Wolf | German Shepherd | Newhall, CA | In - Training
- cristianoffleash
- Mar 6
- 18 min read
Updated: Mar 19
Meet Wolf! Wolf is a one year old German Shepherd coming from Newhall, CA who has joined us for our 2 Week Board and Train program to start his obedience training journey. Wolf comes to use with issues being alarmed around dogs and other people he doesn't know. Wolf also likes to jump on his owners and can sometimes play bite which is unnecessary when they are just trying to have fun. Over the next two week I'm going to improve on Wolf's behaviors on becoming more well behaved and obedient when asked for obedience.
Pupdate 3/6/2025
Today, I met Wolf, and he was initially very nervous about interacting with me. When his owner left, he became quite impatient and fearful towards me. Surprisingly, I was able to get him into my car without much trouble. However, once we returned home, Wolf was too scared to get out of the car for nearly an hour. After some time, he finally mustered the courage to come out, but as I opened his leash, he started mouthing at my hand and nearly bit me. His teeth did make contact with my hand, but he didn't fully commit to the bite, displaying more fear-driven anxiety than aggression.
I spent another hour working with him outside, focusing on building his obedience and helping him gain confidence around me. We walked to a nearby park, where I was able to pet him more and gently place my hand around his face. Though he flinched at first, he quickly settled and allowed me to continue petting him. Over time, he became more confident with me, even when I took off his collar at the park for desensitization.
When we returned home, Wolf seemed more at ease and no longer appeared uneasy. To give him a break, we spent some time in the backyard, allowing him to relax and just be himself. I also introduced him to the crate he would be sleeping in. He allowed me to remove his leash while inside and, during his nap, he remained calm without barking or getting up. Wolf seems to be adjusting well and is slowly becoming more comfortable. I will continue to monitor his progress as he transforms with my guidance as his personal dog trainer.
Pupdate 3/7/2025
This morning, Wolf was calm and quiet when he woke up. When I opened his crate, instead of staying inside and feeling anxious, he immediately came out and allowed me to pet him without any hesitation. I believe his fear from before has eased, likely because of the time we spent together yesterday working on his obedience. That helped build his confidence, making it easier for him to come out of his crate this morning.
In the video above is a short clip of the behavior Wolf displays when nervous from yesterday. The second video clip that follows up is of us training together and I'm able to comfort Wolf with him being more open and has started to body rub himself into me showing me more of his affection. When training in the front of the house today we focused on leash pressure getting him use to the idea of a pressure system to have a familiarity when training with his e-collar. When walking Wolf around I had him place himself on the place mat to hold his position momentarily before asking him to break which is a release word which allows him to stop training and be praised for his obedience. There are times where Wolf acts impulsive to get off which needs to be redirected for structure and a better understanding for Wolf to know he just has to stay on when asked. After luring the leash as far as I can I break Wolf and continue the process.
Later, I introduced Wolf to his e-collar and began focusing on his e-collar conditioning. During the training, it took us a while to determine if the e-collar was making proper contact with him, as his fur is thick and long. After several adjustments to the collar around his neck, Wolf started to respond to it. At that point, we began incorporating leash pressure along with the e-collar correction to pair the two together. While making progress on his heel with the e-collar, we still needed some assistance with his leash pressure when it came to his sit command, as he wouldn’t respond on the first cue. This training session lasted about thirty minutes before Wolf was allowed to enjoy the rest of the day with some free time to roam in the backyard.
Pupdate 3/8/2025
Today, I took Wolf to Hillcrest Park in Downtown Fullerton for exercise and to observe his behavior around people and the various sights in the park. When we first arrived, Wolf was overly excited and struggled to heel properly. To help him calm down, I gave him some time to relieve himself and burn off some energy on the grass. During this time, we practiced our heel turns before starting our walk. Once we achieved a more consistent heel, we began walking around the park. The only challenge we faced was Wolf’s tendency to constantly look back instead of keeping his head forward.
As we walked together, I used his e-collar to gently redirect him whenever he turned his head. After a while, with consistent redirection, Wolf began to maintain a better pace and looked back less frequently. When we passed other people, Wolf tended to stop, seeming alert and unaware of their presence, but by continuing to use the e-collar to redirect him, we were able to successfully pass many people throughout our visit. We also practiced the "place" command as we passed a platform, and I was pleased to see that Wolf was focused on his obedience, rather than being lazy or difficult, as he has been in the past.
