Shadow | Giant Schnauzer | Downey, CA | in training
- Kody Pham
- Aug 3
- 9 min read
Updated: Aug 16
Meet Shadow, a 5.5-month-old Giant Schnauzer and the newest member of our 2-week Urban Board and Train program! This young pup is full of energy and enthusiasm, and he’s joined us to begin building a strong foundation in basic obedience while also working through a few specific behavior challenges.
With his big personality and boundless energy, Shadow is here not just to fine-tune his manners but also to gain more structure and confidence in everyday life. Over the next two weeks, we’ll be training Shadow in a variety of real-world environments—gradually increasing his threshold and helping him adapt to new experiences with focus and self-control.
By the end of his training, Shadow will not only have improved obedience but also greater confidence and clarity in how to navigate the world around him. We’re excited to see his progress—stay tuned for updates as he grows into a well-mannered young dog!
Pupdate 8/4/2025
Today marked Shadow’s first official day of training, and we kept things nice and easy by staying within my neighborhood. We did this for two key reasons. First, Shadow is still getting acclimated to his environment—he’ll be staying here for the next two weeks—so working close to home helped him start desensitizing to all the new sights, sounds, and smells. Second, the neighborhood offers minimal distractions, which made it an ideal starting point for his training journey.
In the video, you’ll see us focusing on two basic but essential commands: recall and sit. These are foundational behaviors that set the tone for more advanced training later on.
That said, whenever people walked by, Shadow became noticeably distracted. It was a challenge to get consistent recalls and sits in those moments, which shows we’ve got more work to do—especially when it comes to building his obedience around distractions.
All in all, he did great for his first day. With a bit more practice, he’ll be ready to tackle more stimulating environments like the park. Onward and upward!
Pupdate 8/5/2025
Today was another great step forward in Shadow’s obedience journey! We took advantage of the nice weather and headed to the park for a training session with plenty of space and just the right amount of distractions.
The focus for today was the “place” command—a foundational cue that teaches Shadow to go to a specific spot and stay there until released. We introduced it using a familiar mat and kept the energy positive and encouraging throughout.
To reinforce what we learned yesterday, we combined place with recall. After sending him to his spot, I’d give the recall cue and celebrate when he came running back. It was a fun and productive way to practice both commands—and Shadow picked it up quickly! He’s gaining confidence with every session, and I can already see how these skills will come in handy in daily life.
Shadow’s basic obedience training is going really well so far. I’m proud of how fast he’s learning and how eager he is to work. One paw at a time, we’re building a strong foundation!
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this journey together.
Pupdate 8/6/2025
Today’s training session with Shadow was nothing short of impressive. He’s showing tremendous improvement, making thoughtful decisions, and demonstrating just how quickly he learns.
Our main focus today was on heel work, and we took things up a notch by using a long lead with the leash completely on the ground. This setup meant Shadow had the freedom to make his own choices—and he chose to stay right by my side. It was a powerful moment that showed how far he’s come.
Whenever he drifted slightly out of position, we seamlessly integrated our foundational obedience training—particularly recall—to bring him back. It was a smooth process, reinforcing his understanding without breaking the flow of our session. We even incorporated some sits to round out the work and keep things dynamic.
Shadow is on track and progressing beautifully. If he keeps up this pace, he’ll be completing his training in no time. Stay tuned—this pup is going places!
Pupdate 8/7/2025
Today was a hot one, so we kept training nice and easy. Over the past few days, we’ve been working on all the basic obedience commands with Shadow—Come to Sit, Heel, Place, and now Down.
Today was all about teaching Shadow that final piece: the Down command. He did great! We paired it with the Place command to help give him something specific to focus on. Having a defined spot to lay down made it easier for him to understand what we were asking, and he caught on quickly.
Even in the heat, Shadow stayed engaged and ended on a strong note. Proud of his progress!
