Gunter | Chocolate Labrador | San Pedro, CA. | In Training.
- heatheroffleashsoc
- Aug 1
- 22 min read
Updated: 21 hours ago
Meet Gunter!
Gunter is an 8-year-old Chocolate Labrador from San Pedro, California, who has just joined us for our Three Week Reactive Board and Train Program!
Gunter has been known to struggle with reactivity toward other dogs, making walks and outings more challenging than they should be. He also has a habit of pulling on the leash and lunging at passing cars and motorcycles, making it difficult for his family to enjoy calm, relaxed adventures together. Gunter shares his home with his housemate, Lucy, and the two have a tendency to feed off one another’s energy when they become reactive, often escalating each other’s responses to the world around them.
It’s safe to say Gunter is ready for some guidance! Over the next three weeks, we will be working closely with him on his basic obedience, leash manners, impulse control, and house manners. Our goal is to help Gunter learn how to make better choices, build confidence, and develop the skills he needs to successfully navigate the world around him.
We’re excited to be a part of Gunter’s training journey and can’t wait to watch his progress over the coming weeks. With consistency, structure, and clear communication, we’re confident Gunter will make wonderful strides and be well on his way to enjoying many more stress-free adventures with his family. Stay tuned for his transformation!
8/1/2026
Today Gunter and I kicked things off with an introductory walk at the park! This gave us the opportunity to get better acquainted while also allowing me to assess what he already knows. It turns out Gunter definitely knows his sit and down commands, which is a great foundation! Like many dogs, though, it’s more a matter of whether he feels like listening, so one of our goals over the next few weeks will be to make those commands much more reliable and consistent.
We also spent some time establishing Gunter’s heel command because, just like his sister Lucy, he was more than happy to try and take me for the walk! Anytime he forged ahead, I would give a quick pop on the leash and simply change directions until he chose to walk politely at my side. It didn’t take long before he started making much better decisions, and by the end of our walk he was already being much more respectful on leash.
Next, we introduced Gunter’s come to sit command, which asks him to come around my right side and finish in a nice sit at my left. While Gunter would have much preferred to lounge around instead of practicing, he accepted the leash guidance well and worked through the exercise nicely.
One thing I noticed throughout our session was that whenever I asked Gunter to sit, he would often default into a down instead. While it’s great that he already knows both commands, I want to make sure he understands the importance of responding to the specific cue he’s given. There is absolutely a time and place for down, but when I ask for sit, that’s the behavior I’m looking for. We’ll be spending the next several days helping him better understand that each command has its own meaning.
After wrapping up at the park, we loaded into the car to head over and check out his home away from home for the next three weeks. Gunter hesitated a bit when he saw the crate in the car, but with a little encouragement he hopped right in and handled the car ride very well. Once we arrived at my house, he was eager to explore everything alongside his housemate, Lucy. The two of them definitely feed off each other’s excitement, making every new sight and smell even more interesting. Gunter seemed to settle in nicely and didn’t have many complaints until it was time to head into his crate. He was a little reluctant at first, but with some patience and guidance I was able to get him settled inside.
Overall, Gunter had a great first day and is already off to a solid start. I’m looking forward to continuing to build on today’s foundation and watching his obedience and confidence grow over the next three weeks!
8/2/2026
Today Gunter and I worked around my neighborhood. This gave us the opportunity to focus on his commands one-on-one while introducing the e-collar in a quieter environment without overwhelming distractions. Even so, we were still able to work around some of the key triggers for his reactivity, especially other dogs—particularly smaller dogs, of which there are quite a few in my neighborhood.
Gunter and I started our walk early, around the time many of my neighbors take their dogs out, because I was eager to see how he would respond. We focused on his heel command as we walked, and anytime I needed to correct his position, I used a combination of a gentle leash correction and low-level stimulation from the e-collar. At this stage, the goal isn’t simply to use the e-collar as a correction, but to begin teaching Gunter that the gentle stimulation is another form of communication, much like leash pressure. As he learns to turn that stimulation off by making the correct choice, it becomes another clear and consistent way for us to communicate. I definitely received a few interesting side-eyes from Gunter during this process, but despite questioning my decisions with his facial expressions, he ultimately responded well to the introduction and began settling into the exercise.
During our walk we came across a couple of groups of small dogs out for their morning strolls. Gunter immediately started barking and bucking like a little bronco. In those moments, I reminded him of the off command, and he responded immediately by stopping and sitting. He continued to observe the other dogs, but based on my observations so far, I’m not seeing anything that appears malicious. Instead, it seems to be driven more by curiosity and excitement than aggression.
