Chocolate Labrador Retriever Dog Training | Bruno | Los Angeles, CA
- OffLeash SoCal
- 3 days ago
- 13 min read
Bruno, Chocolate Labrador Retriever from Los Angeles, CA went through the Balanced Canine Training SoCal Board and Train dog training program. Bruno was trained by Priscilla Khor in Rowland Heights, CA.
Bruno came to Balanced Canine Training SoCal with varying behavioral issues, including pulling on the leash, squirrel chasing, jumping up when greeting, counter surfing, generally not listening to commands, and barking at strangers. Balanced Canine Training SoCal was successful in transforming Bruno into a well-managed pup.
The dog trainers at Balanced Canine Training SoCal are here to help you and your dog be as amazing as our before and after videos!
Contact us today! (562) 448-3774
Pupdates:
Meet Bruno! This lively 5-month-old Chocolate Lab from Los Angeles has joined our Three-Week Board and Train Program to work on his manners and impulse control. Bruno is a friendly and playful pup, but his excitement often leads to jumping on people—especially children—and nibbling on hands and arms instead of enjoying calm affection. He also has a habit of grabbing anything within reach, and struggles to stay still when asked. Over the next three weeks, we'll be focusing on improving Bruno’s obedience, teaching him to greet people politely, and helping him develop better impulse control. Stay tuned for his three-week transformation!
Pupdate 3/22/25
Bruno has officially started his training journey, and he’s already making strides! His first day was full of excitement—especially when he met my dog. The two played hard, burning off plenty of energy, which made it much easier for Bruno to settle into his crate without a fuss. This was a great way for him to start adjusting to his new routine.
One challenge we quickly discovered is that Bruno isn’t a fan of getting into the car. He seems hesitant, possibly associating it with trips to the vet, so we’ll be working on building his confidence with car rides. Another area of difficulty has been leash pressure—Bruno is quite stubborn and resists guidance when being led. However, after introducing the e-collar, he picked up on it surprisingly well! While he still shows some of that independent streak, the e-collar has helped reinforce commands he already knows, like “come” and “sit,” keeping him accountable for following through.
Bruno is off to a strong start, and we’re excited to see how he continues to progress over the next two weeks. Stay tuned for more updates on his transformation!
Pupdate 3/23/25
Bruno is already making progress in his training! Today, he showed amazing improvement in his ability to hold his “sit” and “place” commands for longer periods, demonstrating increased patience and impulse control. He also took a big step in overcoming his hesitation with the weighing scale, gaining confidence in a previously uncertain situation.
Our outdoor training session around the neighborhood was another huge success. We started with door manners, ensuring that transitioning from inside to outside wasn’t an overexciting event. From there, we worked on “sit” and “down” in the driveway before gradually making our way down the sidewalk. During our walk, I introduced the “heel” command, and Bruno is already showing early signs of understanding it. His natural curiosity had him eager to sniff flowers and take in all the outdoor scents, but by the end of our session, he was walking nicely without much pulling.
Bruno had a big day of learning and hard work, and it certainly wore him out! He’s progressing wonderfully, and we can’t wait to see how much more he accomplishes. Stay tuned for more updates on his transformation!
Pupdate 3/24/25
Bruno is making fantastic progress in his training! Today, we focused heavily on his heel command at the park, and he’s picking it up quickly. He’s learning to stay by my side and is doing a great job checking in with me while walking, showing improved focus and engagement.
His place command is also coming along beautifully—Bruno has learned to hold his position even when other dogs are around, which is a huge step in his impulse control. Additionally, he’s improving in his sit and down commands, understanding that he needs to hold the position until released, rather than deciding on his own when to move.
One challenge that remains is his hesitation with jumping into the car. While he’s still a bit unsure, he’s completely comfortable settling into his crate once inside, so we’ll continue working to build his confidence with getting in on his own.
Bruno is making steady progress every day, and we’re excited to see how much more he improves! Stay tuned for his transformation!
Pupdate 3/25/25
Bruno had another big day of learning and exploring! Today, we took a trip to Home Depot, where he got to practice his heel and place commands in a brand-new environment. He’s picking up on heel really well, staying by my side even in a busier setting. However, meeting new people is still a bit too exciting for him, so we’ll continue working on helping him stay calm and composed during greetings.
