Tazz | German Shepherd Mix | Carson, Ca | In Training
- Robert Steinbach
- Jun 8
- 24 min read
Updated: Jun 28
Meet Tazz — our resident land shark in training! This 8-month-old German Shepherd mix is equal parts energy and chaos, known for bulldozing through boundaries (literally) and treating everything in sight like a chew toy. Sounds? Suspicious. Recall? Optional. But don’t let the shark teeth fool you—underneath the zoomies and rebellion is a smart pup ready to channel that wild side into well-mannered greatness. Let the taming of the Tazz begin!
Pupdate 6/8/2025
Tazz is off to a bold start with training today—this little land shark has opinions, and he’s not afraid to share them. While his reactivity and fear-based behaviors came through in the form of several nips and bites, we used this as a teaching moment to set boundaries and establish clear leadership. Once those were in place, the nipping slowed significantly, and Tazz began showing signs of understanding the new structure.
He’s a smart pup and has already started picking up on what's being asked of him. We introduced the heel command today and he did surprisingly well for his first session—offering a sit about 70% of the time when we stopped walking. This tells us he’s catching on quickly and is willing to work once the expectations are clear.
That said, crate training is a challenge at the moment. Tazz is not kennel trained and is completely resistant to entering a kennel space, so we spent time introducing it in short, low-pressure sessions throughout the day and will continue building that tolerance with consistency and patience.
Given his reactivity, we are holding off on introductions to the rest of my pack until tomorrow to ensure we’ve created a safe and manageable foundation first. There’s a lot of potential here, and we’re committed to working with Tazz at his pace while still keeping expectations high. More updates to come as we build on today’s progress!
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Pupdate!
Pupdate 6/9/2025
Tazz the Brainiac was back at it today as we returned to the park for more structured training. This pup continues to show us just how intelligent he is—he picks up new commands quickly and is starting to understand what’s expected of him with far less resistance.
That said, his reactivity is still present and very clearly rooted in fear. Early in the session, he tried to pull toward cars, people, and other dogs, but with consistent corrections using the e-collar paired with the “off” command, he started making better choices. Each time he disengaged from a distraction and turned back to me, I made sure to reinforce the behavior so he understands that’s the right decision. He’s learning, and the growth already shows.
Today was also a big day socially—Tazz met the rest of my pack (my wife and our three dogs). We kept introductions one at a time, and overall they went well. He was relaxed and calm around my two smaller, mellow dogs, and although he was initially uneasy around my retired working dog (who carries more of an alpha presence), he quickly showed respect and settled in. Same goes for meeting my wife—he was polite, calm, and handled it well.
He is still refusing to into his kennel. We spent several hours yesterday and today working on this. I’ve tried different things like placing food or treats or even getting partially in there myself but he is holding strong against it.
One thing to note: Tazz still hasn’t gone potty (no pee or poop yet). It’s not uncommon for dogs to hold off when adjusting to a new environment, but I’ll be keeping a close eye on this and will hopefully have some “relief” news to share soon. UPDATE- as of 7pm today, Tazz has pottied!
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s pupdate!
Pupdate 6/10/2025
Today was a bit of a scattered one for our guy, Tazz. During training, his focus was all over the place—birds, breezes, mystery neighborhood noises—you name it, he noticed it. While he is picking up commands quickly (this pup is smart!), his reliability is still a work in progress. He’s very food motivated, which is helpful, and we’re using that to our advantage with lots of repetitions and rewards to help those commands stick and eventually become second nature.
We later went on a neighborhood walk to work on his heel. Much like our earlier session, the first 15 minutes were all over the place. Tazz was more focused on his surroundings than me and couldn’t quite settle into the walk. That said, after that 15-minute mark, I started to see improvement—his pace synced up with mine, and he was more responsive to corrections. Even then, though, his head was constantly scanning for action like it was moving at 100mph. We’ll keep working on building trust, consistency, and calm through structured walks like these.
Kennel win alert: After several attempts (and some very toothy protests), I was able to get Tazz into his kennel last night! I used a muzzle for safety and gave him a bit of a running start to help him get in without resistance. Once inside, he relaxed immediately—no pacing, no whining, just a deep snooze. This tells me he’s actually quite comfortable being in the kennel—it’s just the act of entering that he’s resistant to. We’ll continue building positive association and smooth entries with lots of calm, firm repetition.
