Rex | German Shepherd | Hamilton Beach, CA. | In Training.
- heatheroffleashsoc
- Apr 26
- 16 min read
Updated: May 9
Meet Rex!š¾
Ā This 10-month-old German Shepherd from Manhattan Beach, California has just joined us for our Two Week Urban Board and Train programāand heās already making quite the impression. Rex is a playful, energetic pup with a big personality and, as his family puts it, a lot to sayāespecially when other animals are around!
At home, Rex has also developed a few less-than-ideal habits. Like many young dogs, heās been testing boundaries by chewing on anything he can get his paws on and perfecting his skills as a professional food beggar during mealtimes. While these behaviors are common at his age, theyāre exactly the kind of challenges weāre here to tackle.
Over the next two weeks, weāll be working closely with Rex to build a strong foundation in basic obedience and improve his house manners. Our goal is to help him channel his energy in more positive ways, discover his āinside voice,ā and learn how to make better choices when heās with his family.
Weāre excited to guide Rex on this journey and canāt wait to show you his progress. Stay tuned for his transformation!
4/26/2026
Today was all about introductions for Rex! We headed to the park for a walk so we could get better acquainted while I assessed what he already knows. Right away, Rex showed a tendency to tug on the leash, trying to lead the wayānothing too intense, just a steady pull forward. When we crossed paths with another dog, I got to see the barking behavior that had been mentioned. I responded by bringing him in closer to my side, continuing forward, and giving him an āoffā command. Once the other pup was out of sight, Rex settled right back down. Itās clear heās excited and likely just wants to play, but weāll definitely be working on teaching him that loud greetings arenāt necessary.
After that, we found a quieter area to begin working on his heel and to introduce his ācome to sitā commandāwhere Rex comes around my right side and sits nicely at my left. So far, so good! Heās responsive to leash guidance, and while he was starting to understand heel, the park proved to be a bit distracting. After a few solid repetitions of ācome to sit,ā we wrapped things up and headed home.
Getting into the car wasnāt Rexās favorite part of the dayāhe definitely put on a bit of a āyouāre kidnapping meā performance, which gave me a good laughābut with a little encouragement, he hopped in, settled into the crate, and laid down. Good boy! This will improve with consistent practice on car manners. He handled the ride itself very well.
Once we arrived at my house, Rex wasted no time exploring his new environment. He noticed the other dogs and whined a bit but continued to check everything out with curiosity. Overall, he seems to be adjusting nicely to his home away from home for the next couple of weeks, which is great to see. The rest of the evening will be focused on relaxing and helping Rex get comfortableāand so far, heās been pretty chill about things!Ā
4/27/2026
This morning Rex and I started with a potty break, then headed inside while I got coffee and his breakfast ready. I let him roam a bit to get comfortable, and he quickly made himself at homeāknocking water out of his bowl and attempting to mark near the catās area. I addressed this with an āoffā command and gave him some crate time while I cleaned up. It was a good reminder that house manners will be an important focus, especially since he was so well-behaved the night before.
Afterward, we went to the park to begin working on his commands using the e-collar. At first, Rex wasnāt too interested in listening, which is normal as weāre still building our relationship. With consistency, he started to understand expectations and engage more.
His heel is already improving, with only occasional pulling that was easy to correct. His sit is solid, and he did well with added distance and duration. Down was a bit more challenging at first, but he worked through it and showed good progress by the end. He also picked up place quickly and did well with come-to-sit.
While we were working, a few dogs passed by. Rex was definitely interested but didnāt react like expected. He fixated briefly, but with reminders of āoff,ā he was able to refocus and continue working.
Back at home, we reinforced boundaries, especially around the catās space, and he was much more respectful. We also played tug-of-war and practiced ādrop it,ā which he did well with.
Overall, today was a great mix of structure, learning, and play. Rex is a smart dog whoās already starting to catch on, and Iām looking forward to building on this progress!
4/28/2026
Today Rex and I headed to the park to meet up with some fellow trainers and their pups. This gave us the perfect opportunity to continue working on his commands while also addressing his reactivity around other dogs.
Interestingly, Rex showed a different response compared to his first dayārather than barking, he mostly whined when he noticed the other dogs. This is actually a step in the right direction. With that, we stayed consistent and continued working through his commands until he was able to settle himself. Once he reached a calmer state, I gave him the ābreakā command (which releases him from position), and we brought out the tug toy for a game. Weāre using play as a reward for making good choices rather than as a distraction, and Rex is responding really well to that approach.
Even though he clearly wanted to engage with the other pups, he still did a great job following through with his commands. The main one that still gives him a bit of trouble is come to sit, but thatās completely normalāthis command tends to take a little more time to fully click, and heās already making progress.