Later, we had another training session at home in front of the house, where we continued to work on obedience to reinforce Wolf’s training and ensure he remains properly conditioned to follow commands. He is responding well to his e-collar and being able to respond better to the stimulation coming from the e-collar.
Pupdate 3/9/2025
Today, we visited La Mirada Regional Park for exercise, exposure, and to continue working on Wolf's obedience training. Upon arrival, we focused on perfecting his "heel" command before heading out on our walk. Since Wolf was particularly excited at the start of the session, taking time to work on his obedience helped calm him down before we started the walk.
During our visit, Wolf displayed some fearfulness, particularly when passing people running or carrying items with wheels, like a dolly. However, he was unbothered by the ducks and geese in the park. When we encountered other dogs and their owners, Wolf would become fixated and occasionally struggle to maintain composure. As we continued our walk, I found a table where we could rest, and I took the opportunity to record some of our training.
In the first video clip, we focused on practicing commands like "place," "sit," and "recall." While working through these commands, Wolf remained calm as long as people kept their distance. However, when someone approached our space more closely, Wolf showed signs of fear. Around the two-minute mark, two people passed by us with a dolly, which caused Wolf to become anxious. I responded quickly by asking him to sit and allowed him to observe them as they passed. Afterward, I praised him and continued with our training, focusing on his "heel" command and working toward loose-leash walking. The goal is to assess if Wolf is capable of off-leash obedience.
In the second video, we worked on improving our turns, making sure they were cleaner and more precise. I also focused on communicating with Wolf so that he would respond more quickly to the "heel" command without relying on his e-collar. By this point in our training session, Wolf seemed more confident despite the distractions around us. After the video ended, a man walked by with a dog and stopped to chat. The conversation went smoothly, though Wolf began to whine and appear uneasy around the puppy. During these moments, I continued to ask for obedience, guiding him through the discomfort.
Pupdate 3/10/2025
Today, we went to Whittier Narrows Park in El Monte, CA, to work on Wolf's impulse control around other trainers and their dogs. Upon arrival, I noticed that Wolf seemed less anxious about being around the other dogs and trainers, though he remained very alert.
As other trainers arrived, we began working on impulse control exercises with Tanner and Priscilla. While working near the other dogs, Wolf frequently looked behind him or towards the direction of each dog. Whenever this happened, I would redirect him and give him the "off" command to disengage, preventing him from fixating or becoming overly distracted. Wolf responded well to this and was able to allow the other dogs to walk around him without issue. We also trained in an open field, focusing on heeling while keeping Wolf's attention on me and not on the scents around him. Afterward, we moved towards the park's walkway, where we let the leash drag to help with loose-leash conditioning and off-leash walking.
At one point, Wolf spent some time in a sit or down position under the park gazebo while the other trainers worked on their obedience exercises with their dogs around him. While Wolf was on his place mat, I gave him a sit or down command, and he remained in place until I released him for a break. During this time, he was calm and tolerant as the other trainers walked around or in front of him with their dogs.
However, when we tried to have Wolf train with another person, he immediately began growling. After switching his leash to another trainer, he held back and focused more on building confidence around the other trainers for the rest of the session.
Pupdate 3/11/2025
This morning, we woke up early to avoid the rain, so I decided to take Hunter and Wolf for a walk. Hunter is my personal dog, and although Wolf has gradually warmed up to him, he still only interacts with Hunter when inside the crate. When we introduced them outside, they briefly sniffed each other before I gave the command to begin our walk. During the walk, I allowed Wolf several opportunities to continue sniffing Hunter, which he did. Since they were both manageable and Wolf was getting more familiar with Hunter’s scent, I plan to let them socialize more in the backyard once both dogs are more comfortable with each other.
Later, we went to Cerritos Mall to expose Wolf to a new environment and observe how he would behave in a public space like a mall. When we arrived, we tried walking in together, but when the doors opened, Wolf pulled me inside, so we spent a few minutes working on walking in calmly. After about three minutes, he entered the mall properly, and we were able to proceed. As we moved through different areas of the mall, I continued to give Wolf obedience commands to keep him engaged with me and help desensitize him to pulling. When I asked him to sit or lie down, it was clear that the unfamiliar noises and sounds of the mall startled him. However, he remained confident enough not to react to anyone. When he saw people walking their dogs, Wolf would fixate on them, but I used his e-collar to redirect his attention and command him to disengage, preventing him from becoming overly fixated.
