How Captain, a Golden Retriever Puppy, Sharpened His Training in Milwaukee, WI

At A Glance

Captain is a 10-month-old Golden Retriever who completed a 2-Week Board and Train Program with Alex at Off Leash K9 Training Milwaukee, WI. His owners already felt that Captain was in pretty good shape for a 10-month-old puppy, but they wanted to continue developing his skills. During the program, Alex helped sharpen several areas of Captain’s training, including his ability to settle and rest. Captain’s owners also highlighted the communication and detailed report cards they received throughout the program, as well as the progress they observed through training videos and after bringing him home.

Captain the Golden Retriever during board and train in Milwaukee, WI

Dog: Captain
Breed: Golden Retriever
Age: 10 months
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Program: 2-Week Board and Train
Trainer: Alex
Main Focus: Obedience, training refinement, and settling/resting
Training Goals: Sharpen Captain’s existing skills and improve his ability to rest calmly

The Challenge

Captain entered his two-week Board and Train program with a solid foundation according to his owners. As a 10-month-old Golden Retriever puppy, however, he still had behaviours that could be improved. One of the main areas Alex worked on was Captain’s ability to rest.

His owners explained that Captain experienced a lot of FOMO, or fear of missing out. When they wanted him to rest, he would often get up or become annoyed rather than settling comfortably. This made teaching him how to properly rest an important part of his training.

Before training, Captain needed work on:

  • Refining his existing training
  • Settling and resting
  • Staying settled when his owners wanted him to rest
  • Building greater consistency in his everyday behaviour

The Training Approach

Captain’s 2-Week Board and Train Program focused on sharpening the skills he already had rather than starting from scratch. His owners specifically noted that Alex worked on multiple areas of Captain’s behaviour, including how he rests.

Training focused on:

  • Refining existing obedience
  • Improving everyday manners
  • Teaching Captain how to rest
  • Developing better settling habits
  • Building greater consistency

Throughout the program, Captain’s owners also received consistent communication and detailed report cards, allowing them to follow his progress while they were away on vacation.

The Results

Captain’s owners described the change they saw in him as “night and day. They felt that Captain had already been doing well for a 10-month-old puppy, but said Alex sharpened many aspects of his behaviour during the two-week program. One notable improvement was Captain’s ability to rest. His owners were excited about the progress they saw in his training videos and during their initial time with him after the program.

According to his owners, Captain showed improvement in:

  • Overall obedience and training
  • Everyday behaviour
  • Ability to rest
  • Settling when asked to rest
  • General consistency

Captain’s owners were also enthusiastic about continuing his training and expressed interest in participating in future pack walks with Alex.

Trainer Insight

Captain’s experience highlights that training is not only about teaching commands. Developing the ability to settle and rest can also be an important part of a young dog’s everyday manners. Even when a puppy already has a solid foundation, refining existing behaviours can help create greater consistency at home. For Captain, learning to rest despite his desire to stay involved was an important part of sharpening his overall training.

Ready to Build Better Manners for Your Dog in Milwaukee, WI?

If your puppy struggles to settle, constantly wants to stay involved, or needs additional refinement despite already knowing basic obedience, structured training can help build greater consistency.

Schedule a consultation today to discuss your dog’s training needs and available programs in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.