From here on out, we’ll be focusing on improving and building on everything he’s learned so far. The goal is to tighten up his skills and start working toward getting him off-leash ready. Big things ahead for this pup!
Pupdate 8/8/2025
Today was an awesome training day for Shadow! We ventured to a few different places, including the park, but the highlight of the day was our first trip to Home Depot.
Home Depot is one of my favorite spots to take dogs for training—especially those who are still new to the world. It’s a great environment to build confidence, desensitize to new sights, sounds, and smells, and work on general obedience in a real-world setting. With all the carts, customers, forklifts, and loud tools, it offers a perfect balance of challenge and opportunity.
During our visit, we focused heavily on heel work, while also reviewing all of Shadow’s basic obedience commands. Given it was his very first time in such a busy environment, we gave him a bit of slack today—but overall, he did really well! Even with all the distractions, Shadow stayed relatively engaged and responsive, showing great potential and resilience.
We’ll keep building from here, gradually increasing the level of challenge as his confidence and skills grow. Proud of you today, Shadow!
Today we returned to the park after a high-distraction training session at Home Depot. For the next week, we'll continue alternating between Home Depot and the park to give Shadow exposure to a variety of training environments.
While the park has its distractions, it’s not quite as stimulating as Home Depot. So today, we used the opportunity to reinforce and master the basic obedience skills we've been working on over the past week.
In the video, you'll see us focusing specifically on recall and sit with distance. We practiced calling Shadow from greater distances and having him sit while I walked away — ensuring he stayed put until released. Every sit is treated as an implied stay, but we’re still building his ability to hold position as we increase the distance and duration.
Distance training has been a bit of a challenge for Shadow. Holding a sit while I walk away, especially in a new environment, is tough for him — but we’re working on it steadily, and he’s making progress with each session.
Shadow did great today — responsive, focused, and really showing growth. We’re excited to keep pushing forward with this training plan!
Pupdate 8/10/2025
Today’s weather was just about perfect — warm with a refreshing breeze — the kind of summer day you want to soak up as much as possible. So naturally, we took full advantage and headed out to the park for another training session with Shadow.
We’ve been focusing on refining all the skills he’s learned so far. Today wasn’t about introducing anything new, but rather mastering what he already knows and making sure his behavior stays solid, even in more challenging environments.
Conveniently, there was an event happening at the park today, which meant a lot of people, noise, and excitement — the perfect opportunity for distraction training. And Shadow handled it like a pro. His progress has been impressive, and it’s clear that the consistent training is shaping not just his obedience, but his overall attitude.
What’s most rewarding is seeing the shift in how the sessions feel. Training no longer feels like “work.” It’s becoming a natural part of our time together — just enjoying the park, having fun, and reinforcing good choices along the way. That’s a huge win, especially for his future owners. When a dog begins to make good decisions on their own, it takes the pressure off and turns everyday outings into something enjoyable rather than a constant test of patience.
Shadow is really coming into his own, and days like this remind us why we do the work — not just to train a dog, but to build a confident, reliable companion.
Pupdate 8/11/2025
Shadow is coming along nicely! We’ve been working off-leash at the park, and I’m really proud of the progress we’re making—especially with recall. He’s starting to build solid distance, and it’s clear that our consistency is paying off.
We started recall training with short distances and gradually backed up throughout the session. This approach helped set him up for success and built his confidence as we added more distance. You can really see the improvement in his responsiveness.
At the same time, we’re pairing the recall work with place/down to get the most out of each session. Combining these two exercises not only reinforces impulse control, but also creates a seamless flow between commands—ideal for real-world scenarios.
In the video below, we’re focusing on an extended place/down exercise. Shadow is still working through the down concept, but that’s completely fine at this stage. He’s in a good learning zone, where I want him to figure it out for himself. I simply positioned my body in front of the place cot, creating a natural boundary so he couldn’t step off. This allowed him to settle into the command without pressure.
We also made sure to set the place location in the shade so he wouldn’t get too hot just laying there. Comfort is key when building duration, especially in warmer weather.
