Petunia | French Bulldog | Los Angeles, CA | In - Training
- cristianoffleash
- May 25
- 19 min read
Updated: Jun 7
Meet Petunia! She’s a 1.5-year-old French Bulldog from Los Angeles, CA, and she has just joined our two-week board and train program. Petunia is a very sweet girl, but she struggles with fear and anxiety. She tends to be startled by many things in her environment and has even slipped out of leashes and harnesses in an attempt to flee, which has led to some stressful situations for her family. When she feels scared, Petunia becomes unresponsive to commands and has difficulty focusing on obedience. In addition, Petunia has a habit of eating random objects around the house when not supervised, which can be dangerous if she ingests something harmful. Right now, Petunia lacks the confidence she needs to feel safe and relaxed in her surroundings. Over the next two weeks, I’ll be working closely with her to build her confidence, improve her obedience, and help her become a more well-mannered and secure pup. Stay tuned for her progress!
Pupdate 5/25/2025
Today I spent time with Petunia, and I was pleased to see how well she’s doing based on some of the behavior points her owner and I previously discussed. I observed that she’s comfortable around both people and other dogs, which is a great sign. However, she does become a bit timid when introduced to new environments, so I’ll continue to monitor and support her in these situations as we explore different settings together.
After her owner left, I took her on a walk around the park. We spent some quality time bonding, allowing her to get more familiar with me and build trust.
Once we finished at the park, we returned to my home to settle in. Upon entering, Petunia appeared calm and curious. When she saw my family members from a distance, she showed genuine interest in greeting them and did so with ease. When we entered my room and she noticed my personal dog, Hunter, who was inside his crate, she kept her distance at first. I kept her on leash and used gentle leash pressure to guide her closer to him. Once they were near each other, they had a calm and respectful sniff interaction. Petunia even approached him a second time on her own, so I felt comfortable letting Hunter out of his crate to continue their introduction.
They interacted with good manners, showing typical polite dog behavior and body language. Petunia mostly chose to lie down while Hunter explored around her, which showed she was comfortable with his presence. After that, I put Hunter away and gave my brother the chance to greet Petunia. That interaction also went smoothly.
Later in the day, we focused on basic obedience training, practicing commands like heel, sit, and down. I introduced her gradually to the e-collar, pairing it gently with the commands to ensure she remains confident and responsive. While working outside in front of the house, I took my time to make sure she performed each command with confidence, using no excessive pressure or tension. Given her timid nature, it’s important that we build her skills through patience and positive reinforcement.
Petunia is progressing nicely so far. I’ll continue monitoring her behavior closely and adapting our sessions to suit her comfort and learning pace. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue on her training journey together!
Pupdate 5/26/2025
This morning, I took Petunia and Hunter out for a walk together. Initially, Petunia seemed unsure of how to position herself—switching between walking on Hunter's left and right sides. After a bit of time and guidance, she was able to settle on staying to one side. However, she would occasionally try to veer off onto the grass as we passed it, so we worked on redirecting that behavior.
Once we returned home, I let both dogs roam freely and relax so they could socialize. While they didn’t engage in any play, they were comfortable walking together, sniffing around, and lying next to each other—all positive signs for building their friendship. Eventually, they both settled down for their first nap of the day.
After their nap, we resumed Petunia’s training, focusing on door manners. The video above shows part of this session. The goal was to help her better understand how to respond when the door opens. At the beginning, she showed a good understanding of being placed when asked, but occasionally attempted to get up and go outside. When she did, I used the e-collar to gently redirect her. She responded well to the correction and remained on the mat, allowing us to continue the session smoothly. While practicing walking outside, I kept the distance manageable since we're still early in her training. Petunia performed well today, and with consistency, she’ll eventually be able to hold position for longer durations and at greater distances.
