Captain “Cappy” Bart | Bernadoodle | Encino, CA. | In Training.
Updated: 13 hours ago
Meet Captain “Cappy” Bart! 🐾
This handsome 9-month-old Bernadoodle from Encino, California, has officially joined us for our Two Week Community Board & Train Program!
Captain Bart is an energetic, curious young pup who believes there’s simply far too much to see and do to be bothered with things like staying in one place for too long. And coming when called? Well… that’s certainly negotiable when there are exciting adventures happening all around him! 😂 He’s also been known to greet his favorite people with plenty of enthusiasm—and by enthusiasm, we mean all four paws leaving the ground!
Over the next two weeks, we’ll be working closely with Captain Bart on building his off-leash obedience, house manners, impulse control, and listening skills so he can learn to make better choices even when the world around him gets exciting. Our goal is to help this energetic youngster channel all that personality into becoming a polite, confident, and well-mannered young gentleman.
We’re so excited to get started on this journey with this sweet boy! There’s sure to be plenty of learning, plenty of adventures, and probably a few airborne greetings along the way. 😉
Stay tuned—it’s sure to be a fun ride! 🐶
8/31/2026
Today, Cappy and I kicked off our first day together by heading out to a park in Rosemead to meet up with some fellow trainers and their pups. Today was all about getting better acquainted with this young man while also refreshing the commands he learned during his previous Board & Train program with us.
We started with a nice walk around the park, which gave me a chance to see what Cappy already remembered and where we may need to put in a little extra work. Being that Cappy was very excited to be back at the park, getting him to walk nicely with me took a little convincing at first! 😂 But he caught on quickly to what I was asking of him with his heel, and once he settled in, he was ready to get down to business.
From there, we worked through the rest of his commands. Cappy understands his sit and down commands well, but staying put afterward wasn’t exactly high on his list of priorities. 😉 So, we spent some time practicing his duration and reinforcing that once he’s been asked to hold a command, he needs to remain there until released. By the end of our session, he was holding both his sit and down with noticeably more ease.
His place command was much of the same story. He understands what “place” means, but remaining there was something we needed to reinforce. After a little practice, he was already showing improvement, and I’m sure with continued work over the next couple of weeks, he’ll have this one looking much more polished.
His come-to-sit, however, is definitely going to be one of our bigger focus areas. Cappy wasn’t particularly interested in coming when called today, so we’ll be spending plenty of time working on his recall and making sure he understands that when he’s called, coming all the way in and completing the command is not optional.
After our park session, we loaded up in the car and headed off to check out Cappy’s home away from home for the next two weeks! As far as his car ride went, he handled his time riding in the crate very well, which was great to see.
Once we arrived at the house, I gave Cappy some time to explore both inside and outside and take everything in. He does seem a little nervous right now, which is completely understandable considering he’s in a brand-new environment with someone he’s just getting to know. I’m sure that as he gets more comfortable and realizes this is his new routine for the next couple of weeks, he’ll settle right in.
All in all, for his first day back in class, Cappy is doing well! He has a good foundation to build on, and now it’s just a matter of getting those old skills brushed up and polished. We’ve got plenty to work on, but he’s already showing that he can catch on quickly—and things can only get better from here! 🐾
9/1/2026
Today was all about introducing Cappy to his new training tool—the e-collar—while continuing to build on his commands. Since this was his first real introduction to it, we kept things nice and relaxed by working around my neighborhood. Each time I gave Cappy a correction, I paired the leash correction with stimulation from the e-collar so he could begin learning exactly what that sensation meant and how it connects to his commands.
And being the wonderfully vocal little guy that he is, Cappy certainly wasn’t shy about sharing his opinions on his new accessory! 😂 He had quite a few things to say at first, which can be completely normal when introducing a pup to a new sensation, especially when they’re as expressive as Cappy. After spending some time working with it, however, he started to come around and became much more comfortable with the e-collar, which was great to see.
For his heel, Cappy did very well! He walked nicely at my side and showed a great understanding of where I wanted him to be.