One new challenge we discovered today is that Bruno is hesitant about stepping up onto things, like stairs. This is something we’ll be focusing on to build his confidence with different surfaces and obstacles. Additionally, he’s still struggling with getting into the car on his own, though once inside, he’s perfectly comfortable in his crate. We’ll continue working through these hesitations to help him feel more confident in all aspects of his training.
Bruno is learning so much every day, and his progress is really starting to show! Stay tuned for more updates on his transformation!
Pupdate 3/26/25
Today’s pupdate is about how Bruno is learning his come to sit! This video will help you understand how to handle him and what to expect from him as well. He’s learning fast!
Pupdate 3/27/25
Bruno had another great day of training and exploration! Today, we visited some shops to work on his heel and in-store manners. At first, he had some trouble staying by my side, but after a few minutes of practice, he quickly remembered what to do. Once inside, his curiosity took over, and he was eager to sniff everything around him. However, as we worked, he began checking in with me more and more, and by the end of our trip, he was consistently looking up at me instead of focusing on the products—a huge improvement in his engagement!
Bruno is also making great strides in his heel, requiring less leash pressure as he becomes more reliable in maintaining position. Additionally, we worked on holding his sit and down commands with more distance between us, and he handled it with no issues, showing great patience and control.
Today was all about reinforcing good behavior in new environments, and Bruno did an excellent job! We’re excited to continue building on this progress. In addition, I’ve made you a video going over the e collar system we are using every day! Stay tuned for more updates on his transformation!
Pupdate 3/28/25
Today’s pupdate is going over Bruno’s sit command! He’s a little stubborn at times, but he’s learning that I will always hold him accountable. I also have a video about Bruno’s drinking habits.. and how we’ve managed it. Let me know if you’d like the bowl to be sent home with him, and we can set up arrangements!
Pupdate 3/29/25
Bruno had another productive day of training and new experiences! We continued visiting shops to practice his heel, as well as his “come to sit” command. While he’s still struggling a bit with the positioning in “come to sit,” the store aisles helped guide him into a better understanding of where he should be.
One unexpected moment today was that Bruno had an accident in the store, which was surprising since he typically prefers to potty only at home. This will be something to keep an eye on as we continue taking him to new environments.
On a positive note, Bruno is making great progress with car loading! His biggest challenge has been learning how to jump in general, but he’s slowly figuring it out. To help him build more excitement and confidence, I’ve started feeding him his breakfast in the car—half before getting in and half after arriving at our destination. This has already made a big difference, and he’s showing much more interest in getting into the car on his own.
Bruno is improving every day, and it’s exciting to see him overcome his challenges! Stay tuned for more updates on his transformation!
Pupdate 3/30/25
Today’s pupdate is on how Bruno is learning to lay down on command, and how I’m teaching him stability in it! He is expected to stay in all of his commands until we release him, and down is a good one to teach him accountability.
Pupdate 3/31/25
Bruno is making fantastic strides in his training! Today, we took a trip to the park to refine his off-leash heel, and while the walk from the car to the tables was a challenge due to his excitement, he quickly settled into the environment. Once he adjusted, he was able to perform all his commands with focus and confidence.
We also worked on cleaning up his “come to sit” by teaching him to do a smooth U-turn behind me without getting distracted. He’s catching on quickly, showing improved precision and understanding of the movement. His off-leash heel is looking great as well—he’s consistently checking in with me, which is a huge step in his engagement and reliability.
Bruno is also gaining a lot of confidence with his jumping! Today, he was able to jump onto the park tables as well as into the car, which is a huge breakthrough. He’s definitely learning to use his hops, and it’s exciting to see his confidence growing in this area.
That said, Bruno is still working through some puppy excitement when he sees other dogs. He has a tendency to stray forward, eager to play, so we’re reinforcing calm behavior around distractions. His curious nose is another challenge, as he’s drawn to all the interesting scents on the ground, but we’re continuing to work on keeping his focus up and maintaining proper heel position.
Bruno is showing so much progress, and with each session, he’s becoming more refined in his training. Stay tuned for more updates on his transformation!
