Zeke | Husky Mix | Los Angeles, CA. | In Training.
- heatheroffleashsoc
- Jul 12
- 19 min read
Updated: Jul 25
This handsome fellow is Zeke, a one-year-old Husky mix from Los Angeles, CA, who has just joined us for our Two Week Urban Board and Train Program!
Zeke is a young, energetic pup who has been described as quite the handful when it comes to his excitement out in the world. With leash pulling, barking, whining, and lunging at both people and other dogs, his enthusiasm has often made it difficult for him to focus and take direction. Even something as simple as coming when called or listening to commands can become a challenge when all that excitement takes over.
With that being said, Zeke is definitely ready for some guidance, structure, and a chance to learn how to channel his energy in a more productive way. Over the next two weeks, we’ll be working closely with him on building his basic obedience, improving his manners both inside and outside the home, and helping him develop the ability to settle, focus, and truly listen.
We’re excited to get started with Zeke and can’t wait to watch his confidence grow as he begins this journey toward becoming a more balanced and well-mannered companion!
7/12/2026
Today was Zeke’s very first day with me! We started things off with a walk at the park to help us get to know each other a little better while also giving me an opportunity to assess what he may already know. I quickly learned that Zeke does know how to sit—though it’s more on a “when he feels like it” basis! He also wasted no time trying to pull me toward anything and everything he found exciting, so I decided it was the perfect opportunity to begin introducing the heel command.
Whenever Zeke pulled in one direction, I would give a quick pop of the leash and immediately change directions. It took some time and plenty of repetition, but after a while he began catching on and started paying more attention to where I was going instead of dragging me toward every distraction. We also worked on his sit command by applying gentle upward leash pressure toward the back of his ears until he chose to offer the behavior on his own. In addition, we introduced his come to sit command, which will serve as the foundation for building a reliable recall throughout his training.
At first, Zeke did fairly well with these new exercises, but after a little while he made it very clear that he wasn’t particularly interested in working anymore. He began biting at the leash and trying every maneuver he could think of to avoid what I was asking of him.
Rather than giving in, I patiently worked him through
each command where we hit a snag. While some of his successes may have been a bit reluctant on his part, they were successes nonetheless! The distractions around the park certainly added to the challenge, as Zeke would have much rather spent his time frolicking wherever he pleased. Once he made the choice to walk nicely with me, I rewarded that good decision by letting him explore and sniff around for a bit, which he thoroughly appreciated.
After our walk, we loaded up into the car to head to his home away from home for the next couple of weeks. I was pleasantly surprised when Zeke immediately hopped into the car and settled right into his crate—good boy! He handled the car ride very well, which was another great thing to see. Once we arrived at my house, I gave him time to explore both inside and outside, and he seemed perfectly content checking everything out. When he noticed the other pets in my home, he became quite whiny and excited, but that’s completely understandable. He simply wanted to meet everyone and make some new friends!
Overall, Zeke faced his first day with plenty of curiosity and bravery, sprinkled with just a little bit of sass. The sass is completely understandable considering we had just met! I have no doubt that as he settles into his new routine, his confidence will continue to grow, and he’ll make wonderful progress over the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned for more updates on Zeke’s training journey!
7/13/2026
Today Zeke and I headed out to a park in Rosemead to meet up with some fellow trainers and their pups. This gave us the perfect opportunity to continue working on his commands around real-world distractions while also introducing a new training tool—the e-collar.
To introduce the e-collar, we paired its stimulation with the leash guidance Zeke is already familiar with. This helps him learn what the new sensation means by associating it with something he already understands. Zeke handled this introduction very well and adjusted better than I expected!
When we first arrived at the park, Zeke was, understandably, very excited about all the other dogs. He made it clear that he’d much rather go introduce himself to everyone than focus on me! Because of that, we started our session by practicing his heel command. He was absolutely allowed to look around and take in his surroundings, but only as long as he could walk politely by my side. Whenever he tried to lunge toward another dog because he wanted to play, I simply pivoted in the opposite direction and reminded him to heel. It didn’t take long before Zeke realized staying with me was the better choice, and he began offering much nicer leash manners.
We also spent time working on his sit command while gradually adding both distance and duration. At first, this was a challenge because he would’ve much rather been off playing with his new friends. However, with patience and repetition, he began to understand exactly what was being asked of him and started settling into the exercise much more consistently.
