Introducing Tito, a 7 month old terrier mix coming from Glendale, California. He is here for our two week board and train program. Tito is a remarkably sweet and playful pup whose enthusiasm for life is only matched by his minor tendency to bark at people. Though his intentions are pure, he's still navigating the complexities of the world, occasionally experiencing a touch of anxiety. However, give him a little time, and he quickly warms up, ready for delightful play sessions.
Tito finds joy in exciting walks, cherishing the company of familiar faces, and, of course, indulging in playtime. As he goes through the journey of discovery over the next two weeks, you'll witness the delightful evolution of Tito into the very best version of himself, embracing each experience with enthusiasm and charm. Stay tuned!
Today, I took Tito to the park for a behavior assessment. Initially, he struggled to grasp my cues, especially heeling. He kept walking ahead, smelling grass, and ignoring me. He also reacted to people and a dog across the street, so I promptly reinforced a calm demeanor and let him absorb the environment until he relaxed.
To enhance his understanding of the e-collar, I introduced leash pressure as a way to layer on the training, but he resisted. Transitioning to a prong collar, we walked in circles, redirecting his focus from the environment to me. In time, this eventually achieved a polite heel. This technique helped him comprehend behaviors associated with heeling, like avoiding grass sniffing, barking, and running ahead, allowing him to walk beside me and enjoy the surroundings.
Moving forward, this will be our compromise: if he displays good manners, he gets to enjoy long walks. I can tell this is going to be so much fun for both of us because Tito is a really sweet dog. Stay tuned for more!
Puodate 12/03/23
Today, we took Tito to a swap meet, followed by a softball game at the park, to acclimate him to the surrounding environment and reduce his reactivity. Currently, we're using a prong collar, but we're transitioning to an e-collar as he's learned to walk beside us and not pull. Tito quickly picked up automatic sitting, heeling, and is displaying a lot of progress from yesterday. We even had people pet him, and he allowed it with a few hiccups in between.
Tomorrow, we plan to raise the training challenges. Tito had a good appetite, enjoyed treats, and had a playful evening. Emphasizing bonding, he relaxed on his cot in the living room, gradually adapting to the concept of laying around and not running through the house. Outside, we continued training and had plenty of playtime. Stay tuned for more adventures with Tito!
Pupdate 12/04/23
Today, Tito underwent a training exercise at home, revisiting all of his cues: heel, come to sit, down, and place. He faced challenges with "down" due to its submissive nature and "place" because it involves an elevated surface unfamiliar to him. Despite this, we provided a brief introduction and allowed Tito to enjoy essential breaks. He has started associating the word "break" with swift and enthusiastic bursts of activity.
Later, we ventured to the park for exposure training, with a particular focus on heeling. This emphasis on heeling is crucial at this stage to teach Tito that the person walking is the focal point of the walk. Exposed to various people and dogs, Tito displayed curiosity but remained calm and composed without reactive behavior.
Remarkably, he has mastered the "automatic sit," responding appropriately when I halt during our heeling. Overall, Tito had an engaging and instructive day, combining learning with play. Stay tuned for more updates!
Pupdate 12/05/24
Today, we took Tito to the mall to address his reactivity, and surprisingly, he behaved well without any significant incidents. However, he tends to show reactivity in his kennel, especially when someone passes by. To manage this, we create scenarios using an e-collar.
At the mall, we focused on essential cues and then took him to a park with more people and platforms. Tito excels in heeling but occasionally has slip-ups, quickly reminded of expected manners. While he greets people and enjoys petting, he struggles to "place" on elevated surfaces and is reluctant to "down" without treats.
Currently, we guide Tito to perform "Come to Sit" with leash pressure but still he hesitates and is uncomfortable. Despite the challenges, we're dedicated to working with Tito, who is an excitable and happy puppy. Stay tuned for updates on his progress.
Pupdate 12/06/23
Today at the park, Tito excelled, making significant progress in his training. After a challenging session yesterday on commands like "down" and "come to sit," three hours of hard work, treats, and love paid off as Tito showcased impressive follow-through and mastered heel. We introduced leash dragging exercises, aiming for off-leash reliability in the near future. Despite occasional barking, a gentle reminder reinforces his manners, and Tito continues to adapt, evolving into the best version of himself. While there's room for improvement, I'm confident he'll emerge as a fully transformed pup.
Tito exhibited occasional reactivity towards a golden Labrador, but with consistent reminders of his manners and several exercises, he eventually developed a relaxed and calm demeanor around other dogs. We achieved this by walking past other dogs confidently and using the e-collar anytime barking or growling occurred. Stay tuned for more.Â
Pupdate 12/07/23
Today's training adventures with Tito began early with a refreshing morning walk through the neighborhood. While he initially growled at passing dogs, a quick reminder of expected behavior helped him relax. Moving forward, we aim to improve his reactivity, rewarding good behavior and encouraging confidence around other dogs. Tito initially always responds negatively to other dogs but after constant exposure and reminding, he behaves admirably.
Although his cues have improved, we're working on refining the "come to sit" command and extending cue durations, planning to test his skills in busier environments this weekend. As of right now he can hold his cue to about a minute. Tito is not very fond of obedience training, and he much rather play. It is very important that we constantly encourage Tito with praise and treats but done in a way that doesn't make him reliant on treats.
