KOA | PITBULL/MALINOIS MIX | VISALIA, CALIFORNIA
Meet Koa: Beginning His Three-Week Transformation
Meet 8-year-old Koa, a Pitbull/Malinois mix who has officially joined us for our three-week board and train program. Koa comes to us struggling with significant anxiety that affects many areas of his daily life. He’s extremely reliant on his mom and follows her everywhere, rarely able to settle or stay still for long. Pacing has become his default, and true relaxation is something he hasn’t quite learned yet. When he’s alone with his mom, he can be incredibly loving and affectionate, which shows us the depth of his bond and his capacity for connection. However, that attachment has also created challenges, including difficulty self-soothing and building independence.
In addition to his anxiety, Koa displays reactivity and some aggression toward smaller dogs, making walks and public outings stressful. On leash, he pulls heavily and struggles to maintain focus, especially when overstimulated. Over the next three weeks, our focus will be on building confidence, teaching clear structure, and helping Koa learn how to regulate himself both around distractions and away from his mom. We’ll be working on leash manners, impulse control, neutrality around other dogs, and most importantly, creating a calm, stable mindset he can carry back home.
Stay tuned as we guide Koa through this journey—we’re excited to show you his amazing transformation. 🐾
PUPDATE 2:
DATE: FEBRUARY 11TH, 2026
WEIGHT: 71.69LBS
MORNING FEED: HALF
EVENING FEED: 3/4
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:
Today was all about introducing leash manners to Koa and beginning to lay the groundwork for what’s to come. It wasn’t the prettiest session—and that’s okay. With an already anxious dog, Day 1 isn’t about perfection; it’s about exposure, understanding, and setting the tone. Everything is new to him right now, so the focus was on calmly introducing the expectations, helping him learn the “ropes,” and easing him into the structure of training without overwhelming him. We’re prioritizing clarity, patience, and small wins to start building his confidence from the ground up. This is the foundation phase, and from here, we’ll continue stacking consistent reps and positive experiences to help him grow into a more stable, confident version of himself.
PUPDATE 3:
DATE: FEBRUARY 12TH, 2026
WEIGHT: 71.69LBS
MORNING FEED: ALL
EVENING FEED: ALL
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the same goes for confidence. With each session, we’re continuing to strengthen our relationship and create a foundation built on trust and clarity. He’s beginning to open up little by little, showing small but meaningful signs of growth as he becomes more comfortable in his environment. Progress like this can’t be rushed—it’s important to move at a pace that supports real confidence rather than forcing it. By taking things slow and reinforcing each win, we’re helping him develop stability from the inside out. He’s fitting in really well, and it’s been great to watch his personality start to shine as he settles in.
PUPDATE 4:
DATE: FEBRUARY 13TH, 2026
WEIGHT: 71.69LBS
MORNING FEED: ALL
EVENING FEED: ALL
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:
Koa is making noticeable progress with his confidence, and it’s been great to watch the shift in his mindset. He’s refusing less and learning to calmly go with pressure instead of shutting down or resisting, which is a huge step forward for him. As his understanding and trust grow, we’ve been able to advance his training by asking for longer duration in commands like place and sit, and now we’re beginning to layer in motion around him to build stability and focus under distraction. These are big milestones for a dog who started out unsure and anxious. He’s starting to realize that he can handle more than he thought, and that clarity and consistency lead to success. Great work, bud.
Pupdate 5:
DATE: FEBRUARY 14th, 2026
WEIGHT: 71.69LBS
MORNING FEED: ALL
EVENING FEED: ALL
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:
Day by day, we continue building Koa’s confidence and strengthening our communication through the leash. What once felt uncertain is becoming clearer to him, and that clarity is helping him relax and trust the process. With consistent guidance and repetition, Koa is opening up more each session, showing a growing willingness to engage and follow through. He’s becoming noticeably more comfortable with the “down” command, responding with better understanding and less hesitation. This progress reflects not only improved obedience, but a deeper sense of confidence and security in knowing what’s being asked of him.
PUPDATE 6:
DATE: FEBRUARY 15TH, 2026
WEIGHT: 71.69LBS
MORNING FEED: ALL
EVENING FEED: ALL
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:
Day in and day out, he continues to come out of his shell, showing more confidence and willingness to engage with the work. His heel is improving significantly, and he’s becoming much more consistent walking at my left side with better focus and awareness. While he still has moments where he gets a little flighty, the difference now is that he’s choosing to work through it instead of shutting down. He’s giving in to the guidance, trusting the process, and genuinely giving it a try—which is where real growth happens. The progress is clear: I’m now able to drop the leash with confidence, and we were even able to capture these great photos as a reflection of how far he’s come.