In the video above, we chose an open area to record our progress with the “down” command. Being in a public space, Wolf was a bit intimidated and had difficulty performing the command at first. He wanted to act on impulse and get up, but I redirected him back into the down position, which helped him settle and hold the position for about two minutes. I ended the session with a recall and asked him for a break, allowing him to finish training and come to me for praise. After the video ended, we continued practicing the down command in different areas of the mall to further improve his conditioning.
Pupdate 3/12/2025
This morning, both dogs had another walk together, and it went well. Wolf was even more consistent with his heel while walking alongside Hunter. After returning home, I gave the dogs another chance to greet and smell each other. They took their time, but eventually, Wolf began showing playful gestures. However, since Wolf has limited experience around other dogs, he tends to be forceful or overly energetic. I stepped in when necessary to manage his behavior. I kept them outside long enough that both dogs eventually settled down and took a nap.
Later, we focused on home training, specifically working on door manners, starting with the living room door that leads to the backyard. We concentrated on obedience and impulse control to help Wolf stay engaged with me and understand that when a door opens, he doesn't need to act on it immediately. When walking through the door, I maintain a slow pace so that Wolf learns to follow my lead instead of rushing ahead when on a leash. It's common for people to remove their dog's leash upon entering the house without having conditioned them on how to behave around doors, so this step is important for teaching proper door manners.
When training with the front door, caution is essential, as it's typically the main exit for most dog owners. Our first attempt with the front door went smoothly, but during the second try, Wolf followed me outside. I used my body and the e-collar to redirect him back into the house and had him return to his down position. After the redirection, Wolf showed more confidence in waiting, and by the end of the session, I walked into the kitchen to signal the "break" command. As soon as I said "break," Wolf came directly to me and avoided going outside, where he was praised for his progress during the training session.
We spent the rest of the day focusing on obedience commands and practicing loose-leash walking to help Wolf transition to off-leash obedience. I had my brother, Nick, work with Wolf in front of my house under my supervision to ensure the training was progressing as planned. While Wolf was able to follow commands and listen to Nick, he tended to get distracted by the smells around him during their sessions. To address this, I had Nick practice the "leave it" command (also known as "off") while walking by grassy areas, testing whether Wolf would become distracted by the scents. When walking together, Wolf was able to maintain composure, but it became clear that he was particularly distracted around plants, bushes, and certain houses. I instructed Nick to stop at those points and continue training to help desensitize Wolf to the smells and improve his focus.
Pupdate 3/13/2025
Today it rained, but we managed to wake up early enough to take our morning walk before the rain started. Once we returned home, I gave the dogs some free time to roam and play with each other before breakfast.
Later, we headed to Anaheim Pet & Feed to practice our obedience training indoors to avoid the rain. Today's focus was on loose leash walking, aiming to continue conditioning Wolf for off-leash obedience. When we arrived, Wolf was calm, but as we approached the door, he tried to rush in. I quickly redirected him, and after restarting the practice, walking through the door went smoothly.
Inside the store, Wolf was easily distracted by the products and scents around him. We worked on helping him disengage from the smells and focus on me. A few other dog owners passed us, and many of their dogs barked at Wolf. This made him growl or fixate, especially if the other dog was calm and relaxed. When Wolf fixated, I used the e-collar to redirect him, which allowed him to regain composure and manage his reactions.
After about 30 minutes, Wolf became more consistent with his obedience. He was able to remain calm while people passed by, shopping in the store. We made sure to work through every section of the store, practicing both loose leash walking and off-leash obedience. Wolf did well allowing me to maintain some distance from him without becoming impulsive when someone walked near us. Each time we turned into a new aisle, I asked him to heel, and whether we turned left or right, he followed without hesitation.
Some employees were excited to see him, but Wolf still seemed intimidated when people tried to approach too closely. In those moments, he would step back and hide behind my leg, a common sign that a dog feels uncomfortable. It's difficult to gauge if he's ready to greet someone right away, but as long as people take the time to approach him calmly, he eventually lets his guard down. By the end of our visit, I continued to walk around the store with the leash on the floor, further conditioning Wolf's obedience to support his future off-leash training.