A quick behavioral note: After our walk, my dogs came to greet us with their usual excitement, and Tazz immediately responded with a quick attempt to nip. I was ready, issued a firm “off” paired with e-collar correction, and he returned to me without issue. I then reset the energy and allowed a calm, positive interaction with the pack. This moment was a clear reminder: Tazz tends to react when overwhelmed by excitement, anxiety, or fear-based energy. These are key moments to watch for, as catching them early and redirecting his focus is the most effective way to help him build more thoughtful, stable responses moving forward.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s pupdate!
Pupdate 6/11/2025
Tazz had a productive day of training today with a strong focus on two key obedience skills: “come to sit” and puppy push-ups (a sequence of sit → down → sit). These exercises help build not only command recognition but also impulse control and clarity between different verbal cues.
Tazz is catching on to the “come to sit” command—he’s eager and willing, but we’re still smoothing out the execution.
As for “down,” this is where he’s hitting a little bit of a mental block—which, again, is totally expected. Most dogs have a harder time distinguishing between “sit” and “down,” especially when we’re moving quickly between them. He’ll sit easily, but when asked for “down,” there’s hesitation, and sometimes resistance. We’ll continue taking it slow here, using food rewards and body guidance to make the difference between the two more clear and intuitive for him.
Kennel training saw a big win today! Tazz is now beginning to enter the kennel calmly and willingly when given the verbal command “house” paired with an open hand gesture. While he still occasionally pretends not to hear it, he’s starting to understand that the command is non-negotiable—and more importantly, it doesn’t have to be a big deal. What finally helped flip the switch was a little help from my retired working dog. I had him demonstrate by walking right into the kennel. Tazz watched, and sure enough—when I gave the “house” command next, Tazz followed right behind and went in smoothly. We repeated this a few times, each followed by immediate release, praise, and affection. This positive reinforcement loop helped solidify that the kennel isn’t something to resist—it’s a place to enter calmly, and good things follow.
All in all, a great day of momentum. He’s still young and figuring things out, but his eagerness to learn and his growing respect for direction are the ingredients we need to keep shaping his progress.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s pupdate!
Pupdate 6/12/2025
Today we set the bar a little higher for Tazz by attempting to phase out the prong collar during his heel work—and let’s just say, it was a strong reminder of where we still have room to grow.
Without the added structure of the prong, Tazz was pulling wildly and darting toward anything and everything he saw, thought he saw, or imagined. Verbal cues and e-collar stim alone weren’t enough to redirect him once his attention locked onto something—be it a sound, movement, or a speck of dust blowing across the street. His focus was all over the place, and his instincts were fully in charge.
But here’s the important takeaway: this wasn’t a failed session—it was a valuable one. It gave us clear insight into the areas where he still needs reinforcement, and it created the perfect training opportunity to shape his ability to self-regulate and trust direction. We'll continue working with the prong as needed to maintain structure while increasing reps and gradually layering in more challenges until he can demonstrate consistency without it. He has the intelligence and drive—it’s just a matter of reps, redirection, and building reliability one layer at a time.
On a more positive note, crate training is nearing gold-star status. Tazz is responding beautifully to the “house” command, especially when it’s delivered with a little extra enthusiasm. I’ve noticed that when I first give him a burst of love and verbal praise, then follow it up with an animated delivery of the command, he walks in confidently and settles in quickly. It’s clear now that the hesitation around the crate wasn’t about discomfort—it was about the way he was being asked. We’ve unlocked his preferred language, and it’s paying off.
At this stage, it’s also clear that Tazz isn’t quite ready for busy public training environments. Even quiet neighborhood walks or training in the backyard offer more than enough challenge to his focus right now. We’ll keep refining his foundation here before stepping into more stimulating settings, ensuring that when we do, he’s set up for success.
Lots of learning today—and even more growth to come.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s pupdate!
Pupdate 6/13/2025
Today we reintroduced the prong collar for Tazz’s daily walk—he knew it was back before we even stepped out the door. That awareness alone helped make our heel session much more productive. While Tazz is still highly interested in every leaf, breeze, and imaginary sound around him, I was able to redirect his attention and get him to follow through on commands much more consistently. The added structure gave us predictability, which is exactly what he needs right now.
With that improvement, we’ll start gradually increasing the level of distraction by training in busier environments. The goal is to help him become more desensitized and learn that no matter what’s going on, the handler’s command still matters most.
