Elora | Carolina Dog | Los Angeles CA | In-Training
- wendyoffleashsocal
- Feb 26
- 16 min read
Updated: Mar 11
Meet Elora! She is a 6-month-old Carolina Dog from Los Angeles, California, and she is here for our Two-Week Community Board and Train Program.
Elora is a sweet pup who already knows a couple of basic commands, but she tends to pull during walks, jump on people, and engage in play biting. Like many young Husky mixes, she’s full of energy and curiosity — we just need to channel that enthusiasm in the right direction!
Over the next 14 days, Elora will be working on becoming a well-mannered, obedient companion through consistent guidance, clear communication, and balanced training — both at home and while exploring new people and places. We’ll be focusing on:
• Loose leash walking
• Proper greetings (no jumping!)
• Eliminating play biting
• Building impulse control
• Strengthening obedience with distractions
Through structure and consistency, Elora will demonstrate just how great of a pup she can be. I’m excited to help her build confidence, manners, and reliability in real-world settings.
Stay tuned for Elora’s two-week transformation!
Pupdate 2/26/26
Today after pick-up, Elora and I spent some time at the park getting to know each other and assessing what she may or may not already know. During our time there, she showed interest in other dogs she saw from a distance but did not vocally react — which is a great start! All I had to do was redirect her attention back to me, and she was able to continue walking nicely by my side. That’s a big win for Day 1. 👏
When it was time to head home, I guided her to the crate in my car. She had no issue jumping in, which is wonderful. However, I did experience the crying and whining you mentioned regarding her being in the crate. During the ride home, it took her a few minutes to settle, but she eventually relaxed. We’ll be working on building more confidence and comfort in the crate so she understands it’s a safe and positive space.
Once we arrived home, she was introduced to Dottie, my 2-year-old Golden Retriever. Both girls showed good behavior around each other. We went on a structured walk together to help them get better acquainted in a calm setting. I definitely see what you mean about Elora wanting to play! She immediately tried to jump on Dottie and initiate play fighting. Since they are just getting to know one another, that behavior wasn’t allowed. The walk itself went great and helped set a calm tone for their relationship.
As mentioned earlier, Elora does have crate anxiety and is very vocal about not wanting to be inside. I am using plenty of positive reinforcement to reassure her that the crate is a positive and safe place. This will take consistency and patience, but we will help her build that confidence.
Outside of the crate, she is doing well. I have her by my side while I move around the house. Of course, being Day 1, she is exploring and curious about everything — including wanting to jump on furniture and surfaces. The “OFF” command was immediately introduced so we can begin setting clear boundaries from the start.
Today is primarily an acclimation day. Training will be light as I want her to feel comfortable, safe, and confident in her new environment. Building trust comes first. We will be giving her lots of love while also maintaining structure so her experience with us is as positive as possible.
I’m really looking forward to training with Elora and watching her amazing progress over the next two weeks! Stay tuned for more Pupdates!
Pupdate 2/27/26
Today was Elora’s first official day of training, and she did such a great job stepping into her new routine!
E-Collar Introduction
We focused on properly introducing the E-collar. I placed the collar on Elora and allowed her time to acclimate to wearing it before activating anything. After about an hour, we turned it on and carefully determined her working level, which falls between 8–13.
During this process, I kept everything very positive and clear. I used the lowest appropriate level, paired it with commands she already knows, and reinforced compliance with treats. She responded beautifully and quickly began understanding that the stimulation simply indicates a command has been given.
She handled the introduction confidently — great job, Elora! 👏
Please see the attached E-collar tutorial to familiarize yourself with the device Elora will be going home with.
Manners Training – Food Manners
Today’s manners focus was food manners, which plays a big role in building impulse control and self-discipline.
I placed her in a Sit and attempted to set her food bowl down. As expected, she broke position to rush toward the bowl. Each time she broke her Sit, the bowl was calmly picked back up. We repeated this sequence several times until the lightbulb moment happened.
