Stan | Bernese Mountain Dog | Ranchos Palos Verdes | In training
- Kody Pham
- Aug 31
- 9 min read
Updated: Sep 13
We’re excited to welcome Stan, an 8-month-old Bernese Mountain Dog, to our two-week Board and Train program. Stan has joined us to learn the foundations of basic obedience and improve his behavior through consistent, structured training.
Over the course of his stay, Stan will be working on developing calm, reliable responses to everyday commands, improving his leash manners, and learning how to stay focused even around distractions. As with many young dogs, this is an important stage in his development, and the right guidance now will set him up for long-term success.
Our program is designed to provide daily, hands-on training that helps dogs build confidence while learning how to make better choices. By the end of the two weeks, Stan will have a strong set of skills in place and just as importantly, his family will be ready to carry that training forward at home.
We’re looking forward to sharing Stan’s progress and celebrating his wins along the way. Stay tuned for updates as he works through the program!
Pupdate 9/1/2025
Today was bath day for Stan and not just any bath, but a much-needed flea bath. While dealing with fleas is never fun, the silver lining was the time we got to spend together. Bathing him gave us a chance to bond and start building trust in a calm, hands-on way.
After the bath, we spent some time outside letting him dry off in the sun and just get used to being around each other. It turned out to be a great enrichment time for him sniffing around, exploring, and learning that being with me can be a positive experience.
Moments like these might seem small, but they really lay the groundwork for better training down the line. A calm dog who feels safe and connected will be much more open to learning. Fleas aside, today was a step in the right direction.
Pupdate 9/2/2025
Today, we're continuing with our regular potty and crate training routine to support Stan’s development. Stan is a special pup with slightly weaker back legs, so we’re mindful to adapt our training approach to suit his needs.
Every time Stan goes potty successfully, we follow it up with a short obedience training session. Right now, we're working on two key behaviors: recall and sit. Keeping the sessions brief ensures we don’t put too much strain on Stan, while still reinforcing good habits and building his confidence.
By practicing obedience after every potty break, we’re helping Stan make positive associations with both going outside and listening to cues—all while strengthening our bond.
Pupdate 9/3/2025
We’ve been sticking closely to Stan’s routine schedule, and it’s been really encouraging to see him slowly adapting and responding well. With that foundation in place, we’ve started moving into more consistent and structured training.
Today marked a new milestone: we introduced the E-collar. To keep things familiar and positive, we began with behaviors we’ve worked on before like sit and recall. The main difference now is that we’re shifting the focus to the E-collar as our primary training tool.
In the video, you’ll notice that I don’t pull on the leash at all. I’m only holding it to ensure he doesn’t wander off, but every recall and every sit is entirely his decision. That’s a big part of our approach building real, thoughtful obedience rather than just reactionary behavior.
And when he does make the right decision, he’s rewarded and reinforced with praise. It’s about helping him understand that he’s made the right choice and building confidence through consistency and positive feedback. As we go, I’m helping him less and less, allowing him to take more ownership of the commands.
It’s all about building reliability and trust, and Stan is off to a great start.
pupdate 9/4/2025
Each day, we’re building on Stan’s foundation, reinforcing what he’s already learned and introducing new challenges to continue his growth. Today, alongside practicing his recalland sit commands, we introduced a new skill: loose leash walking, with a focus on the heelposition.
A concrete walkway served as our training lane creating a clear, structured boundary to guide the session. This helped Stan visually and physically understand the space where he’s expected to walk.
The training structure was straightforward:
If Stan stepped outside the designated heel zone, a gentle e-collar correctionwas used to refocus him.
When he remained by my side, holding the heel position, he was reinforced through praise and affection.
This kind of setup minimizes confusion and distractions, allowing Stan to better associate his behavior with clear outcomes. With consistent feedback and calm leadership, he’s learning how to move in sync and stay connected.
Every session is a step forward not just in obedience, but in building a strong, trusting relationship.
Check back tomorrow to see what we layer on next in Stan’s progression!
Pupdate 9/5/2025
Today we continued building on Stan's foundation in basic obedience, while reinforcing everything we’ve worked on in the days prior. His “sit” is really coming together he’s now responding consistently to both my verbal cue and hand signal without any physical assistance. It’s great to see that progress!
Recall is also improving. He’s starting to come when called with minimal leash pressure, though we're still putting in reps to solidify that response. Consistency is key, and Stan is showing that he's capable of it.
We're upping the challenge by doing more reps of “heel” and introducing a new command: “down.” Asking a puppy to lie down, especially during a training session with other distractions, can be a big ask but it’s such a valuable behavior to learn. Stan is picking it up faster than expected, which makes training that much more rewarding.
One quick note: You might notice I occasionally step on the leash during our “down” work. This isn’t for correction, it's simply a practical way to keep control without putting strain on my back. Stan’s a big pup, and sometimes using my foot as a bit of leverage helps manage his size more comfortably during longer training sessions.
pupdate 9/6/2025
Today brought a bit of sun and heat, so we adjusted our training routine to prioritize Stan’s comfort and well-being. Despite the warmer weather, it was a productive day focused on foundational behaviors that every well-mannered dog needs.
In the video, we’re working on basic obedience at the doorway an essential skill for safety and structure. This exercise teaches Stan not to bolt or rush out when a door opens. Instead, he’s learning to pause, check in with his handler, and wait for permission. It’s a small moment with a big impact, setting the tone for respectful behavior both inside and outside the home.
