Sylas | Miniature Australian Shepherd | Long Beach, CA. | In Training.
Updated: Sep 28
š¾Meet Sylas! š¾
This adorable five-month-old Miniature Australian Shepherd has joined us all the way from Long Beach, California for our Two Week Community Board and Train Program, and he is bringing with him all the energy, curiosity, and puppy mischief that a five-month-old could possibly muster!
Sylas is one busy little guy, and settling down isnāt exactly at the top of his to-do list. Whether heās busy chasing the household cats around the house, finding something new to investigate, or attempting to nibble on any fingers that happen to be within reach, Sylas always seems to have somewhere to be and something to do! And when it comes to being called or following directions, wellā¦ letās just say he currently has his own ideas about how his day should go. š
Over the next two weeks, weāll be working closely with Sylas on his off-leash basic obedience, house manners, and potty training. Our goal is to help this energetic little cutie learn how to settle, make better choices, and become a more reliable listener both inside and out of the house.
We are so excited to get started on Sylasās journey and see just how much this little guy can accomplish in two weeks! With plenty of energy, a whole lot of personality, and undoubtedly some puppy antics along the way, we have a feeling this is going to be a fun ride. So be sure to stay tuned and follow along with Sylasās adventure! š¶
9/13/2026
Today Sylas and I officially started his journey into obedience with an introductory walk at the park! This gave us a chance to get to know each other a little better while also allowing me to see what he may already know. So far, Iāve found that this little guy has a basic understanding of his sit and down commands, which is a great start!
After getting settled in, we found a nice spot to begin introducing some of his new commands. Sylas quickly let me know that he would much rather be heading toward all the exciting things around him, so we used that as an opportunity to introduce his heel command.
Whenever he pulled ahead, I would give a light collar pop and turn to walk in the opposite direction, teaching him that staying with me is the better option. After some practice, Sylas was already starting to walk a little more politely by my side, which was great to see! He may not completely understand the concept just yet, but with some consistency Iām confident heāll pick it up.
Since Sylas already has a basic understanding of sit, we also began adding a little distance and duration. Being a puppy who would love to be everywhere all at once, I can already tell that staying put may be a bit of a challenge for him! š Anytime he popped up, I simply guided him back into his original position and waited for him to hold it for a moment before moving on. We also introduced his come-to-sit, where he comes around my right side and settles into a sit on my left. He did a great job following the leash guidance, and while he doesnāt quite have the whole picture yet, Iām confident heāll figure it out in no time!
After our park session, we loaded up and headed to his home away from home for the next two weeks. Sylas did an awesome job riding in his travel crate and was quiet for the entire drive. Once we arrived, I gave him some time to explore his new surroundings and check everything out at his own pace. He was definitely interested in meeting the other pets in the house, too!
We spent the rest of the day getting more comfortable with one another, and Iāve already learned that Sylas is quite the little lover boy. ā¤ļø Heās still a bit nervous in his new surroundings, which is completely understandable, but Iām sure as he settles in and gets into a routine, weāll see more of his personality shine through.
All in all, Sylas and I had a great first day together! He has a lot to learn, but heās off to a wonderful start, and Iām excited to see how much this little guy grows over the next two weeks. I have a feeling weāre going to have a lot of fun along the way! š¾
9/14/2026
Today Sylas and I headed out to Rosemead to meet some other trainers and their pups to continue his progress with his commands while also introducing the e-collar. And overall, this little guy did pretty well!
Of course, when we first arrived, Sylas found it quite difficult to focus. There was so much for his little puppy brain to take in, and with all the people, pups, and activity around him, exploring was definitely at the top of his priority list! So we started out simple and just walked together, allowing him some time to observe everything happening around him and take in his surroundings.
Once he was able to relax a little, I began introducing his new e-collar. I used a combination of leash corrections with stimulation from his collar, which is meant to help him associate the e-collar with something familiar. For right now, heās not the biggest fan of his new accessory, but thatās completely normal. Just like any other new tool we introduce, it will take a little adjusting. With time and consistency, Iām sure heāll come to understand that itās not such a big deal.
We also introduced the place command today using my place cot. I asked Sylas to hop onto it and lay down, and this posed no issue at all. When it came to staying there, however, Atlas had other ideas! This is to be expected, especially since weāve seen the same thing with his extended sit and extended down commands. What was exciting to see, though, was that by the end of our session he was able to hold each command just a smidge longer. And Iāll take it! Any progress is still progress, and with more time Iām sure this will become easier for this little sprout.
