Roman | Central Asian Shepherd | Los Angeles, CA
- andyoffleashsocal
- Sep 15, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: Sep 28, 2024
Meet Roman, a lovable 6-month-old Central Asian Shepherd who has just joined us at Offleash Socal for a two-week board and train program. This big pup has no idea just how large he is, leading to some safety concerns that will require some solid structure & training. Currently, he's barking and lunging on leash, as well as guarding food and resources—truly one big, mischievous puppy! Thankfully, his undeniable cuteness is hard to resist, and we're excited to help him become the well-mannered companion he has the potential to be!
Pupdate 9/15/2024
Roman has some challenges to address, including leash pulling, reactivity towards other dogs and people, and occasional guarding of food and resources. During drop-off, both Roman and his sister showed signs of reactivity towards several dogs, and it was evident that their harnesses were worsening these behaviors. We switched Roman to a slip collar; however, his previous experience with leash pressure led him to resist any movement. So, we got to work! I brought him home and started introducing a place bed, which serves as a clear physical marker for an area without leash pressure. If he steps off the bed, leash pressure will turn back on, but will release as soon as he returns to the bed. This process is an easy first step to help recondition Roman's understanding of leash pressure to follow it rather than fight it. I introduced him to my personal dog and he was surprisingly timid given what I had seen at the park. I allowed my dog to lay in the background as we trained and Roman seemed unbothered! Overall, it was an excellent first day.
Pupdate 9/16/2024
Roman had an outstanding second day with us. He slept soundly through the night without any accidents. We began with an early morning walk, during which we began conditioning the e-collar. This process involves pairing low-level stimulation with leash pressure, teaching Roman to effectively disengage the e-collar while using the leash as a guiding tool. More instructional videos later in the program will explain this in more detail! Later in the afternoon, we participated in a group trainer meetup, and Roman impressed us with his surprisingly calm demeanor around the other dogs. He refused his morning portion of kibble but happily ate his dinner. This is not uncommon as dogs adjust to new schedules/environments. While he may still be taking some time to fully adjust and reveal his true personality, his performance on only his second day was exceptional.
Pupdate 9/17/2024
This morning, we enjoyed a long walk where we encountered several barking dogs behind fences. This presented an excellent opportunity to reinforce his heel command amidst distractions. I am pleased to report that Roman now requires only gentle reminders with the leash to maintain his position, which marks significant improvement since day one.
In the afternoon, we focused on kennel drills, teaching him to enter the kennel on command and wait calmly for his release. We concluded the day with a training session centered on the place command, which will be invaluable in situations where you prefer Roman to remain disengaged, such as during cooking, cleaning, or welcoming guests.
I also noticed that Roman is becoming more comfortable around my personal dog, indicating a desire to play. While he occasionally feels overwhelmed when my dog engages him, he is gradually learning appropriate social skills with a very stable companion. Overall, Roman is making wonderful progress, and I look forward to continuing to build on these foundations.
Pupdate 9/18/2024
Roman's day began with playtime alongside Kilo, and it was heartwarming to see him engaging respectfully and gradually opening up more. In the afternoon, we headed to the park for a significant training session. We introduced a long line, allowing Roman to explore while we practiced recall. We also focused on holding the down command in public settings, working through distractions like squirrels and other dogs. To wrap up the day, we practiced tandem heeling around the dog park to assess his reactivity, and I'm thrilled to report that he remained completely calm. While Roman may have been exhausted after such a busy day, this is a positive indication of how well his training is progressing. Overall, today served as an excellent test of his training in a new environment, and he truly excelled.
Pupdate 9/19/2024
Roman has been sleeping soundly through the night with no potty accidents to report. Today, we met with Trainer Megan and Roman’s sister for some group training. I’m happy to note that Roman's heel command—meaning "walk with me, stay with me, and sit when I stop"—has improved significantly over the last five days. However, walking both dogs side by side proved challenging as Roman preferred his own space, while his sister tried to take the lead, which created some tension. This is something we'll continue to work on, as I'm sure you'd like to walk them both together! Later in the evening, we visited Lowe's for additional training, but it turned out to be too busy for filming; Roman was overwhelmed by the noise and crowds. I plan to return tomorrow morning when things are quieter to help boost his confidence through obedience exercises.
Pupdate 9/20/2024
Our day began with another trip to the park, where we focused on practicing the heel command. I progressed to using a long line while Roman heeled, which allowed me to work on off-leash obedience primarily concentrating on the e-collar, while still having a way to communicate in case of emergencies. Once Roman was dialed in, he demonstrated his ability to maintain the heel position without leash assistance, marking a significant step toward our off-leash goals. Later in the afternoon, we visited DIY Hardware, a less busy alternative to Lowe's. Roman performed wonderfully, heeling through the aisles and holding his down position while I shopped. He handled the presence of several dogs in the store beautifully as well. We encountered some moving Halloween decorations that Roman initially wanted to avoid, but this provided an excellent opportunity to use obedience to build his confidence around new experiences. We maintained the heel position as we gradually approached the decorations, and eventually, they became less intimidating, allowing Roman to lay next to them for several minutes. This was a perfect example of Roman facing something new and scary, gaining confidence with clear communication guiding him through the process!
Pupdate 9/21/2024
Today, we revisited the dog park, anticipating it would present a greater challenge for Roman given the large number of dogs typically present on Saturday mornings. However, he proved to be non-reactive and even showed interest in playing at times. We continued our work on off-leash heeling both in the park and around the neighborhood; while I still had the leash dragging as a precaution, I found that I was not using it nearly as often. During our outing, we ran into a former client and took the opportunity to introduce Roman to their new puppy. Roman handled the introduction wonderfully, displaying calm interest and a gentle approach. We capped off the day with some playtime in the backyard with Kilo. It's clear that Roman is coming out of his shell, so much so that he occasionally attempts to hump. While this is a normal behavior, I will intervene with the e-collar to prevent it from becoming obsessive. As we reach the halfway point in our program, I couldn’t be prouder of his progress.