Weāre also continuing to build on the distance and duration of his extended commands. Rex has a solid foundation here; he just gets a little antsy at times, which weāll keep working through with consistency and practice.
Iām especially happy to report that we had a much smoother start to our day today. Instead of roaming the house and getting into things he shouldnāt, Rex chose to settle just outside the kitchen and patiently wait for breakfast. Huge improvement and a great display of self-control!
Rex has also now met the cats and is learning to respect their boundaries. Heās definitely curiousāheāll watch them from a distance and occasionally whineābut he remains polite and keeps his manners in check, which is exactly what we want to see.
All in all, Rex is doing really well. Iām so proud of how quickly heās learning and how much progress heās already making!
4/29/2026
Rex and I headed out to Home Depot today to continue working on his commands in a more distracting environment. Overall, Rex did a really nice job handling the sights, sounds, and foot traffic around him. He stayed fairly focused and showed good progress with his commands, especially considering the level of distraction.
The biggest challenge today was his ācome to sit,ā which makes sense as itās still a newer concept for him. With all the added stimulation, he had a bit more difficulty following through consistently. However, we stuck with it, guiding him patiently and giving him the chance to work it outāand it paid off! He finished the session on a high note with a beautiful, clean come to sit.
Another hurdle weāre continuing to work through is his tendency to lay down when he feels like it. While I absolutely take into account that his legs may play a role in this, we are reinforcing that āsitā means sit, and ādownā will come when heās given that specific cue. For the most part, heās understanding this well, and with consistency, heāll continue to improve his follow-through.
Rex also got quite a bit of attention from shoppersāhe really is such a big, handsome boy, so itās no surprise! He thoroughly enjoyed all the love, and we used those moments as great training opportunities to practice his greeting manners. Initially, he was eager and wanted to move toward people, but with a reminder to sit, he was able to pause, settle, and let people come to him. Once he did, he received plenty of well-earned affection.
All in all, Rex had a strong outing today. He worked through distractions, showed progress where it counts, and continues to build better habits with both his commands and his manners.
4/30/2026
Today Rex and I headed back out to Home Depot to continue working on his commands, and he did a great job! Heās really starting to get the hang of everythingājust like the smart boy we know he is. Rex is showing solid understanding, especially with holding his extended sit without laying down, which is a great improvement. Heās also making nice progress with his come-to-sit, and itās really starting to come together. Great job, Rex!
Out in public, Rex continues to perform his commands with ease, which is awesome to see. Heās handling the environment well and staying engaged, which tells me his confidence and understanding are both growing.
As for his house manners, Rex is doing well overall. He does have his curious moments where he tries to get into things, but with a simple āoff,ā heās quick to respond and will usually come settle next to meāgood choices!
Weāve also been working on his door and food manners, and these are a bit more challenging for him since they require patience. For food manners, Rex tends to want to dive in before the bowl even hits the ground. When he breaks his sit, I simply lift the bowl back up and reset until heās sitting calmly. Heās already starting to improve here, and I expect this to click for him pretty quickly.
The same goes for door manners. As soon as the door begins to open, Rex wants to pop up and head out. Each time he breaks position, I close the door and remind him to sit. With consistency, heās beginning to understand that patience is what gets him accessāheās making progress here as well.
I havenāt seen any barking in the yard so far, but he does whine at passing dogs or squirrels outside the gate. When he does, I let him know āoffā to prevent that behavior from escalating into barking, and heās been responsive to that guidance.
All in all, Rex is making great progress, and Iām really proud of this big guy! šŖš¾
5/1/2026
Today Rex and I headed out to the park to continue working on his commands around distractions, while also focusing on his reactivity to other dogs. Overall, he had a really solid session!
His commands are coming along nicelyāheās really starting to understand his ācome to sit,ā which is great to see. We also continued building his patience with extended commands. While he does a great job overall, he can get a little antsy at times, which is completely normal for a puppy. With consistency, that patience will only keep improving.
As for his dog reactivity, Rex did bark a bit when we first arrived at the park. However, with a couple of prompt āoffā commands and e-collar corrections, he was able to settle down and we continued our walk.
After that, he showed some mild whining when noticing other dogs, but with a quick reminder, he was able to refocus and stay quietāgood boy, Rex!
Iām genuinely impressed with how quickly heās picking things up. Heās a smart young guy and it really shows in his progress. All in all, today was a very productive training day, and Iām proud of how far Rex continues to come!
5/2/2026
Today Rex and I headed out to the park to continue working on his dog reactivity and commands, with a special focus on his place commandāand he made some awesome progress!
