Xavier | Terrier Mix | Inglewood, CA. | In Training
- heatheroffleashsoc
- Dec 21, 2025
- 20 min read
Updated: Jan 10
Meet Xavier! š¾
Xavier is a handsome five-year-old terrier mix from Inglewood, California, and he has officially joined us for our three-week board and train program. This curious little guy is full of enthusiasm and always on the lookout for his next adventureāespecially when heās on leash. Walks currently mean pulling in every direction as Xavier follows his nose, foraging for any snack or scent he can find along the way. When it comes to listening, Xavier prefers to do things on his own terms, responding when it suits him rather than when heās asked.
In addition to his leash manners, Xavier has also been known to be quite the vocal pup around strangers, both inside and outside the home. His barking can make greetings stressful and has made it difficult for him to comfortably meet new people and build positive social interactions. While his intentions arenāt bad, he definitely needs help learning calmer, more appropriate ways to communicate and feel confident in new situations.
Over the next 21 days, weāll be working closely with Xavier on his basic obedience, leash skills, and overall house manners. Our goals are to help him become a more reliable listener, a calmer and more enjoyable walking companion, and a more polite, confident pup when greeting strangers. Weāre so excited to begin this journey with Xavier and canāt wait to share his progress and transformation as he works toward becoming the well-mannered gentleman we know he can be! š¶āØ
12/21/2025
Today Xavier and I headed to the park for a nice stroll to get better acquainted and to introduce our first new commandāheel. This outing also gave me the opportunity to assess what Xavier already knows and where weāll be starting his training journey.
As expected, at the beginning of our walk Xavier was much more interested in checking out all the exciting sights and smells than paying attention to meāand that was totally okay! While he explored, I used light leash corrections to guide him into walking politely at my side. At first, Xavier wasnāt too sure about this new expectation, but before he knew it, he was walking nicely right where he should be. Anytime he tried to pull away for a tempting sniff, we simply repeated the same gentle corrections, and he caught on quickly.
By the end of our walk, Xavier seemed much more comfortable with me and with the introduction of his new command. He was more relaxed, engaged, and ready for the next adventureāhopping eagerly into the car to head to his home-away-from-home for the next few weeks!
Once we arrived, Xavier wasted no time sniffing around and checking everything out. Being in a new environment has him feeling a little nervous, which is completely normal, but I have no doubt that in a day or two heāll be settling right in.
All in all, today was a great day full of introductions. Xavier has already shown a willingness to learn, and Iām so excited to get started on his obedience journey with this sweet boy!Ā
12/22/2025
Today Xavier and I headed out to the park to continue working on his heel command, which we introduced yesterday using the e-collar. He did a great job building on that foundation, and I was excited to take the next step by introducing his come to sit command. This command has Xavier walking around my right side and coming to sit neatly on my left. The first few reps were a little confusing for him, which is completely normal, but he quickly began to understand the concept and showed great effort in figuring out what I was asking.
Normally on our first full day of work together, I focus primarily on heel, sit, and come to sit, but Xavier surprised me in the best way with his down command. I decided to test the waters to see if he would offer it for me, and he happily did! We even took it a step further by adding time and distance, testing how far away I could move without him breaking commandāand he held it beautifully. What a smart boy!
With his sit command, the main challenge right now is responding on cue rather than on his own terms. To help with this, I asked for the sit using gentle leash pressure combined with the e-collar. If he didnāt respond right away, we simply held the pressure until he completed the command. Before long, Xavier began sitting when expected instead of when he felt like itāgreat progress!
When we returned home, Xavier seemed much more comfortable in the house. So comfortable, in fact, that he initiated a friendly game of tag with my cat, Loki. Loki is quite used to having pups around and is often the instigator himself, so watching their interaction was pretty fun to see.
All in all, today was a great day of work. Xavier has already proven that heās a quick learner, and as we continue to progress and practice, I know heās going to shine through and through!
12/23/2025
Today Xavier and I headed out to the park bright and early to squeeze in a training session before the rain rolled in. We focused on reinforcing all of the commands weāve already started working on while also adding more distance and duration to his sit and down commandsāwhich he is already doing very well with!