His “come to sit” started to fall apart outside compared to the progress we’ve seen in our yard, which just confirms that we need more reps in real-world conditions to solidify his reliability.
At home, one command Tazz is really beginning to master is “off.” Whether it’s redirecting him when he perks up to bark at a passing noise or preventing him from jumping on one of my dogs, he now understands the meaning behind the word and often responds to the verbal cue alone without needing additional correction.
Tazz is very smart—but his energy and attention wander constantly. He thrives when he’s given clear direction, which is why it’s so important to build small, consistent obedience habits into daily life. Asking him to sit before refilling his water bowl, sending him to place while you grab the mail, pausing at thresholds—these seemingly simple moments are critical opportunities to keep him engaged, focused, and accountable.
We’re building momentum, and with consistency, Tazz is well on his way to being a more obedient and dependable companion.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s pupdate!
Pupdate 6/14/2025
Today we took Tazz’s training to the park to work on his “come to sit,” “place,” “heel,” “down,” and “sit” commands in a more stimulating environment. At the start of the session, he was engaged and responsive—proof that his early training is laying a solid foundation.
He walked beautifully in a heel on the way there, maintaining position and responding well to cues.
As the session progressed, though, the combination of distractions and the effort of training began to wear on him. Tazz became increasingly overstimulated and had a harder time following through. His focus drifted, and he started to regress a bit in both response time and reliability.
That said, we pushed through—and the payoff came toward the end of the session. After working through the mid-session distractions, his commands started to clean up again. It was a reminder that he’s capable, but still learning how to regulate his energy and remain consistent through longer or more demanding sessions.
One area where he really stood out today was his “place” command. He understood exactly where to go and got into position confidently. As expected, holding the command became more difficult when distractions increased, but the fundamental understanding is there—which is a big win. We also began working on duration and distance, building his ability to hold a command for longer periods and while I’m further away. Today we reached about 6–8 feet of distance and 15 seconds of hold time, which is great progress for where we are.
The walk home was a different story—Tazz had hit his focus limit. He was extremely distracted and began wanting to pull and lunge toward everything and everyone that caught his attention. It was a clear sign that, while his skills are improving, he’s not yet ready to maintain focus for long stretches or in high-stim environments without more support and structure.
Every session gives us a better picture of how Tazz learns and what he needs. Today’s takeaway? He has the foundation—we just need to keep stacking the reps and expanding his threshold for focus and follow-through.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s pupdate!
Pupdate 6/15/2025
Today’s training focused on refining Tazz’s obedience during neighborhood walks, and we saw some meaningful progress—even got some training while leash dragging.
He’s starting to hold focus much more consistently, even as we move through familiar areas with the usual neighborhood distractions. While he still needs redirection at times, I was able to keep his attention for longer stretches, which made the entire walk more productive and collaborative. A big win: Tazz has started offering a “sit” on his own about 50% of the time when I come to a stop—a clear sign that the command is starting to click and become second nature.
We’ve also added structure to our crosswalk routine, reinforcing the idea that all forward motion comes from his handler. I’m having him sit at every corner before crossing the street, and while it’s still a work in progress, he’s responding to the pattern and understanding that patience is part of the process.
Another area of growth today was threshold manners—a key part of impulse control and structure at home. Tazz is improving in his ability to sit and wait at doors rather than rushing through. He’s holding his sit and waiting for a release cue (either “come” or “break”) about 60% of the time, and that number is rising with each session. These may seem like small moments, but they lay the foundation for calm, respectful behavior in and out of the house.
Tazz is showing us he’s capable of tuning in—it just takes consistent direction and repetition. As we continue to reinforce his commands and add more structure to everyday moments, he’s becoming more reliable and responsive each day.
More progress to come—stay tuned for tomorrow’s update!
Pupdate 6/16/2025
Tazz had a big training milestone today as we joined several other Off Leash SoCal trainers and their dogs for a group session at the park. This kind of real-world exposure is essential for helping dogs like Tazz develop focus, confidence, and appropriate social behavior.
Overall, he handled the new environment and dog interactions quite well. He was calm and respectful with most of the dogs he met, but he did show some uncertainty and hesitation around one smaller dog. With a combination of timely correction, redirection, and positive reinforcement, we helped him work through that moment. After a few minutes of consistent guidance, he adjusted his behavior and was able to interact with her more appropriately before we moved on. It was a great teaching moment and an important reminder that Tazz needs support and structure when navigating unfamiliar situations.
