MAXIMUS | GERMAN SHEPHERD MIX | BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA
This week, we’re welcoming Maximus, a 5-month-old German Shepherd mix, into our two-week board and train program!
Like many young shepherds, Maximus is full of energy, intelligence, and a big personality. While he can be incredibly loving with his family, he’s been showing some behaviors that have made daily life a little tricky—barking at people, reacting strongly to other dogs, and becoming difficult for his owners to manage on walks.
Our goal over the next two weeks will be to help Maximus learn how to stay calm, focused, and responsive even when distractions are all around. With structure, consistency, and clear communication, we’ll guide him toward becoming a balanced and confident dog his family can enjoy both at home and out in the world.
Stay tuned for updates on Maximus’s journey—you won’t want to miss his transformation!
Pupdate 2:
Date: September 10th, 2025
Weight: 33.68lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
Today we began introducing Maximus to the foundational commands every well-behaved dog should know: heel, sit, down, come, and place. These commands create the groundwork for good manners and clear communication between handler and dog. With Maximus, the focus wasn’t just on teaching the words but on making the training process engaging and enjoyable so that he associates learning with something positive. By keeping each session fun and light, we’re able to emphasize the behaviors we want while also building his confidence and willingness to respond. This approach not only helps him pick up the basics more quickly but also strengthens the bond and trust needed for long-term success in his training journey.
Pupdate 3:
Date: September 11th, 2025
Weight: 33.68lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
Maximus is really starting to get into the groove of his training. Today we focused on exposing him to dogs that I trust, creating a safe and controlled environment where he could practice staying calm. In the past, he’s struggled with blowing up and barking when other dogs were around, but today he showed real progress. Instead of reacting, he was able to work through the distractions and hold it together, which is a huge win for him. Every session we’re building his confidence and teaching him how to handle real-world scenarios, and it’s amazing to see the improvements stacking up. Overall, it was a great training day and I couldn’t be prouder of his growth.
Pupdate 4:
Date: September 12th, 2025
Weight: 33.68lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
Maximus continues to make steady progress as we push him a little further each day. From holding his place on the cot to now working confidently on a new platform, he’s showing resilience and determination with every challenge we present. The consistency in his training is really paying off, and it’s clear he’s learning to adapt and grow no matter what obstacles are put in front of him. With his work ethic and focus, I’m confident he’ll keep reaching new levels—keep up the hard work, Maximus!
Pupdate 6:
Date: September 13th, 2025
Weight: 33.68lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
Maximus is showing steady progress each day, and it’s clear that his hard work is paying off. He’s slowly building trust with one dog in particular, which is an important step in his training journey. By continuing to work around other dogs, he’s learning how to stay calm and create positive associations instead of reacting negatively. Each training session reinforces that being around other dogs can be a safe and rewarding experience, and with consistent exposure and guidance, he’s becoming more confident and balanced in these situations.
Pupdate 7:
Date: September 14th, 2025
Weight: 33.68lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
Maximus is showing incredible progress with his leash work, and it’s been rewarding to watch him mature in his training. While he’s still his naturally energetic and playful self, he’s beginning to channel that energy with much more control. On our walks, he now stays consistently on my left side, remaining close to me and resisting the urge to pull ahead, which is a huge step forward compared to where he started. His focus and responsiveness are improving each day, and it’s clear he’s starting to understand what’s expected of him. We’re still working on fine-tuning his down command, but with the consistency he’s showing on leash, I have no doubt he’ll continue to master new skills with time.
Pupdate 8:
Date: September 15th, 2025
Weight: 34.02lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
From mastering distractions at home, we’ve now leveled up to handling neighborhood distractions, and the progress has been impressive. It’s been about a week since he started training, and I couldn’t be more proud of how far he’s come. The “down” command, which was once a challenge, is becoming smoother with each session, and he’s showing more consistency and focus. On walks, he’s learning to stay close by on my left side, keeping his energy under control even when faced with new sights, sounds, and smells. Each day builds on the last, and it’s clear he’s gaining confidence and understanding in his training.
Pupdate 9:
Date: September 16th, 2025
Weight: 34.02lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
He’s beginning to find real success with extending his commands, showing more focus and reliability each day. I’ve been able to drop the leash while he holds a command, and he stays in position with growing confidence. This kind of progress shows just how smart he is—he thrives when given clear tasks and proper guidance. All he really needs is consistent direction, and with that, he continues to prove he’s capable of so much more than expected.
Pupdate 10:
Date: September 17th, 2025
Weight: 34.02lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
Today I took Maximus to Lowe’s to expose him to new distractions and give him a chance to practice in a busier environment. He handled it so much better than before, staying focused and responsive even with all the noises and people around. We were able to work on some off-leash heeling and recall, which was a big step forward for him. He’s really starting to show how far he’s come, though we’re still putting in diligent work on his down command to make sure it’s consistent in every situation.
Pupdate 11:
Date: September 18th, 2025
Weight: 34.02lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
Today I took Maximus to Lowe’s, and I’m so proud of the progress he’s making. He’s handling human distractions much better than before, staying more focused and calm as people walk by. We even encountered a few dogs, and while he’s definitely improving, he can still get overly excited in those moments—it’s a work in progress, but the growth is there. On the bright side, his off-leash heel and overall command work are coming along really well. The biggest win of the day was his “down” command; for the first time, he nailed it without any leash guidance, which is such a huge step forward 👏👏.
Pupdate 12:
Date: September 19th, 2025
Weight: 35.81lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
Another productive training session at Lowe’s today, where we continued working on desensitizing him to people and all the real-world distractions that come with being in a busy environment. Each visit gives him the opportunity to practice staying calm and focused despite the movement, noise, and constant activity around him. He’s showing great progress, becoming more confident and composed with every session, and it’s clear that all the consistent work is really starting to pay off.
Pupdate 13:
Date: September 20th, 2025
Weight: 35.81lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
We’re continuing to build his confidence each day while tightening up his commands, and he’s absolutely crushing it. Watching him step up and handle each challenge with more focus and assurance just shows how far he’s come. Good boy, Papa—you’re killing it!
Pupdate 14:
Date: September 21st, 2025
Weight: 35.81lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
We’ve been working on building his confidence both on and off leash, and it’s been amazing to see his progress. His recall is solid, which means he comes back reliably no matter the distraction, and his naturally friendly personality shines through whenever he interacts with people. What makes him even more special is his love for training—he genuinely enjoys learning and completing the tasks we give him, which not only sharpens his skills but also strengthens our bond.
Pupdate 15:
Date: September 22nd, 2025
Weight: 35.81lbs
Morning Feed: all
Evening Feed: all
Training Highlights:
Today I took Maximus out to the city for some real-world training, and we headed over to Hollywood Blvd to put his skills to the test. He did a great job completing all of his commands in such a busy public setting, showing off how far he’s come in his training. Maximus can still be a little nervous around loud noises, so to keep him safe and comfortable we worked with him on leash during this outing. Overall, I’m really proud of the progress he made today—great work, my guy!
