Clark | Doberman-German Shepherd Mix | Playa Del Rey, California
Meet Clark, a spirited 9-month-old Doberman and German Shepherd mix with a lot of energy and personality. Though he has a great time playing with his sister Athena at home, Clark can become overly playful. Outside, he struggles with walking on a leash, often pulling and barking at other dogs and people if they appear wary of him. Despite these challenges, Clark’s potential shines through, making him a promising candidate for focused training and guidance. Check in daily for updates on his progress and stay tuned for his awesome transformation!
Pupdate 2:
Date: August 5th, 2024
Weight: 56.91 lbs
Morning Feed: 3/4
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
It was really warm today, so we took our training indoors to the galleria. At first, he was a bit overwhelmed by the number of people, but he did really well as he began getting acclimated to the environment. It was a great first day of training, where we introduced all five of his basic commands and got a head start on training in busy environments.
Pupdate 3:
Date: August 6th, 2024
Weight: 56.92lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: 3/4
Training Highlights:
We took our training to another mall location, specifically the Topanga Mall, where we were able to expose Clark to a new environment. Walking around crowds of people, he didn’t bark at any humans, though he did bark at a smaller dog. We will begin to socialize him with more dogs. Clark is making big improvements with his leash manners.
Pupdate 4:
Date: August 7th, 2024
Weight: 56.94lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
We continue to introduce Clark to new environments, and he’s showing significant improvement in both leash manners and command obedience. While he still gets a bit fixated on kids playing at the park, especially when they scream or make loud noises, he’s making great strides. He’s also doing much better on neighborhood walks, particularly when passing by other dogs that are barking at him. Keep up the great work!
Pupdate 5:
Date: August 8th, 2024
Weight: 56.95lbs
Morning Feed: All
Evening Feed: All
Training Highlight:
We continue to reinforce commands with Clark, and he’s made significant progress, especially with the place command. His confidence has grown tremendously as he’s improved in navigating various surfaces. Keep up the great work, bud!
Pupdate 6:
Date: August 9th, 2024
Weight: 59.96lbs
Morning Feed: All
Evening Feed: All
Training Highlights:
Today, we continued to challenge Clark by having him spend time with the pack, reinforcing the rule that if he wants treats or affection, he must remain calm. This is a standard I set for all my dogs. Learning to share the same space with other dogs doesn’t mean they have to be best friends, but it does require enough respect to coexist peacefully, much like when we’re at the park, and another dog walks by. It’s not necessary to approach or react to the other dog, but I do expect calmness as they pass. We’re steadily working on dog distractions, and Clark is making great progress!
Pupdate 7:
Date: August 10th, 2024
Weight: 59.96lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
Today, we continued exposing Clark to new environments and surfaces, including placing him on an elevated ladder. He’s making great progress, especially with human distractions.
Pupdate 8:
Date: August 11th, 2024
Weight: 59.96lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
Today, we trained at Home Depot, continuing to expose Clark to new stores, environments, noises, and distractions. He’s doing exceptionally well walking on a leash, staying on my left side with the slip lead, having graduated from the gentle lead. Clark is also excelling with his sit and down commands. Keep up the great work, bud!
Pupdate 9:
Date: August 12th, 2024
Weight: 59.97lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
Today, we trained on Hollywood Blvd, which provided a great introduction to a chaotic environment. He handled it really well, though he did bark at another dog that barked at him. After that incident, he settled down and was able to pass by other dogs and large groups of people without any issues.
Pupdate 10:
Date: August 13, 2024
Weight: 60.87lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
Today, we took another trip to the Walk of Fame, and it was a perfect opportunity to practice some real-world training with Clark. By using a dragged leash, we were able to mimic off-leash heel work and reinforce commands in a busy, distracting environment. The streets were crowded with people, and there were plenty of loud noises, but Clark handled it all like a champ. He’s incredibly smart and thrives in these dynamic settings, always eager to learn and keep up with whatever challenge comes his way. Working with him is a joy—he’s so motivated and makes every training session fun and rewarding.
Pupdate 11:
Date: August 15th, 2024
Weight: 60.94lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
Today, we trained at Lowe’s, introducing him to a new environment where we practiced commands both on and off leash. He continues to gain confidence around groups of people, heeling on my left side without pulling on the leash. He can hold his commands for an extended duration, showing consistent improvement day in and day out. Keep up the hard work, bud!
Pupdate 12:
Date: August 17th, 2024
Weight: 60.98lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
We continue to challenge and push Clark by exposing him to new surfaces and elevated objects, helping him overcome mental barriers. These experiences build his confidence in various environments, strengthen our relationship, and increase his trust in me. Keep up the great work, bud!
Pupdate 13:
Date: August 18th, 2024
Weight: 60.98lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
Clark has made remarkable progress as we continue to expose him to various distractions. He’s integrated well with my pack, enjoying both playtime and training sessions with the other dogs. Keep up the great work, Clark!
