Meet Teddy! He's a five year old Doberman Pinscher from Burbank, California here for our Two-Week Board and Train Program! He is extremely gentle and sweet, but needs a lot of work on his obedience skills! He's not a fan of walking on the leash, and often wants to sit down and not walk forward with his human. He tends to be nervous around certain noises and distractions, but has been getting better recently! He also needs some potty training! Over the next fourteen days, we'll work on building his confidence as much as possible, work on his basic obedience commands, help with his manners in and out of the house, get him comfortable pottying outside, and show him how to be the best pup he can possibly be! Stay tuned for Teddy's two week transformation!
Pupdate: 12/29/2024
Today, I picked up Teddy and had the chance to get to know him a bit. He’s an incredibly gentle and loving dog who seemed to warm up to me right away. Although he doesn’t know many commands yet and pulled on the leash a little, he was very willing to come along and followed my lead without much hesitation.
When we got home, Teddy settled in quickly. I let him sniff around to get familiar with the new environment, and he seemed to really like it here. He’s already making himself at home, and I’m excited to start working with him to help him learn and grow. He’s such a sweet dog, and I can’t wait to see how he progresses!
Pupdate: 12/30/2024
Teddy had a productive training session at Almansor Park today! While he’s settling in nicely, I noticed a bit more of his leash resistance during our walk, especially when we got close to the geese and turtles by the pond. His curiosity definitely got the better of him at times, but overall, he worked hard and showed improvement.
We focused on his Heel command today, aiming for him to walk politely at my left side with his ears in line with my knee. It’s a new concept for Teddy, but he made great progress as the session went on. With patience and consistency, I’m confident he’ll master this command and become more relaxed on walks. It’s always rewarding to see these small steps add up!
As far as his pottying, Teddy so far has been great about peeing as soon as we get outside to my favorite patch of grass. It's still taking some time for him to poop. My goal is to make these moments as positive as possible, make sure he knows he's doing a great job when he goes potty immediately, and soon have him associate this with an actual "go potty" command!
Pupdate: 12/31/2024
Teddy had a productive day of training as we worked on refining his Heel command and introducing the more complex Come To Sit command. He's making noticeable strides with Heel—his walking is getting much smoother, and he's beginning to stay more focused on me. Occasionally, he'll get distracted by another dog, wanting to stop and watch, but these moments are happening less often as he builds confidence and understanding of the task. It's exciting to see him learning to stay in rhythm with me.
We also introduced Teddy to the Come To Sit command today, which is a challenging but rewarding skill to teach. The goal is for Teddy to come when called, move around my legs, and sit on my left side with his ears aligned with my knee. He's picking up the concept quickly for such a tough command, but there are still some moments where he stops short or circles all the way around to face me instead. These little missteps are normal for a dog learning a new routine, and I can see he's trying hard to get it right.
It’s impressive how well Teddy is adjusting to new commands in such a short amount of time. His willingness to work and engage makes training a joy, and I’m looking forward to continuing to help him sharpen his skills in the days ahead.
Pupdate: 1/1/2025
Teddy and I took another trip to Almansor Park today for some training. This time, I decided to challenge him by working closer to some of the park’s busier areas, like the basketball courts and volleyball games. The movement and noise naturally caught his attention at first, but after some warm-up exercises to get him focused, Teddy started to do really well.
One of the main commands we worked on was Place. Place teaches a dog to go to a designated object—like a mat, bench, or cot—and stay there until released. It’s a powerful command for building a dog’s focus, confidence, and impulse control, especially in environments full of distractions.
We’ve practiced Place at home, where it’s easier for Teddy to succeed, but today was all about taking it to the next level. Practicing this command in a public setting like the park is important because it helps Teddy learn to stay calm and focused even when there’s a lot going on around him.
Despite the new challenges, Teddy rose to the occasion. He showed he’s starting to understand the command and was able to hold his position for longer durations, even with distractions nearby. I’m proud of how quickly he’s catching on and building his confidence in new situations. With more practice, I know Teddy will continue to improve and impress!