When it came to other dogs, Rex did a great job overall. He only needed one reminder that yelling his āhellosā to passing pups wasnāt necessary, and after that, we were able to enjoy the rest of our walk with much more ease. Was there a little whining here and there? Yesābut thatās a big improvement from barking, and Iāll happily take that win!
We worked through all of his commands, but the real highlight of the day was his place command. Since Rex can feel a bit unsure about hopping up onto elevated surfaces due to some sensitivity in his legs, this was a big confidence-building moment for him. We found a few different safe, low surfaces and encouraged him to hop up.
At first, Rex wasnāt having itāhe completely hit the brakes and wouldnāt even attempt it. So, we took a step back and gave him a few ārunning startā opportunities to build momentum and confidence. Eventually, he gave it a try! It was a bit clumsy and he needed a little help, but he did itāand we made sure to celebrate that win. š
On the next attempt, he improved right away and was able to hop up much more smoothly on his ownāanother big celebration! After that, something really clicked for him. Just about every bench we approached, as soon as I asked for āplace,ā Rex confidently hopped right up like a pro.
Iām so proud of him for working through that uncertainty and choosing to trust and try. Thatās a huge step forward, especially with something that initially made him uncomfortable. Even if that trust had to be built and earned in the moment, he rose to the occasion and showed what a capable and resilient young man he is.
All in all, it was a great day of training and Rex made some wonderful progress. He even had plenty of energy left when we got home and had a blast playing with my pup Quinnāsuch a fun way to end the day! š¶
5/3/2026
Today Rex and I headed back out to the park to continue strengthening his commands around distractions, while also putting in more work on his reactivity to other dogs. Overall, he had a really solid session and is continuing to show great progress in his understanding.
With his obedience, Rex did very well. He was responsive to his commands and is starting to show more consistency, even with things going on around him. One highlight from today was his place commandāhe confidently hopped up onto a bench without hesitation and held his position nicely. Itās great to see his confidence building in new environments and with elevated surfaces.
When it came to other dogs, Rex started off pretty excited. He barked at the first pup he saw, but with a quick and well-timed reminder using the āoffā command, he immediately stopped and was able to settle himself. After that initial excitement, he showed noticeable improvement. As we passed more dogs, he was less reactive overall. He did whine a bit here and there, but he stayed more composed and was able to disengage when asked. Each time, a simple reminder helped him refocus, which shows heās beginning to understand whatās expected of him in these situations.
Inside the home, Rex is definitely starting to get more comfortable in his environment, which can sometimes lead to him testing boundaries. He had a few moments where he chose not to listen right away, but with quick and consistent corrections, he was reminded that the rules still apply. This is a normal part of the learning process, and itās important that we continue to hold him accountable so he doesnāt develop any bad habits.
All in all, Rex had a great day. Heās making steady progress with both his obedience and his behavior around other dogs. With continued consistency and structure, heās well on his way to becoming a very well-mannered pup. Keep up the great work, Rex! š¶
5/4/2026
Today Rex and I headed out to a park in Rosemead where we met up with some fellow trainers and their dogs. This was the perfect setup to put his training to the testāworking his commands around real-world distractions while also addressing his dog reactivity.
When we first arrived, Rex was very excited to see all the other pups. He began whining and barking, but with timely corrections and a clear reminder using the āoffā command, the barking stopped fairly quickly. He continued to whine for a short period, but once we shifted into working mode and started running through his commands, his focus began to improve.
As Rex learned to tune into what was being asked of him instead of everything happening around him, he really started to shine. He performed his commands well, even with a busy environment. There were definitely moments where other dogs playing nearby made it more challenging for him to stay locked in, but with consistency and follow-through, he worked through those distractions too.
Once Rex showed he could maintain his focus and composure, he earned a reward with his tug toyāa well-deserved break that he thoroughly enjoyed!
By the end of the session, Rex made great progress. He was able to hold his commands right next to other dogs without breaking until released, which is a huge step forward for his self-control and overall obedience.
All in all, today was a very productive day, and Iām really proud of the progress Rex is making. Heās learning that staying calm and focused pays off!
5/5/2026
Today Rex and I headed out to Home Depot to continue working on his commands around distractions, as well as making progress with his dog reactivity. We also met up with a couple of other trainers, and I took the opportunity to see how Rex would respond to working with someone other than me.
As expected, Rex gave a bit of a āyouāre not the bossā attitude and tested boundaries with the new handler. This is very normal and honestly exactly what I anticipated. Itās an important part of his trainingālearning that commands apply no matter who is holding the leash. With consistency and clear communication, he began to understand expectations and started to settle in.
Having other dogs around added another layer of difficulty. At first, Rex struggled with wanting to bark at and engage with the other pups, and he had a few vocal moments. Each time, he was reminded āoff,ā and he was able to regroup and refocus on his work. As the session went on, he improved and worked through the distractions much more thoughtfully.
