Rebel | Chihuahua Mix | Glendale, CA | In Training
- gregoffleashsocal
- Feb 22
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 8
Please welcome Rebel!
Rebel is a female Chihuahua mix who has just joined us for our Two-Week Urban Board and Train Program. She may be small, but she brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm with her, and we’re excited to start working with her.
Rebel is currently struggling with jumping, being mouthy, and she doesn’t yet have any formal obedience foundation. While these behaviors often come from excitement and lack of structure rather than bad intentions, they can make it difficult for her to clearly understand boundaries and how to appropriately interact with people.
Over the next two weeks, our focus will be on building that foundation. We’ll be teaching Rebel clear obedience, helping her learn how to keep four paws on the ground, and showing her more appropriate ways to express herself instead of using her mouth. Just as importantly, we’ll be helping her learn how to slow down, think through situations, and look to her handler for guidance.
As her understanding improves, you’ll start to see a calmer, more polite, and more responsive version of Rebel emerge—while still keeping the fun personality that makes her who she is.
We’re looking forward to working with her and sharing her progress throughout the program.
Rebel | Chihuahua Mix | Pupdate 2/23/2026
Rebel has completed her first 24 hours of training. She is still very nervous and unsure of her new environment, which is completely normal, but she is beginning to follow along and open up a tiny bit. We spent time assessing her baseline level of training and introducing her to what pressure means and how to properly respond to it. She is starting to understand the guidance, even if she’s still hesitant.
She hasn’t been eating much yet, which is expected as she adjusts, and we’ll continue to monitor her appetite closely. Rebel is a very sweet girl, and as her confidence improves, we expect her personality and willingness to learn to grow with it.
Rebel | Chihuahua Mix | Pupdate 2/24/2026
Rebel is coming along nicely. She can still be a bit anxious at times, but she’s becoming more comfortable with us each day and starting to relax into the routine. We’re seeing more of her personality come through as she builds trust and confidence in her environment.
One thing she’s finding challenging is the down position. It’s a very vulnerable posture for dogs, especially those who are naturally unsure, so it’s something we’re taking our time with. We’re helping her understand that she’s safe and guiding her through it in a way that builds confidence rather than pressure.
She’s trying, and that’s what matters most. With consistency and patience, she’s continuing to make progress and grow more comfortable every day.
Rebel | Chihuahua Mix | Pupdate 2/25/2026
Rebel had a great day working out in public, and we’re very happy with the progress she’s making. She’s starting to become much more comfortable in new environments and is showing a better understanding of what’s being asked of her. Her confidence is growing, and she’s doing a nice job staying with her handler and focusing, even with distractions around. She’s developing a good rhythm with her commands and seems proud of herself when she gets it right. It’s been really nice to see her personality continue to open up as she learns, and she’s proving to be a sweet, willing girl who’s headed in a very positive direction.
Rebel | Chihuahua Mix | Pupdate 2/26/2026
Rebel worked at Home Depot today to continue building her confidence in a busy public setting. Rebel is still a bit nervous in new environments, but she’s pushing through and staying engaged instead of shutting down — and that’s real progress.
Big win: Rebel is finally getting comfortable with the Down command. That position can feel very vulnerable for a dog, especially in unfamiliar places, so seeing Rebel settle and hold it is a huge step forward.
Continued socialization and steady exposure outside her comfort zone will smooth this out. Rebel is learning that new places are safe, and her confidence is growing every time we challenge her just a little more. Proud of her for working through it.
Rebel | Chihuahua Mix | Pupdate 2/27/2026
Rebel is coming along nicely!
We’ve been continuing to build her confidence by extending the duration of her downs in busier public settings. This is a vulnerable position for a dog, especially one that can feel unsure in new environments, so teaching her to calmly hold it while the world moves around her is a big step forward.
By increasing the time she remains in the down, she learns that she doesn’t need to pop up or react to every sound, person, or distraction. Instead, she’s practicing settling herself, regulating her energy, and trusting that she’s safe where she is. The repetition in different locations is what really helps it transfer from a training exercise to a true behavior.
She may hesitate at first in some spots, but once she commits, you can see her start to relax into it. Each successful repetition builds on the last, layering confidence and stability. These longer downs aren’t just about obedience — they’re about teaching her patience, resilience, and trust.
She’s progressing steadily, and the more she practices this in real-world environments, the more natural and secure she becomes.
Rebel | Chihuahua Mix | Pupdate 2/28/2026
Rebel had a really hot day today, so we kept everything smart, structured, and safe for her. Most of our work was done inside where she could stay cool, comfortable, and focused. We mixed in a few short, productive sessions out in the sun to keep building consistency in different environments, then brought her right back in for hydration and a proper cool down in the house.
