Meet Sophie Rose! She is a four month old Golden Retriever who has joined us for our Three Week Puppy Board and Train Program. Sophie Rose is here for basic obedience, leash pulling, jumping to greet, and playful nipping. She is very friendly with other dogs, and will jump to greet when meeting new people. The goal for Sophie Rose is to have good leash manners when on walks, and to keep her from jumping on people, as she will grow and does not know her own strength. Over the next twenty one days, this sweet girl will be working on her behavior and be set up for success, with the hopes of becoming a well mannered pup. Check in to see her progress!
Sophie Rose and I spent the afternoon getting to know each other. We drove out to a local park and went for a walk to establish a bond. Throughout our walk, Sophie Rose was very distracted by the grass smells, and would pull on her leash to make her way towards it. To keep her from doing so, I introduced her to heel. Heel consists of having Sophie Rose walking next to me on my left side. When she would pull away, I would stop, turn and walk in the opposite direction, and guide her back towards me with leash tension. Teaching her to heel helps maintain better control during walks. Sophie Rose learns to stay close to you, making it easier to navigate crowded areas or avoid obstacles. It encourages her to focus on you rather than being distracted by their surroundings. This can help with impulse control and attentiveness. Since she is very food motivated, I broke down some of her treats and used it as a reward when following through. By using her treats, it also keeps her engaged with me, and makes it a positive association which will encourage her to perform good behaviors. She still needs more practice, but heel will now be applied on every walk that we go on from here on out.
Sophie Rose and I have been working on her recall which is known as come to sit. It consists of having Sophie Rose come towards my right, wrapping around behind me, and sitting on my left. To teach Sophie Rose, I used her treats and leash tension to have her come towards my right. Once she came in that direction, I proceeded to take a step forward, guide her with leash tension behind me, and reward her with a treat when she sat on my left. She still sits a little off to the side, but with more practice and by using a barrier such as a wall in between, I am hoping to have it cleaned up. By having a good recall, it can help manage interactions with other dogs and people, as you can call her back to you to avoid potential conflicts or to redirect her attention. It also fosters a strong bond and trust between you and your pup, as it strengthens the idea that responding to you is rewarding and beneficial.
Sophie Rose and I worked on place today. It consists of having Sophie Rose go to a specific location or designated area, such as a mat, bed, or spot, and remain there in a sit or a down. It is useful for keeping her calm and focused, especially in busy or distracting environments. To teach Sophie we began with a low level object that is easy for her to get onto. I placed a treat on the object to encourage her to get on. She was able to place her front paws on first, which I rewarded and praised her for, since she was understanding the concept. It is always important to work at your pupās pace to keep them motivated into performing the behavior. Remaining patient is a key factor, as it avoids frustration, which can lead to Sophie Rose being discouraged and wanting to shut down. Once I saw consistency in her, I proceeded to give her back legs a little boost to build her confidence into fully getting onto the object. After a few reps, Sophie Rose tried doing on her own but she was having a little trouble, so I reset her, took a few steps back, and gave her a running start. With a running start, it builds up momentum in Sophie Rose, which gives her the energy needed, engaging her leg muscles to give herself the boost that she needs. It also builds up her confidence by encouraging her to make a jump that she would otherwise avoid. She did very well and is following through with her placing.
Sophie Rose and I worked on reconditioning her come to sit a little more at a local park. We have been working in my hallway using a wall as a barrier as I mentioned before. She has been improving and continues to make progress. By using her treats as a reward, I am also able to use them for better positioning as well. Finding what motivates your puppy is crucial for effective training as it enhances their engagement and responsiveness. Understanding their unique motivators which in Sophie Roseās case is food and praise, allows you to tailor your training approach to their preferences, making learning more enjoyable and effective. Motivated puppies are more likely to participate actively in training sessions, leading to quicker and more consistent behavior strengthening. Additionally, using motivation helps build a positive association with training, fostering a strong bond between you and your puppy. Ultimately, recognizing and leveraging their motivators can lead to a more successful training experience, resulting in a well behaved and happy pup.
Sophie Rose and I worked on down today. It 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. To teach Sophie Rose, I asked her to sit, used a treat as a lure by placing it in front of her nose, and had her follow it towards the ground. Once I get the treat towards the ground, I slide it forward away from Sophie Rose, and only reward her if she goes into the down position. She did really well and caught on to the concept fairly quick. After a few repetitions and seeing consistency in Sophie Rose, I began to fade out her treats by only rewarding her randomly with them, and mostly rewarding her with praise. As Sophie Rose continues to learn and progress, I will gradually begin to increase the level of distractions by exposing her to more public settings, as we are almost ready to begin working on distance and duration.
