Zadie | Belgian Malinois | Los Angeles, Ca | In-training
Updated: Sep 20
Meet Zadie, a timid but sweet 2½-month-old Belgian Malinois from Los Angeles, CA, who has just joined us for our One-Week Board & Train Program!
Zadie may be a little shy, but don’t let that fool you—there’s definitely a stubborn little personality hiding in there! Like many puppies her age, she has a few behaviors we’ll be working on during her stay. Zadie likes to pull on the leash, jump on people when she gets excited, and gets especially excited when she sees other dogs. Once another pup catches her attention, staying focused and responding to commands can become a challenge.
Over the next 7 days, we’ll focus on building a strong foundation of obedience, better leash manners, impulse control, and, most importantly, confidence. Through structure, consistency, clear communication, and plenty of positive experiences, we’ll help Zadie learn how to stay engaged and make better choices even when distractions are around.
Throughout her program, Zadie will be working on:
● Loose leash walking
● Impulse control, especially around distractions
● Basic obedience commands
● Improved focus and engagement with his handler
● Better manners in new environments
●Building confidence in new situations
She may only be here for a week, but we have some work to do!
Stay tuned for Zadie’s transformation!
Pupdate 9/13/26
Welcome to Zadie’s first Pupdate!
After drop-off, Zadie and I spent some time together at the park so we could begin bonding and I could show her that I’m going to be her new favorite person for the next seven days! She was understandably a little anxious when she saw you, Emma, walk away, but once you drove off, she was able to settle and begin focusing on me.
Before heading home, I introduced Zadie to the crate in my car. She did a great job going inside and remained calm during the drive home. She moved around a little as she tried to get comfortable, but there was no whining or complaining. I was very happy to see that she handled traveling in the crate so well.
Once we arrived at my home, I gave Zadie some time to explore the yard, take in all the new smells, and meet my 2-year-old Golden Retriever, Dottie. Dottie was VERY excited to have a new gal in the house! Zadie, on the other hand, wasn’t too interested in her just yet—and that’s perfectly okay. She has experienced a lot of changes in a short amount of time, so I’m allowing her to take everything in at her own pace. She also met my adult kids and had an opportunity to sniff around and become familiar with the inside of the house.
After introductions, we headed out for a pack walk with Dottie. This gave the girls an opportunity to interact in a more structured setting while helping Zadie understand that Dottie is also part of the pack. They interacted a little more during the walk, and I was happy to see that they were comfortable around one another.
Zadie is also doing great in her kennel and settling in nicely. We’ve heard a bark here and there, but nothing concerning—especially considering this is her first day in a completely new environment.
I also introduced Zadie to the e-collar today, but we will not be using any stimulation until we begin training tomorrow. For now, she is simply wearing it for short periods so the collar itself becomes familiar and doesn't immediately predict a training session.
Today is all about decompression, bonding, and acclimation. We’re keeping things light and allowing this sweet girl to settle in before the real work begins tomorrow.
So far, so good! Welcome to the crew, Miss Zadie!
Pupdate 9/14/26
For today’s Pupdate, Zadie took a field trip to Whittier Narrows Park, where she joined some of our other OffLeash pups and trainers. This was a great opportunity to introduce her to new people, dogs, smells, and surroundings while observing how she handled herself in a more distracting environment. Zadie did very well meeting everyone and remained calm throughout the entire meet-and-greet. Great start, Miss Zadie!
Today, we also began introducing the e-collar into her training and worked on identifying her working level. Zadie responded between levels 10–20, depending on her level of focus and the distractions around her. We started simple by pairing the stimulation with the “Sit” command, and she responded nicely. One thing I noticed is that Zadie processes the command and moves into the sit position a little slowly. Rather than rushing her, I gave her a moment to process what I was asking and physically complete the command. With repetition, she began making the connection between my verbal command, the e-collar communication, and the behavior I was asking for. Great progress for her first training session!
We also introduced “Place” and “Heel,” and Zadie did wonderfully with both. She is a quick learner! I used treats to help lure and guide her into the correct positions, which worked very well. Another positive sign is that she is now comfortably taking treats directly from me. This tells me she is becoming more comfortable with me and beginning to build trust, which is especially important for a timid puppy adjusting to a new environment.
