Tartine | Miniature Australian Shepherd | Santa Monica, CA | In-Training
- Amanda Lascari
- Nov 23, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 6, 2024
Tartine, a two year old Miniature Australian Shepherd, had joined OffLeash SoCal for our Two Week Board and Train program. Tartine comes to us knowing commands but not always listening, being easily distracted out in public, reactive towards dogs, protective of her owners, and having some anxiety. Over the two weeks Tartine will be working towards her off leash obedience and manners. Check in to see her progress!
Pupdate 11/23/2024
Tartine is getting settled in at my home. We had a little issue with greeting her new training buddies. She tried to go after them a few times. She tried resource guarding my car and would show her teeth and snap if the other dogs try to approach. I decided to keep her separate from everyone right now until we start working on her obedience and socialization. I am her spend the rest of the day getting adjusted to her new surroundings. Tomorrow we will begin training. Above is a tutorial video of the Ecollar. I didn’t get to send you home with one, but please watch this video as many times as you need to become familiar with the training collar.
Pupdate 11/24/2024
Today Tartine and I went to the park to work on her commands. I introduced and conditioned her to the Ecollar. We practiced her commands: Sit, Down, and Place. Place is a command where Tartine must sit or lay on a defined object. This command is great for building confidence, working on distance and duration, as well as teaching her to be calm and relaxed. I’m not sure if she already knows this commands or not, but she caught on very quickly. We need more work on her duration. Tartine will hold her commands for a few seconds before getting distracted and trying to break. Down was a little bit of a struggle, but that’s okay. We will continue to practice until she gets the hang of it. She had a great first day of training!
Pupdate 11/25/2024
Today Tartine and I went to the park to work on her obedience. We met with other OffLeash SoCal trainers and their dogs, so Tartine could work around other dog distractions. I tried socializing her to each of the dogs, to see what her triggers are when being around other dogs. You can see, in the video, how tense Tartine approaches. Her body posture is stiff and tall. Her tail stands straight up with a short stiff wag (signal for stress, anxiety, or aggression) She keeps her head high and tries to place over the other dog (dominance).
With first dog Tartine isn’t reactive because the dog is in a submissive position and his energy is calm. You can see he turns around to avoid confrontation with her because she approaches too tense.
The second dog the same thing. Tartine is approaching with tension and trying to show dominance. The other trying to move away from her to avoid confrontation. When the black lab sits down you see Tartine approach and push her body into her and trying to put her head over the other dogs face.
The third dog, a puppy who doesn’t understand body language and energy yet, approaches Tartine happily. Tartine approaches tense again, but she seems more curious about the puppy. She actually lowers her head to sniff under the belly. I could tell she was still unsure and wasn’t ready to let the puppy greet her. You can see whip her butt around when the puppy tries to sniff her back end. When the puppy came at me excitedly is when she became reactive, trying to bite.
I also tried greeting the dogs to see if she would try to resource guard me, which she did. I had her work on her obedience commands around the dogs. She did well ignoring them and following her commands. We will continue to work on her reactivity towards other dogs.
Pupdate 11/26/2024
Today Tartine joined me on a little shopping spree at the shopping outlets. It was very busy, so we had many distractions to train around. Tartine was a bit anxious and distracted with all the commotion going on around us. As we walked around and trained she was able to settle down a little and focus on her commands. We tried working on her duration, but it was hard for to stay still since she was anxious. We came across some yapping dogs while we were walking. Tartine started to become reactive, but I told her ‘off’ and gave her a tap in the Ecollar and she stopped immediately and went back to focusing on her heel. We will continue to work around more distractions to build Tartine’s confidence and desensitize her new distractions.
Pupdate 11/27/2024
Today Tartine and I went to Lowe’s to work on her obedience around more distractions. The distraction level was much lower than the mall, so she was more relaxed and focused. We practiced all her commands and worked on her duration. She very well and was able to hold her commands longer. Tonight I had Tartine socialize with my German shepherd. Tartine was very respectful while greeting and even initiated play.
Pupdate 11/28/2024
Happy Thanksgiving! Today Tartine and I went to the park to work on her obedience. We practiced all her commands and worked on her distance and duration. She did a great job! Tartine was focused and obedient.
Pupdate 11/29/2024
Today Tartine and I went to the shopping outlet to work I her obedience around distractions. Tartine was a little anxious. It was hard for her to hold commands. She was too focused on everything going on around us. Tartine was not a nice girl at home today. I had her out socializing with my shepherd. She was being social and playful, until she found a tennis ball. My shepherd was walking past the ball and Tartine ran over and started going after her. My shepherd tried to move away but Tartine kept going. I stopped Tartine right away and took away the ball. I reintroduced them to each other later in the evening and they were fine being around one another.
11/30/2024
Today Tartine and I trained at home. We practiced all her commands and worked on her distance and duration. We also worked on her door manners.
The benefits of door manners is:
-Impulse control at thresholds- Typically the door causes excitement for a dog because they know they are going out (outside, for a ride, for a walk, etc.) Waiting at a doorway puts your dog in a calmer state of mind and you are able to have more control of the dog when you take her out.
-Safety- Teaching your dog to wait at thresholds will prevent bolting.
Pupdate 12/1/2024
Today Tartine and I went to the park to work on her obedience. We practiced her commands semi-off leash. She did a great job! She was focused and followed all of her commands. We worked on her distance and duration. We need to tighten up a few of her commands and then Tartine will be ready to work completely off leash.
Pupdate 12/2/2024
Today Tartine and I went to the mall to work on her obedience around distractions. She did very well. Tartine was focused and followed all her commands. She did all her commands semi-off leash. Tartine heeled nicely as my side as we walked through the crowds of people. She was calm and held her commands as people passed by her. She had a few admirers that watched her train. Tartine received a few compliments on how well behaved she is.
Pupdate 12/3/2024
Today Tartine and I went to the shopping outlet to work on her obedience around distractions. She did a great job! Tartine was focused and obedient. We practiced all her commands semi-off leash. The only struggle we had was finding place objects low enough for her to climb up on, since she doesn’t like jumping.
Pupdate 12/4/2024
Today Tartine and I went to a local shopping center to work on her obedience around distractions. She did very well following all her commands. She worked completely off leash today! Tartine received a few compliments from people passing by. They were very impressed with how well mannered she is.
Pupdate 12/5/2024
Today Tartine and I went to the shopping outlets to work on her off leash obedience around more distractions. She did very well staying focused and following all her commands. We even passed by a few dogs and she stayed focused. There was one that was whimpering and focusing on Tartine. Tartine is perk up and look at the dog as we passed by. I gave her a tap on the Ecollar and told her ‘off’. She looked back to me and continued with her heel. At home I had Tartine socializing with the smaller dogs. She wasn’t really interested in them, but okay being around them. We did have an incident with my German shepherd again. I was getting everyone’s dinner ready. My shepherd came and sat next to me and Tartine rushed right over and started attacking her. I stopped it right away and both of them are fine. After I corrected both of them, I had both move away from and Tartine was completely fine being around my shepherd.
Pupdate 12/6/2024
Today Tartine and I went to the park to work on her off leash obedience. She did a great job and followed all her commands. She had a great time running around and exploring the park with her off leash freedom. At home I had Tartine socialize with the pack. We had no issues. She wasn’t interested in playing but fine being around everyone. I had her keep distance and watch as I interacted with the other dogs.
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