When we came back inside, I tested her impulse control by walking into the kitchen. On the first attempt, she tried to break position, so I redirected her. On the second attempt, she stayed in place, so once I closed the door, I gave her the “break” cue and rewarded her. I use “break” to signal the end of the task, letting her know she’s completed the work and can now come to me for praise. This reinforces that staying in position until released results in a positive outcome.
After our session, Petunia got some rest and later in the day, we continued reinforcing her door manners. She also spent more time with Hunter, strengthening their bond through shared calm experiences.
Pupdate 5/27/2025
Today, we visited Whittier Narrows Park in El Monte, CA, to train alongside some friends from Offleash and their dogs. When we first arrived, Petunia seemed comfortable in the new environment, so we made our way over to the gazebo where our friends had gathered.
As we got closer to the group, Petunia hesitated and stopped in her tracks. She appeared a bit timid upon seeing the other dogs from a distance. After a few moments, though, she began to show some confidence and slowly walked closer without displaying too much fear.
Once we settled in and placed our belongings on the tables, we began training while the other dogs remained in a down position. This setup helped minimize distractions so Petunia could better focus. We started with a simple exercise—walking around the other dogs while practicing basic obedience commands. Initially, Petunia was hesitant to perform even a basic sit on her own. However, with a few repetitions, she began to settle and became more responsive to commands. Though there were several moments where she needed redirection, she ultimately demonstrated solid progress, maintaining focus and composure even with other dogs freely moving around her.
By the end of our visit, Petunia was clearly tired. She rested on her place mat for an extended period without moving. As I walked around the area, she generally stayed in place, though she did become uneasy if I moved too far away. We used this as an opportunity to practice increasing distance, and while we had both successes and setbacks, that's perfectly okay—we have plenty of time to continue working on it throughout the week.
After returning home, Petunia got plenty of rest. Later in the day, once she was re-energized, we held another brief training session in front of the house, this time with the help of my younger brother.
Pupdate 5/28/2025
This morning, we took Hunter and Petunia for a walk around the neighborhood to give them some exercise. The walk went smoothly overall, and Petunia seemed to be in better spirits. However, unlike previous walks where she would head straight for the grass, today she occasionally tried to take the lead rather than following the routine.
Once we returned home, I allowed both dogs to relax and lounge around. Petunia kept to herself for the most part, showing little interest in interacting or playing. Despite this, she chose to stay close to Hunter, allowing him to approach and sniff her without showing any signs of discomfort or intimidation. While she may not seem actively playful, her calm and tolerant behavior indicates a level of comfort around him.
In the first video, we worked on recall training in front of the house. This is a daily obedience exercise we've been practicing, and today Petunia showed noticeable improvement. She responded more confidently to the "come" command, completing the task without hesitation or stopping midway. When I give the recall command, I say "come" and repeat it until she reaches my left side, where I then cue her to "heel." From this position, I either continue with additional obedience commands or give her a break as a reward for following through. At around the 2:12 mark in the video, I introduced an unexpected challenge by making unusual movements to see if she would break position. Impressively, she stayed on her place mat the entire time—even as I crossed the street and returned. After that, I gave the recall command again using hand signals, and she responded promptly. We ended the session with a break to reward her for her focus and good behavior.
The second video focuses on Petunia’s door manners. This time, she showed great attentiveness and seemed much more aware of the routine. She stayed on her place mat without needing correction, even as I walked out the door. When I returned, she briefly stood up but quickly repositioned herself into a sit on her own. Since no further redirection or use of her e-collar was necessary, I continued my movement through the kitchen without interruption. Petunia maintained good behavior throughout the rest of the session. Each time she successfully followed through with the expected behavior, I gave her a break as a reward. This helps reinforce house rules and boundaries in a positive way. While we sometimes incorporate treats for extra motivation—especially when introducing a new command—today’s session focused more on praise and consistency.