His come-to-sit command is still something he doesnāt quite understand yet, but thatās okay. He follows my leash guidance pretty well, giving us a good foundation to build from. His heel is also still a work in progress, as his busy puppy brain makes it difficult for him to focus when there are so many things heād rather investigate. But with time and consistency, Iām confident weāll continue to see improvement in the days ahead.
While we were there, we also had some people stop by to do a brush demonstration, and they took a turn brushing Sylas. He definitely gave them a run for their money because he was quite the wiggly worm! Ultimately, though, he responded well to being brushed. He just had to make sure they knew he wasnāt going to make it easy on them. š
All in all, we had a good day together. Progress was made, new introductions were started, and Sylas got plenty of opportunities to experience new things. Itās still very early in his journey, so weāre taking everything one step at a time and letting him learn at his own pace. Iām proud of Sylas for trying his best today!
Weāre also off to a good start with his potty training. So far, Sylas hasnāt had a single accident, and heās already doing pretty well about pottying when asked. He even made it through the night in his crate without an accident, which is a nice little win for his first full day. Weāll continue working on building those good habits as he settles into his routine here! š¾
9/15/2026
Today Sylas and I kept things a little more relaxed and worked right around the neighborhood. This gave us the opportunity to slow things down and really focus on his understanding of his commands without adding too many distractions at once. Sometimes a quieter environment is just what a busy little sprout needs to put all those new lessons together!
We started with a walk where we focused on his heel command, and Sylas made some awesome progress today! By the end of our session, he was walking nicely right by my side with the leash hanging loose. Seeing him begin to understand how to move with me instead of constantly feeling like he needs to be off investigating everything was a great step forward.
After our walk, we found a nice spot to work on the rest of his commands. Iāve also noticed that Sylas has been getting his down command a little confused with his sit, so we spent some extra time working through that today. Heās still learning the difference between the two, but with a little more time and repetition, Iām sure heāll really start to get it.
For his extended sit and down, Sylas was able to make some great progress with staying put for the most part, which is wonderful considering just how much puppy energy this little guy has! The biggest challenge came when a dog and its owner happened to walk past us. Naturally, Sylas really wanted to go say hello, and he did break his position. But as soon as he did, I redirected him right back into his original position and we started again. This helps teach him that no matter what is happening around him, his commands still matter and he needs to follow through with what was asked of him.
His come-to-sit was another highlight today! We saw some significant improvement, with Sylas completing the entire motion correctly more often than not and needing very little guidance to do it. Thatās pretty impressive because this can be a surprisingly tricky command for some dogs to learn, but it seems like our little guy is picking it up quickly!
Place was another command that Sylas didnāt have much trouble with today, which was also fantastic to see. All in all, we definitely saw some great improvement in his understanding of his new commands today. Now that heās beginning to understand what is expected of him in a calmer setting, Iām excited to see him put that knowledge to work as we gradually add more distractions.
So far, this little cutie is doing great, and Iām very proud of the effort he put in today! Keep it up, Sylas! ā¤ļø
9/16/2026
Today Sylas and I headed out to Lake Balboa Park to continue working on his commands around distractions, and this little sprout did very well! We saw a noticeable improvement in his heel today. Of course, at the beginning of our outing he was pretty excited about being at the park, so he needed a few reminders to stay focused, but once he settled in, we were able to get right to work.
His extended sit and down commands are also coming along nicely! We saw some improvement in his ability to stay put, although a few exciting pups passing by did make him think that perhaps his position was a little more negotiable than we agreed upon. Each time he popped up, I simply directed him back into position and we started again. By the end of our visit, he was showing a much better understanding of the idea that even when something exciting is happening nearby, he still needs to hold his command. It was great to see that lightbulb starting to turn on!
We also spent some time working on his place command by asking him to hop onto several different surfaces and then hold either a sit or down. Sylas did a great job with this! I especially loved seeing how willing he was to trust my guidance and climb onto each new surface with very little hesitation. Brave boy! Heās learning that trying new things with his handler can actually be pretty fun.
His come-to-sit is another area where heās showing a great understanding of what weāre asking. The only little glitch in the system right now is helping him understand that we need to follow the command all the way through, even when there are interesting things happening around us. After spending some time practicing, we saw some improvement, and Iām sure that with continued exposure and repetition, heāll get the hang of it.
And, of course, no trip to the park would be complete without letting this puppy make a few new friends! Sylas enjoyed getting some social time and did a wonderful job being mindful during his introductions, which was great to see.
