Arlo | Golden Retriever | Los Angeles, CA | In Training
- Tanner Strong
- May 10
- 7 min read
Updated: May 24
Meet Arlo, a two year old Golden Retriever from Los Angeles here for our Two-Week Urban Board and Train Program! Arlo is a very friendly and lovable boy, but he also has plenty of energy and enthusiasm. He loves jumping up on people, pulling on his leash, and play biting when he gets excited. While he knows some basic obedience commands, he often struggles to listen and follow through consistently, especially when distractions are around. Arlo can also be a tiny bit reactive toward certain other dogs.
Over the next fourteen days, we’ll be working hard on improving Arlo’s obedience skills, his manners both in and out of the house, and helping him develop better impulse control and focus. Our goal is to show Arlo how to be the best pup he can possibly be while building his confidence and reliability along the way. Stay tuned for Arlo’s two week transformation!
Arlo and I spent some time getting to know each other after pickup today! He’s a very friendly boy and seemed to warm up to me quickly. Arlo definitely loves to pull on the leash and jump up, so we saw plenty of both today, but he was happy, affectionate, and eager to explore everything around him. He hopped right into the car without hesitation and rode home calmly in the crate with no issues at all. Once we got home, I gave him some time to sniff around, check everything out, and start getting comfortable in his new environment. So far, Arlo has been very pleasant to have around, and he already seems to be settling in nicely!
5/11/2026
Arlo and I met up with some other trainers and their dogs at the park today! Taking things slow and starting the day as calmly as possible really helped set Arlo up for success, and he behaved very well overall. A few times he got a little excited watching some of the other dogs playing, but compared to yesterday, he did a much better job staying engaged with me and focusing on his work instead of everything going on around him.
One thing that really stood out today was Arlo’s improvement with his jumping. When given affection and little breaks throughout training, he refrained from jumping on me nearly as much as before and showed much better impulse control. He’s starting to understand that staying calm and polite gets him the attention he wants! Arlo made some great progress today, and I’m very happy with the direction he’s heading.
5/12/2026
Today we focused on Arlo’s Place command! For this command, I want Arlo to hop onto a raised object, such as a bench or a cot, and remain there until I either release him from command or ask him for a different command. He’s been doing really well with the place cot already, so today we started practicing with some different objects. This can be a great confidence-building exercise for dogs, and Arlo handled the new challenges well!
Place is also an extremely useful command at home. I often use it when I’m doing something that doesn’t involve the dogs, like cooking or eating dinner. It can also be very helpful when having guests over, answering the door, or anytime you need your dog to calmly stay in one spot. Arlo did a good job today and continues making nice progress!
5/13/2026
Arlo and I worked around some more distractions today! There were a few moments where Arlo didn’t really want to continue along with us and needed a little extra encouragement to stay focused, but overall he did well. Even with some hesitation at times, he was able to work through it and continue making progress with his commands. We also made sure to keep things positive and enjoyable, and overall we had a really good time together today!
5/14/2026
Arlo and I had a slower-paced day today, focusing mainly on his manners and polishing up his Heel command. For Heel, I expect Arlo to walk politely at my left side with his ears lined up at my knee, and we spent the majority of the day practicing this through structured walks together. He did a good job overall and was much more consistent as we worked throughout the day.
We also spent some time relaxing at home and practicing his Place command. Arlo settled nicely and did well holding position, especially during the calmer environment indoors. It was a productive and relaxed day for him, and he handled everything well!
5/15/2026
Arlo and I spent time working on his door manners today! The goal for this exercise is to help Arlo remain calm and respectful around open doors instead of rushing through them. We practiced having him wait patiently at thresholds before being invited to go outside or come back in. At first, Arlo was eager to move ahead, especially when he knew we were about to go on an adventure, but with repetition he started understanding that staying calm and waiting politely is what earns him access through the door.
This type of training is great for building impulse control and helps create safer habits at home and in public. By the end of the session, Arlo was showing noticeable improvement and making much better choices around the doorway. Great job today, Arlo!