Pupdate 5/29/2025
Today followed our usual routine: we took a morning walk with Hunter, allowing time for both dogs to socialize and play. Afterward, we went back inside so they could rest and have breakfast. Around noon, once Petunia had regained some energy, we did our typical obedience training session in front of the house. We focused on reinforcing her basic commands and improving her consistency.
In the video above, we're working on Petunia’s house training, specifically targeting her impulse control. I intentionally left the front door open, even though there was ongoing construction in the neighbor's yard creating a lot of noise. I placed Petunia in a stay position in the living room and walked around the house, introducing different distractions to see if she would remain in place.
At first, I tossed a pillow around her to gauge her reaction—it didn’t seem to bother her. However, when I brought out a vacuum cleaner (not plugged in or running), she immediately appeared intimidated. Even without sound, the vacuum made her uncomfortable. I had to redirect her several times and patiently help her work through her discomfort. Eventually, she began to show more confidence and stayed in position even as I moved the vacuum nearby.
After some success with the vacuum, I brought in a dolly, which I know Petunia has been fearful of in the past due to its wheels. Surprisingly, she didn’t react much this time. I moved the dolly around her and even placed it beside her. She flinched slightly but held her position, which was a significant improvement. I rewarded her for staying put and introduced one final distraction before removing the dolly and wrapping up the session.
Once the training was done, I gave Petunia her release cue, praised her for her progress, and ended the session on a positive note. Later in the day, I had my brother work with Petunia on her obedience skills. This was a good opportunity to help her generalize her training with someone else—especially a teenager—so she continues learning to follow commands from different people.
Pupdate 5/30/2025
This morning began with our usual routine: a walk followed by playtime in the backyard. Petunia and Hunter were more playful than usual today, though the session didn’t last very long. Afterward, I took a moment to praise Petunia for being more active and social with Hunter, as this marks a positive step in her ongoing development.
Later in the day, I took Petunia to Anaheim Pet & Feed Co. in Anaheim, CA, to work on her obedience training in a new environment. With the weather heating up, I wanted to get her accustomed to practicing indoors while also keeping her cool.
Initially, Petunia was hesitant—she seemed intimidated by the automatic sliding doors and was reluctant to walk through them. I took my time, using motivation and encouragement to help her gain the confidence to enter on her own. It didn’t take long before she followed me inside.
Once we were inside, Petunia continued to show signs of nervousness, but her curiosity was piqued by various smells, which helped ease some of her anxiety. I allowed her time to explore the space freely, which helped her acclimate before we began practicing obedience commands.
As we started the training session, I focused on reinforcing basic commands in this unfamiliar setting. One challenge we encountered was the “down” command, which took some extra time and patience. This is understandable, as going into a down position can feel vulnerable for a dog, especially in a new environment. I made sure to be patient and give her space when needed, knowing she’s still working on transferring her home training skills to public settings.
By the end of the visit, Petunia appeared more comfortable and relaxed. To end on a positive note, I had a few store employees greet her. She responded well, handling the interaction without any major issues. We wrapped up the day with more house manners training and another session with my sibling. Petunia is doing very well responding to my brother’s commands, although she sometimes tries to take the lead during walks. Fortunately, my brother has become quite skilled at redirecting her when necessary.
Pupdate 5/31/2025
Today, we began our obedience training early in the day to avoid the heat. We started by practicing in front of the house, focusing on basic obedience exercises while keeping the leash loose and resting on the ground. Petunia performed several commands well, even as I walked across the street and moved out of her line of sight. She held her sit position calmly and confidently until I released her with a break command—a great display of composure and self-control.
In the second video clip, we worked specifically on managing Petunia's impulsive reactions to wheeled objects, which has been a consistent challenge. As I approached her while dragging the trash can, she initially flinched and stood up but did not try to flee. I used the e-collar to redirect her, and she responded appropriately by returning to a calm, obedient state. Throughout this session, there were moments when she became intimidated and broke position again, especially when the trash can moved behind her. I continued to redirect her until she was able to remain patient and composed while I moved the trash can around her.