Walking with Sophie Rose on different types of ground offers several benefits that contribute to her physical and mental development. Varied terrains, such as grass, rocks, sand, and pavement, help strengthen her muscles and improve her balance and coordination. Navigating different surfaces can also enhance Sophie Roseās agility and builds overall physical fitness. By exposing her to diverse environments it will stimulate her senses. Different textures, scents, and sounds encourage curiosity and exploration, which is essential for cognitive development. This sensory experience can help reduce anxiety and improve their adaptability to new situations. Walking in various settings, such as parks, urban areas, or nature trails, will allow Sophie Rose to encounter different people, animals, and environments. This social exposure is crucial for developing good behavior and confidence around diverse stimuli. Different terrains provide unique training challenges, encouraging puppies in general to learn commands and proper leash manners in various contexts. This can enhance their responsiveness and obedience. It also provides opportunities for mental engagement, which is vital for a puppy's overall well-being. Overall, allowing Sophie Rose to walk on different types of ground enriches her physical, mental, and social development, setting a foundation for a well-rounded adult dog. And as always, be aware of your surroundings, always keep an eye on her, have fun, and train safely.
Sophie Rose and I have been working with a long line as I introduced her to distance and duration. Teaching a puppy distance and duration using a long line is crucial for their development and training. This method allows us as owners to safely introduce our pups to the concept of exploring their surroundings while maintaining control. This will allow Sophie Rose to interact with other dogs and people at a safe distance, which can enhance her social skills. To teach Sophie Rose, we began training in my backyard since it is a distraction free environment. We worked in three second increments for every foot I took back, meaning one foot back is three seconds, two feet back is ten seconds and so on. When she follows through, I release her with a ābreak,ā and reward her with a treat and lots of praise. As Sophie Rose showed consistency, we took our session to a local park and worked on it with minimal distractions. She is doing very well, and I look forward to bringing her out to more public settings as she is set to begin her second week in training.
Sophie Rose and I have been working on a longer recall. I have faded out her treats and only rewarding her with praise. She still gets a little distracted but with a little leash tension, I am able to get her back on track. By remaining consistent with Sophie Rose, she has made very good improvement and no longer sits off to the side like she used to. With her progression going well, I am ready to have her practice in a more challenging environment around other dogs. By working with her around dog distractions, it teaches Sophie Rose to focus on me, even when there are tempting or exciting stimuli around. This strengthens her focus as she learns to prioritize what I am asking her to do. It can also prevent her from developing bad habits, like ignoring commands or running off to play with other dogs without permission. After our session, I had her rest for a while and ended our day with a cookout and playtime in my backyard.
Sophie Rose and I drove out to a local park and worked on some of her commands with a couple of dogs who served as a distraction, and she did very well with her session. Puppies in general learn from observing and interacting with other dogs, picking up cues about play, communication, and boundaries. It can also boost their confidence and help them become more adaptable in various environments. For this exercise, I used her treats to keep her focused on me, despite the distractions going on around her. Treats serve as a powerful form of positive reinforcement, encouraging desirable behaviors. When Sophie Rose receives a treat for calm or appropriate behavior in a challenging environment, she is more likely to repeat that behavior in the future. It also motivates her to participate and focus during training sessions. Overall, by using treats strategically in challenging environments, it boosts her confidence, and it also helps foster a positive learning experience for Sophie Rose.
With Sophie Rose continuing to thrive in her program, I have incorporated another challenge that can be very beneficial to her training, which are hand signals. Dogs in general are often more attuned to visual cues than verbal commands, making hand signals easier for them to understand. In noisy environments, visual signals can be more effective than they are verbally, helping Sophie Rose to maintain focus with her attention on me, promoting better training outcomes. By working with her using these signals, it can provide clear feedback, which can strengthen the behavior I want to encourage. She is doing very well with her sit and down signals, but needs a little more practice with her come to sit and place. As smart as Sophie Rose is, with more repetition and consistency, she will be able follow through.
Sophie Rose and I had a session in a more distracting environment. We drove out to a local shopping center and worked around people serving as a distraction. Training Sophie Rose in a public setting with people as distractions is beneficial for her socialization and behavior development. This environment helps her learn to focus on commands despite external stimuli, which is essential for building more confidence and reducing anxiety in unfamiliar situations. It also teaches her to interact appropriately with people, fostering good manners and social skills. Additionally, training in public settings can make the bond between Sophie Rose and I stronger, as she learns to rely on my guidance amidst distractions. This practice prepares her for real-world experiences, ensuring Sophie Rose grows into a well adjusted and well behaved adult dog.
Sophie Rose and I worked on place a little more as she continues to boost her confidence. By teaching Sophie Rose to place on objects of various surfaces and textures, it helps her development and adaptability. These exercises strengthen her physical coordination and confidence, as she learns to navigate different environments. It also promotes mental stimulation, encouraging problem solving skills as Sophie Rose figures out how to interact with diverse materials. Additionally, exposure to various surfaces can help prevent hesitation in new situations, making her more resilient and well rounded. Overall, this training activity encourages communication and enhances positive behavior in a fun and engaging way.
Sophie Rose and I continued our training sessions in a public setting. I focused on her come to sit a little more as it is very reliable in these types of environments. Having a reliable recall can prevent Sophie Rose from running into situations such as busy roads, overly excited dogs, or hazardous environments. It allows you to quickly call her back to you when necessary. In public spaces, Sophie Rose may encounter distractions like other animals, people, or interesting smells. A strong recall can give you control over her behavior, ensuring she stays close and responds to her come to sit. Overall, in many public areas, there are leash laws and regulations to ensure the safety of all animals and people. A reliable recall helps you comply with these laws and shows responsible pet ownership.