Elora realized that staying in the Sit position is what earns her the ultimate reward — her food! Once she understood the expectation, she held her position beautifully. She caught on quickly and showed great progress for Day 1. So proud of her!
Crate Update
Her first night was a little rough, as she is still adjusting to the crate. However, the crying duration is already shortening. At bedtime, she eventually settled and slept until about 4:00 AM, when she decided it was time to wake everyone up.
She was calmly taken out for a potty break and then returned to the crate. There were brief moments of whining, but she settled herself back down and went to sleep. That’s improvement!
There is definitely progress happening with her crate behavior. I’m continuing to make the crate as positive and reassuring as possible so she builds confidence and security in that space.
Potty Training Update
Elora is currently being taken out every 30–45 minutes. She has had only one accident in the crate while acclimating, which is very normal during transition.
She is doing wonderfully going in the designated potty area. Each successful potty break is celebrated so she understands she made the right choice! As her consistency improves, we will gradually increase the time between potty breaks.
She is doing amazing.
Very proud of Ms. Elora and her progress already! Stay tuned for more updates as we continue building her confidence, structure, and obedience over the next two weeks. 💛🐶
Pupdate 2/28/26
Today we worked on helping Elara acclimate to my home environment. I kept her on a short leash so I could maintain better control in case she tried to get into anything. To my surprise, she was very calm! She followed me around nicely and even chose to lay next to me while I was on the couch and at the table.
She’s doing a great job learning how to relax and wind down while she’s out — such a big win for her!
Potty Training 🚽✨
Elara is doing amazing with her potty training. We’re heading outside every hour and celebrating her each time she’s successful. She’s catching on quickly and putting in the work.
Great job, Elara! 👏🐶
Pupdate 3/1/26
For today’s Pupdate, we introduced Place and Come-to-Sit. These two commands will be used often, so it’s important that Elora learns and masters them. They’ll make your time with her not only easier, but so much more enjoyable.
“Place”
The “Place” command teaches Elora to go to a designated, safe spot—such as a bed, mat, or crate—and remain there calmly until released.
This promotes relaxation, reduces anxiety, and builds confidence. It also strengthens impulse control and helps prevent behaviors like door-dashing, begging, or getting underfoot during busy moments.
Elora is off to a great start with this command and needs very little enticement to get into position. Yay, Elora!
Recall – Come-to-Sit
Recall training is essential for keeping your dog safe and under control in any situation—whether at the park, in your yard, around new people, or near other dogs. A reliable recall provides an extra layer of safety in case your dog slips out of your immediate control or finds herself in a potentially unsafe situation.
As seen in the video, I’m using treats to guide Elora into the proper sit position after she comes to me. We’re shaping the behavior so that “Come” doesn’t just mean run over—it means come directly to my left side and sit politely.
Elora is a very smart pup and is learning little by little each day. She’s a quick learner and doing great!
Pupdate 3/2/26
Today’s session was all about building structure and consistency!
Sit – Duration Work
Elora has shown she understands her “Sit” command very well, so now we’re working on extending her duration. With her energy level, holding a Sit for about 20 seconds is a big accomplishment.
We’re gradually increasing the time little by little. The goal is to build patience and impulse control so she learns that staying in position is just as important as getting into position.
Heel Command
We also officially introduced and reinforced the “Heel” command. As we know, Elora is naturally a puller, so this is a very important skill for her.
When the Heel command is given, she is learning that her job is to stay at my side. Right now, we are using treats to encourage and reward her for staying in position. We are also working with the Heather Hero leash, which helps prevent her from forging ahead.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well she accepted the leash! Many dogs I’ve trained aren’t fans at first, but it doesn’t seem to bother her — and it’s doing a great job helping manage that forward pull while she learns proper leash manners. Great progress here!
Place & Settling Indoors
Indoors, Elora is doing wonderful with her “Place” command on her cot. She genuinely enjoys it! She’ll relax near Dottie or even fall asleep on it on her own. This is a great sign that she’s beginning to understand how to settle and self-regulate inside the home.
