended the session stronger than she began.


Overall, Penny Laneā€™s confidence and focus continue to grow with each session. Her ability to listen and work through challenges today shows just how far sheā€™s comeā€”and how much potential she has!


Ā 

Pupdate: 1/29/2025

Penny Lane took a trip to Wilderness Park today! She was very nervous for the first few minutes, taking in all the new sights, sounds, and smells. She met some other dogs but was skeptical of them, keeping her distance at first. After warming up, she started to gain some confidence and loosen up.


We decided to take her leash off for a few minutes at a time to see how she would do. She handled it pretty well, staying relatively close and responsive. Her biggest challenge was the Down commandā€”she wasnā€™t too keen on laying down around the other dogs. Once I put the leash back on, she became more reliable with the command again.


Overall, Penny Lane did well for her first time off-leash! Sheā€™s making steady progress, and with more practice, her confidence and responsiveness will only continue to improve.

Ā 

Pupdate: 1/30/2025


Penny Lane had a great training session today at Santa Anita Mall! Since it wasnā€™t too busy, it was a perfect opportunity to introduce her to the new environment without overwhelming her. At first, she was a little nervous, taking in all the sights, sounds, and smells, but after a few minutes, she started to settle in. Instead of jumping straight into commands, we spent plenty of time just relaxing, letting her observe her surroundings, and getting her comfortable with the space.


Once she was in a good mindset, we got to work, focusing primarily on her Down command. This has been a tough one for her, especially in distracting environments, but today, she really started putting the pieces together. She not only followed through when asked but also held the position well, which was a big accomplishment for her. The calmer atmosphere helped her stay focused, making it a great confidence-building session.


In between training reps, we took breaks to let her soak everything in and reinforce a sense of calmness. She handled the entire outing well and showed noticeable progress, which is exactly what we were hoping for. Tomorrow, weā€™ll be heading back when the mall is busier to give her more of a challenge. Iā€™m excited to see how she handles the increased activity and distractions!

Ā 

Pupdate: 1/31/2025

Penny Lane took another big step forward in her training today with a return trip to Santa Anita Mall. We started outside on the promenade, giving her a chance to warm up and get into the right mindset before heading indoors. Once inside, the mall was noticeably more crowded than last time, providing the perfect opportunity to challenge her focus and responsiveness.


We spent a good amount of time working on-leash, ensuring she was engaged and following commands reliably before taking things to the next level. After a solid warm-up and structured walk, I removed her leash to see how well she could maintain her training in a high-distraction environment.


Penny Lane rose to the occasion. She stayed close, kept her focus on me, and executed each command with consistency. Even her least favorite, the Down command, was performed without hesitationā€”a huge win for her! Throughout the session, she demonstrated confidence, responsiveness, and a willingness to work, proving just how much progress she has made.


This was one of her best training outings yet, and I couldnā€™t be prouder of how well she handled the challenge. Great job, Penny Lane!

Ā 

Pupdate: 2/1/2025


Penny Lane had a great training session today at Santa Anita Mall! It was even busier than usual, which made for a perfect opportunity to challenge her even more. She worked both on and off leash, and after a good warmup, she settled in nicely and handled the environment well.


The main focus of todayā€™s session was improving her greeting manners. Penny Lane absolutely loves people and has a habit of jumping up for attention, so we spent most of our time reinforcing polite greetings. We had multiple people pet her, making sure she understood that she only got attention if all four paws stayed on the ground. At first, she struggledā€”her excitement made it hard for her to resistā€”but with consistency and patience, she started to understand the pattern. Each time she kept her paws on the floor, she got rewarded with affection, and by the end of the session, she was doing much better!


It was great to see her making progress, especially in such a high-distraction environment. Sheā€™s learning that calm, polite behavior gets her what she wants, and thatā€™s a huge step forward. Proud of Penny Lane for working hard today!


I've been trying out a smaller E collar for her, and she's been responding well to it. I'm adding a picture of her new one above!


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