Today we also introduced his down and place commands. I actually have a feeling Zeke may have already known “down,” because as soon as I gave the cue, he happily laid down for me! It was a wonderful surprise. His place and extended down exercises were a bit more challenging, though. Much like his extended sit yesterday, he wasn’t too thrilled about remaining settled for long periods. With consistent guidance and repetition, however, he began to understand that staying put was part of the job.
His come-to-sit command is also coming along very nicely, especially considering today was only his second day with me. He’s already starting to put the pieces together, and it’s exciting to watch him make those connections.
Overall, Zeke learned a lot today and worked through some very exciting distractions with a great attitude. I’m incredibly proud of the effort he put in, especially considering how badly he wanted to go play with the other pups. Every day he’s becoming a little more focused, a little more thoughtful, and a little more confident, and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!
7/14/2026
Today Zeke and I headed out to Century City Mall to continue building on the progress we’ve made with his commands while working around real-world distractions. The mall was hosting another FIFA event today, so there were plenty of people, noise, and excitement to train through.
When we first arrived, Zeke was understandably eager to check everything out, so getting his full attention was a bit challenging. Rather than asking too much of him right away, we focused on his heel command while walking around and letting him take in his surroundings, as long as he was walking politely with me. Giving him that opportunity to settle into the environment really helped him become more focused as our session went on.
Once he had relaxed a bit, we started working on his place command by asking him to hop up onto different surfaces and either sit or lie down. Zeke had no trouble hopping onto anything I asked, but staying put was a different story—and that’s perfectly okay!
He hasn’t quite learned that settling down is part of the job yet, but that understanding will come with time and consistency. Whenever he hopped off before being released, I calmly guided him back into position and we started again. As soon as he was able to hold his position for a little while, I made sure to celebrate that success with lots of praise so he knew he had made the right choice.
We also worked on come to sit, which is coming along very nicely. He still needs a bit of guidance to finish correctly, but that’s completely understandable at this stage in his training. His extended down is much like his place command—he’d much rather get up and keep moving—but with continued practice I know his patience and duration will improve. His extended sit, however, seems to come much more naturally, and it has been great to see him finding success there.
Overall, Zeke continues to make great progress, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well he handled himself at the mall with so many people and distractions around. He definitely had a few moments where his excitement got the best of him, but considering the busy environment, he did a wonderful job. I’m very proud of the effort he put in today, and I’m looking forward to watching his confidence and self-control continue to grow!
7/15/2026
Today Zeke and I headed back to Century City Mall to continue building on the progress we’ve been making with his commands around distractions. The mall was full of people, sounds, and activity, making it a great place to challenge his focus, and overall he did a great job!
His heel command continues to improve, and it’s been wonderful seeing him become more attentive while walking at my side despite everything going on around him. He’s beginning to understand that staying with me is much more rewarding than trying to investigate every exciting thing he sees.
His come to sit is still a work in progress, which is completely normal for such an energetic and curious young pup. There are still moments where something catches his attention and he’d much rather stop to investigate than finish coming all the way in and sitting in front of me. When that happens, we simply remain patient and consistent, guiding him through the command until he follows it all the way through. He’s making steady progress, and I have no doubt this will continue improving with practice.
His extended sit has come a long way and continues to get better each day. Zeke is becoming more comfortable remaining in position even as I move around him. His down and extended place commands, however, are still a bit more challenging. Staying put can be difficult for a pup who always wants to be on the move! Whenever he decides to break position, we calmly and consistently guide him right back to where he belongs until he learns that the easiest choice is to remain there until he’s given his release cue. Today he made some noticeable progress with this, and I was so proud of the effort he put in.
Zeke still has that adorable habit of wanting to be everywhere all at once, but that’s simply part of being a young, enthusiastic dog. As he continues gaining experience in busy environments and learns that he doesn’t have to investigate everything around him, settling down will become much easier. Every outing helps build that confidence, patience, and self-control.
Overall, Zeke continues to do a wonderful job, and I’m incredibly proud of how much effort he’s been putting into his training each day. He’s a very smart guy with so much potential, and it’s been exciting to watch everything start to come together. Keep up the great work, Zeke!
7/16/2026
Today Zeke and I headed out to Santa Monica to explore and continue practicing his commands around plenty of real-world distractions, and overall he did very well! When we first arrived, Zeke was quite vocal about our adventure because he was so excited to be there. With a reminder or two of his off command, however, he was able to settle in and refocus as we began working on his heel command.
His heel is continuing to improve, and I’m also seeing great progress with his come to sit command. His extended commands are still a work in progress, but each time we practice he’s able to hold them for just a little bit longer. It’s been great to watch his patience slowly build.
