Ziggy | Pomeranian/Chihuahua | Cerritos Ca. | In-training
- wendyoffleashsocal
- Apr 6
- 15 min read
Updated: Apr 28
Meet Ziggy! He’s a 4-year-old Pomeranian/Chihuahua from Cerritos, California, and he has joined us for our 3-Week Reactive Board and Train Program!
Ziggy is an adorable and sweet pup who, even at his age, is ready to learn better self-control and stronger social skills. He comes to us with some knowledge of basic commands, but he struggles with reactivity—he loves to bark at other dogs and humans, pulls while walking, and will sometimes shut down when he doesn’t get his way.
Over the next 21 days, Ziggy will be working on building calm behavior, improving his leash manners, and learning how to make better choices around distractions and in new environments.
Through consistent structure, clear communication, and balanced training, Ziggy will learn how to become a well-mannered and obedient companion—both at home and while exploring new people, places, and experiences.
Stay tuned for Ziggy’s transformation! 🐾✨
Pupdate 4/6/26
Welcome to Ziggy’s first pupdate! 🐾
After pick-up today, Ziggy and I spent some time at the park getting to know each other and helping him feel comfortable with me. You were absolutely right—he was much friendlier once you left. He allowed me to gently pick him up and place him in the crate for our ride home.
During the drive, he was quiet, and I made sure to reassure him that everything was going to be okay.
Once we arrived home, I could tell he was feeling scared in the new environment. To help him decompress, I took him out for a short walk where he met Dottie. This will definitely be a relationship we build slowly. Dottie has a lot of energy, so for now, we’ll focus on gradual introductions and peaceful co-existence.
He also met my daughter and allowed me to pet him, which is a great step in the right direction. Ziggy is understandably unsure right now, but he is already showing small signs of trust. We’ll continue taking things at his pace while building his confidence and structure.
Stay tuned for more progress tomorrow! 💛
Pupdate 4/7/26
Pupdate 4/8/26
Today was all about building trust and connection with Mr. Ziggy 💛
He’s been slowly opening up, and today we made some really sweet progress. He allowed more pets and we shared a calm moment together—thanks to some high-value chicken that he couldn’t resist. That little bonding session went a long way in strengthening our relationship.
Since he was feeling comfortable and engaged, I introduced the early stages of recall using the command “come.” With the help of those tasty rewards, Ziggy started connecting the dots quickly—coming back to me meant something good was waiting for him.
Safe to say… he’s catching on fast. Yay Ziggy!! Look at you go 👏🐾
Pupdate 4/9/26
For today’s Pupdate we focused on door manners with Ziggy.
Dog door manners are extremely important because they help create a safe, calm, and respectful dog both inside and outside the home. A dog that has good door manners understands that they do not control the doorway—the handler does.
Good door manners help with:
Safety: Prevents your dog from bolting out the door and running into the street or dangerous areas.
Impulse control: Teaching a dog to wait at the door builds self-control and patience.
Respect and structure: The doorway becomes a clear boundary, showing the dog they must look to you for direction.
Reduced reactivity: Dogs that rush the door often become over-aroused and reactive. Waiting calmly helps keep their mindset stable.
Better guest interactions: Prevents jumping, barking, or rushing visitors when someone enters the home.
Prevents escaping: Especially important for dogs that are curious, fearful, or easily distracted.
Overall, door manners are one of the best everyday exercises for teaching a dog calm behavior and obedience in real-life situations.
We have been reviewing this command since day one. Ziggy is an eager little guy who really enjoys his walks, so anytime we head toward the door, he’s definitely in a hurry!
Today we focused on reinforcing door manners and making sure Ziggy understands that he cannot rush out the door when it opens. It took him a few tries, but once he started to understand what was being asked, he quickly grasped the concept. He had to show me that he could remain seated and wait calmly while the door opened instead of trying to run out. He did great!
On another note, I’m happy to report that Ziggy has been introducing himself to my adult children and he really seems to like them. He has been asking both of them for pets and is becoming much more comfortable around people.
Look at him becoming friendly and building confidence! Way to go Ziggy!
Pupdate 4/10/26
Happy Coachella! 🎡🐾✨
For today’s pupdate, we practiced Ziggy’s social skills with the pups in the house. For the first few days, Ziggy wanted nothing to do with Dottie and Hershey (the other pup in training), but today we were able to go on a pack walk together and hang out outside while enjoying the outdoors for a bit. This is a great step forward for him!
Today we also reviewed Ziggy’s Sit command. He is doing well with sitting and staying in place for a period of time, but he is still refusing to drop into a Down. We will make sure Mr. Ziggy learns that ASAP!