Pupdate 3/14/2025
Today, we focused on leash dragging training to help condition Wolf for off-leash work. Over the past few days, he's been making noticeable progress, so I wanted to capture his response to the e-collar in a video. In the video above, we worked in the front of the house on his heel obedience command, with no leash tension, relying solely on the e-collar to guide him. Wolf is highly responsive to my obedience cues and follows through well. However, he tends to drift away and create space, which we manage using the e-collar to keep him in position. While practicing in the front yard, we also reviewed other commands Wolf has learned during his training sessions. He has a playful demeanor, often engaging in play biting, but I try to avoid reinforcing this behavior by redirecting him with the e-collar when he attempts to bite my hand.
Throughout our heeling exercises, Wolf stays focused and engaged with me, showing no signs of trying to run off. However, we haven’t yet addressed the challenge of him reacting to seeing another dog while off-leash. This is an area we’ll be focusing on in the future to improve his overall obedience.
When both of my parents returned home today, I had Wolf in the living room, and he seems to be getting more comfortable with them coming inside. As we walked near or around them, Wolf used his nose more to sniff and familiarize himself with their presence, showing progress in his social behavior.
Later in the day, my brother Nick worked with Wolf on obedience while keeping the leash attached. Wolf responded well to Nick, but he did engage in play biting when asked to perform the "down" command. Together, we worked through this behavior to prevent it from continuing.
Pupdate 3/15/2025
Today, we visited Home Depot in Anaheim to practice loose leash walking in a pet-friendly environment and to help Wolf get accustomed to being around people while shopping in a store setting. When we first arrived, Wolf wasn't very enthusiastic, but he maintained a decent heel as we entered the store. Once inside, however, he began to pull ahead and try to lead. I used his e-collar to gently redirect him without causing any leash tension. As we continued to move through the aisles, he started to improve and maintain a better heel, making it easier to train him more effectively throughout the store. We walked through aisles with people, and Wolf passed them without any issues. On a few occasions, when he was in a sit or down position and people needed to pass by, he allowed it without hesitation.
In the lumber section, we had more space, which gave us an opportunity to work on his leash dragging without interference. Occasionally, loud noises from forklifts or other machinery went off inside the store, causing Wolf to pant, but he kept his composure and remained obedient. When we approached the front of the store near the cash registers, where there were more people, Wolf was able to maintain his heel but would start looking around. To address this, we worked on increasing his engagement and keeping his attention on me rather than his surroundings. After another lap around the store, we returned to the cash registers, and by this time, Wolf seemed more confident, though he still glanced around from time to time. Our final exercise inside the store was an extended down. I kept Wolf in the down position for about two minutes before releasing him with praise. We repeated this several times, and each time he held the position as asked.
Later, my brother and I did another training session with Wolf in the front area of the store, focusing on obedience and addressing his behavior of play-biting when asked to down. Wolf has been improving when working with me, but he still tends to play-bite with Nick, as he sees him as more of a playmate due to Nick's smaller size. When Wolf walks with Nick, he is more consistent in maintaining pace because Nick is well-versed in proper dog training techniques.
Pupdate 3/16/2025
This morning we had our early walk in the morning with Hunter and Wolf being consistent with their heel and not trying to pull. I've noticed the only time Wolf will try to lead the walk is if he needs to go potty but once he's done he seems aware of staying at a pace after going potty.
After having breakfast and the dogs had their morning nap Wolf woke up and we headed to the backyard to work on our training once again. We showcase our door manners which has improved with Wolf being capable to staying behind any door or gate when asked. I use a place mat to designate Wolf on where he has to stay when the door opens. I walk out to the front of the street and make my way back to ask Wolf to heel with me towards the front of the house which he does with ease being calm and attentive to me.
The second video clip we show our offleash obedience training in the front of the house by taking off our slip leash and training as usual. Wolf walks with me and we go over all our obedience commands in the front of the house making sure Wolf can be capable of his obedience without trying to play or be mislead once the leash comes off. As we trained throughout the video my parents arrive after being out for some time. Wolf used to be intimidated seeing them walk into the house many times in the beginning of his board and train but now can watch them walk in without getting uneasy from seeing their presence. Once they walk inside the house I break Wolf to reward him for behaving very well and for staying calm.
Pupdate 3/17/2025
Today, we went to Santa Monica to train at the pier and expose Wolf to a new environment to observe his behavior. Initially, the walk toward the pier was a bit challenging because Wolf was excited to get out of the car after our drive. To help him burn off some energy and relieve himself, we stopped at the grassy area before the bridge.
