🎓 Training Class… Kinda?
We’re in the middle of our “teen manners” training class, and honestly… not loving it. I signed up hoping to work on practical basics like:
Down
Off
Leave it
Stay
Leash walking
Instead, the class is mostly about understanding the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence in dogs and how to redirect their energy. That’s helpful in theory, and I do see how some of it applies to Stanley, but it’s not what I was really hoping for. That said, I’m sticking with it and focusing on the parts that matter most for us.
⬇️ The Elusive “Down”
My biggest struggle? Teaching “down.”
Stanley just doesn’t lie down naturally unless he’s in a lap or curled up in his crate. Luring him with a treat doesn’t work well because he’s so small — he just stretches his head down and grabs it without dropping his body.
Definitely a work in progress, and I might check in with our trainer again to see if she has other strategies. For now, we’re just doing what we can.
🐶 Playgroup, Visitors, and… Marking?
We’ve got another series of small dog playgroup scheduled next month, and while I’m holding off on signing up for another class until fall, I’m toying with the idea of agility — I think Stanley would love it once we nail down the basics.
Last weekend, Stanley came with me to visit my dad and his two Portuguese Water Dogs. Despite the size difference, Stanley played really well, especially with the one-year-old pup. I was so proud of him!
Less exciting? He peed on a couple of dog beds and a chair while we were there. I’m guessing it was marking behavior triggered by the other dogs. Definitely something we need to work on before our next house guest moment.
He also spent a few hours at my daughter’s apartment recently when I went out for the evening. He played hard, had a blast, and eventually crashed in their laps for a nap. He did have one small accident — he peed on a towel that was on the floor — but my daughter took the blame for that one. She realized afterward that he’d been sniffing around and probably thought the towel was a potty pad. All things considered, not too bad!
🚪 A Potty Training Breakthrough!
Big news: Stanley has started going to the door and barking to go out! It feels like a huge leap forward.
This morning’s routine looked like this:
Out first thing → Pee ✅
Breakfast → Done
Then? He barked at the door, ran out, and pooped right away.
We’re finally finding our rhythm at home, and he seems to be really settling into the routine.
🐕 Big Wins (and BarkBox Joy)
Stanley continues to be obsessed with fetch and BarkBox toys — I think we’ve officially found our favorites. He’s still enjoying the Ollie food, but honestly, the frozen format is more trouble than it’s worth. The food container and scoop were nice, but I won’t keep it going.
His Embark DNA test is currently being processed, and I’m so excited to get those results back. I can’t wait to learn more about our mystery mutt!
🏡 Trusting Him Off-Leash (A Little)
Another HUGE step: I’ve started letting Stanley off-leash in our yard. So far, he runs around, does his business, and then comes straight back to the door. I don’t fully trust him yet — if something scared him, I’m afraid he’d bolt — but we’re making steady progress. Baby steps!
💬 Got Tips?
We’ve come a long way, but there’s still so much to learn. If anyone has tips for teaching “down” to a tiny dog — or managing marking in new places — I’d love to hear them. Drop a comment and let’s share the wisdom! And if you have a treat that your dog LOVES, let me know. Stanley is super picky about his treats.