We also incorporated crate training, and we’re thrilled with how far Stan has come. Not long ago, he needed lots of help and encouragement to get into the crate. Now, as you’ll see, he walks in calmly and confidently. The crate is becoming his space, a place where he feels safe and secure.
Of course, training is a journey, and there are still things we’re working on. For example, if you watch closely in the video, when I disappear out the front door, Stan gets up without being released. That’s a very common behavior at this stage his impulse control is developing, but it’s not quite finished. It’s just one of the many details we’ll keep refining as we move into more advanced work.
These moments are all part of the process. The foundation is being laid, and Stan is showing great potential. We’re proud of his progress and excited for what’s ahead.
Pupdate 9/7/2025
Today, we wrapped up the final component of our basic obedience training the “Place” command.
This command teaches a dog to settle and remain in a designated spot for extended periods, regardless of the environment or distractions around them. It's a powerful tool that promotes calmness, impulse control, and reliability no matter what's going on nearby.
In the video, you'll notice that I'm beginning to drop the leash, creating more physical distance from Stan. I'm walking and even running in circles around him. This marks an important shift in our training: transitioning from learning commands to mastering them using the Three D's Distance, Distraction, and Duration.
Every movement I make during this session is intentional. I’m increasing the level of challenge by layering in distractions, stretching the time he remains in “Place,” and testing his ability to hold the command from a distance. This is where obedience becomes truly reliable not just when it's easy, but especially when it's not.
From here, it's all about consistency, challenge, and growth. We’ve got the foundation now we build on it.
Pupdate 9/8/2025
Today marked an exciting milestone in our training journey as we headed to the park for a session with other Off-Leash trainers and their dogs. This group setting introduced new sights, sounds, and smells—making it the perfect environment to kick off desensitization and distraction training.
We kept things simple, focusing on the foundational basics while gradually introducing controlled distractions. It was a great opportunity to reinforce obedience and engagement in a real-world setting, laying the groundwork for more advanced challenges ahead.
Over the coming days, we’ll continue to build on this progress with increasingly complex scenarios and higher levels of distraction. We’re excited to see how this structured exposure helps our dogs develop confidence, focus, and consistency—no matter what environment they’re in.
Stay tuned for updates as we level up!
Pupdate 9/9/2025
Today, Stan and I headed to the park for another solid training session. We’ve officially moved beyond the learning phase now, it’s all about mastery.
At this stage, Stan already knows the commands, so our focus is on refining his responses and increasing his independence. In today’s session, we took a big step: we practiced with the leash on the ground for part of the time.
Why? The goal is to reduce the amount of help Stan needs from me. Each time we train, I’m aiming to use fewer leash cues and instead rely more on verbal commands and hand signals. This builds Stan’s confidence and strengthens his ability to follow directions even when we’re not physically connected by the leash.
In the video, you’ll see us running through all the commands and Stan is doing a fantastic job. The consistency and progress we’re making are exciting, and it’s clear he’s starting to internalize the commands more deeply.
We’re not rushing this phase. Mastery takes time, patience, and repetition but every session like today’s brings us one step closer to truly reliable off-leash behavior.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this journey. Go Stan!
Pupdate 9/10/2025
Today was a fantastic day for training and exposure work with Stan. We headed to the mall an ideal setting for high-level distractions and desensitization to new environments. It offered a rich variety of sights, sounds, smells, and interactions that challenged and stimulated Stan in all the right ways.
From the moment we stepped inside, Stan was exposed to new surfaces, background noises, crowds, and unfamiliar scents. It's a perfect environment for socialization — not just with people, but also with the bustling energy of a public space. He handled it all with curiosity and growing confidence, showing great progress in staying focused despite the distractions around him.
We will definitely be coming back here!
Pupdate 9/11/2025
Today we headed back to the mall for another round of obedience training, and it was a great success. This wasn’t just about running through commands, it was about solidifying the basics in a high-distraction environment and holding ourselves accountable to the work we’ve put in.
Stan handled it like a pro. Between the sounds, crowds, and constant movement, he stayed focused, responsive, and calm. These types of outings are key to rounding out our training. It’s one thing to practice in a quiet space, it's another to perform with confidence when the world around you is buzzing.
That said, we’re not perfect. There are still a few things we need to fine-tune. Whether it's tightening up response times or maintaining focus during longer sessions, we’ve got our list. But the progress we’ve made is clear, and it’s exciting to see things coming together.
We’re striking a great balance between structure and fun, and I can really see Stan’s confidence growing. He’s looking more and more ready for the next phase of our journey. Wherever we go from here, we’re heading there with trust, teamwork, and a solid foundation.
Pupdate 9/12/2025
Today was all about spending quality time with Stan and reinforcing the foundation we’ve built over these past two weeks. As we approach the end of our board and train program, the focus has shifted to consistency and repetition especially in varied environments.
We revisited the park for a leisurely walk, blending some light training with the natural distractions of the outdoors. It was great to see Stan settle comfortably in this familiar yet stimulating setting. This kind of calm and focus in everyday environments is exactly what most dog owners hope for being able to enjoy daily life with their furry companions without feeling held back.
Stan is making fantastic progress, and watching him thrive in these moments reminds me why patience and consistency are key. Here’s to many more walks, lessons, and happy days ahead!
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