Meet Freddie! He's a five month old Golden Mountain Dog from Los Angeles California here for our Two-Week Board and Train Program! He's extremely sweet and friendly, but he loves pulling on his leash and putting his paws on people! He's familiar with some commands, but often decides not to listen or follow through. He's very playful, and sometimes nips when he wants to play, and has trouble staying still and holding certain positions when asked. Over the next fourteen days, we will help Freddie hone his obedience skills, practice impulse control, work on his manners in and out of the house, and show him how to be the best pup he can possibly be! Stay tuned for Freddie's two week transformation.
Pupdate: 12/20/2024
Today, I met Freddie, a friendly and energetic dog I picked up from the park. From the moment we met, his personality shone through—he’s the kind of dog that greets you like an old friend, tail wagging and eyes full of excitement.
During our walk, I noticed Freddie has some training under his belt; he responded to a few basic commands, which was impressive for our first interaction. That said, he’s a strong puller on the leash, clearly eager to explore everything around him. It’s something we’ll work on together as we build our bond.
When we got home, Freddie surprised me with how quickly he settled in. After a bit of sniffing around and checking out his new surroundings, he made himself right at home. It’s always heartwarming to see a dog relax and feel safe in a new environment.
I’m excited to see what Freddie and I can accomplish together. He seems like a wonderful companion with a lot of potential, and I’m looking forward to helping him learn, grow, and thrive!
In addition to his first video today, I'm posting a tutorial video and picture for his new E-collar! Watching this may make the turnover process much smoother once he's ready to go home!
Pupdate: 12/21/2024
Freddie had his first full day of training today, and we kicked things off at Almansor Park. The focus was on teaching him the Heel command, where I want him walking politely at my left side with his ears aligned with my knee.
The park was bustling with activity—other dogs, families, joggers, and so much more. At first, Freddie was understandably overwhelmed. He’s a naturally curious pup, so all the sights, sounds, and smells were a lot for him to take in.
With some consistent guidance and practice, though, Freddie began to settle into the task. He started understanding what I was asking of him and made some solid progress. It was encouraging to see him begin to focus, even in such a distracting environment.
I’m excited about Freddie’s potential and can’t wait to see how much more he’ll accomplish as we continue training. For his first day, I’d say he did pretty great!
Pupdate: 12/22/2024
Freddie and I had another productive training session today at Almansor Park, and I’m thrilled with his progress! We continued focusing on his Heel command, building on the foundation we started. Freddie is starting to understand the expectation of walking calmly at my side, with his ears aligned to my knee. His confidence was noticeably higher today, which made the session even more enjoyable.
In addition to Heel, we introduced some work on his Place command using a cot I brought to the park. Despite the new environment and occasional distractions, Freddie caught on quickly. He's starting to get on the cot when asked and wait patiently until I released him, which is a great sign of his developing focus and impulse control.
I’m so proud of how well Freddie is learning. He seems to enjoy the mental stimulation of training, and each session builds his confidence a little more. Days like today remind me how rewarding it is to guide him through these new skills. With consistent practice, I know Freddie will continue to shine!
Pupdate: 12/23/2024
Today was another great day of training with Freddie! We headed back to the park to continue working on his Heel and Sit commands, as well as introducing a new layer to his training: the Come to Sit command. This recall command is something I’m aiming to make second nature for Freddie, so he’ll respond no matter what he’s doing—whether sitting, sniffing, or playing.
For Come to Sit, the goal is for Freddie to come to my right side, walk around behind me, and sit neatly at my left side with his ears aligned at my knee. It’s a precise command, but one that can be incredibly useful for maintaining focus and control, especially in distracting environments. We started with short distances, using a treat to guide him through the motion. Freddie was a little confused at first, but after a few repetitions, he began to grasp the pattern. His natural enthusiasm makes training both fun and rewarding.
Alongside this, we reinforced his Heel and Sit commands to keep building his overall obedience and focus. Freddie is still curious and gets excited by all the activity at the park, but he’s improving every day. Notably, Freddie sat through some tough distractions even just in the short video above. Some bikes went by close to us, and right after, a small dog started barking at Freddie, which you can see pass behind the cars at about the 1:46 mark. Then an extremely loud van pulls up right after. Freddie was definitely distracted by all of these things, but he did a pretty good job of maintaining his Sit position.