All in all, we had a fantastic outing today with lots of little victories along the way. Sylas continues to show us that heās learning, growing, and becoming more confident in his work every day. Way to go, little sprout! š±š¾
9/17/2026
Today Sylas and I headed to Home Depot to continue building on his progress with distractions, and it seems this little guy decided that testing the boundaries was going to be the name of the game today! š But honestly, this is a very normal part of puppy development. Itās only natural for a young pup to test whether the expectations we put in place yesterday are still going to be the same expectations today. And today, Sylas was definitely curious to find out!
Most of his boundary testing revolved around his extended commands, particularly his sit and down. As we all know, Sylas is a busy young guy with plenty of things on his puppy to-do list, so staying still isnāt exactly his favorite activityāespecially when there are shoppers walking by, carts rolling around, and so many interesting things happening around him! We spent quite a bit of time helping him understand that when he is asked to hold a command, he does in fact need to stay put until he is released.
After some repetition and guidance, it seemed like things started to click a little more for him. I have a feeling this is something weāll need to revisit again throughout his training, but thatās perfectly okay! Learning impulse control and consistency takes time, and these little moments of testing are all part of the process. What matters is that we continue holding those expectations and helping Sylas understand what is being asked of him.
On the bright side, his heel and come-to-sit commands are looking great! He is showing a nice understanding of both, which is wonderful to see. He definitely had an interest in the shoppers around him today, and that curiosity was part of what made staying focused a bit more challenging, but again, thatās okayāheās a puppy, and heās learning how to work through all of those exciting distractions.
As far as potty training goes, Sylas is doing fairly well!
He did have one accident in the house last night, but otherwise he has been doing a good job of going potty outside when asked. There is definitely still some work to be done, but overall Iām happy with the progress he is making. At his age, consistency and repetition are going to be especially important as he continues developing those good habits.
There is also another puppy behavior I wanted to mention that Iāve noticed with Sylas: he appears to be experiencing some submissive urination, sometimes referred to as āsubmissive tinkling.ā This is different from having an accident because he doesnāt understand his potty training. Submissive urination is an involuntary response that can happen when a young puppy feels nervous, intimidated, or overly excited during an interaction. He isnāt intentionally choosing to go potty, and he may not be able to stop it once that response is triggered. Fortunately, this is something many puppies improve on as they mature, become more confident, and gain better bladder control.
Iāve noticed that this seems to go hand in hand with another submissive behavior Sylas is displaying. When I go to put his collar on or bend down to pet him, he will automatically drop into a down position and cower. Rather than calmly sitting or standing and accepting affection or handling, he appears to be making himself smaller and showing a submissive posture. I canāt say exactly why he does this because I donāt know enough about his history, but it is something we can absolutely work through.
For now, one of the best things we can do is keep our interactions with him calm and matter-of-fact, especially when greeting him, putting on his collar, or giving him affection. If he becomes nervous or starts to cower, we donāt want to make a big emotional reaction out of it or overwhelm him with additional attention. Instead, we want to give him the opportunity to remain calm and learn that these everyday interactions are nothing to worry about. As he builds confidence and learns that he can comfortably stand or sit and accept handling without feeling the need to cower, we should hopefully see both the submissive posture and the submissive urination decrease with time.
Overall, Iād say we made some decent progress today! It may not have been the easiest day, but these are the sessions that help build consistency, confidence, and understanding. Sylas is still a very young puppy, so there is plenty for this little guy to learn, but he is making progress and showing us that he is capable of figuring things out. Iām proud of his efforts today, even when he decided to see just how flexible those puppy rules might be! š I canāt wait to see what this little guy and I get into tomorrow!
9/18/2026
Today, I had a few things that required me to stick a little closer to home, so Sylas and I used the opportunity to work around my neighborhood and continue building on his commands. And Sylas did well!
His heel is making some nice progress. He still needs the occasional reminder, especially when something exciting catches his attention, but thatās completely understandable for a young boy like him! There is a lot happening in the world around him, and part of his training is learning that even when something interesting pops up, he still needs to stay connected with his handler.
His come-to-sit command is also continuing to develop, and his understanding grows a little more each day. We are still working through some confusion with his sit command, though. Sylas has a tendency to become submissive and offer a down instead of a sit, almost as though he panics and tries to guess what I want rather than taking a moment to actually listen to the command being given.