Pupdate 12/08/23
Tito's day kicked off with a refreshing morning walk and a training session, focusing on refining his "come to sit" command. While he occasionally veers off during home training, we balance obedience drills with treats, praise, and breaks.
In the afternoon, Tito accompanied us to Home Depot, walking through the store with good heel behavior. Despite some skittishness around loud noises, he handles encounters with strangers well, occasionally barking at other dogs but quickly regaining composure with a gentle reminder of manners. All in all, Tito does well but requires more confidence building. Stay tuned for more!
Pupdate 12/09/23
Today, I brought Tito to the park to reinforce his basic commands. He excelled, successfully "placing" on elevated surfaces and maintaining cues for approximately 2 minutes. However, he occasionally attempted to retreat to his kennel or the car during training sessions. When encountering other dogs or spotting a frisbee, he showed a playful inclination to run over. I promptly utilized the e-collar, prompting him to remember to stay in place. Overall, Tito is progressing well and eagerly anticipating returning home as a well-trained pup.
Pupdate 12/10/23
Today, we brought Tito to Home Depot for essential cue practice, and continued training at home. While Tito knows all his cues, he sometimes leaves the area for his kennel, not a fan of obedience training. Treats excite him, making him more receptive, but our aim is to make him reliable without relying on treats. We use plenty of pets, love, praise, and "breaks," which he enthusiastically responds to, eagerly pinballing through the area when he hears the word. At Depot, he performed well but had his share of goofy moments. He also scratches at his e-collar which is unacceptable.Â
At Home Depot, he performed well but had his share of goofy moments. He didn't not react or respond negatively towards any person. I had a stranger kindly pet him and Tito displayed good manners which is a big improvement from before go Tito! Â He also scratches at his e-collar which is unacceptable.Â
When Tito scratches at the e-collar it is discouraged; allowing it might encourage more frequent scratching over time. Tito may be attempting to shift the stimulation feeling, but scratching doesn't alleviate it.
Pupdate 12/11/23
Today, Tito went on a park adventure, navigating through a busy crowd. While his reactivity skills shone, there were occasional hiccups, particularly when a fellow training dog passed his kennel. Despite these minor setbacks, Tito's underlying love for play and eagerness to engage with both dogs and people were evident.
When receiving pets, Tito demonstrated good manners; however, his high energy sometimes translated into jumping—a behavior we aim to address. To mitigate this, we approach Tito with calm and even-toned energy, striking a balance that allows him to appreciate companionship without forgetting his good manners.
In the grand scheme, Tito's performance was good. Notably, he successfully executed commands like "come to sit" without the typical impulse to dash off. Though there were instances of him walking a tad too far ahead, prompt corrections reinforced his polite behavior. This journey to the park not only showcased Tito's progress but also highlighted areas where continued positive reinforcement will refine his interactions.
Pupdate 12/12/23
Today, we brought Tito to the park, focusing on essential cues. While he generally understands expectations well, he occasionally reacts to other dogs, but a brief reminder quickly brings him back in line.
Todays focus was working through distractions, including my friend's puppy. We emphasized good manners, heeling, and addressed Tito's reactivity. Despite his initial "rudeness", Tito swiftly regains manners, revealing his playful and gentle spirit. Although more bark than bite, maintaining good manners remains a top priority for this young and handsome pup. In the video, Tito initially responded with excitement instead of anxiety, struggling to calm down. It took a few moments for him to relax and start excelling.
Pupdate 12/13/23
Today, Tito visited two different parks to address his reactivity. He remains attentive when dogs pass by but reacts when confronted aggressively or barked at. It's crucial to use the e-collar repetitively when Tito reacts and confidently walk away, teaching him the lack of value in responding. Occasionally, he reacts to humans, particularly if they are covered with alot of clothing or if they startle him.
On the positive side, Tito demonstrated a good ability to perform all cues. However, he tends to resist obedience training if near his kennel or car (he will try to run inside), he's also known for attempting to shake off the e-collar. It's essential to deter such behavior in Tito's training to ensure he maintains well rounded obedience.
Puodate 12/14/23
Today, we brought Tito to the Santa Monica Pier to capture his final video, and he performed really well. However, the need for more exposure and reactivity training remains, making it our objective moving forward. After our time at the pier, we visited a park to unwind and allow Tito to absorb the world around him.
Tito, being naturally defensive of his friends and family, means well, but maintaining good manners is crucial. When people approach closely, he radiates joy and excitement. It's important for others to see this side of him, rather than a potentially intimidating growl. Despite the bittersweet realization that tomorrow marks our last full day together, Tito has made great progress.
Pupdate 12/15/23
Dear Tito,
Our time together has reached its conclusion. Today was filled with joy, cheer, and celebration. Over the past two weeks, we experienced mood swings that led you to your kennel at times, but also delightful moments where you wagged your tail, looked for cuddles, and celebrated my presence. Reflecting on our time, I'll cherish only the joy (and there's lots of that). You've worked hard and emerged as a true superstar! As you embark on new adventures, I wish you the very best – may joy, travels, and a plenty of treats fill your days, knowing how much you love them.
Much love,
Alexx Rodriguez
Dog Trainer
Offleash SoCal
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