Stormy | German Shepherd/ Husky | Whittier CA, | In Training
- Kody Pham
- Jul 20
- 9 min read
Updated: Aug 2
Meet Stormy, a 6-month-old pup who’s just joined us for a two-week board and train program! This bright eyed, tail-wagging bundle of energy is here to work on her manners, build confidence and learn the foundations that will help her grow into a well-balanced dog.
Stormy is at a crucial stage in her development. During her stay, we’ll be focusing on essential obedience skills, leash work, socialization, and helping her channel all that puppy enthusiasm into positive behaviors. With her sweet nature and eager-to-learn attitude, we know Stormy is going to make incredible progress.
Stay tuned for updates of Stormy’s journey!
Pupdate 7/21/25
Today was a big training day for Stormy- and she absolutely rose to the challenge! We took her to the park, where she was introduced to a brand-new training tool: the e-collar. With plenty of distractions around- dogs, people, smells- it was the perfect setting to help her build focus and reliability under pressure.
She had a few moments of lost focus and some excited jumping (which we addressed with a calm “off” and a light correction) but overall she made steady progress. We worked on key behaviors like “come to sit” and “place” and she responded well with room for improvement.
In the video Stormy is working with another trainer (Jose) to help reinforce the commands being given by anyone.
Stormy’s learning that tuning in—even in a busy, stimulating environment— brings clarity, praise and success.
Big steps forward today. So proud of this girl!
Pupdate 7/22/2025
Today, we took Stormy to the park for another great training session, focusing primarily on her "place" command. She’s doing exceptionally well—adapting nicely to the e-collar, responding positively to the stimulation, and beginning to make thoughtful decisions while wearing it.
Stormy picked up the concept of "place" quickly, and was even able to finish in a sit both with and without various distractions. We’re still working on fine-tuning her “break” command, but with continued practice and consistency in her overall obedience training, she’ll get there.
Afterward, we reviewed more obedience skills with “come to sit,” helping reinforce her understanding and responsiveness. To make things even more interesting, the boss’s dogs were around, adding a fun and challenging level of distraction to her session—which Stormy handled impressively.
We’re excited to keep building on today’s progress. More updates to come—stay tuned!
Pupdate 7/23/2025
Stormy continues to make great strides in her training, and today marked another important milestone—learning the heel command.
Our focus during today’s session was teaching Stormy to stay by my side as we walked. To do this, we maintained a loose leash, allowing her the freedom to move within its range. As her trainer, I simply walked in a straight line—back and forth—without prompting her. This method encourages Stormy to make the choice to stay with me, rather than relying on constant correction or cues.
Whenever she deviated from the proper heel position, we used the e-collar as a gentle reminder to return to my side. The leash remained loose the entire time, reinforcing that the responsibility to stay with me was hers—until she was given the release command.
Stormy did an incredible job today. She picked up the concept of heel quickly and showed a lot of focus and engagement throughout the session. We’ll continue reinforcing this new skill while also practicing the foundational commands she’s learned in previous sessions.
It’s been amazing to watch her confidence and discipline grow with each passing day. Stay tuned for more updates as Stormy’s training journey unfolds!
Pupdate 7/24/2025
Today, we spent our training session focusing on a foundational obedience skill: the “down”command. While some dogs pick it up quickly, others—like Stormy—benefit from a more tailored, supportive approach. Every pup learns differently, and Stormy’s session was a great reminder that patience and creativity are key parts of the training process.
Since Stormy was having some difficulty with “down,” we decided to pair it with a command she already knows and is confident in: “place.” Starting from her designated spot gave her a familiar and calm setting to work from, helping reduce any confusion or stress.
From there, we used our free hand to guide her gently toward the down position. While she wasn't quite getting it on her own yet, we provided just enough physical assistance by walking her front paws forward until her elbows touched the ground. The moment her body relaxed into the position, she received plenty of praise. This immediate positive reinforcement helps her associate the correct body posture with the “down” cue.
It’s all about building muscle memory and confidence. By reinforcing the desired behavior right in the moment, Stormy starts to make the connection between the word, the movement, and the reward.