Because of this, a big part of todayās session was simply working with verbal commands. If hand gestures or physical movements are enough to make Sylas nervous and cause him to panic, much like weāve seen when I go to give him affection or put his collar on, then we want to take those elements out of the equation for now. Instead, weāre teaching him to listen to the words, process what heās hearing, and make a thoughtful decision about what is actually being asked of him.
This is not something that is going to be completely resolved in two weeks, and I want to emphasize that. This is going to be a process. Sylas is still a very young puppy, and he is learning not only his commands but also how to navigate situations that make him feel a little uncertain. Step by step, with consistency and maturity, we can help him become more confident in those moments.
Using only verbal cues was definitely a little difficult for Sylas at first. However, after some time, he was able to relax a bit and really start listening to what I was saying rather than immediately offering the behavior he thought I wanted. He began offering his sit when I asked for a sit and his down when I asked for a down, which is a small but very meaningful step in the right direction!
The most important part of working through something like this is remaining calm and matter-of-fact. No unnecessary excitement, no frustration, and no making a big production out of the situation. It might seem a little boring from the outside, but thatās actually the point. Weāre trying to teach Sylas that these moments arenāt a big deal. He doesnāt need to panic, he doesnāt need to guess, and he doesnāt need to worry about getting it wrong. He simply needs to listen, think, and respond.
All in all, we made a bit of progress today, and Iām very happy to see it! Sylas is still figuring things out, but every time he is able to slow himself down and think through whatās being asked, weāre moving in the right direction. Iām sure that with time, consistency, and a little maturity, all of this will come even more naturally to this little guy.
9/19/2026
Today Sylas and I headed out to Westfield Mall to continue working on his commands around distractions, and he did really well considering this was his first time experiencing an environment like this with me! There was definitely a lot for him to take in when we first arrived, so we spent some time simply navigating through the mall and practicing our heel while allowing him to take in all of the sights, sounds, and activity around him. This gave him a chance to decompress and adjust to the new environment before we asked him to really get to work.
After a little bit of exploring, Sylas was able to settle in and we got started on his commands. At first, he had some trouble staying put during his extended commands, but after a couple of reminders, he began to understand what I was asking and showed some wonderful patience. We also saw some nice progress with his come-to-sit! He is really starting to get the hang of this exercise and is becoming much more consistent with following through.
For his place command, Sylas was very brave about hopping onto different surfaces throughout the mall. The one thing I continue to notice is that once he gets onto a surface, he immediately wants to offer that submissive down Iāve mentioned before. Because of this, weāre spending time encouraging him to become more willing to offer a sit when asked, which involves quite a bit of repositioning and helping him understand that he doesnāt need to immediately drop himself down. We saw a little progress with this today, and Iām sure weāll continue to see more as the days go on.
For now, weāll take whatever steps toward a more confident Sylas we can get as a win! This isnāt a race, and weāll get there when heās ready. Building confidence takes time, and I want Sylas to learn that he can work through these moments without immediately going into that panicked, submissive response.
On another note, Sylas definitely had some fans at the mall today! So many people wanted to come say hello, and I felt terrible having to turn them down. However, right now we have to advocate for our boy and stay focused on his progress. Weāre in the midst of teaching him that these types of interactions arenāt a big deal, and until heās able to calmly regulate himself even when I touch him, weāre going to keep the hands-off rule in place. Once heās more confident and comfortable, weāll be able to gradually introduce appropriate greetings in a way that sets him up for success.
All in all, today was a really great step forward for Sylas. Iām proud of him for working through his nerves, adjusting to a completely new environment, and ultimately being able to conquer the mall and all of its distractions with me. Every little bit of confidence counts, and today he showed us that heās capable of more than he initially thought!
Way to go, little guy! ā¤ļø
9/20/2026
Today, Sylas and I headed out to a local park where a baseball game was being held to continue working on his commands around distractions, and he did wonderfully! We spent some time working around the game, using all of the excitement as an opportunity to practice his extended commands. I was especially impressed with how patiently Sylas was able to hold his commands even as people cheered and the excitement continued out on the field!
After some time working around the game, we moved on to explore the rest of the park. While we explored, we worked on Sylasās place command using a variety of tables and other safe surfaces we could find. Sylas was happy to hop onto most of the surfaces I asked him to without hesitation, but when we came across a picnic table, he was a little less convinced that this was a great idea!
Rather than letting that hesitation stop us, we worked through it together. It took several ārunning starts,ā but Sylas eventually made it up onto the table! We celebrated that first victory calmly, letting him know what a great job he had done being brave. Then we practiced it a few more times, and before long, Sylas was smoothly getting himself onto the table without hesitation.