We also worked on his heel command with the leash dragging—a step toward preparing him for more advanced off-leash reliability. Tazz is showing strong improvement here: he’s beginning to check in more frequently, maintain better positioning, and look to me for direction. While I’m not ready to trust him fully off leash yet—especially in high-distraction environments—today was a clear step forward in building consistency and engagement.
Later in the day, we tackled a big challenge: getting Tazz into a car kennel. At first, he was extremely resistant. I had to use a muzzle for safety and physically lift him in three separate times, pairing each repetition with the “free” release cue. His resistance clearly stemmed from fear and anxiety around the unfamiliar setup. But with calm repetition and encouragement, he made a huge breakthrough—by the end of the session, Tazz voluntarily entered the kennel on his own. That kind of shift is a major win and speaks volumes about his capacity to grow when we meet his hesitation with consistency and patience.
Tazz’s reactivity continues to stem from fear of the unknown, and the best path forward is continued structured exposure to new places, dogs, and scenarios. As his confidence grows, his reactivity will continue to fade—and today was a strong step in that direction.
Looking forward to building on this momentum!
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s pupdate!
Pupdate 6/17/2025
Tazz had a focused day of training as we introduced a few new layers to his obedience work—specifically “under,” continued reps of “place,” “come to sit,” and practicing some of these off-leash. We also started working on extending the duration of both “place” and “under,” helping him build the impulse control and patience that come with holding a position even when the world around him is moving.
As expected, Tazz caught on to the concepts quickly—he’s a fast learner with a sharp mind. But when it comes to execution, he still needs a little help getting into position. At this stage, about 90% of the time he requires a treat lure to get all the way into his under command. The good news is: he’s showing a lot of willingness and eagerness to engage. The last 2 days he started sitting on his own at thresholds without the need of a verbal or visual cue. With continued reps and consistency, we’ll shape this into verbal-only follow through.
We’re also starting to build up his confidence and reliability while off-leash in safe, controlled environments. Tazz is starting to understand that working off-leash doesn’t mean “free for all”—and that engagement and focus still apply.
We’ll continue to reinforce these behaviors, layering in more distractions and challenges as his reliability improves.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s update!
Pupdate 6/18/2025
Today I took Tazz to a local park to reinforce all of his commands with real-world distractions—think kids playing sports, parents cheering, dogs in the distance, and all the unpredictable park energy. Despite the activity, Tazz handled himself with noticeable maturity in many moments, and I'm especially proud to share that he’s officially graduated off the prong collar! He’s now responding to a combination of verbal cues, leash guidance, and e-collar stim with no need for prong reinforcement. That’s a big win in his training journey.
In terms of obedience, he’s following commands with more consistency, though we’re still working on extending the duration of those commands. At this stage, he’s able to hold “place” or “under” for about 30 seconds before breaking, which is a solid start but definitely an area we’ll keep shaping. He also has a strong instinct to stay near me—while it’s great to have a pup that wants to be close to their handler, it’s important that he learns to stay confidently in position wherever he’s placed. That means reinforcing that “place” doesn’t mean “stay until you miss me”—it means “stay until released.”
During heel walks, Tazz is far more focused than when he first arrived. He is frequently checking in with me for the next command which is a great sign of his focus. That said, almost everything still competes for his attention—people, noises, sudden movement—and while he’s making progress, distraction management remains a big part of his daily work. The degree of distraction definitely varies: for example, a person walking on the other side of the street might only earn a glance, but a barking dog nearby? That still sends his focus flying. And loud vehicles really amp up his anxiety. It takes significantly more effort to regain his attention in those moments, but with continued reps and exposure, we’re building up his ability to regulate and stay on task.
Every day is an opportunity to sharpen his skills—and today’s session reminded us just how far he’s come while showing us exactly where we’ll keep building next.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s update!
Pupdate 6/19/2025
Today we set the bar higher for Tazz by taking him to Shoreline Village—an environment filled with medium to high-level distractions. Up until now, Tazz has shown good progress in controlled settings with minimal stimulation. In quieter environments, like at home or in our yard, he’s able to stay engaged and follow through on his commands consistently. Even at the park, where distractions are present but typically at a distance, it’s been a constant battle for his attention—but one we’ve been working through. With that in mind, we decided to push his boundaries today to see how he would respond with increased pressure and stimulation.
