Richard | Pitbull Mix | Venice, CA | In-Training
- priscillaoffleashs
- Nov 5, 2023
- 13 min read
Updated: Feb 29, 2024
Meet Richard! A sweet seven month old Pitbull mix has joined Off Leash So Cal for our Two-Week Board and Train program to work on various behaviors that his owner has been struggling with. Richard is a rescue, who seems to have had a troubled past. It takes him quite some time to open up to new people or dogs which triggers him to react in a defensive manner. Richard is generally nervous around anything in his environment that he is unfamiliar with. He loves to pull on the leash, and suffers from separation anxiety. Due to struggling with any time alone, his anxiety leads to destructive chewing and peeing around the house.
Over these next two weeks Richard and I will focus our work primarily on building his confidence, as we gradually expose him to new places, where people, dogs, and different distractions will be present. We will implement clear communication, structure and leadership into his daily life to help him be the best pup he can possibly be! Stay tuned for his Two-Week transformation!
Richard and I had the opportunity to become more familiar with each other today, as my main goal of the day was to build a healthy bond with him. Once we began to stroll around the park he was picked up at, Richard came next to me voluntarily a few times which I continually rewarded. Although he is very anxious, he took treats which is great! Most anxious pups do not care for treats initially. We tested what he knew, as I cued a couple of different commands. He responded to Sit once, and looked at me every so often when I called his name. You may notice in the pictures his tail was tucked in most of the time when we were at the park. He was a bit whiny as well, however once he entered the crate in the car, he was very quiet. Once we got to his new temporary home, he struggled with leaving the crate. I applied leash pressure towards me to help guide him out, along with placing treats on the floor to help motivate him. After about twenty minutes, Richard worked up the courage to jump out! I praised him as he came straight towards me. Once I was able to adjust his slip lead, I noticed the irritation that was on his neck due to the e collar from his surgery at the vet. I attached a photo of the irritation and will continue to monitor this.
After getting Richard all settled in, he met the other pups through the fence. Richard released a few growls towards the other pup, which I corrected with a pop of the leash Cuing Off. After a few pops of the leash, he did not growl, and began to approach the other dog through the fence. I marked this with a Yes as I rewarded Richard for approaching, and not reacting in a negative manner. We then worked on crate training as I made his crate comfortable with his blanket and the top that was given to me. Richard went right in all on his own and nested himself into the blanket. It seems like Richard’s safe space is already his crate which is great, considering he is not very used to it. I will continue to help build a positive association with his crate, as well as other triggers of his. Then we will begin working on obedience tomorrow!
Richard and I started our day by introducing him to a few communication tools such as the slip lead and e collar. The slip lead is used to guide Richard with directional changes of the leash. I apply leash pressure in the direction I want him to go and the second he follows the path created for him, I turn that pressure off. Any time I apply leash pressure, I apply stimulation from the e collar as well. Once I marked and rewarded the few steps he took in the direction I wanted him to go, he began to understand how to turn the pressure off. Since Richard is a nervous boy, I have focused a lot of our first few sessions tapping into his play/food drive. This has already been helping Richard significantly with trusting me, and wanting to work for me with little to no resistance. He is appearing more confident, and has warmed up to me quite nicely.
I then introduced him to Come to Sit which is the action of Richard coming around behind me to Sit on my left hand side ready to Heel. He was a natural at this and learned quickly that all of the good stuff came to him when he Sat on my left side. This is how I begin to build value with Richard in a specific position. I Cued Richard’s name frequently, rewarding him when he offered me his attention. This is called the name game and is a great game to practice around distractions to build engagement during training.
Richard has been doing great with his crate training, and only whines when he sees me exit the room with another dog. The whining occurs for a few minutes before he settles back down. It is important not to acknowledge the whining, as that can contribute to his separation anxiety. Instead, I put a blanket over his kennel, which has helped him become less reactive to the outside of his kennel as I reward him when he does not react.
Richard and I started our day with a long stroll around the neighborhood as we focused our work on his Heel. Heel is the action of Richard walking by my left hand side, checking in with me frequently. He should match my pace, turn when I turn, and sit when I stop walking. All walks moving forward with Richard will be structured. When he is performing Heel he should be engaged with his handler, not sniffing around or veering off track. Our left leg is what guides Richard, as he is cued to Heel before any change of direction or pace is made during the walk. Stimulation from the e collar occurs simultaneously whenever I cue Heel. Pairing stimulation with all commands is how Richard understands to respond to the physical touch that he feels. Clear communication is key as well as consistency during the walk. This sets Richard up for success, as he knows he will always be held accountable for maintaining his Heel until released. Only once Richard hears the cue Break (his release word) may he roam free, doing as he pleases within reason.