Overall, Ziggy is doing well at home and is slowly becoming more comfortable being outside of his crate. He has started following me around the house more, which shows he is gaining confidence and trust. I’ve also learned that he loves cuddles, so I’m happy to see that he is becoming much more comfortable with me. 💛🐶
Pupdate 4/11/26
Today was a good day for Ziggy! 🐾✨
He was introduced to “Place” today, and he caught on very quickly. Not only did he start jumping onto the cot right away, but he also began complying with both the Sit and Downcommands. Yay Ziggy! I’m so proud of him.
“Place” is an important command because it gives Ziggy a designated area in the home where he can relax and remain calm. This will be especially useful during times like dinner, when we don’t want him begging for food, or when greeting visitors so he can stay structured and controlled. So far, he seems to really enjoy this command, which is a huge plus!
We also continued working on socializing Ziggy with the other dogs in the house. I’m happy to report that he is getting along well, as long as the other dogs respect his boundaries. He is definitely starting to build a fondness for us, and I’m so happy to see him becoming more comfortable and trusting. 💛🐶
Pupdate 4/12/26
For today’s Pupdate, we reviewed all of the commands with Mr. Ziggy and began putting everything together—yay Ziggy! He’s really starting to understand what’s being asked of him.
Now that Ziggy has built a solid foundation, we’ll begin working in more public settings. This will help him develop self-control, build confidence, and learn to navigate the world calmly without reacting. I’m excited to take him on this next step of his journey.
I love that Ziggy trusts me, and I’m excited to continue building on that bond. Taking him out into public spaces will help strengthen our connection even more while giving him the opportunity to experience the world in a positive way. I’m looking forward to making these outings both fun and rewarding for him.
Pupdate 4/13/26
Today we took a trip to Whittier Narrows to socialize Ziggy with the other Off Leash trainers and their pups. Now that Ziggy has become more comfortable with me, I took advantage of having the trainers help me work on building his confidence around more movement and activity near me.
I have noticed that Ziggy is starting to become protective of me and my daughter. This may be because he feels the need to guard us, or because he is unsure and nervous in his surroundings. To work through this, I had one of the trainers take Ziggy for short walks without me so he can learn that I will not always be the one handling him. Of course, this was done while fully respecting his boundaries and keeping the experience positive and structured.
Another exercise we practiced was having Ziggy sit at a distance and learn to remain calm while people approached me and while there was movement happening around us. The goal is for Ziggy to understand that movement in the environment is normal and that he does not need to overreact. These are everyday situations that happen in the real world, and we want him to feel confident and neutral through them.
We will continue taking Ziggy to busier areas so we can get ahead of any reactivity and build stronger social skills. He is still growling at times, and he has even growled at me when I approach my daughter. This is Ziggy giving a warning, but once he realizes it is me, he stops. We will continue working on this so he learns there is no need to guard or react in those situations.
Pupdate 4/13/26
Pupdate 4/15/26
Ziggy and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and went to the park to work on his social skills and continue working through his triggers. During our time there, a small dog approached him and Ziggy was actually very friendly. What I appreciated most was that Ziggy looked back at me for approval. That shows me he is starting to understand that other dogs and people are okay, and that he is beginning to look to me for guidance. He did not snarl at the dog or the owner, and I allowed them to socialize briefly until Ziggy was ready to move on.
After that, we did a few command reviews and then went to sit on a bench to people-watch. This helps teach Ziggy that being around noise, movement, and chaos is normal and safe. I purposely chose to sit near the playground because kids are loud and have lots of high energy, and I wanted Ziggy exposed to that environment from a safe distance.
During this time, Ziggy sat calmly by my feet and continued to check in with me. Each time he independently looked at me, I used my “yes” marker to reinforce that behavior. This was great because he was choosing to do it all on his own.
At one point, the little dog he greeted earlier came back wanting to play, and shortly after, a group of children also came close to Ziggy. To my surprise, Ziggy did not react at all. He remained calm the entire time. Yay Ziggy! I was so proud of him!
This is a very good sign, and with continued exposure to crowds, dogs, and noise, Ziggy will continue learning to view his surroundings as neutral. Today was a big win!
Pupdate 4/16/26
Today Mr. Ziggy was finally introduced to his E-collar, which we have been waiting for since he requires a special one due to how small he is. During his introduction, we were able to determine his working level. In the video, you will see that we started at level 0 and slowly worked our way up until he gave us a clear indication that he could feel it. Ziggy indicated at level 13, so for now we will be working between levels 9–13.
During this session, I chose to stay on the lower end of that range and paired the command with the black stimulation button on the remote. Of course, Ziggy being Mr. Grumpy Pants, he did not like the feeling of the collar and started to shut down. However, he still gave me a few great recalls from a distance—way to go Mr. Ziggy!
