Meet Snoopy! He is a four year old Staffordshire mix who has joined us for our Three Week Board and Train Program. Snoopy is here for basic obedience, leash pulling, jumping to greet, and reactivity towards men. He seems to be protective of his owner, and has gone after pant legs while owner is having a conversation. The goal for Snoopy is to work him through his reactivity so that he may be able to be around other people. He pulls heavily on his leash, and has a tendency of running away when off leash. Over the next twenty one days, Snoopy will be working on his behavior and be set up for success, with the hopes of becoming a well-mannered pup. Check in to see his progress!
Snoopy and I spent the afternoon getting to know each other at a local park. We went for a walk to establish a bond, and began working on heel. Heel consists of having Snoopy walk beside me on my right. By using a slip lead, I introduced Snoopy to leash pressure to keep him from pulling. As we were walking, when he would pull away from me, I would turn and walk in the opposite direction, guide him back towards me with leash tension, guiding him back into position. He responds very well to it, and we will continue to work on it, as it will now be applied on our morning and evening walks. Snoopy was also introduced to his recall which is known as come to sit. Come to sit consists of having Snoopy come towards my left, wrap around behind me, and sit on my right. Since he is becoming familiar with leash tension, he is understanding the concept of come to sit, and is doing very well following through. By teaching come to sit to Snoopy this way, it makes it easier to begin a walk, as he will automatically come to a heel position when he sits on your right. He is settling into his new home for the next three weeks, and showed no signs of reactivity.
Snoopy and I have been working on place. Place consists of having Snoopy getting onto a designated object, and remaining there in a sit or a down. It can be of great use when guests are over, and it can also build confidence in a dog. To teach Snoopy, I introduce him to the object I want him to place on, and with leash tension, I guide him onto it. He does very well, and will almost immediately hop on to the object with no hesitation. When he follows through I reward him with his kibble since he is food motivated, and I also reward him with lots of praise. This morning I took him for a walk, and he is making good progress with his heel. He still tries to pull away at times, but I redirect him and get him back on track. He did very well his first night here, and enjoys running around in my backyard.
Snoopy and I drove out to a local park and worked on placing him on an object of different texture. He was a little hesitant initially, and would only place his front paws. With repetition and leash tension, I was able to work Snoopy through it, having him climb on. Once he was comfortable with the texture of the object, Snoopy started to hop onto the bench and go into a down. Teaching Snoopy to place on different textured objects is important, as it helps him generalize the command to various situations. Dogs can encounter different surfaces in their everyday environment, such as carpets, tiles, grass, or gravel. By practicing place on different textures, Snoopy can learn to navigate and follow commands regardless of the surface he is on. This type of training can also continue building confidence and it also helps Snoopy adapt in different environments.
Snoopy and I have been working on down. Down can be one of the most difficult commands to teach considering it being a submissive position, which can make a dog feel vulnerable being down on all fours. Snoopy somewhat had an understanding of it, but would not fully place his elbows on the ground. To work him through it, I asked him to sit, used his kibble as a lure by holding it in front of his nose, move it towards the ground, and slide it forward along the ground. Once Snoopy followed through being down in all fours, I immediately rewarded him with his kibble, and released him with a “break,” giving him so much verbal praise. By learning down, it can help manage Snoopy’s behavior, especially in situations where you need him to be settled down and in one place. It also strengthens his obedience, which helps establish you as a leader, which is essential for a well behaved pup. As far as Snoopy’s reactivity goes, he has met my dad, my brother, my nephew, and my son. He has been the friendliest, and shows no signs of aggression, nor does he react.
