Frankie | English Cream Retriever | La Canada Flintridge, CA | In Training
- shannonoffleashsoc
- Jan 27
- 13 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Meet Frankie!
Frankie is a one-and-a-half-year-old English Cream Retriever from La Canada Flintridge, California who has just joined us for our two-week Community & Board Program. Frankie is incredibly sweet, outgoing, and full of energy. She is very social with both people and other dogs and genuinely wants to say hello to everyone she meets. Frankie has a friendly, enthusiastic personality and enjoys being out and about, especially in stimulating environments where there is a lot to see and smell.
At this stage, Frankie struggles with pulling on the leash, frequent sniffing, and maintaining focus when given commands. While she has been introduced to basic obedience, she does not consistently follow through and needs help building reliability and engagement. She will also be working on crate training and reducing excessive barking. Our goal over the two-week training program is to improve her impulse control, strengthen her obedience, and ultimately work toward a calm, responsive dog that can be trusted off leash. Stay tuned to Frankie's wonderful progress!
01/27/2026
Dog's Name: | Frankie | Trainer's Name: | Shannon | |||||||||
Breed | English Cream Retriever | Age: | 1.5 | Weight: | 66 | |||||||
Date: | 11/5/2025 | |||||||||||
NA | NA | Amount Consumed: | NA | |||||||||
Evening Feeding Amount: | 2 - Scoop | Amount Consumed: | Ate 75% | |||||||||
2 Week Community & Board | ||||||||||||
01/28/2026
After breakfast this morning, Frankie and I went on a three-mile run, where she was held on a heel command for the entire distance. During the run, we introduced additional commands such as “Leave It” and “Break.” Frankie did very well overall and definitely set the pace for the run—she has plenty of energy! I did need to remind her not to forge toward bushes to sniff, as she attempted to check the ground frequently. However, she quickly learned that sniffing was only allowed for a brief moment before returning to her heel position.
We ran along Foothill Blvd., which is a semi-busy street with a fair amount of noise and activity. Frankie briefly lost concentration when exposed to loud sounds such as motorcycles, trucks with rattling cargo, and cars driving over sewer covers. Despite these distractions, she recovered well and continued working. She also made frequent eye contact with passing cars, which clearly brought smiles to several people heading to work. Overall, it was a productive session that challenged her focus while reinforcing structure and engagement in a stimulating environment.
After our run, Frankie was placed in the dog run/kennel, where she demonstrated some excessive barking. This was expected given that she is in a new environment—a home away from home—and is still adjusting to the change. To help provide comfort, I placed my dog in the room with her, which did help to a degree, though she continued to be vocal.
At this stage, Frankie appears more comfortable being inside the house with people, which aligns with her social and people-oriented personality. This gives us a clear starting point for her crate and kennel training. We will continue to work on building her confidence and calmness in the kennel through structured exposure, consistency, and positive associations so she can learn to settle comfortably on her own.
Frankie and I headed out to train at Recreation Park Skatepark in Monroiva, where the environment was full of real-world distractions. There were people playing basketball nearby, tennis matches happening behind us, and skateboarders passing by at a steady pace. This setting gave Frankie the opportunity to work through multiple sights and sounds while staying engaged in her training.
During this session, we focused on her “Heel,” “Auto Sit,” and “Sit to Come” commands. Despite the high level of activity around us, Frankie managed to keep her focus and respond well to direction. She showed a strong effort to stay connected and worked through the distractions with consistency, making this a very successful and confidence-building training session for her.
Dog's Name: | Frankie | Trainer's Name: | Shannon | |||||||||
Breed | English Cream Retriever | Age: | 1.5 | Weight: | 66 | |||||||
Date: | 11/5/2025 | |||||||||||
Morning Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 80% | |||||||||
Evening Feeding Amount: | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 75% | |||||||||
Trained at Recreation Park Skatepark | ||||||||||||
01/29/2026
Frankie is adapting to the crate quickly and showing nice progress. While it was a bit more challenging at first to get her into the crate in the car, she surprised us this morning by jumping in with ease. We are still seeing some barking when she is separated and placed in the dog run, which is common as she continues adjusting to being alone in a new environment. I will continue working with her on calm, structured alone time to help her build confidence and settle more comfortably when separated.