Right out of the gate, Tazz was very distracted. The energy of Shoreline Village—crowds, kids playing, unpredictable movement, and unfamiliar sounds—was a major challenge for him. That said, I was still able to get him to follow through on most of his basic commands, including sit, down, place, and come to sit. We practiced the “under” command near the food court, which is a particularly busy area, and he was able to hold that position for 30 seconds. While his focus was far from locked in, his ability to perform those tasks despite the level of stimulation was a testament to how far he’s come.
Unfortunately, the session took a sharp turn when a group of kids began skateboarding nearby. The noise and sudden motion completely overwhelmed Tazz—he was amped beyond the point of no return and emotionally shut down. His tail tucked, he tried to bolt, soiled himself out of fear, and frantically sought cover anywhere he could. When I got him back at my side, he was visibly panicked and bit me multiple times in the process. This wasn’t the usual mouthiness we saw early on—this was a much more intense reaction, and his behavior in that moment was worse than what we saw on day one of training.
We left the area immediately and made our way back to the car, where he all but begged to get into his kennel. Back at home in a familiar setting, he was able to decompress fairly quickly. I took him on a short walk, and he returned to a calm heel and followed his basic commands again.
Today gave us critical insight into Tazz’s deeper emotional needs. It’s clear that he has unresolved trauma, and helping him gain confidence in the world around him will require gentle, mindful, and consistent exposure to new environments. He cannot be rushed into overwhelming situations. Structured, slow desensitization—paired with clear direction and positive reinforcement—will be essential in reinforcing his sense of safety moving forward. While Tazz has made real progress over the past 11 days, today was a tough but telling step backward. Tomorrow, we’ll regroup and get him back into an environment where he can succeed before we push his threshold again.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s update!
6/20/2025
After yesterday’s outing to a more distracting environment, I decided to scale things back a bit today and return to a space where Tazz feels more comfortable and confident. The goal was to sharpen up all of his obedience commands in a low-pressure setting before reintroducing distractions again. This kind of focused, distraction-free training helps build a stronger foundation and reinforces reliability without the added challenge of the outside world competing for his attention.
Tazz really impressed me today—he showed me that he’s fully capable of following through with all of his commands, even without the leash in my hand. He moved with confidence and didn’t need constant reminders or physical guidance to stay on task. It was a great reminder that all the work we’ve been putting in is paying off and that he’s learning to take accountability for following directions.
I was also able to start extending the duration of each command, and Tazz held every one confidently for over a minute. This may seem like a small detail, but for him, it marks major progress. It shows increased impulse control and trust in the commands, both of which are key as we prepare to work back up to more distracting environments.
One of the standout moments today was how well he performed with the “under” command. He responded to verbal cues with minimal hand signals and held the position even as I moved around him within an 8–10 foot radius. That level of comfort and consistency is a great sign. The only area where he’s still showing some hesitation is the send-away to place command. He needs a little more encouragement to fully commit, but we’ll keep working on that over the next few days to build his confidence further.
Stay tuned for tomorrows Pupdate!
Pupdate 6/21/2025
Today, we attempted to take Tazz to a local outdoor market to continue practicing his obedience skills in a more public setting. Compared to Shoreline Village, this event had fewer distractions and was a much more low-key environment. That said, Tazz still struggled significantly.
From the moment we exited the car, it was clear that he was anxious and uneasy. Initially, I had him on a slip lead, but it quickly became evident that I needed more control to manage his reactivity, so I switched him back to the prong collar. Even with that added structure, Tazz remained overwhelmed. As seen in the video, the distractions were mostly at a distance, but he was unable to settle. His anxiety spiked to the point that he lost control of his bowels and reverted to trying to get mouthy again—a clear signal that he was beyond his threshold.
Training sessions in this kind of state aren’t productive, so we made the decision to leave and head back home. The adrenaline clearly took a toll—Tazz completely crashed once we got back, and while I’m hopeful we’ll be able to get in a neighborhood heel walk later tonight, it’ll depend on how he’s doing after some rest.
For now, I’ll be focusing his remaining sessions in more controlled environments where his confidence can continue to grow and where the training remains productive. The goal is to build his skills and reliability in settings where he can succeed, so that once he returns home, you’ll be set up for a more enjoyable experience together. Moving forward, I strongly recommend very slow and mindful introductions to public environments, using a properly fitted muzzle to ensure the safety of everyone—including Tazz.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Pupdate!