Pupdate 9/22/2024
Today, Roman, Kilo, and I visited the Glendale Galleria and Americana malls to help Roman acclimate to new distractions in a busy environment filled with people, children, and other dogs. This setting provides an excellent opportunity for him to generalize his skills, as he can heel perfectly in my backyard with minimal distractions. Now, we are focused on reinforcing his heel command in various environments and around all conceivable distractions. Although I still occasionally use leash pressure as a reminder, I've noticed that the need for constant supervision has significantly decreased, allowing me to trust him to make better choices with less micromanagement. Upon returning home, we had a new dog check-in for their program, and Roman exhibited some reactivity from his crate when he noticed the unfamiliar dog. While this reaction is not surprising, given that a new dog entered his space, I plan to address this behavior tomorrow as I introduce the two dogs.
Pupdate 9/23/2024
This morning, I introduced my new board and train dog, Mochi, to Roman, and he did wonderfully! It was heartwarming to witness how gentle Roman was with such a small dog. Later in the afternoon, we attended our trainer meetup, where we had another chance to work alongside Roman's sister, Marina. Their tandem heeling showed significant improvement since our last attempt, and I was delighted to see both dogs remain calm and composed around all the other dogs in training. Our evening session focused on off-leash heeling, and I felt confident enough to remove Roman's leash for part of the training. Over the next few days, I plan to conduct most of our sessions without a leash! I couldn’t be prouder of Roman.
Pupdate 9/24/2024
Today, Roman and I enjoyed a hike in the Los Angeles National Forest, and he did exceptionally well! For most of the hike, we let the leash drag, and Roman remained composed. We encountered several off-leash dogs, and he was respectful of their space as we moved by. There were also parts of the trail that required crossing a small creek. Initially, Roman was hesitant to walk through, but once he realized the water was only a few inches deep, he happily dashed through, splashing and having a great time. We dedicated some time to practicing the "come to sit" command, which involves the dog disengaging from their activity, returning to me, and sitting beside my left side. While I still need to guide Roman on how to finish the command correctly, he is responding much better to the initial recall. Overall, I was very pleased with Roman's performance, and it was clear that he thoroughly enjoyed his day in the forest!
Pupdate 9/25/2024
Today, I took Roman to the park to refine his recall command amidst various distractions. While he reliably recalls off low-level distractions like enticing smells or chewing on sticks, he still struggles to disengage from other dogs, especially when they offer any feedback, whether friendly or reactive. There were several occasions when I had to reissue the recall command as he became distracted on his way back to me. Additionally, Roman's low endurance made it challenging to get in many effective training sessions; at one point, he preferred lounging in the shade over responding to my recall command. This is an important consideration when training him at home—be sure to incorporate plenty of breaks for rest, while also remembering that increasing his overall exercise will contribute to his health and well-being! Overall Roman did great today!
Pupdate 9/26/2024
Today, Roman had a training session at the Santa Monica Pier, and I couldn't be more proud of his progress! With a solid obedience foundation in place, it’s all about continuing to expose him to new environments to help generalize his skills. He performed beautifully, even amidst some highly reactive dogs. Upon returning home I noticed his nails were getting quite long, but Roman wanted nothing to do with my Dremmel. I plan to make a video on how I would desensitize him to this tool tomorrow. Later, I took him to one of my favorite dog-friendly restaurants, where he impressed me once again. He laid comfortably by my side for over an hour while I enjoyed my dinner, occasionally earning a well-deserved French fry as a treat!
Pupdate 9/27/2024
This morning, we focused on trimming Roman's nails, which had grown quite long. I recommend doing this on a place bed to help encourage your dog to remain calm in one spot during the process. At first, Roman was apprehensive about the Dremel, recoiling and attempting to run away. Whenever he completely left the place bed, I gently guided him back with the leash to repeat the process gradually. Once I managed to trim one nail and rewarded him with a tasty treat, he surprisingly allowed me to finish the rest with minimal fuss! Later in the afternoon, we headed to the Santa Anita Mall for another round of training in a public setting. I brought the whole gang—Roman, Kilo, and Mochi—and I’m thrilled to report that all three boys performed beautifully!
Pupdate 9/28/2024
Today marked my last day with Roman, and he is well on his way to being fully off-leash, provided we continue with his e-collar training. Each command was initially taught with food, then transitioned to leash pressure, and finally layered with e-collar guidance. If Roman ever appears confused or hesitant with your verbal commands and e-collar pressure, don’t forget to utilize the leash! With enough repetition and consistency, your reliance on the leash will diminish. Roman has learned several commands, including sit, down, heel, place, and recall. To cue "sit," simply verbalize the command, activate the e-collar, and gently lift the leash as needed. For "down," give a downward pressure on the leash if necessary. "Heel" means he should stay by your side and sit when you stop; verbalize the command as you begin to walk, tapping the e-collar if he lags. If he gets too far ahead, a 180-degree turn accompanied by a tap on the collar will help reposition him. For "place," instruct him to lie on a designated surface, maintaining that position until you release him; apply e-collar pressure until he gets there, and re-cue if he gets up prematurely. Finally, for recall, say "Roman come" while activating e-collar pressure, and as soon as he heads your way, turn off the collar; he should finish in the seated heel position, ready for further commands. While I’m sad to see him go, I am incredibly proud of his progress—from being highly reactive, barking, and lunging at other dogs to now being able to relax in various environments, he is truly on his way to becoming fully off-leash!
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