Once we made our way to the pier, I kept Wolf on a leash to keep him close and communicate with him as we passed by people. We walked all the way down the pier and back, and Wolf did fairly well, though he was often looking around at his surroundings. I continued talking to him, and as we neared the front of the pier, he seemed less anxious and more focused on me.
In the video above, you can see our off-leash obedience training after spending some time at the pier. To my surprise, Wolf walked with a more positive attitude and responded well to each command. When I placed him on the bench, he remained calm and observed his surroundings, but he showed more composure and didn’t react to the people around him. As we walked toward the middle of the pier, I asked Wolf to lie down for about two minutes before giving him the cue to break and reward him with praise. After the video ended, we stayed around to see how Wolf would react to strangers.
We took the opportunity to let some people approach and ask if they could say hi to Wolf. He was still hesitant, likely because he isn’t familiar with these people and doesn't interact with strangers as much as he does with my younger brother or family members who see him daily. Three different groups approached to greet him, but Wolf didn’t seem interested in walking up or using his nose to warm up to them. We kept a respectful distance, and Wolf seemed fine with this type of interaction. Although I would have liked him to greet the strangers, I know it takes more than just a few minutes for him to adjust to new people.
Pupdate 3/18/2025
This morning, we followed our usual routine, starting with an early walk with Hunter. The walk lasted about 45 minutes before we headed back home. In the video above, you can see how Hunter and Wolf interact during their playtime, which typically lasts 5 to 10 minutes. I captured a brief moment of their interaction to showcase how Hunter manages Wolf’s play style. Wolf tends to be a bit too rough during play, but Hunter can handle it. While other dogs might not enjoy the way Wolf plays, Hunter is able to tolerate his behavior, even when Wolf gets too energetic.
In the second video, I took Wolf to a park near my house to assess his off-leash obedience in a more relaxed environment. Wolf had a great time exploring, but if he strayed too far from me, I used his e-collar to guide him back. He also tried to play-bite me, but I redirected him each time. Over time, he started responding better and maintained a consistent heel. I asked him to lie down and roamed around the park for a while before signaling him to break. After the video ended, we stayed at the park, giving Wolf the opportunity to roam freely and just enjoy himself.
In the third video, we focused on Wolf’s food manners, which have improved significantly since the start of his training. Initially, I had him place himself on his mat before I gave him his food, but now I can ask him to sit, down, or place before putting his meal down. He remains calm and patient while I move around the house until he gets his release cue. To test his patience, I threw a pillow in front of him, but it didn’t faze him at all. After finishing the practice, I released Wolf to eat his meal and praised him for his good behavior.
Later, I had my brother, Nick, train Wolf outside the house while I supervised. Today, Wolf was a bit more difficult for Nick, especially when it came to his recall. He seemed distracted and lazy, preferring to play or do something else, but Nick was able to redirect him without too much trouble. We continued training throughout the day, including more playtime with Hunter in my room.
Pupdate 3/19/2025
This morning, the dogs followed their usual routine, going for a walk together early on, which lasted about 40 minutes before heading back home. After the walk, they had some playtime in the backyard, which lasted only about 5 to 10 minutes before they lost interest and both lay down together to rest.
In today's video, I’m wearing a microphone to discuss some training tips for working with Wolf off-leash at home. I focus on how to communicate clearly with our pets to avoid confusing them by overcompensating with our commands. When giving commands to Wolf, I ensure to use a firm, direct tone and say each command only once. Throughout the video, there are moments where Wolf makes mistakes, and I explain how I handle these situations in real-time, especially if Wolf gets distracted. As a reminder, Wolf has shown great obedience with the help of his e-collar. Although I’ve worked with him on a leash as well, he’s more focused and responsive when the e-collar is on.
Wolf’s Board and Train program is coming to an end, and today is his last day with us. We spent more time relaxing at home with Hunter and did additional training to keep Wolf engaged and reinforce his obedience, especially around distractions. Going to the mall, park, and meeting friends today was a great experience, as I could see his progress in handling situations that made him uneasy. Wolf has been a joy to have around, especially to my younger brother, who enjoyed spending time with him. While I’m sad to see Wolf go, I know he’s ready to return to his family, who has missed him.
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