Pupdate 6/22/2025
Today we took a step back into an environment that had previously worked well for Tazz—the park. The goal was to bridge the gap between his success in low-distraction environments and his challenges when faced with more stimuli. While the distractions today (a volleyball game, cheering parents, and kids playing) were all at a distance, they were enough to push Tazz closer to his reactivity threshold.
It was difficult to even get his muzzle on at the start of the session—he was visibly anxious and resistant. Once we began working, it was clear that his nervous system was overloaded. Every sound—from distant car doors to voices—escalated his anxiety, making it extremely tough for him to focus or follow through on familiar commands. I tried shifting to a more playful, lighthearted approach to ease the tension and re-engage him, but even high-value treats weren’t enough to reach him at that moment.
Eventually, I was able to guide him into an “under” and have him hold that position for a bit, which was a small win for the day. While it wasn’t a breakthrough session by any means, it did reinforce the need to keep pushing slowly and mindfully at his pace.
Back at home, in his controlled environment, Tazz continues to progress well with his obedience commands. We’ll keep reinforcing those behaviors consistently to help strengthen his foundation and confidence before reintroducing more distracting environments.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s pupdate!
Pupdate 6/23/2025
TodayI took Tazz on an outing to Lowe’s to gauge how he’d do in a different, low-distraction public environment. The conditions were as calm as a store can get—only a handful of customers, no dogs, and plenty of empty aisles to work in. The occasional forklift beep was the only significant environmental challenge.
The good news: even though he was distracted, anxious and on high alert, I was able to get Tazz’s attention, and he followed through on his heel command fairly consistently throughout the store. He also followed the “place” command a couple of times, though he was hesitant and clearly uneasy settling into position. His discomfort was even more evident when a forklift passed within about 5 feet of us. He started to get close to his threshold, but I brought him in for reassurance, gave him some calm pets, and he managed. That said, he absolutely would’ve preferred to skip the outing altogether.
One interesting note—when his muzzle is on and he’s given a command, his first instinct is to rub his muzzle on my leg in an attempt to remove it before following through. It’s not aggressive, but it’s a behavior worth mentioning and monitoring.
Again, in a controlled setting, Tazz continues to show improvement. His obedience has progressed significantly—he now follows through on commands about 95% of the time reliably. He’s also doing wonderfully in a pack setting, spending time with my own dogs and showing solid social skills and appropriate behavior during interactions.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s pupdate!
Pupdate 6/24/2024
Tazz and I went to the park today to meet up with a few other trainers and their dogs. The park itself was pretty quiet, which worked in our favor as we continue to build his confidence in new environments. Aside from the small group of trainers, only four other people passed through during our time there, and just one truck drove by in the distance. While it wasn’t a busy scene, it still provided the perfect amount of low-level distractions to challenge Tazz without overwhelming him.
When we first arrived, Tazz appeared a little nervous walking into the park. His body language showed some hesitation, and he was clearly alert to every sound and movement. Even though the environment was calm, he remained focused on those few people who passed by and the occasional noise from nearby. It was a reminder that even small changes in his environment can affect his focus, and it’s something we’ll continue to work through.
I made it a point to keep the energy light and fun to help Tazz settle in and get into a working mindset. Through play, praise, and structure, he was able to relax and begin performing all of his obedience commands while staying near the other trainers and their dogs. Once he got going, he was responsive and willing to work, showing he’s capable of following through when given clear guidance and encouragement.
We also worked on increasing his duration for the “place” and “under” commands. With a calm setting and minimal distractions, Tazz was able to hold both positions for over a minute. This was a great step forward for him, especially considering how alert he was at the start of the session. He continues to make steady progress, and these quieter park sessions are proving to be a great way to build his reliability and focus.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s pupdate!
Pupdate 6/25/2025
Tazz’s training session at Home Depot today was focused on helping him navigate a highly stimulating and unfamiliar environment. From the moment we stepped out of the car and into the busy parking lot, it was clear that the noise and commotion were triggering a high level of anxiety in him. The sounds of shopping carts, passing vehicles, and even a couple of motorcycles revving nearby made for an overwhelming entrance. Despite his nerves, we used the opportunity to begin reinforcing his training by maintaining calm body language and asking for basic obedience as we moved toward the store.
Once inside, the environment changed slightly, but Tazz was still visibly anxious. The large space, echoing noises, and scattered foot traffic added to his discomfort. We spent the first 15 to 20 minutes near the front of the store, taking things slow and using counter conditioning to help him feel more at ease. Treats, verbal praise, and giving him time to observe without pressure were key in helping him begin to settle. Gradually, I saw him become more responsive, and his focus started to shift back to me—a sign that he was starting to feel safer.