Snoopy and I worked with my son today based on his reactivity towards males. Throughout our session, I had my son walk in front of us and behind us. I also stood off to the side with Snoopy while he walked back and forth. I had my son stand in front of us, shake my hand, and proceed to greeting Snoopy. When my son was running back and forth while I was standing there with Snoopy, he did sit up, but only to try and interact in a playful manner. There was no bark nor growl that can be sensed as alarming. He did very well, and I will continue to gradually give him exposure throughout his program. Keep in mind that dogs in general can pick up on our emotions and energy, and it is possible that Snoopy might be reacting this way due to him sensing when you are feeling tense or anxious. When working with Snoopy, it is important to stay calm and relaxed, as it helps Snoopy feel more comfortable around everyone.
Snoopy and I have been working on under. Under is the opposite of place which consists of having Snoopy going under an object rather than placing on it. We began working on it at home with no distractions by using a chair. By using his kibble, I verbally encouraged Snoopy to follow the treat as I guided him under the chair with leash tension. Once he followed through, I let him come out immediately and rewarded him with his kibble, verbal praise, and lots of affection. After I saw consistency with Snoopy after a few repetitions, I introduced the verbal cue, and had him maintain a down under the chair. He is doing really well, so we drove out to Santa Monica and practiced in a high distracting environment. Snoopy adjusted really well and did so good practicing his under in a public setting. Throughout our walk around the pier, he maintained his heel, and made no intentions of veering off to interact with anyone. He still needs a little more practice with his stationary positions, which we will work on in the coming days, as I introduce him to distance and duration.
Snoopy was introduced to come to heel today. This consists of having Snoopy coming into a heel from one of his stationary positions. To teach Snoopy, I began by asking him to sit as I took a step forward. Once I took a step forward, I tapped my leg, and guided him to his heel position with leash tension. Snoopy began to comprehend and after a few repetitions, I then paired my leg tap with a verbal “heel.” There were a few instances in which he anticipated the leg tap, but by reminding him to sit, I was able to work Snoopy through it. I also worked on his under a little more, and applied his come to heel to our under session, and he did really well. With week one coming to a close, I am proud of Snoopy’s progress in his first week, and I look forward to challenge him a little more during week two.
Snoopy and I worked on distance and duration with a long line. We began by practicing his sit at short distances. Once in position, I reminded Snoopy to sit as I walked away. Once he held his sit for a few seconds, I released him with a “break,” and gave him verbal praise for following through. As Snoopy became more comfortable and showed consistency, I gradually increased the distance between him and I, and had him hold a longer sit. He does very well and I can be four to six feet back for about thirty seconds without Snoopy sitting up. With time and patience, I will keep increasing duration and added distance, so that Snoopy can reach his two minute goal. By working on it in a public setting, it can help generalize his training and improve his obedience in real world situations. It is important to practice regularly and to always remain patient. By remaining positive and rewarding Snoopy with verbal praise and affection, it will continue to encourage him to practice good behaviors.
Snoopy and I worked on send away to place. It is very similar to place, but the difference consists of me standing at a distance as I point to the object I want Snoopy to place on. I am working on it with short distances since it is taking Snoopy a little time to understand the concept. He does need a little leash guidance from time to time, but with repetition and consistency with the exercise, Snoopy is improving and making good progress. He has been doing very well around people, and was actually greeted by a gentleman as we took a lap around the park. He is a very affectionate pup, and he enjoys spending time with my son and I in the house.
Snoopy and I continued to work on send away to place and he is doing better at understanding that my hand signal is his cue to place on the object. When I ask him to place the first time, if he does not respond, I use a little e-collar stim the second time, and pair it with the verbal command to help him follow through. We also worked on come to heel, in which he was being a little stubborn about, and did not want to do it. When I would tap my leg, Snoopy would remain in a sit or go into a down. To keep him from doing so, I applied leash tension towards me with my left hand as I tapped my leg with my right to guide him to me. Once Snoopy felt the tension, he made his way towards me, and we continued our session. In situations like this, it is important to remain patient with him when he does not want to follow a command. Like humans, dogs have their own personalities, moods, and levels of understanding. They may not always respond immediately or may be confused about what is being asked of them. By staying patient, you can help your pup feel more comfortable, build trust, and create a positive learning environment. Rushing or becoming frustrated can lead to stress, confusion, and potentially even worsen the situation. Consistent training with patience and positive reinforcement will help your dog learn and improve over time.