His heel is looking really clean, and I’m especially pleased with how responsive his recall has become. Shadow’s engagement and focus are steadily improving—excited to see where we go from here!
Pupdate 8/12/2025
Today we made another trip to Home Depot with Shadow, and it’s clear he’s starting to recognize and remember the different places we’ve visited. His comfort level is growing—he's settling into his environment with more ease and curiosity each time.
We took the opportunity to walk a few laps around the store, letting Shadow take in the sights, sounds, and smells. As we moved through the aisles, we practiced some basic obedience drills, adding a bit of distance to challenge him while still maintaining his focus.
It was a great session that balanced exposure and training. Shadow was able to observe his surroundings calmly and respond well to commands, showing real progress in both confidence and control. These small, consistent steps are helping him build trust in new environments—and it’s exciting to watch him grow.
Pupdate 8/13/2025
We’re really starting to round out Shadow’s training with a strong focus on consistency. From start to finish, every session is about reinforcing off-leash focus and active listening. It’s been incredible to watch his progress unfold.
What’s been working best for Shadow? Simple: lots of verbal praise and pets. He thrives on that kind of encouragement, and it’s clear he feels proud of himself when he gets it. While treats have their place, it’s that genuine connection—our voice, our energy, our affection—that seems to drive his motivation the most.
Shadow is doing a really good job, but we’re not stopping here. We're going to keep pushing forward, steadily and positively, helping him grow beyond his current limits. Great training never truly ends—it evolves. And with Shadow, we’re excited to see just how far we can go.
Pupdate 8/14/2025
Today, Shadow and I headed out to the Burbank AMC and took a walk around the complex. It’s a fantastic spot to expose him to a high-stimulation environment people, sounds, smells, and movement everywhere. Perfect for working on his basic obedience skills in a real-world setting.
Unlike the usual park environment, which he’s become pretty comfortable with, this kind of outing challenges him mentally and helps build stronger focus and resilience. It’s all part of helping him grow beyond the typical distractions and stay engaged no matter what’s going on around him.
In the video, we’re practicing our heel and sit. Places like crosswalks or stoplights naturally create moments for extended sits those 10-20 seconds while waiting are perfect opportunities to reinforce patience and impulse control. Once the light changes, we pick up right back into our heel and keep moving with focus.
It’s all about making obedience part of everyday life, not just a training session. Shadow did great today proud of the progress we’re making.
Pupdate 8/15/2025
Today’s session at the park was all about sharpening obedience under moderate distraction. We focused on building sustained engagement — a real challenge, especially when working in a stimulating environment like a busy park.
Shadow rose to the occasion. We started with a solid heel, keeping his focus tight and responses crisp. From there, we transitioned into an extended place/down — no breaks, no resets, just consistent mental engagement. This kind of focused duration work really puts a dog’s impulse control and handler communication to the test.
Throughout the session, we had distractions in the background: people walking by, other dogs, and the usual park noise. Shadow made great choices, repeatedly checking in with me, staying grounded in the task, and demonstrating real growth in his decision-making.
This kind of training not only strengthens obedience but also builds confidence — for both dog and handler. Proud of the work today!
Pupdate 8/16/2025
Today, Shadow had another big training milestone this time at the mall. We’ve been steadily pushing his training to bring out the best in him, and he’s rising to the challenge.
All of his basic obedience skills are really coming together, and we’re seeing them carried out to an amazing degree. What makes it even more impressive is how well he’s performing despite the natural distractions of a busy mall environment. From people walking by to the sounds and sights of the stores, Shadow stayed focused and responsive.
Here are a few pictures of his heel work, sit, and place work all skills he’s been practicing with consistency and confidence.
It’s exciting to see his hard work pay off, and even more rewarding to watch him grow in confidence with each new experience. Shadow is proving not only his abilities, but also his dedication to becoming a well-rounded and reliable companion.
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