One thing that’s impossible to miss is just how strong Zeke’s focus can be when something catches his eye. The prey drive is definitely strong with this one! All jokes aside, though, he’s beginning to understand that when he hears “off,” it means to stop what he’s doing and redirect his attention back to me. Sometimes that’s easier said than done depending on what has his attention, but the important thing is that he’s learning and making steady progress.
He did catch me a bit off guard today when he suddenly lunged toward a suitcase someone was rolling past us. We immediately utilized his off command, got him back into position at my side, and he was able to settle down and get right back to the task at hand. Moments like these are valuable training opportunities, and Zeke handled the situation well once he understood what was being asked of him.
All in all, Zeke learned quite a bit today and handled our outing very nicely. I’m proud of the effort he put in and the progress he’s making each day. Way to go, Zeke!
7/17/2027
Today Zeke and I headed out to Lake Balboa Park to continue building on his commands around distractions. This also gave us the perfect opportunity to work on his reactivity toward other animals, and there were certainly plenty of distractions throughout the park! Today I introduced the prong collar alongside the E-collar to help improve his responsiveness when he becomes overly fixated on exciting things in his environment. The goal is for this to simply be a temporary training aid as he develops better focus and self-control.
When we first arrived, Zeke’s senses were completely overloaded. Between the geese, squirrels, other dogs, and all the activity around the park, he wasn’t sure where to direct his attention. His eyes were darting everywhere, and he was quite vocal about his excitement. Rather than asking too much of him right away, we kept things simple and focused on his heel command while walking until he was able to settle in and start paying attention. Throughout our walk, I used the “off” command frequently whenever he attempted to pull toward a goose, squirrel, or another dog. Each successful redirect helped reinforce that checking in with me is much more rewarding than chasing every distraction.
Once he was in a better state of mind, we moved into practicing his commands. I was happy to see some nice improvement! During his extended sit and down commands, Zeke held his positions well, only breaking when I intentionally began moving around in exaggerated, silly ways or manipulated the leash. This exercise helps desensitize him to movement from both the leash and his handler so he learns to wait for a verbal cue rather than anticipating what’s coming next simply because my hands or the leash moved. It took a few repetitions, but he caught on quickly and started waiting patiently for the proper command before moving.
His come-to-sit is still a work in progress, as he can become distracted before completing the behavior.
Even so, I can see the pieces starting to come together, and I don’t think it will be long before he’s performing it consistently. His heel command is also continuing to improve, although distractions still occasionally pull his focus away. The biggest victory from today’s outing came toward the end of our walk. Instead of hyper-fixating on every animal we passed, Zeke began simply observing them briefly before redirecting his attention back to me. Even better, he remained quiet instead of vocalizing his excitement, which was a wonderful improvement.
Overall, today was a great step in the right direction. Zeke is an incredibly smart boy who is putting in the effort to learn, and it’s rewarding to watch his confidence and focus continue to grow. I’m very proud of the progress he made today and look forward to building on these successes during our next adventure!
7/18/2026
For today’s training session, Zeke and I headed back out to the park to continue building on his commands around distractions, and I’m so happy to say that today’s adventure brought some noticeable improvements!
As expected, Zeke started off excited and made sure to let everyone know with a bit of his usual vocal enthusiasm. The big difference today, though, was how quickly he was able to settle down and shift his focus back to work. As we walked through the park and passed other dogs, people, and wildlife, he acknowledged what was going on around him but consistently checked back in with me without all the extra theatrics he would normally put on. Seeing him make that choice on his own was incredibly exciting and showed just how much progress he’s making.
His obedience was noticeably sharper across the board. Zeke’s come to sit has improved tremendously, and he was able to complete the command from start to finish without stopping behind me to investigate something along the way. His extended sit and downcommands also showed a great deal of patience and self-control, even as I moved around him and created distractions. His heel command is really starting to come together as well. One of the highlights of today’s session was having other dogs pass by us at close range while Zeke stayed focused and committed to walking nicely by my side.
From the looks of things, Zeke is really starting to understand what’s being asked of him, and it’s incredibly rewarding to watch everything begin to click. He put forth an amazing effort today, and his hard work was evident throughout the entire outing.
Overall, today was a fantastic training session, and I couldn’t be more proud of the progress Zeke made. Way to go, buddy!
7/19/2026
Today Zeke and I kept things close to home and trained in my neighborhood to help beat the rising temperatures. We started our session with a nice walk, giving him a chance to take in his surroundings while practicing his heel command. It was a great way to ease into training while reinforcing that staying by my side is always the expectation, even in a new environment.
