ZEUS | BELGIAN SHEPHERD | BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA
Meet Zeus, a Belgian Shepherd who has just joined us for our two-week board and train program! While he is a strong and intelligent dog, Zeus struggles with leash manners, focus, and destructive behavior. He pulls excessively, lunges on walks, and has a hard time paying attention to his owner, making outings stressful and difficult. At home, his tendency to chew and destroy things has become a major concern. Taking him out in public is a challenge, as controlling his energy and excitement can be overwhelming. Over the next two weeks, our goal is to build a solid obedience foundation to help Zeus become a well-mannered and responsive companion. Stay tuned as we track his progress and work toward his transformation!
Pupdate 2:
Date: March 19, 2025
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Training Highlights:
Today, we introduced Zeus to the basic commands “sit,” “down,” and “place,” focusing on building a strong foundation of trust between us. He is highly food-motivated, which has made the training process smoother and more engaging for him. Despite being in a new environment, he has been adjusting well and responding positively to the structure. The “place” command, which involves him jumping onto a designated surface and staying there until released, is an important skill that helps with impulse control and confidence. Overall, Zeus is making great progress, and his eagerness to learn is promising for future training sessions.
Pupdate 3:
Date: March 21, 2025
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Trainings highlights:
Zeus is making steady progress in his training, particularly in his heel work and overall leash manners. He is becoming more responsive to guidance, maintaining better focus during walks, and showing increased consistency in staying by his handler’s side. While there is still room for improvement, he is demonstrating a stronger understanding of expectations and a greater willingness to follow commands. With continued practice and reinforcement, Zeus is well on his way to mastering proper leash etiquette and becoming a well-mannered walking companion.
Pupdate 4:
Date: March 22, 2025
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Training Highlights:
Zeus is a high-energy dog who can get excited easily, so our main focus has been teaching him that there’s a time and place for different levels of energy. He’s learning that while enthusiasm is great, he also needs to practice self-control in certain situations. His sit command has improved a lot, and he’s responding more consistently, but he still needs some extra guidance when it comes to his down command. We’re working on helping him understand that settling into a down position is just as important as his other commands. With continued practice and patience, he’s making steady progress.
Pupdate 5:
Date: March 23, 2025
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Training Highlights:
Today, we focused on reinforcing commands and building consistency. He’s becoming much easier to walk on the leash, showing noticeable improvement in his responsiveness and control. Commands are also coming more naturally to him, and he’s following through with less hesitation. We took things a step further by extending the duration of his commands, having him hold positions longer to strengthen his patience and impulse control. Each session is helping him become more reliable and confident in his obedience.
Pupdate 6:
Date: March 23, 2025
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Training Highlights:
Every day, we make steady progress, and Zeus is no exception. His leash manners are improving noticeably as he becomes more responsive to guidance and corrections. He is highly food-motivated, which has made training sessions more productive and engaging. By using positive reinforcement and rewarding his good behavior with treats, we’ve been able to reinforce his focus and responsiveness. While there’s still work to be done, his enthusiasm for learning and willingness to follow direction show just how far he’s come. With consistency and patience, Zeus is well on his way to becoming a well-mannered and obedient companion.
Pupdate 7:
Date: March 24, 2025
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Training Highlights:
Today, Zeus had the opportunity to meet some of the pack members currently in training, giving him valuable socialization experience. The focus was on teaching him how to engage in controlled play—learning to have fun while maintaining boundaries and respecting the other dogs. At the same time, the session emphasized the importance of transitioning from playtime to a calm, balanced state, reinforcing the idea that dogs can coexist peacefully without constant excitement. By working alongside other dogs in a structured environment, Zeus is developing the skills needed to be both well-mannered and adaptable in different social situations.
Pupdate 8:
Date: March 25, 2025
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Training Highlights:
Zeus is making significant progress with his training, and his ability to follow commands is improving noticeably. He is becoming much more responsive, picking up on cues more quickly, and showing a better understanding of what is expected of him. One of the biggest achievements is his grasp of the “down” command, which he is executing with much more ease and consistency. Additionally, exposure to new environments has been beneficial in reinforcing his training, helping him adapt to different settings while maintaining focus. Overall, his improvement is evident, and his confidence continues to grow with each session.
Pupdate 9:
Date: March 26, 2025
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Training Highlights:
We’re exposing Zeus to various public environments to help him build confidence and focus around distractions. Today, he joined me for a lunch outing at In-N-Out, where he had the opportunity to experience a busy setting with lots of people coming and going. Zeus naturally loves people, which can make it challenging for him to stay focused, but he did a great job working through those distractions. Despite the tempting smells, the sounds of conversations, and the movement around him, he maintained his composure and followed commands, showing great progress in his training.
Pupdate 10:
Date: March 27, 2025
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Training Highlights:
Today, we took training to a new level by working at Lowe’s, a busy public environment filled with different sights, sounds, and distractions. He is naturally very alert and observant, always aware of his surroundings. While he doesn’t bark at people, any sudden noise immediately catches his attention, making it a great opportunity to work on building focus and confidence in unpredictable settings. Despite the distractions, he handled the environment well, and we even began introducing some controlled off-leash work. This is an important step in his training, helping him learn to stay engaged and responsive even when there’s a lot happening around him.
Pupdate 11:
Date: March 28, 2025
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Training Highlights :
Today, we took Zeus to Lowe’s for a training session focused on building his confidence in public environments, and he showed significant improvement compared to his first visit. He was noticeably more comfortable navigating the store, handling new sights and sounds with greater ease. Zeus has a high level of drive, which means he requires a productive outlet to release his energy—something that isn’t a flaw but rather a natural trait of his pedigree. With the right structure and engagement, his enthusiasm can be channeled into positive behaviors, making him not only more manageable in public spaces but also more fulfilled overall.
Pupdate 12:
Date: March 29, 2025
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Training Highlights:
Today, we trained at Lowe’s, continuing to introduce new challenges to keep Zeus engaged and progressing. He has officially mastered the “place” command, so we took it a step further by having him practice on various surfaces, including a piece of plywood and different shaped platforms. Zeus is an incredibly fun dog to train, always eager to take on new challenges with enthusiasm. His willingness to work and try anything new makes each session exciting and rewarding. Watching his confidence grow with each accomplishment is a testament to his dedication and drive.