We spent a little extra time working on his come to sit, as this is definitely not his favorite command at the moment. He had some puppy opinions about following through with it, but with some guidance and repetition, he started to understand what I was asking. By the end of our session, he was performing his come to sit very well!
For his extended sit and down, we had to spend some time helping Cappy differentiate between the two. There were a few moments where he would offer a down when asked for a sit, or a sit when asked for a down. Thankfully, Cappy is a quick learner, and with a little reminder, he caught on quickly. He also showed wonderful patience when asked to hold each command, which was fantastic to see from such a young pup.
His place command was another highlight! Cappy had no trouble hopping up onto different surfaces and was able to hold his position nicely once he was there. He definitely seems to enjoy having things to figure out, and his intelligence really shines through during these exercises.
Once we wrapped up our training, it was time for Cappy to put his little working brain away for a bit and just be a silly puppy. We spent some time playing with his toys, and he thoroughly enjoyed himself! After he had officially exhausted his puppy energy, he happily settled into his crate for a well-earned nap. 💤
As for his first night in the crate, Cappy definitely had some opinions about that too. He would have much preferred to continue hanging out with me, but after some time, he was able to quiet down, settle in, and relax.
We’re also still figuring out his potty schedule, so Cappy did have one accident today. Since we’re still learning his routine and getting him accustomed to his new schedule, this is simply part of the process and something we’ll continue working on.
All in all, I’d say Cappy is doing very well! We’ve definitely had a few classic puppy moments to work through, but what makes me proud is that Cappy is learning to work through those moments with me. He is an incredibly intelligent little pup, and I’m excited to see what that big brain of his accomplishes as we continue! 💙🐾
9/2/2026
Today Cappy and I took our progress to Home Depot, and this character did a great job! 🐾
When we first arrived, Cappy needed a little reminder that we were there to work and not to make every shopper his new best friend. 😂 He was quite convinced that everyone we passed was there specifically to meet him! With a few reminders, however, we were quickly able to get him settled and walking nicely at my side.
Once Cappy was able to calm down and focus, we got to work on his extended sit, extended down, and come to sit commands. His extended sit was looking great today! Each time he was asked to hold the command, Cappy did a wonderful job staying put and patiently waiting for his release cue.
His extended down, on the other hand, required a little more convincing. Cappy wasn’t quite as interested in patiently holding his down and seemed to think we had perhaps forgotten that he had other things to do. 😂 So, we made sure to remind him that the expectation is the same whether he is sitting or laying down—we wait for our cue before getting up! Of course, this did come with a few sassy sploots here and there, because Cappy is going to make sure I never forget that he has opinions. Eventually, though, he caught on to what we were asking and settled into the command much better.
Cappy truly is quite the character and loves to keep me guessing, but that’s okay! It certainly makes every session interesting in its own special way. 😆
One of the highlights of today was his come to sit, where we saw some wonderful improvement compared to yesterday. Just about every time the command was given, Cappy followed through all the way and finished by sitting nicely at my side. That earned him plenty of praise, pets, and encouragement—which, as we all know, is one of Cappy’s favorite forms of payment! 🥰
All in all, we had a great adventure at Home Depot today. Cappy worked through the excitement, practiced his patience, and showed some really nice improvement with his commands. There’s still plenty for this little guy to work on, but he continues to make progress and keep me on my toes!
Way to go, Cappy! 🐾💙
9/3/2026
Today Cappy and I headed out to a local park to continue working on his commands, and he did so well! He showed a great understanding of what was being asked of him today, and because he was doing so well, we decided to start dipping our toes into leash dragging—the next step toward eventually working completely off leash.
Leash dragging gives Cappy a little more freedom while still allowing me to quickly grab the leash if I need to provide some guidance. And for the most part today, that leash didn’t even need to be picked up! Cappy walked nicely at my side and did a great job listening to his direction.