We continued working on his come to sit command, and the improvement has been awesome to see. Heās understanding the concept more clearly each session and responding more confidently. His heel is also coming along nicely, with noticeably less foraging for ātasty treatsā as we walkāalways a win!
The highlight of todayās session was a real-life social encounter. Someone approached us with two other dogs, a situation that can often be stressful for a single dog. Xavier paused at first, took a moment to assess, and then calmly checked them out as they did the same with him. No tension, no bad vibesājust polite sniffs before everyone went their separate ways. Such a great moment for him!
All in all, today was another successful training day full of progress. Xavier is such a smart little guy, even if his stubborn streak keeps things interesting. He definitely makes every session fun and rewarding!
12/24/2025
Merry Christmas Eve! Today Xavier and I headed out to Home Depot to continue polishing up all of the commands weāve been working on so far. His heel is coming along nicelyāhe does still need an occasional reminder to stop pulling, but thatās totally expected and heās improving with each outing.
His come to sit is still a bit of a work in progress. Every now and then he likes to scurry right past me to investigate whatās going on behind me, but with a quick e-collar correction and a verbal reminder, he usually snaps right back into the groove. His extended sit and down are looking pretty solid! He does get a little impatient at times and tries to pop up early, but I simply guide him back to his original position and we repeat the exercise until he settles in.
Overall, Xavier is getting better about responding to commands when asked. He still has moments where heād prefer to do things on his own terms, but heās learning that waiting it out isnāt really an option anymore. Despite the occasional (and honestly pretty funny) stubborn attitude, Xavier is making great progress. All in all, it was a good day of training, and weāre officially one step closer to starting off-leash work! šš¶
12/25/2025
Merry Christmas from Xavier! š š¾
For todayās training, we kept things a little closer to home and took advantage of a break in the rain to head out for a walk. This gave us the perfect opportunity to get some fresh air while practicing the commands weāve been working on so far. As expected, there was a bit of initial excitement when we first started our walk, which meant a few reminders and corrections for his heel. Xavier quickly settled in though, and the rest of the walk went smoothly. He was clearly thrilled to be out exploring and taking in some new sights along the way!
Once we returned to the house, we introduced the place command. After our walk, this was no problem at all for Xavier ā all he had to do was hop up onto his place cot and lay down. It ended up being a very welcome break after his little adventure!
Throughout the day, we also worked on door manners. This means Xavier is asked to sit calmly at the door before going outside, allowing me to step out first instead of him bolting out for potty or play time. He remains seated until I give him the ābreakā command. At first, Xavier wasnāt too fond of this idea, but with patience, consistency, and repetition, itās already becoming easier for him each time we practice.
We also spent time practicing food manners, and since itās the holiday, I decided to incorporate a special treat ā some tasty turkey! For this exercise, Xavier was asked to sit before his snack was set down (just like we do at mealtimes). Heās expected to remain sitting until heās released with ābreak.ā At first, he gave me a look that clearly said, āWhat?! Itās right there ā why canāt I have it?ā and tried to dive in as soon as the bowl hit the ground. With consistent reminders and follow-through, Xavier is becoming more patient and is showing improvement each time we practice.
All in all, today was a great day of training! Xavier enjoyed a relaxed day around the house, loved his special holiday treat, and even got to enjoy some cartoons on the side ā which he absolutely loves. šš¶
We hope you and your family are having a wonderful and joyful holiday season! ā¤ļø
12/26/2025
Today Xavier and I took our training on the road and headed to Kahoots to practice our commands with some real-life distractions! Our focus was on heel, come to sit, and extended sit and down, and Xavier was ready to show off his skills.
His heel is looking pretty solid these days. He still needs the occasional reminder (hey, there are a lot of interesting things to sniff!), but overall he did a great job sticking with me. His come to sit is also getting better and better. There were a few moments where background noiseāpeople chatting or a dog barkingāmade him pause mid-follow through, but we worked through it calmly. It was a great lesson in learning that even when things get a little wild around him, he can still focus and mind his own business.