Pupdate: 1/2/2025
Today, Teddy and I worked on putting together his Heel, Place, and Come To Sit commands. He’s doing a fantastic job with each of them, and combining them into sequences is really boosting his confidence! While he had a bit more trouble staying on the place cot today than yesterday, we’ll keep practicing and building his consistency. At home, though, he absolutely loves the Place command and his place cot—it’s quickly become his favorite spot to relax and nap.
On the potty front, Teddy is doing great with his peeing, and he’s gaining confidence with pooping right away on our outings. He’s even starting to show some excitement after he poops, which is such a wonderful sign that he knows he’s doing the right thing! Overall, Teddy is making excellent progress, and I’m so proud of him.
Pupdate: 1/3/2025
Today, I took Teddy to Garfield Park for a training session, and he did an excellent job! We worked on his commands on leash, and he performed so well that I decided to let the leash drag to test his responsiveness without direct leash input.
Teddy excelled with his Come To Sit and Place commands, consistently responding without any need for leash guidance. However, he struggled a bit with his Heel command, occasionally veering off. When that happened, I simply picked up the leash to guide him back to the correct position.
Despite the challenge with Heel, Teddy made great progress and showed significant focus, especially with Come To Sit, even when there were distractions around. He confidently came to me and found the correct position each time, which is a big win for his training.
Teddy is progressing well, but he’ll need a bit more practice before being fully off-leash ready. Overall, I’m very proud of how far he’s come in such a short time!
Pupdate: 1/4/2025
Teddy continues to show progress in his training! Today, we worked on his commands with the leash dragging, focusing on building his confidence and reinforcing his understanding of what’s expected. His Heel command showed noticeable improvement—he was more attentive and willing to stay in position for longer stretches of time.
From what I’ve observed, Teddy already knows what he’s supposed to do regarding commands. At this point, his success seems directly tied to his confidence level. He’s still learning to trust himself in following through without constant guidance, but I’m seeing encouraging signs that he’s starting to figure it out.
I did need to pick up his leash several times to help refocus him, but overall, he’s improving each day. His growing confidence is exciting to see, and I’m optimistic that with consistent practice, he’ll become even more comfortable and reliable. For now, we’ll continue working on his skills and helping him feel secure in his ability to perform, especially around distractions. Teddy’s doing a great job! We just need to keep moving!
Pupdate: 1/5/2025
Teddy started his day off on a high note with excellent potty manners. As soon as we got to the grass, he peed right away and pooped after a few minutes. This was a great start to the day and set the tone for our outings.
For our training session, we headed to Home Depot. It was Teddy's first visit, and while he did alright overall, it took some time for him to warm up to the unfamiliar environment. He performed his commands well and didn’t have any major issues, but he was clearly uncomfortable in the lumber section, especially with the noise from the forklift. Despite this, I’m proud of how he handled it, and we’ll return tomorrow for more exposure and practice.
In the evening, we went to the park, where Teddy did much better. Being in a familiar environment brought out his happy and relaxed side, and he performed much better here. It was great to see him feeling more confident and enjoying himself after a day of new experiences.
Overall, a solid day of progress for Teddy! We'll keep building on these experiences to help him grow more confident and comfortable in new settings.
Pupdate: 1/6/2025
Today, Teddy and I headed to the park for a fun and productive outing! We had the chance to meet with several other trainers and their dogs, giving him some great opportunities for socialization. Teddy handled himself well around the other dogs—while he had a couple of moments of curiosity, he mostly minded his own business and stayed composed.
We also continued working on his Heel command, which is steadily improving. Even with the added challenge of other dogs around, Teddy stayed focused for the most part, only getting distracted a couple of times.
Overall, it was a fun and rewarding day for Teddy, and I’m proud of the progress he’s making!
Pupdate: 1/7/2024
Teddy had another trip to Home Depot today, and it was a big step forward for him! This time, the store wasn’t as crowded, which made it a little easier for him to focus. That said, there were still plenty of challenges to work through, including the usual loud noises, carts rolling by, and the occasional forklift passing through the aisles.
Compared to our last visit, Teddy seemed more comfortable in the environment. He wasn’t as uncomfortable with the noises and movements, and he was more willing to stick close and trust me as we navigated the space together. His confidence is definitely growing, and it’s rewarding to see him starting to settle into situations that were overwhelming at first.