Pupdate 4/1/25
Today’s pupdate is on Bruno’s heel command! He’s gotten a lot better with it already and can do it off leash, but the video shows you how to handle him with the leash. He’s definitely using a lot of his puppy brain to stay close during this command!
Pupdate 4/2/25
Bruno is continuing to impress with his progress! Today, we took a trip to the mall to work on all of his off-leash manners, and he did an incredible job staying right by my side the entire time. His engagement and focus have improved so much, making our training sessions smoother and more enjoyable.
His sit and down commands are rock solid—he remains in position until given the “break” command without any issue. His “come to sit” is still a work in progress, but it has come a long way from where we started. He’s now understanding the U-turn motion much better, and we’re just fine-tuning the positioning of his sit to make it more precise.
Bruno’s “come to heel” is something he’s picking up with ease, and his heel itself is looking fantastic! He stays engaged with me the whole time, demonstrating confidence and control in a busy environment.
Bruno is becoming more polished with each session, and we’re so excited to see him put all these skills together! Stay tuned for more updates on his transformation!
Pupdate 4/3/25
Today’s pupdate is on Bruno’s place command! He’s learning to stay in this one while I am doing housework or need him to calm down, and it really helps him stay in one area while I cannot give all my attention to him. This command is good for getting him away from the pizza delivery man at the door, or if he needs to stay out of the way during a house party. He loves just laying down and sleeping on the place cot!
Pupdate 4/4/25
Bruno had an exciting off-leash adventure at Home Depot today, and he handled it like a champ! We walked through the busy aisles filled with people, noises, and even another dog in training. His heel was steady and focused, only straying slightly when we passed the other pup. Even then, a couple gentle reminders were all he needed to get right back into position—a big win for his impulse control!
One of the highlights of the day was Bruno’s growing confidence with jumping onto different place objects. He had no hesitation hopping onto the bright orange carts, even though they moved and made quite a bit of noise. His stability and trust are really shining through.
Despite the distractions of large machinery and a bustling environment, Bruno held his commands with confidence and focus. He’s proving to be a brave, attentive pup and it’s incredible to see how far he’s come. Stay tuned for more of his transformation!
Pupdate 4/5/25
Happy 6-month birthday, Bruno!
Bruno’s birthday party was all about celebrating him and his big milestone—and he had the best time at his birthday party! Surrounded by his doggy friends, Bruno proudly wore a party hat and took center stage as the star of the show. With his newfound confidence, he hopped right up onto the picnic table and posed like a champ while all his friends gathered around him.
It was definitely a high-distraction environment with all the excitement, but Bruno handled it like a pro. He stayed on the table confidently, even with the extra energy from his party guests. A few treats helped him feel even better about wearing his birthday hat, and he looked absolutely adorable!
We’re so proud of how far Bruno has come—not just in his training, but in his confidence, focus, and ability to enjoy new experiences. Happy birthday, Bruno!
Pupdate 4/6/25
Today, Bruno took on one of his biggest challenges yet—off-leash obedience at the bustling pier! With crowds, kids, birds, and tons of distractions all around, it was the perfect test of his focus and training.
Bruno did an awesome job staying in his heel, staying close and engaged as we navigated through the crowds. The biggest temptations were kids and birds—he couldn’t help but stray a little to check them out—but with a quick reminder, he snapped right back into position. He also got to work on his place and under commands using the benches that lined the pier, and we incorporated extended sit and down holds throughout our outing. He handled all of it with great composure!
We also had plenty of opportunities to practice greeting manners, and Bruno is showing great improvement. He’s learning to stay seated when meeting new people, though he still can’t resist rolling over or handing out a few too many kisses—but hey, that’s just Bruno’s sweet personality shining through.
All in all, Bruno stayed closely connected and responsive through one of his busiest environments yet. He’s becoming more confident and reliable every day, and it’s a joy to see him handle the world with such enthusiasm and growing control. Stay tuned for more Bruno adventures!
Pupdate 4/7/25
Today’s pupdate is all about Bruno’s big breakthrough with car loading—and we couldn’t be more proud of him!
When Bruno first arrived, getting him into the car was a major struggle. Whether it was during pickup or the first few outings, he made it very clear that he wanted nothing to do with jumping into the car. He seemed overwhelmed and unsure, often acting like the world was ending every time we tried. But we took our time, broke things down, and helped Bruno understand that the car isn’t such a scary place after all.