When Petunia successfully maintained her calm and confidence, I gave her plenty of praise and rewards to reinforce the behavior and keep her motivated. My goal was to create a variety of movement patterns and scenarios with the trash can to desensitize her from all angles and situations. Once she remained relaxed with the trash can nearby, I marked the success with a release cue to end the session on a positive note.
Later in the day, once the weather cooled down, we resumed our desensitization work—again using the trash can and introducing other wheeled objects around the house. Each session is a step forward in helping Petunia build confidence and reduce reactivity in real-world situations.
Pupdate 6/1/2025
Today, we took Petunia to Home Depot as part of her obedience training and to help build her confidence in public spaces. Upon arrival, she did an excellent job walking into the store without pulling on the leash, which was a great start to the session.
As we made our way through the store, I used her e-collar to gently correct her whenever she tried to walk ahead. With consistency, she gradually stayed closer and maintained a better position during the walk. Throughout our visit, we were approached several times by shoppers—some of whom happened to be fellow Frenchie owners. They were pleasantly surprised to see how calm and relaxed Petunia was in such a stimulating environment.
After greeting a few people, we continued exploring the store. In quieter aisles with no foot traffic, I allowed the leash to drag slightly to work on off-leash focus and response in a low-distraction setting. While we were training, one of the employees passed us with an automatic floor cleaning machine. Petunia was startled at first, but I redirected her attention and kept her near the machine to help desensitize her to it. Eventually, she was able to walk past it without panicking—though she kept a cautious eye on it the whole time, which is a small but meaningful step in her progress.
Toward the end of our session, we focused on reinforcing her core obedience commands in the lumber section, where it was quieter and more spacious. She worked well until she began to show signs of fatigue, opting to lay down more frequently, signaling that she was reaching the end of her training threshold.
As we left the store, I noticed the ground was quite hot, so I carried Petunia to the car to protect her paws from the heat—a small but important detail for her comfort and safety. The rest of the day was spent relaxing at home with some visiting family members who had the chance to meet Petunia for the first time. She behaved wonderfully—staying close to people, showing respect, and thoroughly enjoying all the affection she received.
Pupdate 6/2/2025
This morning began with our usual routine—a walk with Hunter followed by some playtime in the backyard. Lately, Petunia has been showing more playful behavior towards Hunter. She’s been trying to get his attention by initiating chase games or sprinting around with zoomies, which is a great sign of her becoming more comfortable and social.
In the first video above, we revisited door manners, this time without using the place mat as a guide. Petunia is showing great progress—she’s able to stay calm and wait for my command before proceeding. On the second attempt, I had her lie down and recreated the scenario of me leaving the house. The repetition is helping her better understand the expected behavior. When asked to heel with me through the door, she walks calmly and doesn’t attempt to bolt or pull away, which is a significant improvement.
In the second video, I brought out a larger outdoor chair for jump training. This gives Petunia the opportunity to properly engage her hind legs, as opposed to the smaller place mat we had been using. We've practiced this a few times earlier in the week, and today she performed noticeably better. Previously, she was hesitant and resistant to follow through. During today’s session, there was construction noise coming from behind the house, which likely startled her more than my temporary absence did. Still, we kept practicing the jump command to build her confidence and consistency. She’s physically capable of the jump—it’s now just a matter of getting her more comfortable with it. After completing the session, I released Petunia with her break cue and gave her lots of praise, as always.
Later in the day, once the temperature dropped a bit, we moved our training to the front yard. There, we continued working on her impulse control, especially when I step out of her sight. I reintroduced distractions like the trash can and other wheeled objects to help her stay focused despite environmental challenges.
Pupdate 6/3/2025
Today, we visited Whittier Narrows Park in El Monte, CA, to continue Petunia’s obedience training. We trained alongside our friends from Off-Leash and focused specifically on refining any inconsistencies in Petunia’s obedience.