Sophie Rose and I go out on multiple walks around the neighborhood. She does very well and remains at my side throughout our them. Walking around the neighborhood provides her with essential physical exercise, helping her release excess energy that can lead to destructive behaviors if left unaddressed. Our walks stimulate her mind, exposing her to different sights, sounds, and smells that enhances her sensory development and curiosity. Additionally, the routine of regular walks can help build trust and companionship between you and Sophie Rose. It contributes significantly to her physical health, mental stimulation, and social skills.
Sophie Rose continues to show great potential. She is a very intelligent pup, and with the food drive that she has, she is capable of learning so much more. I put Sophie Rose to the test by challenging her into working off leash. We worked on it in my front yard since it is an enclosed area. She did great with all of her commands and I am proud of the progress she continues to make. By keeping her engaged with her treats, she will continue to thrive and perform good behaviors very well. Rewarding Sophie Rose with treats create a positive training experience. When she associates learning commands with delicious rewards, she is more likely to enjoy the process and look forward to training sessions. It helps maintain her focus, and since a treat is something she really wants, she is less likely to be distracted by her surroundings, making it easier for Sophie Rose to learn.
As you may have noticed throughout Sophie Roseās training program, she has been working on her commands with a prong collar. Prong collars can provide a clearer way of fixing unwanted behaviors compared to flat collars, which may help dogs understand what behaviors are undesirable. The design of the prong collar allows for quick and effective feedback to Sophie Rose, which has helped in strengthening her training. Today at a local park, I worked on her stationary positions with only the use of her flat collar. By gradually moving away from a prong collar, it fosters more trust between Sophie Rose and I, encouraging more cooperative behavior. By maintaining training consistency with a flat collar, it will continue to help Sophie Rose progress with the lessons learned during her training program, ensuring she feels secure and confident with proper leash manners.
Sophie Rose and I have been working on her food manners. Initially, anytime I would try to place her food bowl down, she would immediately become overly excited and run towards it to eat. By teaching her to wait for my cue before eating, it instills discipline and self control. This practice not only enhances her food manners, but also establishes a sense of routine and expectation around mealtime. By learning to wait, Sophie Rose becomes more patient and attentive, which translates to better behavior in other areas of training and daily life. It encourages communication and it also establishes us owners as leaders. Overall, waiting for a release before eating promotes a calm and respectful approach to food, which Sophie Rose has done very well with.
Sophie Rose has been working on her door manners. Initially, anytime I would open a door, she would immediately get up to be the first one through. As we practiced on her distance and duration, I applied the same training methods when it came time to go through a door. By asking her to go into a down or a sit before opening a door, Sophie Rose is to remain in that position. If she were to sit up while the door was opening, I would close the door, reset her, and repeat the exercise. Once she began to understand the concept, I gradually increased distance and duration as she waited for me to release her to go through. She has done very well, and can now wait in a calm relaxed state before going through a door.
Sophie Rose and I have been working on her greeting manners by having her remain in a sit or down when someone approaches her to say hello. If she comes out of position while the interaction is happening, I reset Sophie Rose back into a stationary position, and repeat the process. By teaching Sophie Rose proper greeting manners, it fosters self control and discipline, helping her learn to manage excitement and impulsivity. This behavior not only enhances her ability to interact calmly with people and other dogs, but it also sets a foundation for good manners in various social situations. It can also prevent overwhelming situations where Sophie Rose might jump or bark, which can be off putting to guests or other pets. These training sessions promote positive interactions, ensuring that greetings are pleasant for everyone involved. She is doing very well with her greeting manners, and can now be greeted in a calm relaxed state.
Sophie Rose and I worked on her final and she did really well. I am proud of how far she has come along, achieving great results with repetition and consistency. By remaining consistent with her training it helps establish communication between Sophie Rose and I, allowing her to understand what was expected of her. This clarity fostered a sense of security and trust, which is essential for building a strong bond with Sophie Rose. Additionally, consistent training with her strengthened positive behaviors and discouraged unwanted ones, making it easier for Sophie Rose to learn and adapt. It also helped in forming good habits early on as you saw with her food and door manners, which can help prevent behavioral issues in the future. A consistent training experience creates a routine, which can provide comfort and stability for Sophie Rose as she navigates through new environments throughout her life. Overall, consistency is key to effective training, leading to a well mannered and happy furry companion.
Sophie Rose has completed her Three Week Puppy Board and Train Program. I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity in being her trainer, and for also trusting me with Sophie Rose while she was under my care. She was an amazing pup to work with and she will truly be missed. She was a great companion and we became best friends. Sophie Rose is very smart and it was great seeing her catch onto her training very quickly. I am very proud of her and I am looking forward to showing you what she has learned. Thank you Sophie Rose!
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