To build positive associations, we started feeding him at least one meal a day in the car. It didn’t take long before he began showing real interest in hopping in on his own. The next step was helping him believe he could actually make the jump. We began with small confidence boosters—jumping onto the couch at home, then a bench outside—and before long, Bruno was making the leap into the car itself!
In today’s video, Bruno was given the option for a running start, but since it was a warm day, he wasn’t feeling too energetic. Even so, he confidently jumped straight up from right below the lip of the trunk—no hesitation, no fear. I use the cue “up” to tell him to get in the car, and “go to bed” when I want him to head into his crate in the back.
It’s been a journey, but Bruno has truly come a long way. From car ride anxiety to confident car jumper, we’re so proud of the progress he’s made. Keep it up, Bruno!
Pupdate 4/8/25
Bruno had another great day of training as we took on the mall to fine-tune his off-leash obedience! He handled it like a pro, staying focused and responsive even with all the sights, sounds, and strangers around.
We had some great opportunities to work on his greeting manners today. Bruno stayed in a sit while meeting a few friendly strangers, and while he leaned into his old habit of rolling over for belly rubs, he was able to keep himself in check and remain seated the entire time—huge progress for this sweet, wiggly boy!
We also practiced his under command in tight spaces and spent some time cleaning up his come-to-sit positioning. He’s really starting to dial it in and show consistency. His off-leash heel is looking sharp too—super reliable, and he stays right by my side. One of the best moments was watching him sprint to catch up into heel when I walked off from a sit without warning—he was all business and all heart!
Bruno continues to impress and make big strides. He’s becoming a well-mannered, confident pup, and it’s a joy to see his personality and training shine through in busy environments like this!
Pupdate 4/9/25
Today’s pupdate is all about Bruno’s door manners—an important skill that sets the tone for every outing, and one he’s made incredible progress with!
Over the past three weeks, Bruno and I have built a consistent routine around exiting the house. Before any outdoor adventure, Bruno is expected to sit calmly while I open the door, get myself ready, and give him the go-ahead to follow. At first, this was a big challenge—he used to burst with excitement the moment the door cracked open, eager to race outside. But now, he’s showing awesome impulse control and understands that patience earns him freedom.
In today’s video, I asked him to come through the door directly, but another option we’ve practiced is calling him into a heel as we walk through the door together. Both versions help reinforce his calm mindset and attentiveness. It’s such a shift from our early days when the idea of going outside meant instant overexcitement.
Now, Bruno walks calmly beside me in a heel all the way to the car, and even loads up without any issues. His ability to manage his energy and focus through that transition shows just how far he’s come. Way to go, Bruno!
Pupdate 4/10/25
Today’s pupdate is about Bruno’s visit back to the pier to fine-tune his off-leash obedience—a big step in wrapping up his training journey!
We spent some time working through all his commands in the middle of the busy pier environment. While Bruno was cooperative and followed through, his energy was definitely on the lower side today. He wasn’t as enthusiastic as usual, but he still gave a solid effort and stuck with me, even when distractions were high.
We ran into a bit of a challenge with the benches—he was hesitant to jump up on them at first, likely due to the height or surface. He needed a few tries and some encouragement, but eventually got the hang of it. By the end, he was able to hop up on the benches with more ease and also settled nicely underneath them when I asked him to “under.”
Even though today wasn’t his most energetic performance, Bruno showed that he understands what’s being asked of him and is willing to try, even when he’s not feeling 100%. Sometimes the quieter days show just how much a dog really knows—and Bruno held it down well!
Pupdate 4/11/25
Today’s pupdate is all about Bruno’s greeting manners—and wow, what a difference a few weeks make!
Bruno and I headed back to the pier, where he got the chance to meet a variety of new people. In this video, you’ll see us practicing something we’ve been working hard on: staying in a sit while being greeted and pet by strangers.
He’s come a long way from the days of jumping up with excitement and breaking his commands. Now, Bruno understands that he must be calm and in a sit or place before anyone gets to say hello—and more importantly, he knows to stay there during the interaction, too.
I’m really proud of how far he’s come with this—it’s a huge step in making him a polite, well-mannered pup!
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