Case Study: Fat Beanie – Day 1 of Board & Train

Transforming a Resource-Guarding, Leash-Reactive Pitbull

Meet Fat Beanie – a 5-year-old Pitbull with a big personality and even bigger challenges. Her owner enrolled her in our Diamond Dogs Board & Train Program to tackle: 

- Severe resource guarding (food, toys, space) 
- High prey drive (squirrels, bikes, anything moving) 
- Leash reactivity & aggression (lunging, barking, red-zone frustration) 
- Dominance behaviors (pushing boundaries, ignoring commands) 

Day 1 Assessment: The Hard Truth
Fat Beanie isn’t “mean” – she’s *out of control* because she’s never had clear rules. Within hours, our trainers observed: 

Resource Guarding Explosion – Growling over a chew toy, stiffening when approached. 
Prey Drive Overload – Laser-focused on moving objects, zero recall under distraction. 
Leash Reactivity – Explosive barking at other dogs (even 50+ feet away). 
Testing Dominance – Shoulder-checking, ignoring "sit," demanding attention. 

Our Game Plan:
1. No-Nonsense Structure – Immediate consequences for pushy behavior (time-outs, pressure/release). 
2. Desensitization Drills – Controlled exposure to triggers (starting *far* below threshold). 
3. Impulse Control Work – "Leave it," "out," and patience-building exercises. 
4. Leadership Reset – She doesn’t make decisions; we do. Period. 

Owner Homework: No free affection until she *earns* it. Every interaction must reinforce calm submission. 

What’s Next?
Follow Fat Beanie’s journey as we document her progress weekly. Can we turn this dominant, reactive dog into a disciplined companion? **Spoiler:** It won’t be easy, but it *will* happen. 

Want to see her transformation? Subscribe for updates or check back next week for Day 7 progress. 

Have a dog like Fat Beanie? Our Board & Train Program might be the reset button they need.