Crate Progress
Crate whining is significantly less than before. She’s starting to understand that the crate is her safe place to rest. Most of the whining now happens when she’s testing to see if she can get attention. Once she realizes no one is falling for her tricks, she settles down and goes to sleep. That’s a big win!
Potty Update
She continues to do amazing with potty training. We’ve extended her daytime potty breaks to every hour, and she’s holding it well.
She consistently lets me know around 4:00 AMwhen she needs to go. After her potty break, she goes right back into the crate and settles down to sleep — which shows great improvement in both potty and crate training.
Overall, Elora is absolutely moving in the right direction toward becoming a calmer, more well-rounded pup you can truly enjoy.
So proud of Ms. Little Elora and her steady progress!
Pupdate 3/3/26
For today’s pupdate, we focused on reinforcing Door Manners with Ms. Elora.
We’ve been working on this skill since Day 1, and she is showing great improvement while continuing to build her self-control.
Our main goal with Door Manners is to ensure that Elora does not run out when a door is opened. We are creating an invisible boundary at the threshold, teaching her that an open door does not mean automatic freedom. She must wait for permission before exiting.
These manners are equally important when entering and exiting rooms inside the home. Elora is learning that she cannot just bolt in or out — she must remain calm and controlled. This builds clarity and reinforces that movement happens on permission, not impulse.
For high-energy, strong-willed pups like Elora, mastering the doorway is often one of the first big steps toward becoming a calm and well-balanced companion. The doorway is a high-excitement area, so if she can remain composed there, that discipline will transfer into other areas of her training as well.
Door manners may seem simple, but they are truly foundational to obedience, safety, and overall household structure.
Ms. Elora is definitely moving in the right direction! So proud of her continued progress.
Pupdate 3/4/26
For today’s pupdate we focused on following up with three obedience commands that she has been practicing over the last couple of days. We are working on tuning up her response time when asked. She is a smart girl and definitely shows her colors when she is feeling a little annoyed.
We are keeping our training sessions to about 15–20 minutes at a time since she is still a pup and learning patience. As she gets older, you can gradually increase her training time to longer sessions.
As you can see in the video, Ms. Elora is already learning to extend her sit time and is doing much better with her recall command. Although we are still using the leash, I am holding it loosely to allow her the opportunity to make the right decision on her own. If she does not comply, I use the leash to gently guide her into completing the command correctly. Overall, she is moving in the right direction. She is a smart girl, and I am extremely proud of her learning abilities.
Crate Training
Elora is not a big fan of the crate. Although she has improved significantly, she does still whine and bite at it. I would recommend getting her an anti-anxiety style crate, as it would be safer for her. She is still biting and scratching at my crate when she wants out, but when no attention is given to her tantrums, she eventually settles down. She has improved so much, but she definitely prefers being outside of the crate with someone nearby.
Crates are meant to keep dogs safe, so by consistently using one with Elora, she will eventually become more comfortable with it.
Potty Training Update
She is now on a potty schedule every 1 to 1.5 hours and is successfully completing her breaks outside. With consistency, she has been able to understand where her designated potty area is.
She is still a ball of fire, but with continuous and balanced training, she is learning how to settle down nicely.
I’m very proud of her progress!
Pupdate 3/5/26
For today’s Pupdate, we took Elora to Constitution Park where we met with another Off Leash trainer and gave Elora the opportunity to socialize with a few other pups. Elora was very curious about them and interacted nicely. It was great to see her confidence while meeting new dogs.
During our outing we focused on introducing the Gentle Leader and working on Elora’s heel skills. Ms. Elora tends to start the walk very excited and naturally wants to lead the way, but with the Gentle Leader we are teaching her how to walk calmly alongside the person walking her. This tool helps guide her and reinforces the expectation that she should stay next to the handler instead of pulling ahead.