When we arrived at the park, we headed to our usual hangout spot near the tables. From a distance, Petunia seemed slightly intimidated by Oso and Ruby, but she was able to walk calmly around them without showing excessive fear. This was a great step in helping her feel more confident around other dogs.
In the video above, Petunia is positioned in the center of the group. This placement helps her stay engaged with me while also teaching her how to move confidently around other dogs when given commands. She responded very well throughout the session, executing her obedience commands on the first try with patience and focus—even as the other dogs and people moved freely around us. I had her hold a down position for an extended period to help desensitize her to her surroundings. This kind of exposure is important for her to become more comfortable in active environments.
Even though Petunia performed well, I made sure to give her frequent breaks and rewards. This helps her associate training and public outings with positive experiences, reinforcing that these situations are safe and rewarding.
After the video, we took a short walk along the park’s walkway. Since Petunia isn’t particularly high-energy, we used just a small portion of the path to reinforce her heel command and overall leash manners. One of our training goals for the day was for Petunia to share a place mat with Oso. Initially, she was hesitant and showed some resistance, especially to her e-collar, but after a bit of patience and reassurance, she was able to sit calmly next to him. I used this opportunity to reinforce the "place" command by having her get on and off the mat several times, which helped boost her confidence. After that, she remained calm for the rest of our visit, and we headed home.
Back at home, we continued practicing obedience, incorporating commands around wheeled objects to simulate distractions and build her focus. After a full day of training and exposure, Petunia settled down and took a well-deserved nap.
Pupdate 6/4/2025
Today, we visited the Cerritos Mall in Cerritos, CA, and had a great time spending the day indoors. When we first arrived, Petunia appeared confident but also curious about her surroundings. She seemed interested in exploring the stores and even approached people with noticeable enthusiasm. I kept her close by, and whenever she started to wander or create distance, I cued her to heel. Despite her excitement, she happily walked alongside me through the mall. Over time, she learned to stay closer on her own, especially when navigating through crowds, which was a great sign of progress.
We entered a few stores together to provide her with exposure to different environments. Petunia handled the changes very well, showing no hesitation or anxiety. While walking between stores, we encountered a family with a stroller. Petunia became slightly alert but continued walking steadily, keeping her focus forward and avoiding direct engagement. I praised her immediately for this composed behavior and stopped to give her a reward. Moments like these are important for reinforcing positive responses and helping her become more accepting of new or unusual sights.
We also spent some time in a busier section of the mall where foot traffic was heavier. I had her practice sitting or lying down calmly while people passed by, allowing her to observe and become more comfortable in a crowded environment. We stayed in this area for about 10 minutes before moving on to practice platforming—having her place herself on raised surfaces for confidence-building. To my surprise, she performed this exercise with ease. As her behavior continued to improve throughout the visit, I consistently rewarded her to reinforce her excellent manners and focus.
Pupdate 6/5/2025
Today, we returned to the mall with a friend to practice and showcase Petunia’s off-leash obedience inside the store. As we entered, the environment was similar to our previous visits—shoppers walking around—but this time I noticed an increase in delivery drivers using dollies to transport goods throughout the mall. I was aware that these could be intimidating for Petunia, and if she noticed them, she might start to feel uneasy.
To help her adjust, we spent some time having her sit and practice her obedience commands while waiting for our friend Jose. As more dollies appeared, I noticed that Petunia began to tremble slightly when she saw other wheeled objects, like strollers. To help rebuild her confidence, I had her walk beside me whenever something was approaching us. This proactive movement seemed to reduce her anxiety and help her regain composure. After some time, Petunia was noticeably more comfortable—she was able to remain calm and let strollers pass by without showing signs of distress. Fortunately, the number of delivery dollies also started to decrease, making the environment a bit more relaxed for her.