I did notice that he became uncomfortable and started shutting down once the E-collar was introduced, so I stopped using it for the time being. He is doing well without it, and I want to make sure we keep his confidence up while he continues to adjust.
I went back to basics with him to reinforce all commands using high-value rewards to keep training fun and positive. Oh Ziggy! Overall, Ziggy now has a very good understanding of all of his commands. Now it’s about repetition so he can really dial in and perfect them.
We will continue practicing these commands in busier environments so Ziggy can become a well-rounded and well-mannered pup. I know he has it in him!
The one thing I am still working on with him is his growling. Yesterday he growled at me again. There was no biting action—it is mainly boundaries that he is trying to protect. I made sure to let him know that behavior is not okay. He immediately relaxed and came to my feet, with body language that looked like he was asking for forgiveness. He is a sassy and protective little pup, but we are not going to encourage that behavior and will continue working through it.
Pupdate 4/17/26
Today Ziggy and I took a trip to Home Depot, where he was exposed to all the different smells, sights, and noises the store has to offer. Ziggy was definitely a popular little guy while we were there!
To my surprise, he even started approaching customers on his own to sniff their feet—I guess he was very curious about all the new scents and where they’ve been.
During our visit, we spent time practicing his heel around the store, working through distractions while staying focused. Ziggy also practiced his commands, and we had him work on “Place” in a few different locations throughout the store.
He gained quite a few fans during this outing, and overall he did a great job. Ziggy is slowly becoming more comfortable in new environments, and the more we continue exposing him to different places like this, the more confident and well-rounded he will become.
Great job, Ziggy!
4/19/26
Today Ziggy and I took a trip to Petco where we continued working on his exposure to new environments. Ziggy is doing very well walking around people, even when they get close to me. He has also started confidently approaching people to sniff them, which is a great sign that he is becoming more comfortable and social in public settings.
Ziggy seemed to really enjoy his time inside the store. He was very curious and spent a lot of time sniffing different items around the aisles. He also appeared very interested in all the colorful products, taking everything in as we walked through.
As always, Mr. Ziggy had people turning their heads and admiring his cuteness everywhere we went!
During our time in the store, we also practiced his commands while working through the low-level distractions Petco had to offer. Ziggy is showing a solid understanding of his commands and continues to improve with each outing.
I am very proud of him and the progress he is making!
Pupdate 4/19/26
For today’s adventure, we took a trip to the Citadel Outlets, where Ziggy was exposed to a much busier environment. There were plenty of shoppers and pups out enjoying the beautiful afternoon.
We walked around the outlets, putting all of Ziggy’s commands into action. During this time, several pups tried to pull toward him, but I was very pleased to see that Ziggy remained unfazed by their attention and continued walking calmly by my side. We also went inside a store where he navigated close proximity to people very well. At one point, a salesperson approached us, and Ziggy showed no reaction.
We’re definitely moving in the right direction.
We also took some time to sit and relax while people- and pup-watching. Ziggy calmly observed everything around him, taking it all in without reacting.
Amazing job, Ziggy!
Pupdate 4/20/26
For today’s Pupdate, Ziggy and I met up with the other Off Leash Trainers and their pups for another socialization session. While Mr. Ziggy isn’t the playful type when it comes to other dogs, he did very well simply being around them and staying neutral. During our time together, we practiced his commands and also allowed him to take in all the movement and activity happening around him.
Now that we’re over two weeks into his training, Ziggy has built a strong bond with me and my family. With that bond, we’re starting to see some protective or territorial tendencies toward his handler. Ziggy is not reacting when people are near me, but the moment it appears someone may touch me, he begins to growl.
To address this, I introduced an exercise where we carefully worked within the distance that triggers his reaction. As a person approached and prepared to make contact, I communicated to Ziggy that the interaction was safe and that protection was not needed. If he did growl, I gave a clear verbal “off” with a command to When he was able to remain calm and allow the interaction, he was rewarded with praise and positive reinforcement. Repeating this exercise is helping him understand that he does not need to take on a protective role.
At 4 years old, it’s possible this behavior has been present for quite some time, or it may stem from past experiences that shaped his response. Either way, this is a manageable behavior with consistent guidance, structure, and clear communication.
We are continuing to work through his reactivity, and he has already made great progress in building confidence around crowds and other dogs.
Pupdate 4/21/26
Today we focused on Ziggy’s manners, and he’s really starting to understand his commands like a good boy! We worked on door manners, making sure he sits and holds his position instead of rushing out when the door opens. To challenge him, I even stepped outside to test his impulse control—and Ziggy did amazing! Good boy!!!
We also practiced car manners, which is especially helpful on those busy days when your hands are full. Ziggy is learning to sit patiently and wait for his release before getting into the car, and he did great!