Pupdate: 12/24/2024
Freddie had an exciting and productive day! Today, he joined Lucky and me for our usual walks. Freddie is still working on his Heel command, but having Lucky as an example seemed to help. While he’s still figuring it out, he showed improvement and is learning to stay more focused.
At home, Freddie’s playful personality shone through. He was very eager to interact with Lucky, but she preferred to keep things calm. Freddie respected her boundaries and kept his friendly energy in check, which was great to see.
Freddie is making solid progress every day, and I’m proud of how quickly he’s adapting to his training and new routines. He’s proving to be a quick learner and a very sweet addition to the pack!
Pupdate: 12/25/2024
Today was another step forward in Freddie’s adjustment and learning how to coexist with Lucky. While the two dogs aren’t quite best friends yet, there’s progress—and that’s what counts.
We spent the morning together in the house, reinforcing calm behaviors and good manners. Freddie is naturally friendly and curious, so he’s eager to engage with Lucky. She, however, seems more interested in observing him from a distance. While she’s not playful with him yet, her tolerance speaks volumes about her maturity. Freddie, to his credit, is respectful and hasn’t pushed her boundaries.
When it was time to head out, I focused on training Freddie while also giving Lucky her usual structured walk. We strolled around the neighborhood, working on Freddie’s Heel command. He still pulls here and there, but he’s improving, especially when Lucky is around to model calm walking. Her steady demeanor seems to ground him a bit, which is great to see.
At the park, Freddie got to explore more of the world. His enthusiasm for new sights and smells was evident, but he still stayed focused when it mattered. Lucky, as usual, kept to herself, enjoying the walk without much interest in Freddie’s excitement. Even though they didn’t directly interact much, walking side by side seemed to bring a quiet sense of companionship between them.
Freddie has a lot of energy and an eagerness to learn, which makes working with him rewarding. Lucky’s calm presence is helping to guide him, even if she’s doing it in her own subtle, aloof way. I can see Freddie starting to take cues from her, which will be invaluable as we continue his training.
While Lucky and Freddie may not be best buds just yet, the foundation of mutual respect is there. For now, I’m focusing on creating positive experiences for both of them. With time and patience, I’m confident their bond will grow.
Freddie is learning, adjusting, and settling in beautifully—and with Lucky as a guide, I know he’s on the right path. And happy holidays from Freddie!
Pupdate: 12/26/2024
Freddie had another eventful day as we continued his training at the park! He’s still full of energy and curiosity, but he’s showing steady improvement with his commands. We worked on reinforcing his Heel and practicing polite walking on the leash. While he still has moments where his excitement gets the best of him, he’s learning to stay focused and respond better to guidance.
One of the most important parts of today’s session was building his relationship with Lucky. Freddie’s friendly nature shines through, but I’ve been mindful of creating positive, low-pressure interactions between them. At the park, they had more chances to be around each other while working, and Freddie’s easygoing attitude seems to be helping Lucky feel more at ease.
It’s clear Freddie is starting to win Lucky over, and it’s heartwarming to see their dynamic beginning to develop. With time and consistent effort, I’m confident they’ll grow to enjoy each other’s company even more. For now, Freddie continues to charm everyone with his friendly demeanor and willingness to learn!
Pupdate: 12/27/2024
Freddie had another fantastic day at the park with Lucky, and it’s clear they’re becoming good friends. Their bond is growing with each outing, and it’s been wonderful to see them work together during training. Freddie seems to enjoy Lucky’s company, and their dynamic helps keep both of them motivated.
At the park, we worked on Freddie’s Place command using various objects as targets. He practiced navigating to benches, rocks, and other surfaces, building his confidence with each repetition. I’m impressed by how quickly he’s adapting and learning to trust himself in these exercises. His growing confidence is a joy to see, and it’s helping him engage more positively with his surroundings. Freddie is making steady progress, and I’m excited to keep working with him!
Pupdate: 12/28/2024
Freddie and I started the day with a trip to the park, but for his training video, I focused on working on his food manners. The goal is for Freddie to sit politely while I place his food in front of him, waiting calmly instead of diving right in. This exercise not only builds his impulse control but also serves as a safety measure and makes mealtime more manageable.