Pupdate 7:
DATE: FEBRUARY 16th, 2026
WEIGHT: 71.69LBS
MORNING FEED: ALL
EVENING FEED: ALL
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:
Koa isn’t the biggest fan of the rain, but we’re continuing to build his confidence by introducing new experiences in a calm, controlled way. Today he tried the treadmill for the first time, and he handled it better than expected. We kept the speed very low at 1.0, allowing him to ease into the movement and focus on finding a steady walking rhythm while getting comfortable with the feel and sound of the machine. These small, positive exposures are helping him grow more adaptable and self-assured. Great work, Koa!
Pupdate 8:
DATE: FEBRUARY 17th, 2026
WEIGHT: 71.69LBS
MORNING FEED: ALL
EVENING FEED: Half
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:
One week in, Koa is making great progress as we begin working in a new environment. I took him to the park where he saw other dogs from the neighborhood, giving us the opportunity to practice calm confidence instead of his usual flighty behavior. By guiding him through these real-world distractions and reinforcing composed responses, he’s learning that he can remain steady and focused even around other dogs. Koa is coming along really well.
Pupdate 9:
DATE: FEBRUARY 18th, 2026
WEIGHT: 71.69LBS
MORNING FEED: ALL
EVENING FEED: Half
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:
Day by day, Koa’s confidence continues to grow as we focus on bringing him out of his shell and helping him feel secure in new situations. Today, he was introduced to my pup, Dante, with the goal of building a positive and healthy relationship with another dog. Through structured interaction and guidance, Koa is learning that being around new dogs can be calm, safe, and even enjoyable. We’re also reinforcing that he can stay focused and work alongside other dogs without becoming overwhelmed. He handled the introduction well and showed great progress—proud of the work he’s putting in.
Pupdate 10:
DATE: FEBRUARY 19th, 2026
WEIGHT: 71.69LBS
MORNING FEED: ALL
EVENING FEED: 3/4
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:
Koa is becoming more and more independent with each session. He’s holding his commands longer, showing real consistency, and settling in with much more confidence. Car rides in the crate—from home to the park—have improved a ton; he’s calmer, more composed, and handling the transitions much better. His leash manners have come a long way as well. While he may still get a little flighty here and there, 90% of the time he’s right at my left side without pulling, staying engaged and tuned in. Rain or shine, he’s putting in the work like a champ. Hopefully the weather clears up soon—but regardless, Koa is making serious progress.
Pupdate 11:
DATE: FEBRUARY 20th, 2026
WEIGHT: 71.69LBS
MORNING FEED: ALL
EVENING FEED: All
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:
Koa is building his confidence day by day as he takes on new challenges and learns to trust guidance through unfamiliar tasks. The place command has been especially valuable, allowing him to practice calm separation at a distance, which directly supports his progress with separation anxiety. He’s learning that he can relax and remain secure even when there’s space between us. We’re still working on the down command — it’s a tough one for him — but with consistency and patience, he’s beginning to understand what’s being asked and is making steady progress.
Pupdate 12:
DATE: FEBRUARY 21st, 2026
WEIGHT: 71.69LBS
MORNING FEED: ALL
EVENING FEED: All
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:
With the rain finally behind us, we’re back to training out in the real world where the real progress happens. One of the biggest wins lately is that he’s no longer only eating from the bowl — he’s now taking food from my hand, which is a huge boost in his confidence and trust. He has come such a long way, showing noticeable growth when meeting new dogs and becoming much more comfortable around my dog Dante. Seeing him relax and engage this time around is a testament to his hard work and resilience. Great work, man — this progress is well earned.
Pupdate 13:
DATE: FEBRUARY 22nd, 2026
WEIGHT: 71.69LBS
MORNING FEED: ALL
EVENING FEED: All
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:
Taking Koa out for as much exposure as possible, I brought him to a busy farmers market filled with distractions—loud music, kids running around, other dogs, and large crowds of people. He was very anxious at first, clearly overwhelmed by the new sights and sounds. However, as time passed and we worked through the environment together, he began to settle. With guidance and structure, Koa grew more comfortable, became easier to manage, and started navigating the chaos with greater confidence.
Pupdate 14:
DATE: FEBRUARY 22nd, 2026
WEIGHT: 71.69LBS
MORNING FEED: ALL
EVENING FEED: All
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:
Koa has made an incredible transformation since day one — now confidently taking on Hollywood and showing just how far he’s come. He’s performing all his commands in public and has become such a well-managed, good boy in busy environments. While he can still experience moments of anxiety, it’s significantly more manageable, and he’s learning how to work through it with guidance and structure. I gave him his last Apoquel dose this morning with his meal; this evening he’s a bit itchy and licking his paws more than usual. I’ll continue to monitor him closely throughout the night to ensure he stays comfortable.