Rebel handled the adjusted routine beautifully. Even with the heat and the change of pace, she stayed engaged, responsive, and willing to work. She’s continuing to show steady progress while maintaining a great attitude through it all. Such a good girl.
Rebel | Chihuahua Mix | Pupdate 3/1/2026
Rebel trained in a busy outdoor shopping center today, surrounded by hundreds of people and dozens of other dogs. The goal was building her neutrality in an extremely uncomfortable environment and helping her learn that she can stay calm and focused no matter what’s happening around her. Considering how stressful this type of setting can be, she handled herself very well. It’s clear she’s growing in confidence and becoming much more comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings. We’ll continue building on this progress while reinforcing all of her obedience so she learns to stay steady and reliable everywhere we go.
Rebel | Chihuahua Mix | Pupdate 3/2/2026
Rebel’s focus today was on extending the duration of her stationary positions and increasing the distance between her and her handler. We worked on longer sit and down holds, gradually adding time while reinforcing calm, steady behavior. She’s learning that the expectation doesn’t change just because time passes — the command stands until released.
We also began adding more distance, stepping farther away while requiring her to maintain position. This challenges both her impulse control and confidence, especially in stimulating environments. Rebel is showing steady improvement. She still thinks about breaking at times, but she’s beginning to understand that consistency and patience are what earn her freedom. We’ll continue building duration and distance together so her reliability becomes solid no matter the setting.
Rebel | Chihuahua Mix | Pupdate 3/3/2026
Rebel is officially heading into her last week of training, and she is absolutely rocking her obedience. The difference in her consistency and focus has been huge — she’s responding promptly, holding her positions with confidence, and showing a much clearer understanding of what’s expected of her in every environment.
What’s been especially great to see is how much more comfortable she’s become in settings that used to feel scary or overwhelming. Busy areas, new surroundings, added distractions — she’s handling it all with far more composure. Instead of shutting down or getting unsure, she’s choosing to stay engaged and work through it. That growing confidence is really starting to shine through, and it’s clear she’s maturing mentally as well as in her obedience.
We’ll use this final week to polish everything up, tighten details, and make sure her reliability holds strong no matter where she is. She’s come a long way, and she’s finishing strong.
Rebel | Chihuahua Mix | Pupdate 3/4/2026
Rebel had several productive sessions today focused on extending distance from the handler while maintaining clarity and consistency in her commands. Across each session, we gradually increased the space between her and the handler while asking her to hold her positions reliably, reinforcing steadiness and accountability even as physical separation grows.
She’s showing solid progress in maintaining her commands without creeping, breaking, or anticipating the release. As the distance increases, so does the level of responsibility, and she’s handling that added pressure well. Her focus and understanding are becoming more consistent from session to session.
We’ll continue building on this by layering in additional duration and distance to strengthen her overall reliability and confidence.
Rebel | Chihuahua Mix | Pupdate 3/5/2026
Rebel spent today continuing to tighten up her training and put the finishing touches on everything she’s learned so far. She’s doing very well and showing a lot more maturity and consistency in her work. We’ve started preparing to film her final video, making sure each command is clean and reliable as we get closer to the end of the program. She’s not quite finished yet, but she’s getting very close, and it’s been great watching her confidence grow and her understanding of the work really come together.
Rebel | Chihuahua Mix | Pupdate 3/6/2026
We’re really happy with where Rebel is at right now. She has made excellent progress during her time here, and it’s been great watching her confidence and understanding grow each day. She’s staying engaged, responding well, and showing a much clearer understanding of what’s being asked of her. We’re finishing up her program tomorrow, and she’ll be heading home Sunday. We’re very proud of the work she’s put in and excited for you to see how far she’s come.
Rebel | Chihuahua Mix | Pupdate 3/7/2026
Rebel wrapped up her last full day with us today, and it’s hard to believe her time here has already come to an end. She’s come a long way during her stay and has really shown how capable she is when given clear direction and consistency. Over the past couple of weeks she’s grown more confident, more focused, and much more comfortable working through different environments and situations.
She’s doing a great job with her obedience and has learned how to slow down, think through what’s being asked of her, and follow direction even when things around her are busy or distracting. It’s been really rewarding to watch her progress and see her start to understand the structure and expectations of the training.
Tomorrow she heads home to continue the journey with her family. Like with any good dog, the real progress happens when the training carries over into everyday life, and Rebel has a great foundation to build on. We’re very proud of the work she’s put in here and excited to see her keep growing and improving from here.
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