Keep in mind that this is only day 7 of her training. Although she is like a sponge and learns quickly, it is very important that she continues on a consistent and structured routine so she can keep developing strong obedience habits. I’m glad to hear that you are already starting to create a routine for her at home, and I strongly encourage incorporating some of the same training exercises we are practicing so she can continue strengthening her obedience and recognition of commands.
Crate Training Update
As we have discussed regarding her future crate, I strongly recommend anti-anxiety crates for Ms. Elora. Although she has shown significant progress in the short time she has been with me, her crate anxiety will not completely disappear overnight. Being confined is still something she doesn’t enjoy, so she may vocalize her dislike when placed in her crate.
When she goes home with you, patience will be key. She may become vocal and try to convince you to let her out. Eventually, when she realizes that her protests are not working, she will settle down and relax in her space.
Big WIN! Last night was the first night Ms. Elora slept through the entire night. It warmed my heart this morning to see that she was quiet and calm when it was time for her morning potty break.
Potty Training Update
Ms. Elora is doing great with her potty training and is able to hold it a little longer each day, which is a great sign of progress.
Pupdate 3/6/26
For today’s Pupdate, Elora and I took a trip to our local park to help her learn that it’s okay to simply sit down and enjoy the scenery. Since she is a high-drive pup, I wanted to place her in a public environment with plenty of distractions and noises so she could practice remaining calm and composed.
Ms. Elora was very interested in the kids playing soccer and the dogs playing in the distance, but she did a great job controlling herself and relaxing with me on the bench. Awesome job, Elora!
One thing I’ve noticed about Elora is that she likes to test her limits. Once she receives a little assertive guidance, she quickly settles down and begins to listen. This is completely natural, as she is still a young pup learning how to manage her personality and impulses.
As I’ve mentioned before, with consistency she will continue to develop into a well-balanced pup. She is already showing so much improvement, and I’m very proud of her!
Pupdate 3/7/26
For today’s Pupdate, we focused on Elora’s heeling. Elora is starting to understand the concept of walking calmly beside me and automatically going into a sit when I stop. As we continue practicing our heel, she is gaining more confidence in herself and becoming more comfortable with the exercise.
During our walk, there were a few distractions that caught her attention. However, with a low stimulation correction, she was able to refocus and correct herself. She is still working on leash for now, but we are building toward being fully off-leash in the next day or so. I will continue to monitor her readiness and willingness to work off leash, as she is still somewhat dependent on the leash for guidance.
Potty Training:
As I continue to extend the time between potty breaks to over an hour, she has been doing well overall. She did have one accident today, but that is completely okay—it's all part of the learning process. Currently, we are working within the 1 to 1.5 hour range for potty breaks. Overall, she is doing great, and with time she will learn to hold it longer. She consistently holds it overnight while in her crate, so that has not been an issue.
With her young age, consistency in training is key. Each day she continues to make progress, and step by step she is well on her way to becoming a well-mannered pup.
Pupdate 3/8/26
For today’s Pupdate, we challenged Elora by walking without holding the leash. She started off with a lot of excitement and initially wanted to do her own thing, but with a low stim she was able to settle down and understand that she needed to listen to what I was asking. During our heel walk, I was also able to incorporate the other commands she has been practicing. Elora was on a roll and did very well for her first time working with that level of freedom. With consistent and continued practice, Elora will gradually become more dialed in to the commands. It is important to continue with daily 10–15 minute sessions to keep improving these techniques and reinforcing the commands. Elora is showing great understanding, and now our focus is teaching her patience so she can hold the commands for longer periods of time.
For the second session, Elora practiced her door manners, and we challenged her once again by not holding the leash. This time she focused on practicing self-control by not running out the door. She did amazing! She is heading in the right direction and slowly maturing day by day.
I am very proud of her. Yay Elora!
Pupdate 3/9/26
For today’s training adventure, we took a trip to Whittier Narrows where we met up with several Off Leash trainers and their training pups. During this time, we took the opportunity to socialize Elora even more and put her to the test by practicing her commands off leash around them.