His come to sit was also looking great. He only got a little confused about exactly where he needed to go once or twice, but we were able to work through it successfully and get him right back on track. His extended sit and down were both fantastic as well. Each time he was asked to hold one of these commands, he patiently stayed put and waited for his release. What a good boy!
When it came time for his place command, however, we hit a bit of a snag. Cappy can be a little particular when it comes to hopping onto different surfaces, so rather than letting that uncertainty get the best of him, we slowed things down and worked through it together.
Using some leash guidance, I showed Cappy exactly what he was capable of, tackling each new surface one “running start” at a time! 😂 Every time he successfully hopped up with less and less help from me, we celebrated and let him know what an awesome job he had done.
And by the end of our session, the difference was so cool to see! Cappy was confidently hopping onto different surfaces on his own, with the leash dragging behind him, and a big ol’ smile on his face. It was like watching the uncertainty melt away and get replaced with a little boost of confidence. Once he realized, “Wait a minute… I actually CAN do this!” he was ready
to show me what he could do!
All in all, I’d say we had a very successful outing today. I’m so proud of Cappy for working through every little snag we encountered instead of giving up. He is such a smart boy, and watching his confidence grow right alongside his understanding of his commands has been so rewarding. Keep up the great work, Cappy! 🐾❤️
Potty Training Update:
I’m also very happy to report that there have been no accidents since my last update! Cappy is beginning to understand that when he is asked to go potty, that means it’s time to actually take care of business. He’s starting to put the pieces together, and that is a huge step in the right direction.
Great job, kid! 👏
9/4/2026
Today Cappy and I kept things nice and relaxed as we worked around the neighborhood and began easing into his OffLeash work. We started with a nice long walk where we practiced all of his commands with his leash dragging, and Cappy was doing so well that I decided it was time to try taking the leash off completely!
For the most part, he did fantastic! There were a few moments where his puppy brain got the better of him and he became a little confused about where he needed to go for his come to sit, but just like the smart boy I know he is, he was able to work through each little hiccup with some guidance and get himself back on track.
He also started offering a down when I asked him for a sit, which told me that we needed to slow things down a bit and make sure he was actually thinking through what was being asked rather than just throwing out a command and hoping he got it right. 😂 We spent some extra time working on that distinction, and each time he was able to correct himself and figure it out. With more practice, I’m sure this will become much easier for him. Even so, he made some really nice progress today!
Cappy also showed fantastic patience with his extended place, down, and sit commands. He did a great job holding his position and waiting patiently rather than deciding that he had somewhere more important to be—which, for a puppy, is quite the accomplishment!
His heel was another highlight. Cappy did very well sticking by my side and only needed a few reminders about exactly where he should be walking. The most exciting part was seeing him start to naturally turn and move with me without either of us tripping over the other! With all those fluffy legs moving around, I’d say that’s a pretty impressive accomplishment. 😂
All in all, Cappy had a great first day of off leash work! Even though his puppy brain caused a few moments of confusion here and there, he was able to work through those little hiccups with me and continue moving forward. That ability to recover, think through what’s being asked, and try again is exactly what we want to see as we progress.
I’m so proud of this little fluff and all the progress he’s making! Good boy, Cappy! 🐾💙
9/5/2026
Today Cappy and I headed to Lake Balboa Park to continue his progress with his off-leash work around distractions, and Cappy did a fantastic job!
He really showed a wonderful understanding of his commands today and was able to stick right by my side as we navigated through the park, even with other dogs and children passing by us. He did a great job staying focused on me and choosing to listen rather than getting distracted by all the exciting things happening around him.
For his extended commands, Cappy was very patient and did a great job holding his positions. But I think the most exciting part of today was watching him confidently hop onto just about any surface I asked him to for his place command! He didn’t even hesitate—he just hopped right up! Good boy, Cappy! 🥰
This is especially exciting because when we first got started on this journey together, I wasn’t quite sure if Cappy knew how to jump onto things. As it turns out, it seems like all he really needed was a little confidence boost and a patient hand to show him that he could do it! Anytime we introduce a new surface, we make sure to celebrate with plenty of excitement and praise so Cappy knows just how good of a choice he made. And he has really started to embrace the challenge!