Today’s main focus was on come to sit and down. His down command has been a bit more challenging, and his focus during come to sit was a little inconsistent at first. Like any young dog, he was much more interested in all the exciting sights and sounds around him—especially the chittering wildlife in the neighborhood! With a few meaningful reminders and plenty of consistency, he really started to settle in and understand what was being asked of him. By the end of our session, he was responding much more reliably, and it was wonderful to see everything begin to click.
I’m especially happy with how much his heel has improved. I noticed Zeke checking in with me even more than he did yesterday, which is a great sign that he’s learning to focus on his handler instead of everything happening around him. Those little check-ins are an important part of building engagement and show that he’s beginning to understand the expectations of his training.
We also worked on his extended down command. At one point, Zeke decided to pop up before being released, but as soon as I stepped forward to remind him of his responsibility, he immediately corrected himself and returned to the down position without any additional guidance. Moments like that are always encouraging because they show he understands the exercise and is beginning to hold himself accountable.
Overall, Zeke still has his moments where he likes to be a cheeky young man, but that’s all part of his personality! With continued consistency, clear expectations, and accountability, he’s making wonderful progress every day, and I’m excited to keep building on that success.
7/20/2026
Today’s training session took Zeke and me to a local park to continue building on the progress he’s been making with his commands, and he did a fantastic job! He continues to improve not only with his focus, but also with his overall understanding of what is being asked of him.
It still takes him a few moments to settle into work mode, and he’s definitely not shy about sharing his opinions along the way—which is no surprise considering his Husky side! Huskies are well known for being vocal, and Zeke certainly likes to let me know how he feels. With continued consistency and routine, I’m confident this will become less frequent over time.
Once he was ready to work, Zeke really impressed me. He held his extended commands patiently, performed each of his come to sit repetitions beautifully, and his heel command continues to look wonderful. Even with activity and distractions around the park, he stayed engaged and responded promptly to each command.
Overall, Zeke continues to show that he’s really getting the hang of things and understands what is expected of him. At this point, it’s all about continuing to hold him accountable and staying consistent with his training. He’s a smart, capable boy, and I’m so proud of the focus and maturity he continues to show with each session we have together!
7/21/2026
Today’s training took Zeke and me to Home Depot to continue building on his commands around real-world distractions, and I couldn’t be happier with how he performed! We decided to see how he would do without the prong collar today, working with just his flat collar and e-collar, and Zeke responded wonderfully. He showed that he’s beginning to understand his responsibilities rather than relying on the training equipment, which is fantastic progress.
I’m also excited to report that this was Zeke’s first public outing where he was a quiet and polite young gentleman from start to finish, which is a huge milestone! He worked through his commands with confidence and showed a great understanding of what was being asked of him. At one point, a Home Depot employee walked by fairly close to us, and you could see Zeke consider getting up to investigate. Instead, he made the excellent decision to remain in position until released. That was a fantastic choice and exactly the kind of self-control we’ve been working so hard to build!
One of my favorite parts of today’s session was seeing just how much fun Zeke was having. His tail barely stopped wagging the entire time we trained, and it was clear he was enjoying himself while working. I’m incredibly proud of the progress he’s made over the course of his program. Of course, he still has his occasional goofy moments—he wouldn’t be Zeke without them—but he’s growing into a smart, well-mannered, and polite young man. Keep up the amazing work, buddy!
7/22/2026
Today Zeke and I headed back out to Home Depot to continue building on the progress we’ve been making with his commands, and he did an excellent job! He showed a great understanding of everything we’ve been practicing, performing each command confidently and consistently. Zeke truly handled himself like a polite little gentleman throughout the store, remaining calm and respectful despite all of the sights, sounds, and distractions around him.
His extended commands were especially impressive today, as he held each position patiently until released. His come to sit was absolutely flawless, with a consistent and reliable follow-through every single time I called him. His heel command is also looking fantastic, as he stayed nicely at my side and maintained great focus while we walked through the store together.
We also took a little stroll through the garden center and let Zeke check out the plants. As long as he investigated respectfully without pulling or trying to dive into everything, I was happy to let him satisfy his curiosity. He seemed to really enjoy this part of our outing, and there were genuinely a few moments where it looked like he was taking the time to stop and smell the flowers—it was such a wholesome moment!
Overall, Zeke had another fantastic day of training, and I couldn’t be happier with the progress he continues to make. He’s becoming more confident, attentive, and reliable with every outing, and it’s been wonderful watching him grow into such a well-mannered companion.