Over the next week, we’ll continue to work on “down” along with repeating all of our basic obedience training. Repetition, consistency, and encouragement will help solidify what she's already learned and make the new skills stick.
Training isn’t always about perfection—it’s about progress. And Stormy is well on her way!
Pupdate 7/25/2025
Today was a major milestone in Stormy’s training journey — we took on the vibrant, bustling Santa Monica Pier.
The goal for the day was to expose Stormy to a brand-new, distraction-filled environment while reinforcing the basic obedience skills we've been diligently working on since the beginning of the week. And if you’ve ever been to the Pier, you know it’s no walk in the park (literally or figuratively). It’s a sensory overload of sights, sounds, smells, and constant motion — an overwhelming place, especially for young dogs like Stormy.
But here’s the exciting part: Stormy did fantastic.
Despite the crowds, skateboarders, seagulls, food carts, and crashing waves, Stormy remained focused and composed. She showed confidence in navigating the unfamiliar surroundings and executed her commands with precision — a true testament to the progress she’s made in such a short time. This kind of exposure is key in helping dogs learn how to remain calm and obedient, even in high-energy, unpredictable situations.
This experience is just one of many steps we’re taking to prepare for the ultimate goal: reliable off-leash obedience. We’re laying a strong foundation built on trust, consistency, and confidence.
We’re proud of Stormy’s progress and excited to keep building on this momentum. Next week, we’ll continue strengthening those skills and pushing toward the freedom and reliability that comes with off-leash success.
Stay tuned — the best is yet to come
Pupdate 7/26/2025
Today marked another important step in Stormy’s obedience training journey. We revisited the foundational behaviors that make up the core of her training—sit, down, recall, and heel walking—with a strong focus on consistency and independence.
What made today’s session especially impactful was our decision to take the training on the road. Instead of practicing in familiar, controlled environments, we ventured into different locations, each presenting its own set of distractions. Whether it was new smells, unfamiliar sounds, or the sight of other people and animals, Stormy was challenged to stay focused and responsive regardless of what was happening around her.
The goal remains clear: we’re aiming for reliable obedience with minimal intervention from the trainer. Each session is designed to build Stormy’s confidence and clarity, helping her understand that the rules stay the same no matter where we are or what’s going on around us.
It’s a gradual process, but we’re seeing progress. Every step forward, no matter how small, adds up to a well-rounded and trustworthy companion.
Stay tuned for more updates as Stormy continues to grow in skill and confidence!
Today’s training session with Stormy focused on strengthening one of the basic obedience skills she’s been working on—her “down” command. While Stormy has been doing a fantastic job picking up many of her basic cues, “down” has proven to be a bit more of a challenge. To help her make smoother progress, we’ve begun pairing the “down” with a “place” command to create a clearer pathway for learning.
We introduced a towel on the place cot to serve as a transitional tool. By using the towel consistently during training, we’re creating a familiar, portable marker that tells Stormy it’s time to settle into a down, no matter where she is. This will allow us to gradually phase out the cot and eventually the towel itself, leaving just the “down” command to be followed independently in any environment.
With this thoughtful layering of steps and a bit of patience, Stormy is on track to become a pro at her basic obedience skills. She’s already making great strides, and we’re excited to see her continue to grow in confidence and consistency.
Stay tuned—Stormy’s training journey is just getting started, and she’s well on her way to mastering every command like a champ!
Pupdate 7/28/2025
Today was a truly great day for Stormy!
We spent time at the park fine-tuning our basic obedience skills, and I couldn’t be prouder of her progress. The leash was completely on the ground for most of the session, but Stormy made smart, confident choices—staying focused and listening attentively to her trainer throughout.
In the video we captured, you’ll see us working hard on our heel command. To make it more challenging, we constantly changed directions. This helped reinforce her focus and responsiveness, even with distractions around. Stormy didn’t just keep up—she excelled.
We’re getting really close to the exciting milestone of walking in public places completely off-leash. Stormy’s trust, discipline, and attention are growing stronger every day.
Stay tuned for more updates as we move into this next phase of training. The journey continues, and Stormy’s just getting started!