Xavierās extended sit and down are coming along nicely too. One barking dog almost convinced him to pop up and investigate, but we simply guided him right back to his original command and gave it another try. After that, he nailed it and held his positions like a champ!
Overall, it was a really great training day. Xavier continues to improve each day and is clearly understanding whatās being asked of himāand heās gaining confidence along the way.
After we got back home, Xavier wrapped up his day with another quick game of tag with my cat, followed by some cozy couch cuddles while watching Hey Arnold! Safe to say, he was a very happy boy.Ā
12/27/2025
Today Xavier and I headed out to the park to soak up some sunshine and enjoy a change of scenery while getting in a productive training session. The park was full of exciting sights and lots of interesting smells, which made it the perfect place to practice all of the commands Xavier has learned so far.
We spent a good amount of time working on his heel. Overall, itās coming along nicely, but Xavier definitely felt the urge to break formation every now and then to investigate the world around him. With a few friendly reminders, he was able to refocus and fall back into positionāenthusiasm and curiosity just come with his charming personality!
His come to sit command is still holding steady. Xavier understands whatās being asked, but distractions behind me tend to tempt him into checking things out before fully completing the command. We patiently worked through each repetition, reinforcing follow-through and helping him make the right choice every time.
We also practiced his extended sit and down commands. Heās improving in his ability to hold these positions, though his patience is still a work in progress. Xavier would much rather pop up and see whatās going on than wait for his release, but with continued practice heās getting better at settling in and holding his position until told otherwise.
Most importantly, Xavier had an absolute blast exploring the park and getting some fresh air while learning. Today was a fun, productive day of training, and he continues to make steady progress as we build his skills and confidence each day!
12/28/2025
Today Xavier and I headed back out to the park for another training session filled with plenty of distractions. The sunshine, people, and overall park activity made it the perfect setting to really challenge his skills. Our main focus for the day was working on extended commandsāextended sit, extended down, and place.
We made our way around the park using different tables and benches, asking Xavier to hop up and either sit or down while we took some time to simply people watch. At first, Xavier wasnāt too sure about this idea. Anytime I backed away, he immediately wanted to pop up and rush back to my side, clearly thinking, āNope, Iām supposed to stay with you!ā
Each time this happened, I calmly redirected him back into his original position and we started again. Slowly but surely, it started to click. Xavier realized that he didnāt need to be right next to me at all times and that holding his position was the job. Eventually, he settled in and relaxed, confidently staying put while the world moved around him. Resistance, as it turns out, was indeed futile. š
By the end of our session, Xavier showed much more confidence in holding his commands and trusting that I would always come back for him. Today was a great day of training filled with growth, confidence, and trustāand thatās a wonderful thing to see. Each day, Xavier continues learning that his handler will never steer him in the wrong direction, and heās becoming more confident because of it!Ā
12/29/2025
Today Xavier and I headed out to the park to continue practicing all of the commands heās learned so far, and we also introduced a brand-new command ā under. For this command, the goal is for Xavier to go underneath a table or park bench and lie down until heās told otherwise.
Xavier was understandably unsure about this new concept at first. After a few repetitions, he started to get the idea, but the moment I would step back, heād immediately pop up and come right back to me (which explains why thereās no picture to go along with this one!). Thatās completely okay, though ā with more time, repetition, and confidence-building, Iām certain Xavier will settle into this command nicely.
As for his other on-leash commands, Xavier is doing very well overall. He has his moments where he likes to test me to see if Iām paying attention, especially during his heel work, and will try to veer off course. He also has a habit of not quite parking his bottom all the way on the ground during sits, which is truly quite funny and perfectly fitting for his personality.
Xavier is a smart, sweet boy who clearly understands whatās being asked of him, even when something feels new or uncertain. Iām incredibly proud of him for working through the confusion today and continuing to show progress. Heās making steady strides toward off-leash work, and I love seeing his confidence grow day by day!
12/30/2025
Today Xavier and I headed back out to the park for another productive training day, but with a new challenge added to the mix ā leash dragging. This means weāre relying less on the leash for guidance and corrections and more on the e-collar, which is an exciting step closer to beginning off-leash work!