In the video, you may notice Rex looking backāhe was checking in with me since I was behind the camera. This is actually a great sign that heās becoming more aware and engaged with his handler, even in stimulating environments.
Overall, aside from some expected boundary testing with my fellow trainer Chelsea, Rex adapted well and learned quickly what was being asked of him. He continues to make great progress in all aspects of his training, and Iām very happy with how he handled todayās challenges!
5/6/2026
Today Rex and I headed back out to the Home Depot to continue progressing with his commands around distractions, and Rex did a wonderful job! Heās showing a great understanding of his commands and is beginning to check in with me frequently throughout our outings. I absolutely love seeing him pause and think through what is being asked of him instead of just reacting right away. Itās a great sign that heās truly starting to understand the structure and communication weāre building together.
As far as his house manners go, Rex is also doing very well! He still needs reminders here and there not to pick up items that donāt belong to him, as well as reminders to remain in the down position during meal times, but thatās to be expectedāheās still a young man and learning more every day. The important part is that heās responding well to the guidance and continuing to improve.
Iāve also been pleasantly surprised with how well heās doing in the yard. Despite the very cheeky squirrels in my neighborhood constantly teasing the dogs, I have yet to experience any excessive barking from Rex. If he does bark, heās met with the āoffā command and usually responds appropriately after the first warning. Rex is a smart boy and an absolute joy to work with. Overall, heās making wonderful progress, and Iām really enjoying my time with this big guy!
5/7/2026
Today Rex and I headed back out to the park to continue working on his commands and dog reactivity. Rex did pretty well with his commands overall, only really breaking command when we introduced his tug toy as a distraction. This exercise was meant to ensure that he understands he must wait for the break command, even when a highly exciting reward is visibly present. He did break a couple of times, but it didnāt take much reminding for him to settle back into what he should be doing.
It also seemed that working around other pups was a little more difficult for Rex today, so we took some extra time to reinforce expectations and work through those moments calmly. While he was definitely more aware of the dogs around him, he still showed a great understanding of his commands overall, even with wildlife nearby adding another layer of distraction to the environment.
All in all, Rex continues to improve daily and is making solid progress. Heās also continuing to do well with his ādrop itā command and is starting to understand it more consistently!
5/8/2026
Today Rex and I headed back out to the park to continue working on his commands while also focusing on his dog reactivity. We kept things a bit lighter today since Rex is already showing a wonderful understanding of everything weāve been working on so far. Honestly, today seemed to feel more like a nice adventure for him than a strict training session, which he definitely enjoyed!
We also had a pretty funny moment during our walk near the water. Out of nowhere, a fish suddenly hopped up and flopped back into the lake right as we were passing by. Rex had absolutely no idea what to think about that situation and immediately tried to herd me away from the āsuspicious water creature!ā Instead of moving away quickly, we walked over to a nearby bench and spent some time simply sitting and observing the environment together. This gave Rex the opportunity to slow down, process what had happened, and learn that he didnāt need to react so strongly.
After a little while, Rex settled nicely, though shortly after that several dogs began passing by our area. He did whine a little while watching them, but the best part was that there was no barking at all, which was wonderful to see! Heās beginning to show much better emotional control and is learning how to work through exciting or unfamiliar situations without becoming overwhelmed.
Overall, Rex continues to make great progress in every aspect of his training. Today was less about heavy structure and more about building confidence, practicing calm behavior, and simply enjoying the outing together.
5/9/2026
As far as his house manners go, Rex has made some wonderful progress as well! While you may still need to keep an eye on him around the home from time to time, heās become very responsive when told to drop things he shouldnāt have. His patience during human mealtimes is improving too. Heās doing very well waiting calmly in either a sit or down position until released. The same goes for feeding time and door manners ā Rex is doing an excellent job sitting or laying down patiently before being released to eat or head outside.
His car manners are coming along nicely as well. While he canāt quite jump into the car fully on his own yet, if you have a ramp or stairs available heās very good about loading up independently. His crate training has also been going smoothly. More often than not, he walks right in, settles himself down, and relaxes comfortably.
After our training session today, we headed back to the house where we spent the rest of the day hanging out, playing, and even enjoying a nice bath together. We did everything we could to enjoy our last day together!
Iād also like to take a moment to thank you for trusting me with Rex and allowing me to be a part of his training journey. My hope is that Iāve provided both you and Rex with the tools needed to continue forward and enjoy many wonderful adventures together. Rex has truly been such a special boy to work with and he will absolutely be missed around here. He definitely earned himself a very special place in my heart!
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