This is the story of an eight-month-old Golden Doodle who went through board and train with Off Leash K9 Training Southwest Missouri, and of the owner who was sure he would be the first dog ever to flunk. He did not flunk. By the end, the neighbors were clapping.

You can read his owner’s full review on Google, the one this story is written from. It is well worth reading.

Where He Started

His owner had trained her earlier dogs herself. With this one she tried a few times and decided it was not going to work.

He was a rambunctious puppy who was getting bigger by the week, and he pulled her everywhere until walking him became a chore. When company came over, he jumped on the couch, licked her guest’s neck and tried to push the guest off what he apparently thought was his seat.

The moment she knew she had to act was on a walk. He almost knocked her to the ground, then took off, jerking her arm and twisting her back.

The Training Journey

A friend had mentioned us, and then her neighbor’s mother suggested us too, because her son had used our boarding program. That son is her neighbor, and his German Shepherd mix is the best-behaved dog she has ever seen. She called him, he could not stop praising us, and she chose our board and train program.

She admits she fully expected him to fail. That is a feeling a lot of owners share when they drop off a dog who has been running the house. It is also why a board and train works the way it does: your dog learns from a trainer first, and then we teach you how to keep it going.

His Wins

He came home a pleasure to walk. No more being dragged down the street.

His owner also taught him to stop eating every rock, stick and sock he could fit in his mouth, which is exactly the kind of follow-through that turns a board and train into a dog you live with happily for years.

Then came the applause. Her neighbors clapped when they saw the two of them working together. Strangers driving past her house watched her ask him to sit until the traffic cleared, then rolled down their window and clapped too.

The Golden Doodle from this story sitting calmly on a wooden deck by a sliding glass door, Off Leash K9 Training Southwest Missouri

What It Changed at Home

In her words, he is now a joy to be around. She is honest that you still have to put in the work, and she is just as honest about the math. The training cost more than she had planned, but she weighed it against the frustration, the disappointment and the destroyed rugs, socks and fall decorations. That list includes, she notes, a Hobby Lobby pumpkin. Her conclusion: it was so worth it.

Why This Story Matters

Some owners who call us have trained dogs before and feel they should be able to do it again. Sometimes the dog is different, or life is busier, or the dog is simply bigger and stronger than the last one. Asking for help is not a failure. For this family, it was the difference between a dog who was hurting his owner on walks and one the whole street cheers for.

Ready to Start With Your Own Dog?

If walks have turned into a tug of war, Off Leash K9 Training Southwest Missouri can help. Every program is listed with its price on our plans and pricing page, and payment plans are available. Call us today to learn more about payment options and to find the right program for your dog.