At A Glance
Louis is a 5-month-old Goldendoodle who completed a 2-Week Board and Train with Off Leash K9 Training Winston-Salem and trainer Rick. His owner wanted stronger obedience and better everyday behavior while also giving Louis opportunities to build confidence through new experiences. Throughout the two-week program, Louis’s family received daily photos and videos showing his progress. By the end of training, his owner reported a reliable recall, a strong extended sit, no more leash biting, greater confidence, and improved overall behavior.

Dog: Louis
Breed: Goldendoodle
Age: 5 months
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Program: 2-Week Board and Train
Trainer: Rick
Main Focus: Recall, extended sit, leash biting, confidence, social experiences, and puppy obedience
Outcome: More reliable recall, stronger duration work, improved leash behavior, greater confidence, and better overall manners
The Challenge
Louis entered training as a young puppy who needed a stronger foundation in obedience and everyday behavior. One specific concern was leash biting, while his owner also wanted him to develop more dependable responses and confidence as he experienced new situations.
Before training, Louis needed work on:
- More reliable recall
- Stronger obedience
- Holding commands for longer periods
- Leash biting
- Building confidence
- Exposure to new environments
- Developing better everyday manners
- Creating a stronger puppy training foundation
Louis was also fearful of water, giving Rick an additional opportunity to help him work through a new experience during the program.
The Training Approach
Louis spent two weeks working with Rick in a structured Board and Train program. According to his owner, Louis bonded with Rick from the beginning, which helped create confidence in the training experience. The family also received daily videos and photos so they could follow his development while he was away.
Training and enrichment included:
- Building stronger recall
- Developing an extended sit
- Addressing leash biting
- Reinforcing foundational obedience
- Building confidence
- Experiencing different environments
- Hiking outings
- Swimming experiences
- Social opportunities around dogs of different sizes
- Helping Louis work through his fear of water
- Daily progress communication with his owner
The program combined structured training with real-world experiences that gave Louis opportunities to practice skills and build confidence outside a single training environment.
The Results
Louis’s owner reported significant improvement after the two-week program.
What improved:
- Recall became reliable
- His extended sit became much stronger
- Leash biting stopped
- Overall obedience improved
- Louis became more confident
- He overcame his fear of water
- He gained experience hiking and swimming
- He interacted with dogs of different sizes
- His overall behavior became easier to manage
- He returned home appearing happier and more confident
His owner described Louis as a happier, more confident, and better-behaved puppy after training. The results exceeded the family’s expectations and left them highly satisfied with both Rick and the 2-Week Board and Train experience.
Owner Experience
Communication played an important role throughout Louis’s stay. His owner received photos and videos every day, making it possible to see his progress, activities, and experiences while he was away. The family also appreciated how quickly Louis bonded with Rick and felt confident that he was receiving attentive care throughout the program. By pickup, the owner felt that the combination of training, communication, and confidence-building experiences had made a meaningful difference.
Trainer Insight
Young puppies can benefit from training that combines obedience with carefully managed real-world experiences. For Louis, skills such as recall and extended sit created a stronger obedience foundation, while hiking, swimming, and appropriate interactions with other dogs gave him opportunities to practice confidence and adaptability. Working through his hesitation around water was another example of confidence building. Successful exposure to something unfamiliar can help a young dog learn that new experiences are manageable when introduced with appropriate guidance. Continued practice at home will help Louis’s family reinforce the skills and confidence he developed during training.
Ready to Build Better Puppy Obedience in Winston-Salem, NC?
If your puppy struggles with recall, leash biting, confidence, or consistent everyday manners, structured training can help build a stronger foundation while your dog is still young.
Schedule a consultation today with Off Leash K9 Training Winston-Salem to discuss your puppy’s needs and available training options.