After we walked for some time making frequent turns, Richard was very consistent with his Heel! We then worked alongside another trainer and their pups at the park. Richard was very interested in the other pup. Although interest is natural, we don’t want Richard to fixate on stimuli. We practiced the name game to build engagement, which helped Richard focus more on the task at hand. After we all went on a pack walk, Richard eventually took treats from the trainer, as I praised him for approaching on his own. We didn’t pressure him into being pet, as we want to build his confidence near others consistently. Great job Richard!
Richard and I took a trip to the park today! We explored our surroundings as we Heeled together making frequent turns, having him Sit whenever I stop walking. We emphasized our work on his Extended Sit, and Come to Sit. After many repetitions he demonstrated consistency with holding his Sit for up to a minute long, which is halfway to our goal!
After working on what he has already learned, I then introduced him to a new command, Place. Place is great to use to help create a calm state of mind, builds confidence in a dog, prevents unwanted behaviors, and can essentially be practiced on top of any elevated surface. Dogs are naturally more confident while on elevated surfaces. I recommend purchasing an elevated dog cot to practice with both inside and outside the house. Having something familiar for Richard to Place on while adapting to an unfamiliar environment helps bridge the transition much more quickly.
When practicing Place with Richard, I helped him become more comfortable with trusting my guidance up onto the elevated surface by jumping up with him the first few times. After he consistently jumped up with me, I only placed one foot on top with him. Towards the end of the session, and after plenty of repetitions, he jumped on top of the surface all by himself. Richard began to enjoy this and appeared more confident each time! We then built duration with this as he held it for a minute long. Now we will begin to build distance between us for his commands as we improve his commands near daily distractions.
Richard and I ventured out to the Citadel Outlets where we proofed his commands near plenty of distractions. When we first arrive somewhere new, we start off with a Heel to explore our new environment. I give Richard some time to acclimate to his surroundings by allowing him time to sniff around and practice his recall on a 15 ft leash. Richard appears more confident with practicing Place on top of new surfaces, not needing much help from me besides occasional leash pressure.
We practiced chaining the command Place and Down together. By chaining these two commands together frequently, Richard will voluntarily enter a calm state of mind at a quicker pace , as Down is a more comfortable position long term. I guided Richard downwards with leash pressure paired with the visual cue of my palms facing the floor. After a few tries, Richard followed my guidance. We will keep working on building fluency with his Down command as well as bios distance between us for everything he has learned.
Richard and I took a trip to Santa Monica where we had the opportunity to work near plenty of distractions such as crowds of people, other dogs, loud noises from the live band, etc. Richard did well with the change of environment, as today was the first day that his tail was fully untucked and even wagging! This body language demonstrated to me that Richard is gaining confidence and trust in himself as well as our relationship.
We practiced place on top of different surfaces, while he held his down for up to a minute and a half. He then held his Extended Sit for up to two minutes as plenty of distractions passed by us. If he releases himself preemptively, I pop the leash upwards as I remind him to Sit. Other trainers had the opportunity to give him some of his kibble, while they said hi to him, which Richard did well with. He says hi briefly, then checks in with me, knowing I will praise him. He’s a good boy, who is eager to please!
Richard and I focused our work today on weaning him off leash pressure, which requires us to depend more on the e collar paired with visual, and verbal cues. We began with a few repetitions utilizing the leash to set him up for success as I eventually began to drag the leash for all of his commands. If he needed help after a few tries, I grabbed the leash to help guide him into position. At times Richard attempts to sit behind me while practicing his Come to Sit, which may be due to a lack of confidence. I lure him with my palms guiding him forward until he sat next to me, which I then rewarded. We shaped his Heel with the leash dragging as we made frequent turns. He hesitates occasionally, but is learning to follow me as I give him lots of encouragement to help boost his confidence while performing these behaviors. I included a few photos from our trip to Santa Monica Pier yesterday!
Richard and I began to work on all of his commands, first with the leash dragging, then completely off leash! We are building a solid foundation for his Off Leash obedience in a secluded, controlled environment such as my backyard. Once Richard demonstrated consistency with his Heel, Place paired with Down, Extended Sit and Come to Sit with the leash dragging, he was ready for the next step. I removed the leash and called Richard to Come as I took a few steps back to help guide him into position. When I cue commands I am simultaneously pressing the e collar stimulation button. Richard is demonstrating that he understands what is expected of him, and he is ultimately in charge of when the stimulation turns off.
Richard has done great with his potty training. We have not had any accidents since his second day of training. Having a consistent schedule for his meal times, and removing the bowl when he is done eating is essential in being able to predict when he will need to go on a potty break. He eats at 8 a.m and 5 p.m. After each meal he goes into the kennel, until I bring him out to walk him to the grass as I cue him to go potty. If he has gone, then he gets free roam. If Richard has not gone potty, he should not have free roam of the house. Accidents often happen when a dog has too much freedom before going on a potty break. The kennel helps greatly with creating a consistent potty schedule. Dogs do not soil in their own bedding, which is why they will wait to go until released from the kennel. Daily structure and supervision is needed to prevent accidents. If there is no supervision, I recommend placing Richard in the crate for a few hours until there is supervision at home again. This prevents Richard from practicing unwanted behaviors such as chewing furniture, or peeing in the house.