His come to sit was another highlight today. Each time I called him, Cappy came nicely to my side and sat politely, showing great understanding of what I was asking of him.
All in all, we had a fantastic outing today, and I am so very proud of Cappy’s efforts! He has come such a long way, and it’s been wonderful watching his confidence and understanding grow with each session. Keep up the great work, Cappy! 🐾💙
9/6/2026
Today Cappy and I headed to Home Depot to escape the heavy rain and continue building on his off-leash progress around distractions. While the weather may not have cooperated with our plans for an outdoor adventure, Home Depot gave us a great opportunity to put his training to work in a busy indoor environment. And Cappy did a wonderful job!
As soon as we got inside, Cappy settled into his work beautifully. He stayed right by my side as we navigated through the store, passing shoppers, carts, displays, and all sorts of interesting sights and smells along the way. Even with plenty going on around him, he remained focused on me and showed a wonderful understanding of his commands as they were asked of him. His heel work was especially nice, and he did a great job maintaining his position instead of getting distracted by everything happening around us.
We also continued practicing his extended commands, and Cappy showed some fantastic patience! He was able to hold his sit and down for longer periods while I moved around and distractions passed nearby. This is such an important part of his training because we want him to understand that a command means to stay put until he is released, regardless of what may be happening around him.
also received so many compliments from shoppers throughout our outing about how well behaved he was. And he absolutely earned every single one! It’s always so rewarding when people notice the hard work he’s been putting in, especially when he’s able to remain calm and focused in an environment that could easily be overwhelming or exciting for a young pup. He really showed today that he’s becoming quite the little gentleman! 🥰
After we wrapped up our training for the day, we headed back to the house where Cappy got to trade in his working hat for his cozy hat. We spent the rest of the day relaxing, watching movies, and playing with toys. After all that hard work, he definitely deserved some downtime and cuddles! A perfect ending to a rainy day. ☔️🎬🐾
All in all, Cappy continues to show wonderful progress with his training. His ability to stay focused, listen around distractions, and confidently work through new environments has come such a long way. I’m incredibly proud of the effort he’s putting in each day, and it’s been so much fun watching his confidence and understanding grow!
Potty Training Update:
Cappy remains completely accident-free! 🎉 He is also starting to get much better about going potty on demand, which is another great step forward. We’ll continue reinforcing this so he becomes even more reliable with his potty routine.
9/7/2026
Today Cappy and I took a trip to Lake Balboa Park to continue building on his off-leash work, and this boy did a fantastic job! He continues to show just how much he understands his training, and today was a wonderful example of that understanding in action. 🐶👏
Throughout our adventure, Cappy stuck right by my side as we made our way around the park. We had plenty of distractions along the way, with people and dogs passing us by, as well as ducks and other wildlife that naturally caught his attention. I could tell there were plenty of things he was intrigued by and would have loved to go investigate, but instead of letting those distractions pull him away, Cappy exercised some seriously impressive self-control and listened to my direction. What a good boy! ❤️
He also did a wonderful job holding his extended commands while people and dogs passed nearby. Even with all the activity around him, he remained patient and stayed put until he was released. His come to sit was equally impressive, with him coming right back and finishing in position each time it was asked of him. His consistency is really starting to shine!
We also spent some extra time working on his place command, and I’m very happy to report that Cappy has become much more confident with it! He’s needing significantly less encouragement from me to hop onto different surfaces, which is such a fun improvement to watch. It’s clear that as his confidence grows, he’s becoming more willing to trust that when I ask him to do something, he can handle it. 🥰
After such a successful adventure at the park, we headed home for some well-deserved rest. Once Cappy had a chance to recharge, we celebrated all his hard work with some playtime—which he absolutely loved! 🎾🐾
All in all, I’d say we had a great day! I’m incredibly proud of Cappy and his ever-growing confidence. Watching him learn to trust his handler’s direction more and more has been one of the most rewarding parts of his progress. He’s becoming such a confident, thoughtful, and reliable boy!