Pupdate 4/22/26
Today we took a trip to the park to work on cleaning up Ziggy’s heel walk in the grass, since he tends to get very distracted by all the smells around him. We also focused on polishing his Down command, as we’ve discovered Ziggy is very particular about when and where he wants to drop into the down position.
To help set him up for success, I brought out some high value reward treats along with a new Place cot to see if it would help keep him more focused.
As grumpy pants as Ziggy can be, he is also a very sensitive pup. When he refuses to do something, it’s important that we follow through and make sure he completes the command—otherwise he learns that refusal is an option, and that means he is winning.
Once he started catching on, I made sure to switch to variable reward when asking for the down command, because Ziggy has started to expect the treat every time. With lots of positive encouragement and consistency, Ziggy was able to complete all of his commands. Yay Ziggy!
We are teaching him that giving up is not an option, and that positive rewards happen when he does what is asked.
The most important thing to remember with Ziggy is not to let him trick you with his adorableness and get away with unwanted behaviors. The key is holding him accountable and ensuring he follows through with what is asked of him.
Pupdate 4/23/26
For today’s training, we focused on cleaning up Ziggy’s manners and improving his heel walk during our neighborhood walks. In typical Ziggy fashion, he gets moody at times, but I do not allow him to fall into that quitting mindset—we push through and continue working.
During our walk, we encountered a few other dogs, and Ziggy did a great job not reacting to them. He maintained his composure and continued walking forward, which is a big win for him.
We also practiced his door manners, which he is starting to master. From time to time he does get overly excited and wants to rush out the door, but with a quick verbal correction, he fixes his sit position and waits appropriately.
Every day we continue working on his guarding behaviors. There are moments where he clearly understands that the behavior is not acceptable and will stop when corrected, but there are also
times where he doesn’t care and reverts back to showing teeth as a form of intimidation. When that happens, I give him the “Off” command paired with a Sit, Down, or Come to redirect his attention and reset his mindset.
This reactive wiring will take time to fully work through, but the key is continuing to consistently communicate that this behavior is unwanted. With more timely redirections and continued exposure to different environments, Ziggy will continue becoming a less reactive pup. He has already shown a lot of progress—we just have to keep counter-training this resource guarding behavior.
Pupdate 4/24/26
Today we went for a walk to continue practicing Ziggy’s heel walk. During our walk we encountered a few other pups, and it was great to see Ziggy completely ignoring them — even when the other dog was the one being reactive and trying to get Ziggy’s attention. Mr. Ziggy could care less!
What Ziggy is still focused on is people walking near me. He is such a protective little fellow, but I am continuing to show him that there is no need for him to step into that role — we are okay and he can relax.
At home, Ziggy is getting along very well with Dottie and he absolutely loves my daughter. He has become very attached to her, which has been a great opportunity for us to work through his reactivity since this is where he struggles the most. He still has that protection trigger, but once I give him the “Off” command, he snaps out of that trance and I immediately redirect him into another command.
Oh Ziggy… such a little guy with such a huge protective personality. But we will not give up — we are going to continue rewiring his brain and helping him understand that he does not need to safeguard.
Pupdate 4/25/26
Today Ziggy and I visited a local shopping center to continue building his confidence around busy environments, new sounds, and people. He did an amazing job walking calmly at my side and sitting patiently whenever we stopped.
We even went into a store to check out some new shoes, and Ziggy was the perfect little shopping assistant—relaxed and patient while I waited. He showed some curiosity toward a few employees, politely approaching to sniff and then moving on without any issues.
Ziggy continues to do very well in public spaces. He simply prefers his personal space to be respected, which is completely fair and something we always advocate for.
I’m so impressed with how reliably he follows his commands when asked. He’s such a good boy!
Pupdate 4/26/26
For today’s Pupdate, we returned to The Citadel where we put all of Ziggy’s learned skills to the test. He did an amazing job following through with every command that was given to him and, most importantly, keeping his cool while walking through a crowd of people. I was so proud of him!
During our time there, Ziggy showed zero reactivity and settled nicely into the busy environment. He remained focused, calm, and confident the entire outing.
Great job, Ziggy! 🐾💙 I am so proud of how far you have come!
Pupdate 4/27/26
For today’s Final Pupdate, Mr. Ziggy had a fun photo session with Ms. Dottie. It was a nice, relaxed day since he was boarding.
Ziggy has come such a long way in his training and is now even tolerating new people around him. We had a huge breakthrough yesterday—he stayed calm and did not snap when someone got close to my daughter. Yay, Mr. Ziggy!!!
We can’t wait to show you everything he has learned. It has truly been a pleasure having him in our home—he has definitely won our hearts. We will miss him so much! 🐾💙
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