In the video above, we begin by heeling down a walkway and then back again. Petunia tends to move at a slow pace since she’s not particularly high-energy, so I matched my speed to hers. I then asked her to perform a "place" command, which she executed on her own, followed by a "down" command. She held her position patiently as people passed by, demonstrating good focus.
Later, I called her to me with a recall, and we moved into a more open area. There, she responded to a sit command and finished the session with her release cue, "break." She seems to understand all of the commands well, but in busy environments, I still prefer to keep her on-leash. While she hasn’t tried to bolt or shown extreme fear, new or unfamiliar situations could still overwhelm her, and I want to prioritize her safety during these exposure sessions.
We spent the rest of the day reinforcing her obedience skills and simply enjoying some quality time together. Petunia and my dog get along well—they spend a lot of time lounging near each other. Their play interactions are minimal, but they clearly enjoy each other’s company. For instance, last night my dog rolled over to initiate play, and Petunia responded playfully for about five minutes, which was sweet to watch—even if brief.
Pupdate 6/6/2025
This morning, we started our day with an early walk around the neighborhood with Hunter, as part of our usual routine for exercise and outdoor play. Afterward, we spent some time in the backyard for a bit more playtime.
Rather than extending backyard play, I decided to take Petunia to a nearby park to give her some off-leash freedom and a chance to explore in a more open space. In the video above, you'll see me running while Petunia keeps her focus on me, staying close and responsive. She doesn't wander far and naturally chooses to follow me, even when I move away. This behavior is a result of consistent training—Petunia has learned to stay attentive to me and respond to my cues with greater interest and engagement.
When I ask her to sit, I sometimes need to gently redirect her to help her get back into position. Once she’s settled in the sit, I release her with a "break" command, and she runs toward me with enthusiasm, clearly enjoying the interaction. After the video ends, we stayed at the park for another 20 minutes to practice obedience drills on the grass. While Petunia isn't overly distracted by the smells outdoors, it’s important to reinforce her obedience skills in a variety of environments.
In the second video clip, I demonstrate how Petunia loads herself into the car using a place mat as a step. This helps her climb in comfortably and safely. Without this mat or a step pad, I’d typically have to lift her into the vehicle. However, with the mat in place, she manages just fine on her own.
For the rest of the day, we continued to work on her obedience training both inside and outside the house, using wheeled objects around the house for desensitization. The goal is to ensure Petunia remains fully engaged with me regardless of the setting, reinforcing consistency and focus in all situations.
Pupdate 6/7/2025
Today marks Petunia's last day with us for her board and train program. We started the morning with a walk to give her some light exercise, followed by 30 minutes of supervised playtime in the backyard. Afterward, the dogs were fed breakfast and given time to rest before we headed out for Petunia's training session.
We visited Home Depot again to test Petunia’s progress in a busier environment. Saturday mornings tend to be noisier and more crowded, making it a great opportunity to evaluate her confidence and obedience under pressure. Upon entering, Petunia appeared noticeably more confident than before. She maintained a consistent heel position and stayed close by my side. Every 20 steps or so, I had her perform basic commands like sit, down, or recall—all of which she executed well.
We walked a full lap around the store, and despite Petunia not being the most agile dog, she kept pace nicely at a slower walking speed. At one point, an employee approached and asked to meet her. I allowed it, and Petunia handled the interaction calmly and politely. We finished the visit by having her hold a sit-stay while people walked past her—another great opportunity for practicing impulse control—before heading home to spend the rest of the day with Hunter. As her stay comes to an end, it's been a joy to help Petunia develop her obedience and build confidence in new environments. During her time here, she has shown noticeable improvement around wheeled objects—though certain noises or materials can still startle her, she's now better equipped to work through those moments using the structure of her training.
Petunia has been nothing but sweet and respectful with my dog and family, showing affection and a gentle nature with everyone she met. Though I’ll miss her, I know her family is excited to have her back. She’s leaving here better prepared and ready to continue being the amazing pup she is, now with a stronger foundation in obedience and social skills.
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