7/23/2026
Today’s training focused on Zeke’s house manners, something we’ve been working on consistently every day. We started our session with a nice long walk around my neighborhood, giving him the opportunity to practice his commands while also enjoying some time to explore. Zeke did a great job on our walk and seemed to have a lot of fun!
After our walk, we got to work on his house manners. First up was his off-leash recall, which means coming all the way to my side and sitting when called, whether he’s in the front yard or the backyard. When we first introduced this exercise, Zeke wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea—he would have much rather done his own thing! But through consistency and accountability, he has come a long way and is now much more reliable about coming when called.
Next, we practiced his car manners. This exercise consists of Zeke sitting politely by the car and waiting for the cue to “load up.” Early on, the biggest challenge wasn’t waiting—it was convincing him that the crate was the place to be! He would try to squeeze himself into just about any open space except the crate. With consistent guidance, however, Zeke quickly figured it out and has become a pro at hopping right into his crate. He still gets excited about our next adventure and will occasionally try to jump in before being invited, but more often than not, he waits nicely for his cue.
From there, we worked on his door manners. This means sitting patiently at the door, whether we’re heading outside or coming back in, and waiting for permission before moving through. I should be able to walk through the doorway while Zeke remains seated until released. This can still be a bit challenging for him since he loves to bolt through doors, but with regular practice he continues to improve and is showing much better self-control.
Lastly, we practiced his food manners. Similar to his door manners, Zeke is expected to sit patiently while I prepare and place his food down, then wait until I give him permission to eat. I should be able to move around while his food is sitting right in front of him, and he should remain calm until released. This was another skill that didn’t come naturally to him at first, but each practice session has brought more progress, and he’s becoming much more patient and respectful around mealtime.
Overall, Zeke continues to make fantastic progress in every aspect of his training. He has developed a great understanding of what is expected of him, and it’s been wonderful watching his confidence and self-control grow each day. I’m so proud of this spunky young man and all the hard work he’s been putting in!
7/24/2026
Today Zeke and I headed out to Santa Anita Mall to meet up with another trainer and their pup as we continued working on his commands around distractions. When we first arrived, Zeke was a bit vocal about his excitement over the new environment, but he was able to settle down quickly and get to work. Once he found his focus, my goodness did he do a great job today!
Zeke showed a great understanding of all of his commands and was especially patient with his extended sits and downs despite the busy atmosphere around him. Watching him confidently navigate a brand-new environment filled with people, noises, and other distractions was incredibly rewarding. He remained attentive throughout our outing, frequently checking in with me as we walked and staying engaged instead of becoming distracted by everything happening around him.
The amount of progress Zeke has made over the last two weeks is truly impressive. His confidence, responsiveness, and ability to work through distractions have improved tremendously, and it’s clear that all of his hard work is paying off. I’m so proud of the effort he continues to put in each day, and I can’t wait for you to see everything he’s accomplished when he comes home!
7/25/2026
Today Zeke and I headed out for one last big adventure together at the Santa Anita Mall to continue fine-tuning his commands around plenty of distractions. And Zeke did a fantastic job! He performed each and every command just as we’ve been working so hard for over the past two weeks. His heel is looking wonderful, and he checked in with me frequently as we walked through the mall. His come to sit was on point every single time, and he held his extended sit, down, and place commands with an incredible amount of patience.
I am so proud of the progress Zeke has made during his time with me. He came to me as a vocal boy who wanted to chase after anything that moved and had very little regard for his handler. Since then, he has truly blossomed into a proper gentleman. While he still has some of that fun Husky personality—letting out the occasional squeak and sometimes feeling tempted to fixate on smaller animals—he has made tremendous progress. With your continued guidance and consistency, I know he will continue to improve.
Training doesn’t stop when he leaves my care; it is a lifelong journey, and continuing to reinforce everything he has learned will help him become the very best version of himself.
All in all, Zeke is an incredible boy, and it has truly been a pleasure getting to know him. His goofy personality and willingness to learn have made every day enjoyable, and I couldn’t be happier with how far he has come.
I’d also like to take a moment to sincerely thank you for trusting me with Zeke’s care and allowing me to be a part of his obedience journey. It has been an honor to help him build the foundation for a lifetime of success. I truly hope the tools and skills we’ve worked so hard to develop together will allow the two of you to continue growing as a team and enjoy many wonderful adventures for years to come. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to work with such a special boy!
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