We are preparing to go for a run this morning using only the e-collar and a flat collar. Frankie is accustomed to the prong collar and responds well to that form of correction, but I’ve noticed that when she is limited to just the flat collar, she tends to test boundaries by pulling and losing focus. This run will help reinforce consistency, accountability, and responsiveness regardless of the equipment being used, encouraging her to remain engaged and respectful of commands in all situations.
Frankie did great on our run today. She started out excited and a bit overstimulated, which is very normal for her, but by the second half of the run she settled in and adapted quickly. Once she found her rhythm, she maintained a very controlled heel and showed much better focus and responsiveness.
I only needed to give her a verbal “Heel,” followed by praise, to keep her in position. This shows a big step forward in her understanding and follow-through, especially as she learned to regulate her energy and work through the initial excitement. Overall, this was a strong session that highlighted her progress in structure, engagement, and self-control.
Today we continued working on Frankie’s “Heel,” “Auto Sit” and "Come to Sit." commands. I initially used treats as a gentle guide to help communicate where I wanted her position to be and when to sit, reinforcing clarity and confidence in the expectations.
As the session progressed, I reduced the use of treats and encouraged Frankie to think through the commands and respond on her own. She did well adjusting to this change, showing a growing understanding of the behaviors without relying heavily on food rewards. This is an important step toward building reliability and responsiveness based on structure and communication rather than constant reinforcement.
Dog's Name: | Frankie | Trainer's Name: | Shannon | |||||||||
Breed | English Cream Retriever | Age: | 1.5 | Weight: | 66 | |||||||
Date: | 11/5/2025 | |||||||||||
Morning Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 75% | |||||||||
Evening Feeding Amount: | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 100% | |||||||||
Went to Monrovia Library Park | ||||||||||||
01/30/2026
This morning, I noticed great progress from Frankie in the dog run/kennel while she was eating her breakfast and I was getting ready for the day. She is clearly adapting to the run, with a noticeable reduction in barking, and is becoming more comfortable spending time on her own. This is a positive step forward in building her independence and confidence in new environments.
Frankie is still a bit sensitive to loud noises. At the start of our run, a garbage truck pulled up next to us, which startled her and caused her to try to bolt. After some reassurance, she was able to settle, though continued exposure to everyday city sounds will be important for her confidence moving forward. Overall, she did great on the run today and only needed a few reminders to stay focused, showing steady improvement in her composure and responsiveness.
Today, Frankie and I continued working on her “Heeling” and “Auto-Sit” using a 15-foot leash. This added a bit of challenge for her at first, but she quickly adjusted and began to understand how to maintain position and engagement even with the extra freedom.
We also worked on her “Extended Sit” and introduced the “Down” command. Frankie responded very well to the new cue, though she couldn’t resist having a little fun by rolling onto her back and being silly. I used a treat to gently redirect her back into position, and she caught on quickly. Overall, it was a productive session that balanced learning, focus, and Frankie’s playful personality.
Date: | 1/30/2026 | |||||||||||
Morning Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 70% | |||||||||
Evening Feeding Amount: | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 90% | |||||||||
Went Live Oak Park | ||||||||||||
01/31/2026
Frankie is definitely becoming more comfortable staying here, and more of her personality is starting to come out. Last night, when Frankie and Millie, my 9-year-old German Shepherd, were in the backyard going potty, Frankie took the initiative to start playing with Millie. Millie was equally engaged and playful, which made for a fun and positive interaction between the two dogs. That said, I did notice that Frankie can start to get a bit carried away and play a little rough at times. I will continue to monitor their interactions closely and clearly indicate to Frankie when play becomes too intense, redirecting her behavior as needed. This will help her learn appropriate play boundaries while still allowing her to enjoy healthy, structured social interactions.
Today I had my assistant (my daughter) with me, and we took Frankie and Millie out for an hour-long walk. Frankie was initially excited to have a furry companion by her side, but she settled down quickly once the walk got underway. She adapted well to following Millie’s lead and moved comfortably within a calm, structured pack. Frankie maintained a good position and awareness, showing a perfect pack mentality throughout the walk. Frankie remained on a “Heel” for the entire duration of the walk and consistently "Auto-Sat" at stop signs and red signals. She was also given appropriate “Break” opportunities to sniff and say hello to a fellow walker when interest was expressed. This was a great experience for her, reinforcing confidence, social balance, and appropriate behavior alongside another dog.