And let me tell you, as soon as he realized it really wasnāt a big deal, his ears unpinned and he visibly relaxed. It was such a wonderful example of how working through those little hurdles can make such a monumental difference in a puppyās confidence. Sometimes all they need is a little encouragement and the opportunity to discover for themselves that something isnāt as scary as they initially thought!
All in all, Iām incredibly proud of the progress Sylas continues to show. Each day he takes another step toward becoming a more confident and brave boy, and itās so rewarding to watch that confidence grow. Way to go, brave bean! š«š¾
Potty Training Update:
Sylas has been doing well with his potty training! There havenāt been any accidents since our last report, which is awesome to see. Heās also doing pretty well about going potty when asked, although he does like to take a moment to find that perfect spot before getting down to business. š
9/21/2026
Today, Sylas and I headed out to Rosemead to meet up with some fellow trainers and their pups to continue building his confidence and understanding around distractions, and he did well!
Our biggest focus today was encouraging Sylas to move away from some of the more submissive behaviors he can sometimes offer while working through his commands. One example is his tendency to keep his head tucked down when performing his down command, which can make the behavior look more like he is worried or trying to make himself smaller rather than simply following through with his command. We also worked on helping him understand that when asked to go to place, the expectation is to calmly move onto the surface and offer a sit rather than immediately diving into a down.
For his down command, we kept things very simple and positive. We would ask Sylas for his down, and whenever he offered the behavior while keeping his head up, we celebrated that choice and let him know he was doing an awesome job. By the end of our session, we were seeing that raised head more often, which was really exciting to see!
For place, we worked on encouraging him to offer a sit first. If Sylas automatically offered a down, we simply reset and tried again. With some repetition, it became easier for him to understand that he should offer the sit rather than immediately dropping into a down. This was a great little breakthrough for him and something weāll continue working on in the days ahead.
We also spent some time desensitizing Sylas to leash movement. At times, he can become focused on the leash itself and anticipate that movement means he should move onto the next command, which can cause him to break whatever position he is currently holding. By working through this calmly, weāre helping him learn to wait for an actual cue rather than reacting to every little movement of the leash.
Outside of that, Sylas did very well with his heel, walking nicely at my side even with everything going on around him. His come-to-sit was also looking really nice today!
Overall, Iām very proud of Sylas for continuing to work through these moments with me with a little less panic at his disco! Weāre working on helping him build confidence and understand that he is doing a great job, so thereās no need to make himself smaller. Every time he makes a confident choice and realizes that nothing scary happens, weāre building a little more understanding and trust. Way to go, buddy!
9/22/2026
Today, Sylas and I headed out to Home Depot to continue working on his progress around distractions, and Iām happy to say that he did a great job! While he was carrying himself a little nervously when we first arrived, I noticed a very positive difference in how he performed his commands. Most notably, he wasnāt tucking his head nearly as much when asked to lay down, which is something weāve been working hard to improve. Each time he made that confident choice, we made sure to give him plenty of calm praise to let him know he was doing exactly what we wanted!
His come-to-sit is also getting much better with the follow-through, even with distractions present. His heel has been improving greatly as well, and heās needing fewer reminders to stay nicely at my side, which is awesome to see!
With his extended sit, weāre still working on encouraging him to relax a little more while holding his position, but he did a fantastic job maintaining his command as people passed by. He did equally well with his extended down, showing that heās becoming much more comfortable holding his commands even when thereās activity happening around him.
As we got further into our outing, I also noticed his nerves beginning to subside. He started to realize that his surroundings werenāt really such a big deal, and it was great to see him become more comfortable and confident as the outing went on.
That progress carried over into the rest of our day as we began working on his off-leash recall in my yard, which is part of the new program Sylas is now working on. This simply consists of practicing his come-to-sit without the leash. I allowed him to roam freely around my yard and periodically asked him to come. The first time I asked, he was a little confused about what I was looking for, but after working through it together, he was able to complete the follow-through very well. His following attempts went much more smoothly, and he promptly came over to me and sat on my left side just like the very smart boy I know he is!
Of course, we celebrated each good choice with plenty of calm, positive praise, and Iām also very happy to say that we didnāt have any excited tinkles today! That was another little win for our day.
All in all, Sylas had a wonderful day filled with some really meaningful progress. Iām so proud of him for continuing to trust in me to provide guidance and, even more importantly, for allowing himself to relax and realize that heās safe and supported. Iām hoping we can continue building on these little victories and help Sylas become the confident boy we know he can be!