Snoopy and I met with other trainers who helped us by serving as a distraction at a local park. We worked on his distance and duration, and he did really well with his sit. What Snoopy was having trouble with was his down, as he would sit up and try to come towards me. Anytime that occurred , I reset Snoopy back into position, asked him to down, and repeated the exercise as needed. Being around other dogs on a long leash can help your dog learn how to interact with different personalities and temperaments. It provides a controlled environment for positive socialization experiences. Overall, working with a long leash around other dogs can be a valuable tool for training, safety, socialization, and giving Snoopy some freedom while still maintaining control. During our time at the park, Snoopy worked with another trainer as well. While she was working with him, Snoopy redirected towards Mike as he handed something to her. Snoopy’s reaction was likely a result of the handling by the other trainer, and not a reflection of Snoopy’s usual behavior. After the incident, other trainers were able to work with Snoopy, with no reactivity coming from him at all. Attached is an image of Snoopy’s bite, and you can faintly see the outline of Snoopy’s teeth.
Snoopy and I drove out to a local shopping center and worked on his under and his come to heel a little more. He is doing very well with his under, and has caught on quick to the concept anytime he is introduced to a new object. While practicing his under, I began to implement his come to heel from his position, and although he still needs a little more practice coming to me from his under, he is beginning to comprehend what I am asking. He did much better with his down today, even with the pups serving as a distraction, and his send away to place continues to progress. In the coming days, Snoopy and I will conclude our long line conditioning, and move on to leash dragging exercises, as he prepares for his off leash experience.
Snoopy and I worked on some leash dragging exercises today and he did really well. Despite the distractions around him, he remained at my side throughout our heel, and did very well with his duration down. During our session, he did sit up shortly after asking him to sit, but by taking a step into him and reminding him to sit, I worked him through it as he gave me a nice come to heel. Before our session, there were a few incidents with Snoopy when being handled by another trainer, in which he reacted on different occasions. It seems like Snoopy may be responding differently based on confidence levels. Dogs are very perceptive to human emotions and energy. It is possible that Snoopy senses my confidence and feels more secure and comfortable around me. On the other hand, if another handler is feeling nervous, tense, or unsure, the dog may pick up on those emotions and react accordingly. It is important for us as owners to work on building up our confidence and staying calm and assertive around our pups.
Snoopy and I worked on distinguishing his send away to place from under. We worked on it on leash first in order to give him guidance if he was having trouble. Initially, Snoopy would try to automatically go into an under when asking him to place from a distance. With leash guidance and repetition, Snoopy was able to understand the difference and began following through. He also caught on to me bending down and pointing when asking him to go under. After a few reps, we practiced with his leash dragging, and he did really well with the exercise. I was also able to work on his recall and his come to heel in the same session to give him more of a challenge, and Snoopy did great. Due to the hot weather, I will keep our training sessions a little shorter than usual with more water breaks in between, with our sessions being held indoors, or in the mornings or evenings if outdoors.
Snoopy and I worked on some off leash conditioning at home today since it is an enclosed area. We practiced in my backyard with no distractions, then moved to my front yard to practice with minimal distractions such as people walking by along the sidewalk. He did really well and remained consistent throughout our session, but was having a little trouble with his duration sit. I will continue to work on it with Snoopy and have it cleaned up. After our session, we cooled off inside the house, and had some playtime out back as the weather got cooler. We also had a cookout and dinner outside.
Snoopy and I drove out to a local park and worked on some off leash conditioning. After seeing consistency at home, I was comfortable enough to bring Snoopy out to a park with minimal distractions to work with him. He was having a little trouble with his down, but with the use of the e-collar, I was able to work Snoopy through it. When using the e-collar, before applying stim to Snoopy, I give him a freebie and let him figure out what I am asking on his own. After a few seconds, if Snoopy is not responding, I then pair the command with the stim until he responds and follows through. Snoopy responds at a low level with the e-collar in low distracting environments, but keep in mind that the higher the distractions, the higher you might have to go up on the e-collar. I will continue to increase the level of distractions for Snoopy and keep setting him up for success, as he begins preparation for his final.
