Meet Sadie! She is a six month old Labrador Retriever who has joined us for our Two Week Board and Train Program. Sadie is here for basic obedience, leash pulling, nipping, jumping to greet, and potty training. She gets overly excited and barks when her food is being prepared, and she has frequent potty accidents inside the house. Over the next fourteen days, this silly girl will work on her manners and be given the structure she needs, with the hopes of having her become a well behaved pup. Check in to see her progress!
Sadie and I spent the day getting to know each other. She did great in the kennel on our ride home and did not cry or whine. We went for a walk to establish a bond and we are becoming good friends. We began training by introducing Sadie to Heel which is having her walk with me on my left side. Every time Sadie would pull away from me, I turned around, walked in the opposite direction, and guided her towards me with leash tension. It is still a learning process, but I will continue to work on it with her, as it will now be implied on every walk we go on.
Sadie was introduced to her recall which is also known as Come to Sit. It consists of having Sadie coming towards my right side, going around behind me, and sitting on my left. To teach Sadie, I used treats to lure her towards me. Once she came to my right, I lured her around me, and rewarded her when she sat on my left. There were a few times where Sadie would stop behind me, but I would then use leash tension to guide her around. When Sadie began to catch on, I slowly faded out the treats, and she is now learning how to follow through without them. She still sits off to the side a bit, but I am going to work on it by using my hallway as a barrier to clean it up.
Sadie was introduced to Place today which is a technique that consists of having Sadie getting onto an elevated object and remaining there in a Sit or a Down. It builds confidence in a dog and can be of great use whenever guests are over or if there is a knock on your door. Sadie and I worked on it by using leash tension to help her front legs up, and I assisted her back legs by giving them a little boost, to get her fully on the objects that were used. She is understanding what I am asking, and even though she is still learning to use her back legs, she is Placing and building her confidence.
Sadie and I have been working on her Extended Sit but was having trouble maintaining it whenever I would start increasing distance. To help her with that, I moved back one foot at a time with five second increments. One foot back is five seconds, two feet back is ten seconds, three feet back is fifteen and so on. Sadie is doing well as she is almost up to one minute, and today we also used my Place box to work on her recall a little more. In the coming days, Sadie and I will be training in more public areas and work around different distractions.
Sadie was introduced to Down today. This technique can be difficult to teach considering it is a submissive position to a dog. To teach Sadie, I asked her to Place on a bench and then asked her to Sit. Once in position, I began to guide her down with a little leash tension and lure her downward with treats. Whenever she made an effort to follow through, I released the tension and rewarded her with treats and lots of praise. It took time and patience with a few breaks in between to avoid frustration, but Sadie was able to successfully accomplish her task.
During Sadie’s pickup, it was mentioned that she needed some assistance with stairs. We have been working on stair exercises with the small steps I have in my living room and in my front door area. Initially, Sadie would stop before taking a step up or a step down. We have been working on it every day and Sadie is doing well. Today she was tested with a bigger set, and even though she had trouble going up in the beginning, Sadie was able to follow through. With patience, a little leash tension, and some verbal encouragement, Sadie is beginning to master her stair climbing.
Sadie and I took a trip to Home Depot today and did some loose leash walking around the store. We practiced her recall and her Extended Sit around people and shopping cart distractions. I also worked her through a flatbed cart in which Sadie was initially afraid of. Sadie has learned all of her commands, and with week one coming to a close, she will begin working on sessions with her leash dragging, to prepare her for her off leash experience.
Sadie and I drove out to a local park today and began working with her leash dragging. She did very well maintaining her Heel and stayed next to me throughout our walk in the park. Sadie is doing well with her recall and her Extended Place and Sit. Her Down needed a little work today as she would come out of it when I would start walking away, but we reset and kept trying until Sadie followed through. For the next few days, Sadie and I will continue our training sessions with her leash dragging.
Sadie and I drove out to an outdoor shopping center today to see how she does around more people distractions. She adjusted well to her surroundings and did great as we took a lap around the shopping center. Sadie’s Down has made a big improvement, as she is no longer coming out of it until I release her with a “Break.” She is just about ready to begin her off leash conditioning, and will begin to piece everything that she has learned together.
Sadie and I worked on a few final sessions with her leash dragging, and I was able to increase distance without her coming out of her stationary positions. Sadie’s Heel needed a little more practice today, as she was falling behind, but I was able to assist her with verbal encouragement to have it cleaned up. She is now ready to begin her off leash conditioning, and will now be working this way for the remainder of her Program, as she begins preparation for her Final.
Sadie and I have been working on Door Manners since the day I brought her home. Anytime I opened a door, Sadie would always want to be the first one to go through. To help her into not doing so, I would ask Sadie to Down when we approached a door. Once in a Down position, I proceeded to open the door, and made sure Sadie remained in her position. When I opened the door, every time Sadie sat up meant the door would close, and the process would repeat itself. Once she understood what I was asking, I began to increase time and distance to keep her in a Down longer, which led to Sadie achieving her two minute goal.
Sadie and I worked all of her commands today and she did very well with distractions all around her. During our warm up session, Sadie was being praised and complimented for her good behavior by employees and shoppers. She was able to work on her Greeting Manners and is able to Sit when someone says hello to her. Sadie will be working on her Final the next couple of days as it is going to be the main focus from here on out.
Sadie has been practicing Food Manners ever since I picked her up. She would head straight towards the bowl as soon as I placed it on the ground. To keep Sadie from doing so, I picked the bowl up and asked her to Down. Once in a Down, I placed the bowl on the ground again, waited a few seconds, and then released Sadie with a Break. Every meal consisted of the same approach with the only difference being the time increase Sadie would have holding her Down. She has made great improvement and can now wait for her food patiently for two minutes.
Sadie has completed her Two Week Board and Train Program and is ready to come home. It was really great having Sadie with me these last fourteen days. I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with Sadie and for trusting me while I had her under my care. We became great friends, she will be missed, and I am looking forward to showing you what she has learned.