Potty Training Pupdate: Sylas remains accident-free and is getting much better about handling his business when asked to! Way to go, little guy! š¾
9/23/2026
Today, Sylas and I headed out to the Westfield mall to continue his progress around distractions, and he did a great job! We continue to see such a wonderful understanding of his commands, although every now and then, in true puppy fashion, Sylas likes to make sure each command still means what it did the last time he was asked! This little bit of puppy testing is completely expected, and we simply continue to calmly reinforce what weāve already taught him so he knows the expectations havenāt changed.
We also saw some really encouraging improvement in how Sylas carried himself throughout our outing today. There was hardly any head tucking when he was asked to go into his down, which was wonderful to see!
He also did a great job accepting calm affection without any of his little submissive tinkles. These may seem like small things, but they are actually really meaningful steps for Sylas as we continue helping him build confidence and learn that these interactions donāt need to feel overwhelming.
We did have one moment where Sylas offered a down in the middle of holding an extended sit. When I stepped toward him to calmly guide him back into the correct position, he panicked a bit and attempted to scurry away. I remained completely calm and simply guided him back into position. Moments like this are especially important for Sylas because when he panics, itās often because he thinks he has done something wrong. Our goal is to continue helping him move out of that mindset so he can learn to process what is actually being asked of him rather than immediately assuming heās in trouble. Instead of panicking, we want him to learn that if he makes a mistake, all he needs to do is calmly return to the correct position and continue working.
I was really proud of how quickly he was able to recover from that moment. Once he realized everything was okay, we continued working and I even started seeing that cute little wiggle in his tail again! Seeing him come back to a happier, more relaxed state after a difficult moment is exactly the kind of progress we want to see.
Later on, I asked Sylas to hold his place next to a gentleman sitting on a bench. I could tell Sylas really, really wanted to go over and say hello, but he made the decision to remain in his position and fight that urge! That took quite a bit of self-control on his part, especially with someone right there who he was clearly interested in meeting. He stayed where he was asked and continued working through the distraction, and I was so proud of him for being able to make that choice.
This was another great example of all of our hard work starting to pay off. Sylas is learning that he can experience something new or exciting without immediately feeling like he needs to panic or react to it. Heās learning to listen, think, and work through those moments, and that is such an important skill for him to develop.
All in all, I couldnāt be more proud of Sylas today! We were able to work through some of the tougher moments, recover from them, and make some really great strides in showing just how brave this little guy can be. Most importantly, heās learning that working through his commands doesnāt have to be scary ā it can actually be fun when we give him the confidence and support to succeed. Way to go, little sprout! š±š¾
9/24/2026
Today Sylas and I headed out to a local park to do a little light work with his commands, but the main goal for this outing was to let Sylas explore, decompress, and simply be a pup. And he did a great job!
When it came time to work, Sylas continued to show that he understands his commands very well. What has been especially wonderful to see is his spunky personality continuing to shine through, with less and less of the submissive behavior weāve been working through. Itās so nice to see his confidence beginning to take a front seat. Heās starting to carry himself with a little more assurance, and that is a wonderful change to see.
Once his work was done, we simply wandered and enjoyed the park. I gave Sylas as much slack on the leash as I could and let him have a grand time exploring at his own pace. His first order of business was rolling around in the grass, which was absolutely hilarious to watch! š Once he had his fill of rolling around, he moved on to sniffing ahead of me and taking in all the wonderful smells the park had to offer. Of course, sniffing was perfectly fine as long as he remembered not to pull me along with him, and for the most part, he handled this very well. He also continued to check in with me regularly, which was lovely to see.
Moments like these are so important for a pup in training. It doesnāt always have to be about training! Giving Sylas opportunities to relax, explore, and just enjoy being a puppy is an important part of his development, too.
All in all, we had a wonderful outing today. Iām so proud of the progress Sylas continues to makeānot only with his commands, but also with some of the behaviors weāve been keeping a close eye on. Heās such a smart boy, and I absolutely love getting these little glimpses of his silly personality. ā¤ļø
9/25/2026
Today Sylas and I kept things nice and cozy at home and spent some time fine-tuning his house manners! These are skills weāve been practicing daily since his program began, and they include his door manners, car manners, and food manners. While each one has its own little objective, they all follow the same general rule: Sylas is learning to sit or lay down patiently and wait until heās given his release cue of āokayā or ābreak.ā Since heās still such a young puppy, these are skills that will take plenty of repetition and consistency, but heās doing a wonderful job learning what is expected of him! To kick things off, we started with a nice long walk around my neighborhood before settling back in at home to put those manners to work.