The barking has reduced significantly, and Frankie is demonstrating much more confidence when spending time by herself. She is learning how to settle and self-regulate in the dog run, which is an important step in her overall training and independence. If she begins to bark, a simple reminder that the behavior is not tolerable has been effective in redirecting her. This shows she is understanding expectations and responding well to clear, consistent boundaries. Overall, this is great progress and a clear sign that she is becoming more comfortable and confident in her environment.
Frankie is still pulling a bit when we first get out of the car and walk toward the grass at the park, but once we get into the groove of training, she does great. This initial excitement is very common, and she settles quickly once expectations are clear and structure is in place. We are continuing to tighten up her “Recall” and “Auto-Sit.” She does need some guidance once she makes the turn behind, which is also very typical for most dogs, but she is improving with clear direction. Her “Extended Sit” and “Extended Down” are coming along nicely, showing better patience and impulse control. We also continued working on Frankie’s “Place” command, reinforcing a calm, relaxed down stay. Overall, she is making steady progress and becoming more consistent in her responses.
Date: | 1/31/2026 | |||||||||||
Morning Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 95% | |||||||||
Evening Feeding Amount: | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 90% | |||||||||
Monrovia Library Park | ||||||||||||
02/01/2026
Today’s training focused on reinforcing Frankie’s core obedience skills, including “Sit,” “Heel,” “Auto-Sit,” “Extended Stay,” and “Place.” These commands help build structure, clarity, and impulse control, especially in both active and calm environments. Frankie continues to show improvement in understanding expectations, particularly with maintaining position and holding commands for longer durations.
We also introduced a different training device called Heather’s Heroes Sidekick, which is similar in concept to a horse bridle. Just as a bridle serves as a primary form of communication between a rider and a horse, the Sidekick functions as a clear and effective communication tool between handler and dog. Frankie responded well to this device, showing increased awareness and responsiveness, which helped refine her movements and attention during training.
In addition to obedience work, we continued focusing on house manners. This includes calm behavior indoors, respecting boundaries, and settling appropriately when asked. These skills are essential for creating a well-mannered companion at home and help reinforce the training she is learning outside. Overall, Frankie is making steady progress, and these sessions are strengthening both her obedience and her ability to make better choices in everyday situations.
Date: | 2/1/2026 | |||||||||||
Morning Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 90% | |||||||||
Evening Feeding Amount: | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 85% | |||||||||
Recreation Park Skatepark | ||||||||||||
02/02/2026
Frankie did great today and continues to show impressive progress with the Sidekick collar. She is responding so well that I was able to remove the second portion from her muzzle, which encouraged her to do more of the work independently. This showed a clear improvement in her understanding of pressure, release, and communication through the tool.
We spent time drilling her “Recall,” with a strong focus on her turn and proper placement at the finish. Frankie is clearly working to please, which is making the training smoother and more productive. Her willingness to engage and try has noticeably increased, and she is becoming more confident in her responses.
She is also doing much better around distractions. Previously, she would scan the environment and lose focus, but now she is staying connected and prioritizing commands over outside stimuli. This level of focus is a big step forward and shows that her training is starting to translate into real-world reliability.
Date: | 2/2/2026 | |||||||||||
Morning Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 100% | |||||||||
Evening Feeding Amount: | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 85% | |||||||||
Rotary Park, Monrovia | ||||||||||||
02/03/2026
Today, Frankie and I met Mike for breakfast on Myrtle Street in Monrovia, which provided a great real-world training opportunity with a steady flow of people and dogs around us. Frankie did a nice job settling under the table and remaining mostly calm. She did pop up a few times because she wanted to say hello, which is very typical for her social personality, but she responded well to reminders and redirection.
After breakfast, Frankie, Mike, and I went to Monrovia Library Park, where Mike continued working with her using a 15-foot training line. We focused on allowing the line to drop at times to give Frankie more freedom while still maintaining accountability. This helped encourage her to perform commands more independently while still keeping a safety measure in place. She handled the added responsibility well and showed growing confidence in making good choices on her own.
Date: | 2/3/2026 | |||||||||||
Morning Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 95% | |||||||||
Evening Feeding Amount: | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 85% | |||||||||
Mrytle Street and Monrovia Library Park | ||||||||||||
01/04/2026
Frankie did an outstanding job today! All of the hard work she put in during yesterday’s training session truly showed. We started at a completely enclosed park that usually has very few distractions, but today was a different story—children were playing nearby, and dogs were coming in and out for walks.