This new curveball definitely caught Xavier off guard at first. He needed a moment to process the change, but with some encouragement, clear direction, and the use of hand gestures, he quickly started to come around. Overall, he handled the transition well. Our main area to continue polishing is curbing his desire to wander off and sniff while heās supposed to be heeling at my side. With more consistency, time, and practice, Iām confident this will continue to improve.
All in all, today was a solid training day. We threw a new obstacle Xavierās way, and he did his best to work through it. That willingness to try is all I can ask from this sweet guy, and Iām proud of the effort he put in today!
12/31/2025
Happy New Yearās Eve! š
Today Xavier and I headed out to the Santa Anita Mall to work his commands while continuing to work on leash dragging. There were plenty of distractions throughout the mall, which worked perfectly in our favor for todayās training session. At first, all of the commotion had Xavier feeling a bit nervous, so we slowed things down and focused on our heel command until he began to relax and feel more confident. Once he settled in, we were able to really get to work.
Xavier is still adjusting to the added freedom that comes with leash dragging, but heās showing steady improvement. His come to sit is getting much better with the extra slack on the leash. He does have moments of confusion, but consistent hand gestures have been key in helping him work through it successfully.
His extended commands are especially improvingāhis patience and ability to wait calmly until being told to break is becoming more impressive by the day. Iām so proud of this boy!
We even took a walk through the food court to put his natural foraging instincts to the test. He was caught attempting to grab a tasty morsel or two, but with a quick correction using the āoffā command and the e-collar, he immediately moved on. What a good boy!
Overall, today was a very productive training session with noticeable progress made across the board. Lastly, Iād like to take a moment to send nothing but well wishes and blessings to you and your family as you ring in the New Year this evening. š„āØ
1/1/2026
Happy New Year! š
For todayās work, Xavier and I headed back out to the mall to continue practicing his commands with leash dragging. His heel command is coming along nicelyāheās starting to wander off less and is staying more connected to me overall. He still gets a bit distracted at times, but with a simple verbal reminder and a hand gesture, he falls right back into position effortlessly.
His come to sit is looking great, no complaints there at all! With his extended commands, Xavier is doing well. Every once in a while he may break, but once reminded of the expectation, he patiently waits to be told to break again. Iām so proud of the work Xavier put in today. Heās really getting the hang of things and is checking in with me more and more as we work through his commands. Heās a little smarty pants, and Iām absolutely here for it!
His house manners are also improving quite a bit. He now automatically offers a sit at the door anytime weāre about to head outsideāno cue neededāand the same goes for his food manners.
All in all, Xavier is making fantastic progress, and itās been so rewarding to watch everything start to come together! š¾āØ
1/2/2026
For todayās work, Xavier and I headed back out to the park to continue reinforcing his commands while working with a dragging leash. This stage of training gives Xavier more freedom of movement, which is great for building independence, but it also challenges his impulse control and overall engagement ā exactly what we want to be working on at this point.
One of our main goals for the session was addressing Xavierās tendency to wander now that he has more freedom. With the leash dragging, his natural instincts to forage, sniff, and explore definitely kick in, and at times that urge can be quite strong for him. That said, with consistent verbal reminders and clear hand gestures back into heel, Xavier was able to redirect himself and re-engage. While this is still a work in progress, he continues to show improvement each session, responding more quickly and staying connected for longer periods of time.
We also spent a significant amount of time focusing on his under command. Since Xavier has a solid understanding of his foundational commands, today was about really proofing this one. After only a few repetitions, Xavier demonstrated a clear understanding of what was being asked of him. He confidently moved under each bench he was directed to, laid down promptly, and remained calmly in position until given his release cue. His ability to wait patiently and hold that position shows great progress in both impulse control and clarity of the command.
Throughout the session, Xavier remained eager to work and receptive to guidance. Each repetition helped reinforce his confidence, and it was great to see him thinking through the commands rather than rushing through them. Overall, todayās session showed noticeable progress in both his obedience and his ability to manage distractions in a real-world environment.