For Sylasās food manners, the goal is for him to sit and patiently wait while his meal is placed in front of him, remaining seated until he hears his release cue. He is already able to remain seated while I briefly walk out of sight, and with a reminder when needed, he will stay put and continue waiting patiently until I return and release him. Thatās a pretty big accomplishment for such a young puppy! When we first started working on this, Sylas was understandably very interested in getting to his food, and patience around something so exciting was a little foreign to him. š He wanted that bowl and he wanted it NOW! With consistent practice, though, he has learned that waiting patiently is what earns him his release. He still gets excited around meal times and occasionally needs a little reminder to maintain his patience, but he is showing a really good understanding of what is expected of him.
For his door manners, the concept is very similar. Sylas is learning to remain seated at the door rather than immediately trying to follow the excitement on the other side. He is already doing a great job with this and is learning that the door opening does not automatically mean itās time to go! I can step past him to enter or exit and briefly move out of his sight, and with a reminder when needed, Sylas will stay put and wait for his āokayā or ābreakā before moving through the doorway. For such a young pup, that impulse control is something to be really proud of. Of course, there are still moments where his puppy excitement gets the better of him, but he is learning that when he receives a reminder, he needs to reset himself and continue waiting.
For his car manners, Sylas is learning to sit patiently at the car and wait until he receives his āload up!ā cue before getting into his travel crate. Since he is still a young puppy, I also introduced him to using a ramp to make getting into the car a little easier and more comfortable. We spent some time teaching him how to properly navigate the ramp rather than simply expecting him to figure it out on his own, and he did a great job learning how to use it! Once he understood what we were asking, he became much more comfortable with the process. Weāre also working on the patience that comes before the āload upā cue, so he understands that even though he knows where the ramp leads and is excited to get going, he still needs to wait until he is invited to go. With a reminder when needed, Sylas is able to stay put and wait for his cue rather than deciding for himself that itās time to load up. The more we practice this routine, the more naturally it is becoming for him.
Overall, Sylas is doing really well with these house manners, especially considering just how young he is! At this age, weāre not expecting perfection; weāre building a strong foundation. He is learning that excitement doesnāt mean he gets to make his own decisions, and that patience and listening are what get him access to the things he wants. Every now and then his puppy brain still takes over and he needs a little reminder, but whatās important is that he responds to those reminders and is able to get himself back into position. That shows us that he understands what is being asked of him ā he just needs continued practice and accountability to make those good choices more consistent.
After all of our work, Sylas seemed to really enjoy having a more relaxed day at home where he could hang out, explore, and simply be a puppy. Itās always nice to see him get some downtime after his training, and he did a great job balancing his work with some well-deserved puppy relaxation! He may still have plenty of growing and learning ahead of him, but heās laying down some wonderful foundations that will continue to serve him as he gets older.
9/26/2026
Today Sylas and I headed out to the mall to continue his progress around distractions, and there were certainly plenty of distractions to be had! We started our outing with a simple walk around the mall, giving Sylas some time to take everything in and get comfortable with all the sights, sounds, and activity around him. After a little while, he was ready to shift his focus back to work, so we got down to business ā and he did a fantastic job!
Any surface I asked Sylas to hop onto for place was an absolute breeze for him today. He confidently hopped right up and patiently held his position, even with all sorts of activity happening around him. His come-to-sit was another highlight, as he was able to practice it several times without any leash guidance, which was fabulous to see! Heās continuing to show us that he understands what weāre asking of him and is becoming more comfortable performing his commands independently.
His heel is coming along really well too! He does a great job overall, although if we happen to walk past something particularly delicious-smelling or exciting, he may need a little reminder to stay focused on his handler. But thatās completely understandable for a young pup, and moments like these are exactly why we practice in environments filled with real-world distractions. Each time he gets redirected and chooses to come back to his job, heās learning that his handler remains the most important thing to pay attention to.
His extended commands were especially impressive today. Sylas was able to hold his positions patiently as people walked by relatively close to him, and he even maintained his position while a couple of children ran past! That was such a great moment to see play out because it showed just how much better he is becoming at staying composed despite movement and excitement happening around him.
Of course, Sylas also received plenty of compliments throughout our outing about how cute and well-behaved he was ā and he definitely earned every single one! š„°
All in all, Iād say we had a fantastic outing today. Iām so proud of the progress Sylas continues to make, and it has been wonderful watching his confidence grow while still seeing that fun, spunky puppy personality shine through!