Freddie is catching on quickly! He’s already doing a good job of holding his sit while I prepare and place his food. There are moments when his excitement gets the better of him, but with consistent practice, he’s showing great improvement. It’s clear he’s eager to learn and please, which makes working with him so rewarding.
Building this kind of control is an essential part of Freddie’s overall training. It’s great to see him respond well and make progress. I’m excited to keep refining this skill with him and watch his manners continue to improve!
Pupdate: 12/29/2024
Today, Freddie and I headed to Maple Park to continue his training. This time, we worked with the leash dragging, a step toward off-leash training that allows me to assess his focus and responsiveness while still maintaining control if needed. It's an excellent way to test his ability to follow commands in a less restrictive environment.
Overall, Freddie did a great job! He stayed engaged with me for most of the session, executing commands like Heel and Place with enthusiasm. Allowing the leash to drag also gave him a bit more freedom to explore while reinforcing that he still needs to listen and respond promptly.
There were a few moments where distractions got the better of him—whether it was a bird flying by or another dog in the distance—but he was able to refocus with some guidance. These sessions are as much about building his impulse control as they are about improving his skills, and I’m happy with the progress we’re making. He’s growing more confident and reliable every day!
Pupdate: 12/30/2024
Freddie continued making strides today as we worked on his leash-dragging skills. He’s becoming more responsive with every session and is doing a great job following commands. He’s starting to understand what’s expected of him and is eager to stay engaged.
The toughest part for Freddie right now is staying still with distractions, which is perfectly normal at this stage of training and especially at his age. During our outing, he had to contend with flocks of geese nearby and a few small dogs in the area, both of which grabbed his attention. Despite his curiosity, Freddie managed to stay with me and mostly kept his focus, which is a huge win.
Each session builds his confidence and consistency, and I’m really proud of how well he’s adapting to these challenges. With continued practice, Freddie’s focus and impulse control will only get better!
Pupdate: 12/31/2024
Freddie had an exciting training session at the park today as we took another big step forward—off-leash practice! To ease into it, we started by warming up with leash-dragging exercises using a smaller leash. This helped further replicate the feeling of being off-leash while maintaining a bit of control if needed.
Once I felt Freddie was fully engaged and focused on me, I decided to let him go completely off leash for several minutes at a time. He did a great job! Despite some nearby people and a few other dogs in the distance, Freddie stayed connected with me and responded well. He’s starting to show the kind of focus and trust that makes off-leash work possible, which is a huge milestone.
While he handled today’s environment nicely, I’d like to start increasing the level of distractions in future sessions. More activity and challenges will help solidify his skills and ensure his focus remains sharp no matter what’s going on around him. I’m thrilled with his progress so far and looking forward to pushing his limits in the next training sessions!
Pupdate: 1/1/2025
Today, Freddie and I headed to Santa Anita Mall for a training session. We started with an on-leash warm-up to help him get into focus mode and adjust to the bustling environment. Once he settled in and showed he was ready, we transitioned to off-leash work.
The mall was full of distractions—people, sounds, and plenty of tempting sights—but Freddie did a great job staying with me and staying on task. There were moments when he almost gave in to curiosity, but he managed to keep it together and stick to what we were practicing. We even got plenty of opportunities to practice his greeting manners! Several friendly strangers wanted to pet him. The first few times he wanted to get up and lean on them while they petted him, but after resetting a couple times, he did well sitting politely!
I’m proud of Freddie’s progress. His ability to maintain focus in a busy environment is growing stronger, and he’s showing great potential for reliable off-leash performance!
Pupdate: 1/2/2025
Freddie had a great day today! We went to the park and enjoyed some fun off-leash time. He did really well and seemed to love the extra freedom while staying responsive.
For his training video today, I’m highlighting Freddie’s food manners and door manners. Freddie absolutely loves his food, so teaching him patience during mealtime has been a bit of a process. He’s making excellent progress, though, and it’s wonderful to see how much he has improved!
With door manners, I’m focusing on having Freddie wait patiently at the door when I open it, instead of rushing through. This is an important safety measure and a great way to strengthen his overall self-control. We practice this a little bit each time we leave or enter the door, and Freddie has been doing well. This same idea can be applied to any threshold such as fences or gates in addition to the door. For example, my dogs are not allowed in the kitchen, so we apply this same practice to the line between my dining room and kitchen!
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