All in all, this was a very productive training day for Xavier. He continues to make steady strides forward, and weāre excited to keep building on this momentum. What a good boy!Ā
1/3/2026
Today Xavier and I headed back out to the park bright and early, trying to get some quality training time in before the rain decided to join us. The plan was to start introducing off-leash workā¦ but Xavier had a different agenda this morning! As soon as the leash came off, exploring and sniffing took priority over sticking with me, and no correction in sight was convincing him to come back to my side. Understandable? Absolutely. Acceptable? Not quite, silly goose!
To set him up for success, I clipped the leash back on and shifted our focus to heel, while still allowing him a bit of controlled exploring. As we continued walking, I gradually dropped the leash and transitioned into leash-dragging work, making sure he stayed engaged and with me as we moved along. Before long, Xavier seemed to snap back into a working mindset, so we found a good spot to practice his commandsāand he did very well!
Xavier performed most of his commands just as expected. The main areas weāll continue tightening up are his heel and recall, both of which are especially important if we want to safely give him the freedom of being off leash. All in all, despite a few early hiccups and Xavier deciding that listening wasnāt the vibe at first, we still made solid progress today. Off days happenāeven for dogsāand Iām confident tomorrow will be an even better day!
1/4/2026
Today Xavier and I headed out to Home Depot to continue working his commands in a high-distraction environment. This setting is great for challenging his focus, and todayās main emphasis was on leash dragging while reinforcing his heel. Xavier is still learning that his job is to stay connected to me rather than wandering off to explore, and today he showed noticeable improvement.
At the start, Xavier did have a few moments where he veered off to check out his surroundings, but he responded well to corrections and was quick to reorient himself and return to my side. As the session went on, his understanding became clearer and his heel tightened up, showing better consistency and engagement even with all the sights, sounds, and people moving around us.
We also incorporated his extended commands into todayās work. Xavier did a great job holding his extended sit and down, remaining patient and composed despite the busy environment. From each extended position, he performed an excellent come to sit, coming in promptly and finishing cleanly at my side every time. His responsiveness and follow-through here were especially impressive.
Overall, today was a very solid training day for Xavier. He showed growth in his ability to work through distractions, recover quickly from mistakes, and stay focused on his handler. Progress was absolutely made, and weāre moving in the right direction with his leash skills and overall reliability. Great work today, Xavier!Ā
1/5/2026
Today Xavier and I headed back out to Home Depot to continue working his commands with real-world distractions. Since we were in the store and wanted to be respectful of those around us, we continued practicing with leash dragging.
Xavier did a great job today and stayed focused while working through all of his commands without giving in to the temptation to wander off and investigate. He did have a brief moment of confusion on his come to sit, unsure which side he was meant to land on, but he quickly corrected himself and settled nicely into position on my left side.
He is definitely starting to get the hang of things, and his progress is really showing. Overall, we accomplished some wonderful work today, and Xavier displayed an extra boost of confidence while performing his commands. Because of that, weāll be taking the next step and giving off-leash work another try tomorrow!
1/6/2026
Today we kept things close to home and focused on working all of Xavierās commands completely off leash, and he truly had an outstanding session. As we walked through the neighborhood, Xavier did a wonderful job staying engaged and connected to me, showing great awareness of where I was and what was being asked of him.
There were a few moments where curiosity got the best of him and he considered wandering off to check things out, but with a quick reminder he was able to tune right back in and refocus on the task at hand. What really stood out today was how well he handled real-world distractions. Even as we passed other neighborhood dogs, people, and everyday sights and sounds, Xavier maintained his composure and continued to work through his commands confidently.
His responsiveness off leash is really coming together, and today was a great example of his growing reliability and understanding. He showed excellent effort, made smart choices, and proved just how much progress heās making. All in all, it was a fantastic day of work ā Xavier absolutely crushed it, and I was so impressed with him! š¶š
1/7/2026
Today Xavier and I headed out to an outdoor mall to work all of his commands completely off leashāand he did very well! With so many exciting smells and distractions around, Xavier had a few moments where he wanted to wander off to sniff, but I was able to quickly call him back to my side by reminding him of the command he was holding, along with a little help from the e-collar. He recovered beautifully each time and stayed engaged with me.