Potty Training Update: Still accident-free! š Sylas is now doing a fantastic job handling his business upon request, which is another great accomplishment for this little guy. Heās really starting to put all the pieces together!
9/27/2026
Today Sylas and I headed out to Lake Balboa Park to continue building his confidence and obedience around distractions, and he did a great job!
One of our main focuses today was revisiting the difference between his sit and down commands. Sylas had a little moment where he tried to fall back into his old habit of offering a down when I asked for a sit. Thatās okay! Days like this are bound to happen, especially as he continues learning that each command has a specific expectation. What matters is how we work through those moments, and Sylas did just that.
We spent some time going back and forth between sit and down, marking his good choices and simply resetting when he became confused. After some repetition, everything started clicking again, and by the end of our session Sylas was confidently offering a sit when asked for sit and a down when asked for down. It was a great reminder that sometimes we just need to slow things down, create a little clarity, and give him the opportunity to work it out.
The rest of his commands went smoothly! Sylas continues to show a wonderful understanding of his come-to-sit, and heās doing well with his heel. He still needs an occasional reminder to stay focused, but thatās completely okayāthe world can be pretty exciting when youāre a little boy with lots to see and sniff!
His place work was another highlight today. Sylas has become such a brave little guy when it comes to hopping onto different surfaces, and itās awesome to see how much more confidently he approaches those challenges. What may have once made him hesitate is now becoming something heās willing to take on without much thought.
All in all, we had another great outing! Today gave us an opportunity to reinforce some important distinctions in his obedience while continuing to build his confidence around distractions. Iām very proud of Sylas for working through the moments of confusion with me and continuing to show us just how much heās learning. š
9/28/2026
Today Sylas and I headed out to a park in Rosemead to meet up with some fellow trainers and their pups and continue working on his progress around distractions. And Sylas did a fantastic job!
He arrived excited to see all of the pups at the park, and we did let him have some time to say hello and enjoy himself. He even got a little playtime in with a chocolate Lab named Oso, which was absolutely adorable to watch. Once the boys had their fill of playtime, we got down to business and worked through his commands.
Sylas absolutely knocked it out of the park! Heās showing such a wonderful understanding of his commands at this point. Every now and then, though, that puppy brain takes the lead and he reacts before fully thinking things through. A good example of this is when heās asked for a sit and offers a down instead.
These moments are completely normal, and what matters is how we work through them. Rather than rushing or becoming frustrated, we simply slow things down, give him the opportunity to think about what weāre asking, and then praise him when he makes the correct choice. The goal is to help him learn to pause, process, and make the right decision instead of immediately offering the first thing that pops into his head.
We also took some time today to have each of the trainers take turns greeting Sylas. Another area he has been working through is his excitement surrounding affection. When he gets excited, he wants to jump up and soak up all the attention he can get, and sometimes that excitement can even lead to a little submissive tinkle. He made some great progress with this today as well. Slowly but surely, he began figuring out that staying seated is the name of the game when someone comes over to say hello.
Iāve found that calm interactions are exactly what Sylas needs. No excited voices, no getting down on the floor with him, and no dragging out the affection for too long. Instead, we keep greetings calm and simple while he remains seated. Once he starts getting overly excited, we give him a moment to settle back down. Heās learning that he doesnāt have to become overwhelmed by affection in order to enjoy it.
Though Sylas will absolutely still need consistent practice once he heads home, he has made SO much progress in these two weeks. Not only with his obedience and understanding of his commands, but also with his confidence and potty training. It has genuinely been so rewarding watching him begin to lean away from some of those more submissive behaviors. I canāt say they arenāt still present, because they are, but they are becoming less prominent, and thatās a wonderful thing to see.
With Sylas, itās important to remember that this isnāt a race. We have to go at his pace and continue building his confidence through steady, positive experiences. My biggest hope is that Iāve been able to provide you with the tools and understanding needed to continue this progress once he comes home. Sylas is a very smart boy, and he is absolutely capable of continuing to grow. Itās simply going to take time, consistency, patience, and plenty of opportunities to make good choices.
Lastly, I want to thank you for trusting me with your little boy and allowing me to be a part of his journey through obedience training. It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know Sylas, watching his personality come out more and more, and seeing him become a more confident version of himself. I truly hope the work he and I have accomplished together sets you and Sylas on the right path toward many wonderful adventures together. Heās such a sweet boy, and Iām so excited for you to continue watching him grow! ā¤ļø
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