We also practiced with the leash dragging, which was a great opportunity to test his responsiveness to commands in a semi-controlled but still busy setting. Teddy stayed close to me and did a solid job following commands like Heel and Sit, even when there were distractions around.
Overall, it was a productive session, and Teddy continues to show progress. I'm looking forward to seeing him build even more confidence in the days ahead!
Pupdate: 1/8/2024
Today, Teddy and I went to Montebello Mall for some training and socialization. It was his first time in this kind of bustling environment, and he approached it with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. There were plenty of new sights, sounds, and smells for him to take in, along with the added challenge of navigating the people and the occasional dog passing by. While these distractions caught his attention a few times, I was impressed with how calm and composed he stayed for most of the visit. He didn’t seem entirely comfortable—this environment is very different from what he’s used to—but I think with consistent exposure, he’ll adapt and become more confident over time.
We spent a significant part of the session working on leash dragging. To help him get closer to an off-leash mindset, I swapped to a smaller leash that mimicked the sensation of being free. This allowed us to practice maintaining control while encouraging him to rely more on his training and less on the physical presence of the leash. Teddy responded well to this exercise, showing enough focus and consistency that I feel ready to take the next step. During our next visit, I plan to allow him to go completely off-leash for short intervals to see how he handles it in this environment.
Overall, Teddy did a great job today. He’s still adjusting, but his willingness to work and stay calm despite the challenges tells me he has a lot of potential. I’m looking forward to continuing his progress!
Pupdate: 1/9/2025
Teddy and I returned to the mall today for another training session. He started off just as strong as yesterday, walking calmly on leash and staying focused despite the usual distractions of people, dogs, and activity around us.
After a solid warm-up, I decided to take things up a notch by practicing off-leash work. I removed his leash for a few minutes at a time while we moved through the mall. Teddy did well! He stayed close to me, maintaining his focus, and heeled beautifully when asked.
We also worked on his Sit and Down commands while off leash. Teddy held both positions well, although he needed to be reminded a few times. His ability to stay calm and listen in such a stimulating environment is a testament to how quickly he’s learning and gaining confidence.
This session was a big step for Teddy as he’s building trust and showing he’s ready for more advanced work. I’m proud of his progress and look forward to continuing his off-leash training. Great work, Teddy!
Teddy is safe, and we will continue to remain indoors as much as possible, and we are not under any evacuation notice or warning.
Pupdate: 1/10/2025
Teddy had another great outing at the mall today! We practiced having him off-leash for longer stretches of time, and he exceeded expectations. He responded beautifully to each command, showing clear improvement even just from yesterday. We also had several opportunities to practice his greeting manners with strangers. Teddy was incredibly gentle and handled these interactions nearly perfectly, staying calm and polite even when people approached him.
On the potty front, Teddy continues to build confidence. This morning, he pooped as soon as we went outside and then peed on his favorite tree. He’s becoming so reliable that when I take him out and give the cue, “Break! Go potty!” I can trust he’ll go if he needs to. I make sure to praise him each time, which he clearly enjoys—his tail wags happily as soon as he finishes!
Having him be able to go potty more quickly when he needs to has been great, as we are still trying to stay inside as much as possible. We are still safe, and not under any evacuation orders.
Pupdate: 1/11/2025
Today, I took Teddy to Cerritos Mall, which is even busier than Montebello Mall. The environment was filled with constant movement—crowds of shoppers, children running around, strollers, and other dogs. It was a great opportunity to challenge Teddy and see how he could handle working in such a stimulating space.
We met up with a few other trainers to work on Teddy’s focus and obedience in close proximity to both people and dogs. Teddy started the day on leash, allowing him to warm up and get used to the surroundings. As he settled in and began demonstrating focus, I transitioned him to working off-leash for parts of the session.
Despite the busyness of the mall, Teddy performed quite well. He maintained his composure, stayed engaged with me, and followed his commands even when faced with distractions like other dogs or the bustling crowds. When he did get distracted, he quickly recovered and refocused, which shows how much progress he’s made in his impulse control and responsiveness.
This session was a big step forward for Teddy, and I’m incredibly proud of how well he handled himself. His confidence and ability to stay focused are improving all the time! Great job, Teddy!
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