Snoopy and I drove out to a local Lowe’s and worked around different distractions that included people, forklifts, and shopping carts. As we made our way through some of the narrow aisles, Snoopy did very well remaining at my side as we worked on his heel. He also did very well remaining in his stationary positions as customers passed him by. The forklift noises did not bother him, and he remained in a sit next to me as we waited for it to drive by. He is desensitized to noise, and he is also very comfortable placing on objects with different surfaces. He did get a little stubborn when working on his come to heel, and was not responding to the e-collar. He does well responding to it at a low level, but given the distractions around him, I had to go up on the dial to have him follow through. Once Snoopy responds, always make sure to turn the dial back down to zero, and slowly work your way back up. Increasing the level of stimulation on Snoopy’s e-collar in high distracting areas is done to ensure that he pays attention and responds to me even in challenging environments. High distraction areas can be overwhelming for some dogs, making it harder for them to focus on you. By increasing the level of stimulation, you are providing a stronger reminder to help your pup understand that it needs to listen despite the distractions, and it can improve your dog's responsiveness in such situations.
Snoopy and I met with other trainers as we worked on some off leash conditioning around other dogs. He did really well around them, and I introduced him to a new object for his under. He had a little trouble initially since he is used to being under park benches and not picnic tables, but with guidance and verbal encouragement, Snoopy was able to work through it. With trainers and other dogs around him, Snoopy did well on his off leash session with no signs of reactivity towards them, but it is important to always keep an eye on him to prevent such behavior. Signs that a dog may react to someone can vary depending on the individual dog and the situation. However, some common signs that a dog may react include stiff body language, meaning a dog may appear tense, with stiff body posture and a rigid tail. Raised hackles are also common, which is when the fur along the dog's back may stand up, indicating heightened arousal. A dog may also stare directly at the person, which can be a sign of tension or a warning. With that being said, if your pup is reactive to certain triggers, try to maintain a safe distance from those triggers to prevent reactions from occurring. Slowly decrease the distance over time as you and your pup become more comfortable. Take your time, remember to remain patient, and in a calm relaxed state.
Snoopy and I drove out to an outdoor shopping center and worked on everything he knows. He did very well with everything, but needed some reconditioning on his send away to place. When asking him to place, he would either go into a down or he would try and do a recall. To keep him from doing so, I guided him with leash tension starting from a short distance, and gradually increasing it the more he followed through. After a few repetitions, Snoopy did well and began placing on his own. He is now ready to work on his final, which will be the main focus from here on out.
Snoopy and I worked on his final and pieced everything that he has learned together. He did really well and did not react towards anyone. However, during a break from our session, Snoopy was in a down and reacted towards someone walking in his direction. With a verbal “off,” and e-collar stim, I was able to redirect Snoopy and get him under control. He was fine with people passing by from a two to three foot distance, but when too many people are around and it gets a little over crowded, it seems that Snoopy begins to feel anxious or uncomfortable in those situations. It makes him feel trapped and overwhelmed, which can be due to a variety of reasons such as fear, or past negative experiences. If that situation happens to arise, redirect Snoopy away from it, and keep him on the move to snap the brain out of that state.
Snoopy has completed his Three Week Board and Train Program. I want to thank you for trusting me with Snoopy while he was under my care for the last twenty one days, and for giving me the opportunity in being his trainer. It was a real pleasure having him in my home and he will truly be missed. He was a great companion and we became best of friends. He is such a bright boy, and I am looking forward to showing you what he has learned. His final video will be coming soon, but here is a sneak peek at Snoopy working on his door manners. Thank you Snoopy!
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