For her first night, Zadie did very well overall. She barked a little after being placed in her crate, so I used Dottie’s bark collar on tone and vibration mode only. At her first bark, she received a tone correction, and she responded immediately. After that, she remained quiet and settled in for the rest of the night. This allowed her to get a good night’s sleep and wake up rested and in good spirits, ready to train and begin learning her new commands. I was very pleased with how quickly she responded and was able to settle herself.
And we had another little victory—Zadie finally had a full potty break! Sometimes pups will hold it when they are unsure or uncomfortable in a new environment, so this is another indication that she is beginning to settle in. She is also doing very well with Dottie, and I’m happy with how comfortable the girls are becoming around each other.
Overall, Zadie has done great during her first 24 hours! We’ve already introduced several new concepts, and she is showing me that she is smart, receptive, and willing to learn. Now that she is beginning to settle in and become more comfortable with me, I’m looking forward to seeing just how much progress this little girl can make over the next several days.
Great job, Zadie!
Pupdate 9/15/26
For today’s Pupdate, we focused on strengthening Zadie’s Heel command. As you mentioned, she tends to pull while walking, so today we worked on teaching her that the correct position is right by my side.
Using consistent leash pressure, verbal corrections, and occasional e-collar stimulation when she moved too far ahead, Zadie began to understand exactly where I needed her to be. With repetition and clear communication, she did a great job maintaining a much more controlled heel position.
We also introduced her Recall command, “Come,” teaching her to return directly to me when called. Zadie can definitely be a little stubborn at times, but once we repeat the exercise and give her time to process what is being asked, she catches on quickly.
She is a very smart girl! She is still a little timid, but I love that she continues to work through it and remains willing to learn.
Great job today, Zadie!
Pupdate 9/16/26
For today’s Pupdate, we took Zadie on a field trip to Home Depot to continue working on her environmental exposure. With all the different sights, sounds, smells, people, carts, and activity, this was a completely different environment for her and a great opportunity to work on building her confidence around unfamiliar distractions.
When we first arrived, Zadie was noticeably nervous and unsure of her surroundings. Since she is naturally a timid pup, I gave her some time to take everything in while reassuring her that she was safe with me. Exposing Zadie to different environments in a controlled and positive way is important because it teaches her how to process unfamiliar situations without allowing fear or anxiety to take over.
Once we started moving through the store, Zadie did great! She maintained a nice “Heel” beside me and was very receptive to my commands despite everything happening around her. I even challenged her with “Place” on one of the store carts. The surface was a little wobbly and unfamiliar, so this required her to trust my guidance and work through some uncertainty. She followed through with the command and was able to hold her “Sit” for an extended period. I was very proud of her!
As we continued through the store, I could tell she was still feeling a little uneasy with all the activity, so instead of pushing her too quickly, we took some time to sit along the side of the main center aisle and simply observe. Customers and carts passed by while Zadie practiced settling into her “Down” command. This gave her an opportunity to calmly process everything happening around her without being required to constantly move or work.
Of course, Miss Zadie had quite a few fans passing by who were impressed with how nicely she held her Down! She is also beginning to become much more comfortable with me and is really starting to enjoy all the praise and affection she receives when she does something correctly.
Today was a great combination of obedience training, environmental exposure, and confidence building. Zadie may still be timid, but she is showing that she is willing to work through those uncomfortable moments and trust my guidance.
Great job today, Zadie! One new adventure at a time!
Additional to today’s Pupdate, I included the E-Collar tutorial link for you to familiarize yourself with the device Zadie will be going home with.
Pupdate 9/17/26
Today, we took Zadie to the park where we practiced all of her known commands in a busier environment with a variety of distractions. Per her usual personality, Zadie was a little guarded when we first arrived. However, after giving her some time to take in her surroundings, she slowly became more comfortable and relaxed.