5/16/2026
Arlo had an exciting day at the park today with all kinds of sports and activity happening around us, from soccer games to baseball! The busy environment was definitely stimulating for him, and while he showed a little uncertainty in the most crowded areas, he continued working well with me throughout the outing. Arlo did a pretty good job overall, though when things got especially busy and noisy, he sometimes wanted to stay very close and would tuck himself near my legs for reassurance. We’ll continue building his confidence in these higher-energy environments so he can become more comfortable moving through distractions calmly and independently. Despite the challenging setting, Arlo continued making progress and handled a very eventful park day well!
5/17/2026
Arlo and I spent more time working around the busy sports environment today as well! With all the people, movement, and noise from the games going on, it made for a more challenging setting, but Arlo continued making progress throughout the day. He still showed some nerves in the busier sections, though he did a good job working through them and staying with me as we trained. We used the more difficult environments to practice his commands and build confidence, then took breaks in quieter areas to help him settle and relax before jumping back into work. Slow and steady progress is the goal, and Arlo continues moving in the right direction!
5/18/2026
Arlo and I met with some other trainers and their dogs today! Arlo did a great job working around plenty of difficult distractions, including several dogs barking nearby and even some intact male dogs around us. Despite all the activity, Arlo stayed fairly focused on me and continued making good choices throughout our training. These kinds of environments can be very challenging, so I was happy to see him staying engaged and working through everything calmly. Good job today, Arlo!
5/19/2026
Arlo and I went to Home Depot today! For the most part, he did quite well and even received a few compliments on his behavior in the store. His Heel was immaculate today, and he responded very well to his other commands too. The biggest challenge came in the busier lumber section, where people were loading wood onto carts and making lots of sudden noise. That environment weirded him out just a bit, which is completely understandable, so we’ll definitely continue exposing him to places like that to help build his confidence. Even with that tougher section, I’m very happy with the progress Arlo showed today!
5/20/2026
Arlo had another great day at Home Depot today! We spent most of our time working in the lumber section since that was the area that gave him the most trouble yesterday. I’m very happy to say that Arlo showed a lot of progress there today, maintaining a calm and polite demeanor throughout our visit. The squeaky carts and moving lumber that made him a little uneasy before didn’t seem to bother him at all this time, which is exactly the kind of improvement I was hoping to see from him.
A couple of the employees even recognized Arlo from yesterday and stopped to say hello, and he handled the attention very nicely while staying polite and composed for us. Overall, it was a really good day for Arlo, and he should be proud of the progress he’s making!
5/21/2026
Arlo and I went back to the park this morning, and then spent the rest of our day at home working on his household manners and going on walks around the neighborhood! He was very happy to be back at the park and seemed to really enjoy the more relaxing pace of the day. Even though he was excited, Arlo still maintained his good behavior and stayed reliable and responsive with his commands throughout our outings. We also spent time reinforcing his manners around the house, helping him continue building good habits in a calmer environment. Overall, it was a very good day for Arlo, and he did a great job!
5/22/2026
Arlo and I went over to the mall for training today! He impressed me with how well he handled the change in environment, hardly seeming bothered by all the new sights, sounds, and activity around us. Throughout our time there, Arlo stayed composed, attentive, and very responsive to his commands.
He also had plenty of opportunities to practice his greeting manners, and he did an excellent job! Instead of jumping or lunging like he used to, Arlo remained seated calmly while strangers greeted and pet him. It was great to see him making such thoughtful choices and showing off all the progress he’s been making. Really good stuff today, Arlo!
5/23/2026
Arlo and I went on another trip to the mall today! Once again, he did a really great job and handled the environment with confidence and composure. We even did some shopping with him by our side, and he stayed calm, attentive, and well behaved throughout the outing. Arlo got lots of attention again today for both his handsome looks and his good manners, and he handled all the compliments and interactions very nicely!
After the mall, we headed over to the park in the evening so Arlo could relax, unwind, and enjoy a little playtime after all the stimulation from the busy environment. He had a great time and was happy to burn off some energy while still staying responsive and easy to handle. Arlo was a great dog today, and I’m very proud of how well he continues to do in these public settings!
Comments