In one of the quieter sections of the store, we were able to get some real work in. I asked Tazz for extended sit and down commands, and although there were still occasional distractions, like people walking by or carts rolling in the distance, he held his position well. These moments were big wins for Tazz, as they showed his ability to follow through despite the stressors in his environment. Each successful rep added to his confidence and furthered his progress with obedience under pressure.
We continued by finding a table where we could practice his “under” command, which he executed with some hesitation at first, but improved after a few repetitions. The plywood section of the store provided a perfect space for reinforcing his “place” command, which he performed with more certainty. The more structured the task, the more Tazz seemed to relax, and it was encouraging to see him working with more focus as the session went on.
On our way back to the car, his anxiety spiked again in the parking lot. I used this moment to work through his discomfort by asking for commands like “heel,” “sit,” and “down” among the noise and movement, even though it was clearly a struggle for him. It was an important step in building his resilience. Before heading home, we finished with a review of his car manners—Tazz waited at the door for the “load up” cue before getting into the kennel. His impulse control is improving, and he’s now reliably waiting about 80% of the time.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Pupdate as we continue building his confidence!
Pupdate 6/26/2025
We went back to the park today to help Tazz grow more confident and comfortable with the sights and sounds of a livelier outdoor environment. While he’s still somewhat hyper-aware of his surroundings, his overall composure has improved, and he did very well navigating the space. The consistent exposure and repetition are clearly helping him adjust, and it’s becoming easier for him to settle into the environment and take direction.
Today’s focus was on his place, under, and come to sit commands—three skills that take time to build solid reliability, especially in stimulating areas. Tazz’s focus was noticeably better today, and he showed a stronger willingness to follow through on these commands even when mildly distracted. We used distance, movement, and duration to challenge him, and he responded with more confidence and precision than before.
It’s clear that Tazz has a solid understanding of all of his core obedience commands at this point in his training. What we’re working on now is his consistency in following those commands when he’s feeling anxious or uncertain. He’s starting to trust more in my leadership because I’ve continued to guide him through these moments without letting anything negative happen to him. That trust is building a stronger working relationship, and it’s what will ultimately help him feel safe and confident no matter the environment.
It will be important for you to not give up on him when he’s struggling with his surroundings. Try your best to make it fun for him and challenge him with a few obedience tasks to give him something to focus on other than what’s making him anxious. If you just walk him away from issue, all he will learn is that when it’s scary he needs to run away and his handler will help him. By making the area normal or fun for him, he will become less anxious there moving forward. That’s our goal with Tazz. To acclimate him to new areas and let him know that you have his back and that he can trust you. It won’t always be easy and it will take time and patience but it will definitely be worth it for your family and for Tazz.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Pupdate!
Pupdate 6/27/2025
Today we brought Tazz back to Lowe’s for another public training session in a low-traffic, low-distraction environment. While the store was still relatively quiet, there were a few more people than on our last visit, and even light activity—like employee radios, passing carts, beeping forklifts, and general foot traffic—triggered noticeable anxiety in Tazz.
That said, with a few rounds of practice, we were able to get him to perform all of his obedience commands. He was hesitant at first but responded with some consistency once we eased into a rhythm. These outings continue to show that unfamiliar environments and unpredictable noises are a big challenge for him, but they’re also valuable opportunities to slowly build his tolerance and confidence.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s pupdate!
Pupdate 6/28/2025
Today marked at least our twelfth visit to Lowe’s, and while distractions were still relatively minimal by public standards, Tazz remained highly distracted by just about everything—from the hum of machinery to distant voices and passing carts. That said, there were a few bright spots worth noting.
Tazz has made some progress in his tolerance of public environments. While new spaces are a known trigger for his anxiety, it’s clear that simply returning to the same place isn’t enough to build familiarity if the level and type of distractions aren’t consistent. Although he was still hyper-aware, he was slightly more composed in how he processed the environment. With repeated redirection, I was able to get him to follow through on all of his obedience commands a few times throughout the visit.
Tazz heads home tomorrow, and while public outings will remain a challenge, he has built a solid foundation in his obedience work. The key moving forward will be gentle, consistent exposure to new settings—paired with clear structure—to reinforce his sense of safety and trust in his handler.
Tazz is looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!
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