Richard and I took a trip to the park where we practiced all of his commands with the leash dragging. There were a few distractions that caught Richard’s attention such as people skateboarding, and dogs passing by us. Although these distractions caught his attention, I did not allow him to fixate. When a dog fixates on stimuli, they are loading up to react. Instead, I cue him to perform alternate behaviors which diffuses the situation. We Heel together making 180 turns, as I cue his name frequently to capture his attention. Richard did great with this, and did not bark at the other dogs or the skateboards which is an improvement for him! He then performed Place while multiple dogs passed by us. Although he released himself once, I cued him to Place again. After correcting this, he consistently performed Place until I released him with the cue Break.
Richard and I started our day with working on his Food Manners ,as well as food refusal. He is expected to hold his Sit or Down while being fed. His cue to eat is when I release him with the Cue Break. Although tempted, Richard was able to hold his Down while I eventually went out of sight. We then worked on his Off command by practicing Food Refusal. I placed smelly, tempting deli meat next to him as I cued Off. Richard knew this was off limits to him, even when released!
We then went on a trip to the mall today shortly after where we proofed his commands some more. It was moderately busy which was great exposure for Richard to work through the changes of the environment. Initially he was unsure of it but after about 10 minutes of Heeling he was fluently performing everything he has learned! Now we will begin to film for his final video tomorrow!
Today Richard and I began to film content for his final video. We start off our sessions with a walk around our new environment to help him acclimate to his new surroundings. After about 15 minutes of Heeling, and consistency is demonstrated, we worked on his commands off leash as he performed his Come to Sit from distances of 8 ft or more, Heel throughout the mall, Extended Sit, and Extended Down paired with Place. Richard is very aware of his surroundings, and nervous around loud noises, however he has learned to check in with me when unsure of new stimuli. He appears more confident when working, not taking nearly as long as it did before to become comfortable in crowded areas. Great work Richard!
Richard and I ventured out to the mall where we filmed his final video Off Leash! The mall was quite busy with various distractions to proof his commands near. When we pass through very crowded areas, I call Richards name frequently. This helps Richard continue to check in with me when he is feeling uncertain. Once Richard checks in with me, I mark it with a Yes to help communicate to him that he is doing exactly what I want him to do. Yes is paired with a reward such as his kibble, or a chin scratch. By communicating to Richard often when he is doing good, we help boost his confidence which is exactly what we have been focusing on these past two weeks!
We have also focused our work on classical conditioning, which is the action of pairing two stimuli together to form a learned response. In this case, it would be pairing Richard’s biggest triggers (crowds of people, reactive dogs, or loud noises) with his kibble. Since he is very food motivated, he learned quickly that good things came his way when he checked in with me in times of uncertainty. We can capture and reinforce voluntary check ins, as well as cue this by calling his name. The name game is a very effective way to practice classical conditioning in the presence of triggers. I recommend practicing this with Richard daily to help his confidence in your relationship upon his transition back home.
Richard and I had an eventful day at the busy Santa Monica Pier! We Heeled up and down Pacific Park, practicing Place on top of different elevated surfaces. There were various dogs, strollers, loud noises from the rides, and crowds of people present, which Richard was not bothered by. If a reactive dog is present, I create a few feet of distance from that reactive dog, to prevent any reactivity from Richard. By making a few turns I am able to capture Richard’s attention, preventing an unwanted scenario.
Richard Heeled by my side both on and off leash, Coming to Sit by my side on cue from distances of 10 ft or more away. Richard is a very attached pup, and is not a fan of distance away from each other. I remind him to Sit as I take a few steps away from him to ensure that he does not release himself preemptively. As we continued to work together at the pier Richard’s tail was held high, and wagging! This was big for him, as last time he was at Santa Monica his ears were pinned back while his tail was tucked completely in. He is appearing more and more confident each day. Amazing work Richard!
Richard has learned boundaries, not jumping on the door to open it anymore. He has learned that when he sits and waits patiently, the door will open. If he releases himself, the door closes on him. The door is an important threshold to remain consistent with so Richard won’t have a habit of being the first one out.
We emphasize our work on distance away from each other, which I recommend keeping up with to prevent his separation anxiety from escalating. It is best to never make it a big deal when you come and go so Richard doesn’t see it is a big deal either. Crate training also greatly helps with separation anxiety, especially when at home with Richard. Periods of time alone throughout the day helps prepare him for time apart.
Richard has overall become much more confident in himself, can hold his Place and Extended Sit for a minimum of two minutes, and can Come to Sit from about 15 ft away. I recommend constantly taking Richard to new environments. Since he can be a nervous boy at times, desensitization to new places will only further improve his training. He is a loving boy who needs a lot of guidance, structure and leadership to thrive and follow instructions. He has come such a long way and we can not wait to show you what he has learned. Thank you for trusting me with Richard!
Comments