Pupdate 7/29/2025
Today’s training session with Stormy went exceptionally well! She was completely off-leash and showed great progress with her basic obedience skills. We’re especially proud of how much her down command has improved — she’s really starting to hold it with confidence.
In the video from today’s session, you’ll see Stormy working on several core commands: place, recall, heel, sit, and down — all without a leash. Her focus was sharp, and she handled distractions like a pro, staying engaged and responsive throughout the session.
Over the next few days, we’ll be taking Stormy to a variety of high-distraction environments to get more off-leash reps in. The goal is to continue building consistency and reliability no matter what’s going on around her.
Stay tuned — this girl is on her way to being rock solid off-leash!
Pupdate 7/30/2025
Today was a big milestone for Stormy as we took our off-leash training to the next level—right into one of the most distracting environments we’ve worked in so far: Home Depot.
From the moment we stepped out of the car in the parking lot, Stormy was off leash and fully engaged. That alone speaks volumes about her progress. Parking lots can be full of unexpected distractions—people, carts, cars, noises—and she handled it all with composure.
Inside the store, we did several laps through the aisles, weaving through customers, employees, and plenty of new smells and sights. Throughout it all, Stormy stayed responsive and attentive, working through basic obedience commands like heel, sit, down, and stay. We also focused on greeting manners, practicing calm, polite interactions with strangers—an area where she’s made tremendous strides.
Over the last week and a half, Stormy has shown incredible growth. Her threshold for distractions has noticeably increased, and her ability to maintain focus in high-energy environments has really leveled up. She’s not just learning commands—she’s learning how to confidently navigate the world with consistency and trust.
We’re so proud of how far she’s come, and we’re excited to keep pushing her boundaries as she continues to grow into a well-rounded, reliable companion.
Stay tuned for more training adventures!
Pupdate 7/31/2025
Today, we returned to the vibrant and bustling Santa Monica Pier for another training session with Stormy. She is doing amazing—her focus, responsiveness, and confidence have all grown tremendously.
This session was all about practicing off-leash obedience in a high-distraction environment, and the progress is really showing. In the first part of the video, we worked on off-leash heel work, weaving in and out of crowds and pedestrians. Stormy stayed right by my side, actively checking in and responding beautifully—even with all the commotion around us.
In the second part, we shifted to practicing meeting manners. Our goal was to maintain a solid sit and stay while new people approached to say hello. Stormy held her position well, showing calm and composure despite all the excitement.
You can really see how much repetition and practice we’ve put in recently. We’ll continue building on these skills in the days ahead, but we’re already so proud of the progress Stormy has made.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Pupdate 8/1/2025
Today was a bit hot outside, so we decided to keep training indoors. It was a nice change of pace for both of us. Lately, I’ve been taking Stormy to high-distraction environments to help push her threshold and build her focus under pressure. While that type of training is essential, today felt like the perfect opportunity to take a step back and give her a break with some low-distraction, foundational work.
We focused on pairing the "sit" command with door manners. This is such an important skill—teaching a dog not to bolt out the door when it opens can prevent accidents and keep everyone safe. It's something many dog owners find incredibly useful in day-to-day life.
Stormy did great! She showed excellent impulse control and real patience. It’s always rewarding to see those small, calm moments that show how much a dog is learning and growing.
Pupdate 8/2/2025
Today marks Stormy’s final day in her two-week board and train program, and what a journey it’s been! From day one, she’s shown focus, determination, and a willingness to learn — and we couldn’t be more proud of her progress.
To celebrate and solidify all the skills she’s gained, we wrapped up her final training session with a well-rounded obedience workout at the park. But instead of the usual “command – stop – command” routine, we challenged Stormy with something a little more advanced: fluid obedience. That means transitioning smoothly from one command to the next without pausing — a mental workout that kept her engaged and thinking the entire time.
She did awesome. Truly, Stormy rose to the occasion and reminded us why we love what we do.
As we prepare to say goodbye tomorrow, we’re excited for Stormy to return home and show off everything she’s learned. We know her journey doesn’t stop here — this is just the beginning.
Great job, Stormy!
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