I’m starting to see more of Zadie’s happy and excited personality come out, which I absolutely love! She has even started jumping up when she sees me. While I’m happy that she’s excited and becoming more comfortable with me, jumping is still an unwanted behavior that we need to address. We’ve started using the verbal correction “OFF” whenever she jumps, and she is responding very well. With one firm “OFF,” Zadie is beginning to understand that she needs to stop the behavior and keep all four paws on the ground. This is the same jumping behavior I observed with you at the beginning of her training, so now that she is showing it with me as well, we have the perfect opportunity to work on it consistently. Like the smart girl she is, Zadie is already learning to control those excited impulses.
We also walked throughout the park practicing her “heel”, and she did very well staying by my side. There were plenty of distractions around us, including children playing and other dogs enjoying the park, but Zadie remained neutral and did not react. That is exactly what we want to see!
Watching Miss Zadie become more comfortable while still learning how to manage her excitement and impulses has been wonderful. Her personality is really starting to shine through, and I’m seeing her mature right before my eyes.
Very proud of you, Miss Zadie! Keep up the great work!
Pupdate 9/18/26
For today’s Pupdate, along with reviewing all of Zadie’s known commands, we focused on Door and Food Manners. Since Zadie is already doing such an amazing job with her “Sit” command, these exercises were a walk in the park for her!
She is really starting to understand that patience and self-control are part of her everyday routine.
As you can see in the video, we practiced two different types of Door Manners. The first requires Zadie to remain in a Sit while the door is opened. She is expected to stay in position and not cross the doorway until I give her the release command. This teaches her that an open door does not automatically mean she is allowed to rush through it.
For the second exercise, we practiced having Zadie “Place” near the doorway while I opened and moved through the door. Her job was to remain on Place regardless of the movement happening around her. Door Manners are especially important for safety because they help prevent a dog from bolting through an open door and teach her to look to her handler for permission before moving through a threshold.
Next up was Food Manners, and Zadie is already a little pro! She patiently waited in position while her food was placed in front of her and understood that she could not begin eating until she heard her release command. This is another great exercise for building patience, impulse control, and respect for boundaries.
Zadie did a wonderful job today! Her obedience is becoming more consistent, and I love seeing her confidence grow as she understands more of what is expected of her.
Yay, Zadie! Great job, pretty girl!
Pupdate 9/19/26
For today’s final Pupdate, we took Zadie to the park to put everything she has learned over the past week to the test! With plenty of distractions around us, this was the perfect opportunity to see how well she could maintain her focus, respond to commands, and demonstrate the obedience skills we have been consistently working on. And let me tell you, Miss Zadie did AMAZING! All her hard work is paying off!
During our training session, Zadie found the squirrels to be particularly interesting. She would stop and watch them from a distance, but I was happy to see that she did not attempt to chase after them. She was able to remain composed and continue working despite the temptation. This was a great opportunity to reinforce her impulse control and ability to remain engaged with her handler, even when something exciting catches her attention.
Another important part of today's session was having Zadie work with my daughter. Since Zadie has spent the past week learning and practicing her commands with me, I wanted to see how well she would respond to another handler. This is an important step in helping her understand that the expectations of obedience remain the same regardless of who is giving the commands.
I was very pleased to see that Zadie was able to maintain a nice “Heel” while walking with my daughter and hold her “Sit” for an extended period, even with distractions around her. Great job, Zadie! This shows that she is beginning to understand her commands beyond just working with me.
Throughout this past week, Zadie has made tremendous progress! She arrived as a timid little girl who was unsure of her new surroundings, but with consistent training, structure, patience, and positive experiences, she has become much more comfortable and receptive to my guidance.
Now, does Zadie still have a stubborn little personality? Absolutely! There are moments when she would rather do things her own way, but with clear communication, consistency, and gentle follow-through, she is learning to complete what is being asked of her. She is a very intelligent pup, and as she continues to mature, maintaining the same expectations and practicing her commands regularly will help strengthen everything she has learned.
It has truly been a pleasure working with Zadie during her One-Week Board & Train Program! I loved watching her come out of her shell, become comfortable in my home, and develop a wonderful relationship with Dottie. Seeing her confidence grow and watching her personality shine through has been such a rewarding experience.
We will definitely miss having Miss Zadie around, and I know Dottie will miss her too!
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