As for his other commands, Xavier was right on the money! He performed everything just as weāve been practicing over the last couple of weeks, showing consistency and confidence in his work.
We even took a little break and headed into a pet-friendly pizza spot to grab some lunch. Once inside, Xavier was on his absolute best behavior. He sat patiently next to me while I ordered, then calmly went to sit while we waited for our food. When we found our spot, I asked Xavier to lay down at my feetāand he did just that. He didnāt budge until told, not even when the waiter walked by carrying trays of delicious-smelling food (though Iāll admit he definitely looked tempted!).
All in all, Xavier put in a lot of effort today, and I am so proud of how well he handled himself both during training and in a real-world setting. What a good boy!
1/8/2026
Today Xavier and I headed back out to an outdoor mall to continue working on all of his commands while fully off leash, and he truly impressed me. From the moment we arrived, Xavier was engaged and ready to work, even with all the exciting sights, sounds, and smells around us. While he still occasionally lets his nose get the best of him and attempts to wander off to investigate, his responsiveness has improved tremendously. Calling him back into his heel takes very little effort, and heās doing a great job remembering where he should be, even in such a stimulating environment.
We spent a good amount of time really testing his heel today, especially when walking past other dogs at the mall. Xavier did briefly veer off the path to check one dog out in a friendly and curious manner, but he immediately responded when called back to me and resumed his heel without hesitation. Moments like these show just how much his focus and reliability are improving.
The rest of his commands are coming along beautifully as well. Xavier has been very patient when holding his extended commands, showing increased confidence and self-control. His come to sit has noticeably improved, with quicker responses and cleaner positioning, and the same goes for his under command, which heās beginning to perform more smoothly and consistently.
Iām incredibly proud of the progress Xavier is making and the self-control he is steadily learning each day. Today was a great reminder of how far heās come and how much effort he puts into his training. All in all, it was an excellent day of work, and itās such a joy to see the dedication we put in each day paying off in such positive ways. š¶āØ
1/9/2026
Today Xavier and I headed out to Santa Monica to fine-tune his off-leash obedience while working through plenty of real-world distractions. From the moment we arrived, Xavier truly impressed me with the level of focus and maturity he brought to the session. To start things off, I had him leash dragging as a safety measure in case he felt tempted to wander, but it quickly became clear that it wouldnāt be necessaryāhe stayed glued right to my side and maintained a beautiful heel the entire time. This was especially rewarding to see considering off-leash work was a bit of a struggle for him when we first began transitioning away from the leash.
As we moved through the busy environment, Xavier remained consistent and confident with all of his commands, responding promptly and reliably just as weāve practiced. Despite the sights, sounds, people, and overall excitement of Santa Monica, he showed excellent impulse control and stayed engaged with me throughout our walk. His ability to ignore distractions and remain focused is a huge indicator of how far heās come in his training.
Xavier also seemed to really enjoy the outing, especially when we made our way closer to the beach. Because he was performing so well and staying so composed, we were able to take a moment to slow things down, relax together, and enjoy the views. Overall, this was a fantastic session and a great confidence booster for Xavier. Iām incredibly proud of the progress heās made and the hardworking, well-behaved boy he continues to become!
1/10/2026
Today Xavier and I headed back out to Santa Monica to continue practicing his commands off leash and to film his final videoāand he absolutely crushed it! Xavier stuck right by my side the entire time we were on the pier, only stepping away when it was time to practice his extended commands. He performed everything exactly as weāve been practicing, even with all the excitement and distractions around him.
I am so incredibly proud of this goofy guy and all the hard work he has put in. Heās gone from an āIāll do it when I feel like itā kind of guy to a well-mannered gentlemanāwhile still keeping that spunky little attitude we all love. Watching him grow, learn, and gain confidence throughout this journey has truly been a pleasure.
I sincerely hope everything Xavier has learned here carries over and continues to benefit both of you in your everyday lives. Iād also like to take a moment to thank you for trusting me with such a sweet heart and for giving me the opportunity to play a role in his obedience journey. It has truly been a pleasure working with Xavier! š¶āØ
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