Way to go, Cappy! Keep up the amazing work! 🐾❤️
9/8/2026
Today Cappy and I headed out to a new local park before the rain started up again to continue working on his off-leash progress. And this little guy did a fantastic job! As usual, Cappy did an excellent job sticking right by my side as we made our way around the park. His extended commands were held with patience, and his come to sit was on point each and every time!
We spent some extra time working on his place command since there were plenty of new and interesting surfaces for him to practice on. Cappy was very brave about hopping onto all of them, only getting a little hung up when I asked him to hop onto a big mushroom that was part of the playground. With a little encouragement and some help from me, Cappy quickly learned that he was totally capable of hopping up onto it and settling into a sit. I was even able to ask him to hop onto it on his own a few more times afterward! And each time, he got so excited, wagging his tail and looking at me so proudly. What a good boy!
After practicing his commands, we spent some time exploring the park together. I let Cappy wander a little ahead of me so he could sniff to his heart’s content, and every once in a while I’d call him back to me to test out his recall. He did an excellent job coming right back to me each time before I released him to continue enjoying his adventure.
All in all, I’d say we had another fantastic adventure! We wrapped things up just in time for the rain to kick up, so the rest of our day was spent relaxing and playing with toys. It’s been so wonderful getting to watch this young fluff’s confidence and understanding of his work grow. He’s such a smart little boy, and I’m so proud of him!
Potty Training Update: Still no accidents! Each time we went out for a potty break, Cappy went potty right on cue. Good boy!
9/9/2026
Today Cappy and I had a bit more of a relaxed day since he has been doing so well with his commands, so we took some time to fine-tune his house manners! Of course, we started our day with a nice long walk around my neighborhood where we practiced his commands along the way. Cappy did fantastic, showing off his understanding of his work while also getting to enjoy some time simply exploring his surroundings. After all, even a hard-working boy deserves a little time to stop and smell the… well, everything!
Once we made our way back home, we got to work on some of Cappy’s everyday manners, focusing on his door manners, car manners, and food manners. These are all things we have been practicing consistently throughout his stay, and it has been great to watch him become more patient and understanding of what is expected of him.
For his door manners, Cappy is asked to remain seated at the doorway rather than bolting through as soon as the door opens. His handler should be able to step past him and even briefly move out of sight while Cappy continues holding his position. At first, Cappy wasn’t quite sure why he couldn’t simply walk through the doorway once it opened—after all, an open door is practically an invitation in his mind! But with consistent practice and repetition, he has learned that an open door does not automatically mean “go.” He is now much more patient about waiting for his release before moving through.
For his car manners, Cappy is again asked to wait patiently beside the vehicle in a seated position while his handler gets everything ready for him. Once he is given the cue “load up!”, he can hop into the car. Cappy was actually pretty patient about waiting for his cue from the start. The bigger hurdle was convincing him that he could, in fact, hop into the car all by himself and that he did not need a little human assistance to get him in! Once that realization finally clicked, his car manners have been smooth sailing.
And then we have his food manners, where Cappy is asked to sit and wait for his handler’s release even after his food has been placed directly in front of him. His handler should be able to step away briefly while
Cappy continues holding his position until he is given the okay to eat. At first, Cappy was understandably very eager to get to his meal and was attempting to dive into the bowl before I could even finish setting it down! But with consistent practice at every meal, he has become much better at controlling that excitement and patiently waiting for his release.
Once we wrapped up our manners practice, we spent the rest of the day hanging out and enjoying some lovely air conditioning, especially since it is quite a warm one outside today. Cappy certainly didn’t seem to have any complaints about our decision to keep things cool and cozy!
All in all, we had another great day, and Cappy continues to make some really nice progress. He has been showing us that he not only understands his commands, but is also learning how to apply that same patience and self-control to his everyday life. Such a good boy! 🐾
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