Although she was very tempted to run off and play with the other dogs, she showed great self-control—with a little bit of guidance from me. The more time we spent around the other pups, the more comfortable she became and she chose not to break her commands to run over to them. She stayed focused and worked very well. Ms. Elora is definitely showing some maturity, and I am so proud of her!
Later in the day, we visited another park where we put all of her commands to the test and went fully off leash. Let me just say how AMAZING she did! Not only did she complete all of her commands, but she also discovered what squirrels are and decided to have a staring contest with one of them. Even with that big distraction, she listened to my commands and did not take off after it.
As young as she is, we have been putting in the work every day, and today really showed that all of our efforts are paying off. With all the time and dedication we’ve invested, she has learned so much. She has proven that the little dog from the street may still be a work in progress, but she is absolutely capable of becoming a well-balanced pup. I am extremely proud of Ms. Elora, and it makes me so happy to see that she is understanding everything—even with her high-anxiety attitude (gotta love her!).
Crate Training Update:
The only time she becomes vocal is when someone in the room leaves. She doesn’t like when a person exits the room—even if someone else is still there. However, she does settle down and get over it after a little time.
Potty Training Update:
We are still in the 1.5-hour range and have been staying consistent with her potty breaks. Her stool has been very soft, so I’m not sure if her stomach is agreeing with her current food. You may want to consult with her vet about that. She has been having some good days and some not-so-good days with it.
Pupdate 3/10/26
For today’s training day, we followed up on Elora’s manners and tested how dialed in she is—completely off leash. Talk about progress from Day 1! On her first day, she had little recognition of the commands and needed guidance from the leash. Today, she is performing everything off leash and responding to the guidance of my voice. I am so proud of how far Ms. Elora has come. I am such a proud momma trainer!
She has shown how much she has learned through consistency. We have put in so many repetitions, and she has truly grasped the concepts. Now it will be time to continue her journey with you once she goes home.
I am very excited to show you all the work she has put in. Ms. Elora will be ready to show off all of her learned skills!
Door Manners
For Door Manners, you can place a mat down for Place, or simply put her in a Sit or Down position and reinforce the command you want her to hold. As you can see in the video, she is now mastering her extended stay at the door without trying to rush through it. Yay Elora!
Food Manners
Ms. Elora is always very happy and eager to receive her food bowl, so it is very important that she is placed in a Sit or Down before the food bowl is placed on the floor. Make sure she does not break her command. If she does break it, reset her and do not allow her to get the food yet. Ask for the Sit or Down again, place the bowl on the floor, and then give her the release command so she can go enjoy her meal.
Car Manners
For Car Manners, walk her up to the car door and place her in a Sit or Down by the door. Open the door first, and once she remains calm and holds the command, release her by saying “Load Up!”
Elora is doing amazing, and I am so incredibly proud of her!
Pupdate 3/11/26
For today’s Final Pupdate, I want to express how proud I am of Elora and the progress she has made over the last couple of weeks. She has shown so much growth in such a short amount of time. It’s almost as if she understood the assignment and knew it was nearly time to return to her Fur-ever home as a more well-mannered and confident young pup.
Elora came to us with lots of sass and personality, but she has learned how to settle into her space. Although she can still be a little vocal at times, she is learning that it’s okay to have alone time and to feel confident knowing that someone will always come back for her when it’s time to leave the crate. She has made great improvements with the puppy habits she arrived with and is learning that unwanted behaviors will not be allowed. She has truly come a long way.
For our final training day, we put Elora to the test by having her heel alongside Dottie. This was a great exercise for practicing self-control since Elora absolutely loves to play with Dottie. It was wonderful to see her understanding and execution of all the commands she has been learning. Way to go, Elora!
It has truly been a pleasure working with Ms. Elora and watching her grow over these past 14 days. I’m very proud of the progress she has made and excited for her to continue thriving once she returns home.
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