I was able to drop her 15-foot-long line and confidently walk her through her commands. Despite the increased activity and distractions, Frankie maintained excellent focus and responsiveness throughout the session.
We then moved on to Monrovia Library Park and continued down Myrtle Street to specifically work on her “Leave It” command. Along the way, several people gestured to pet her, but Frankie stayed locked in and never broke her “Heel” during the entire walk. Her impulse control and engagement were impressive.
Overall, Frankie is making remarkable progress. Her ability to stay focused in real-world environments with multiple distractions is a huge step forward, and it’s clear that her training is really coming together. So proud of her today!
Morning Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 80% | |||||||||
Evening Feeding Amount: | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 65% | |||||||||
Rotary Park, Monrovia Library Park, and Myrtle St. | ||||||||||||
02/05/2026
Frankie had a really strong training session today and responded very well to the 6-foot light line. This was a great step forward as we continue working toward off-leash reliability. Once Frankie shifts into training mode, she does an excellent job executing her commands and staying engaged. Overall, her confidence and understanding are clearly improving.
We trained around a few other dogs today, and Frankie showed much better focus in these higher-distraction situations. Her “Leave It” command is becoming more consistent, which is helping her stay connected to the handler. I am still anticipating moments where she wants to sniff—especially during the recall—but with continued practice, her response time and commitment to coming back promptly are steadily improving.
Date: | 2/5/2026 | |||||||||||
Morning Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 20% | |||||||||
Evening Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 25% | |||||||||
Monrovia Library Park | ||||||||||||
02/06/2026
I was really surprised by Frankie today—we were able to work off-leash! Even with minimal distractions, there were still kids moving in the background, running and playing, and Frankie did a great job staying engaged and responsive. She showed good confidence and understanding of her commands, which made this a big milestone in her training.
Tomorrow we’ll take the next step and move to a busier park to gradually increase the level of distraction. This will help strengthen her focus and reliability in more real-world environments while continuing to build on the progress she made today.
Date: | 2/6/2026 | |||||||||||
Morning Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 0% | |||||||||
Evening Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 45% | |||||||||
Rotary Park | ||||||||||||
0/07/2026
The “Place” command is important because it teaches a dog how to be calm, stationary, and mentally settled while still being aware of what’s going on around them. Unlike a simple “Sit” or “Down,” which can feel temporary to a dog, “Place” gives clear direction: go to this specific spot and stay there until released. That clarity helps dogs understand boundaries and expectations, especially in busy or exciting environments.
From a handler’s perspective, “Place” creates real-life control. It allows the handler to have a conversation, answer the door, eat a meal, or manage guests while the dog remains in a “Sit” or “Down” on their place without creeping, breaking position, or seeking attention. It builds impulse control, patience, and neutrality—skills that translate directly into better behavior around people, dogs, and distractions. Over time, dogs learn that calm behavior is rewarding and that they don’t need to be involved in every situation unless they’re released.
Morning Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 50% | |||||||||
Evening Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 45% | |||||||||
Monrovia Library Park | ||||||||||||
02/08/2026
Frankie knocked it out of the park today and had another exceptional training session. She’s really getting the hang of everything that’s being asked of her, and her confidence and understanding continue to grow with each session. It’s been great to see how engaged she is once she’s in working mode.
Her off-leash work is coming along nicely, showing improved focus and responsiveness even as expectations increase. Overall, this was a strong day that reflects the consistent progress she’s making and sets her up well for the next steps in her training.
Morning Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 100% | |||||||||
Evening Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 65% | |||||||||
Eisenhower Park, Arcadia | ||||||||||||
02/09/2026
It was truly a pleasure having Frankie in my home. I enjoyed training her so much, and she is such a good girl. She has come a long way in a short amount of time, and I’m excited for you to see her transformation and the progress she’s made.
Today we continued reinforcing Frankie’s basic obedience off-leash while working alongside fellow dog trainers and other dogs who were also off-leash. She handled the environment very well and maintained strong focus and responsiveness throughout the session. Frankie continues to impress me every day with her progress and consistency.
Morning Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 95% | |||||||||
Evening Feeding Amount | 2 Cups | Amount Consumed: | Ate 75% | |||||||||
Whittier Narrows | ||||||||||||
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