One of the biggest goals with the off command is teaching Gunter how to disengage from whatever has captured his attention. It’s perfectly okay for him to notice another dog or something interesting in the environment. However, once that curiosity turns into fixation, the likelihood of a reaction increases dramatically. By using the off command early, we’re interrupting that thought process before it has a chance to escalate and redirecting his focus back to me. Over time, this will help him make better decisions on his own and remain calmer in situations that may have previously caused him to react. We’ll continue to monitor his behavior as training progresses, but so far we’re making good strides in reducing both the intensity and duration of his reactions.
We also practiced his sit, down, and come to sit commands. At first, Gunter made it very clear that he wasn’t particularly interested in practicing. He tried putting on the brakes when I asked him to come and even attempted to negotiate by offering a down when I had asked for a sit. While he certainly tested the waters a bit today, after some encouragement and realizing that I meant what I was asking, Gunter began offering the correct behaviors when prompted. This consistency is important because it helps him understand that commands aren’t optional—they’re clear expectations that lead to success.
His come to sit command is still the one he’s least convinced should be part of the curriculum. He frequently tries to walk away entirely or sneak behind me and lie down instead of finishing in the proper position. Nevertheless, I can already see the gears turning, and I’m confident that with a little more time and consistency he’ll be knocking this command out of the park.
We finished our session by working on the place command, asking Gunter to hop onto a place cot and lie down. Getting onto the cot and settling into a down posed no challenge whatsoever. In fact, convincing him to come off the cot was the harder part! I can’t say I blame him—it probably felt like a well-earned break after our walk. Beyond teaching a fun command, place is an excellent exercise for building impulse control and teaching a dog to relax, even when there are distractions happening around them. Learning to remain calm in one spot is a valuable skill that carries over into everyday life, whether that’s at home, when guests visit, or while out in public.
Overall, Gunter is making some great progress, and I can definitely see him being a bit of the fire starter when it comes to his and Lucy’s relationship. They clearly feed off each other’s energy, and Gunter seems to be the one more likely to get the party started. As we continue building his confidence and reinforcing calm decision-making, I expect we’ll continue to see his reactions become less frequent and much easier to redirect. He’s certainly an interesting character with plenty of personality, and I’m enjoying getting to know him. I’m very proud of the effort he put in today… even if it did come with a healthy amount of side-eye!
8/3/2026
Today’s training took Gunter and me to a park in Rosemead where we met up with some fellow trainers and their pups to continue building his obedience around higher levels of distraction. Gunter did a wonderful job! From the moment we arrived, he was clearly excited to see the other dogs and wanted nothing more than to go over and say hello. It was really encouraging to see his enthusiasm, especially since it gave me a chance to evaluate how he truly feels about unfamiliar dogs in a structured environment.
Gunter continued making nice progress with his obedience commands throughout the session. One thing we’ve been working through is his habit of offering a Down when I’ve asked for a Sit. Since he already knows both commands, this isn’t a matter of learning something new—it’s about slowing down, listening carefully, and responding to the specific cue he’s been given instead of anticipating what comes next. We stay consistent by only rewarding the behavior that was actually requested, which helps reinforce that each command has its own meaning. Today I could already see him beginning to think through the request before responding, and that’s exactly the progress we’re looking for. His Downcommand continues to be very reliable, and I was able to increase both the distance and duration of his extended Sit and Down exercises. These extended commands are important because they build patience, impulse control, and the ability to remain focused even when there are exciting distractions nearby.
His Heel is also coming along nicely, and he’s becoming much more comfortable walking attentively at my side. His Come to Sit still requires a little extra guidance, but that’s perfectly okay. We had several repetitions today where he executed it beautifully from start to finish, showing that he’s beginning to understand the movement and position I’m asking for. Those successful repetitions are what we’ll continue to build on. I was also able to reward him with treats throughout the session for a job well done, although he was selective about when he wanted to take them. That’s completely normal in stimulating environments, and as his confidence continues to grow, I expect his willingness to take rewards will as well.
One of the most reassuring parts of today’s training was watching Gunter interact with the other dogs. He had several calm, nose-to-nose introductions, and seeing his tail wag happily during those interactions was wonderful. He surprised me in the best possible way. Rather than displaying the level of reactivity I anticipated, he appeared genuinely interested in greeting the other dogs appropriately. While we’ll continue evaluating his behavior in different settings, today’s session does make me wonder if some of the reactivity seen in the past may be influenced by Lucy’s sensitivities when the two of them are together, as dogs living in the same household can often feed off one another’s emotions and energy.
Overall, I couldn’t be happier with Gunter’s effort today. He worked hard, stayed engaged, and showed me a side of himself that was incredibly encouraging to see. Every positive experience like this helps build his confidence and reinforces calm, appropriate behavior around other dogs. We made some meaningful progress today, and I’m so proud of Gunter for putting his best paw forward!
8/4/2026
Today Gunter and I headed to Home Depot to continue building on his obedience while working around a busy public environment. We were also joined by a couple of fellow trainers and their pups that weren’t with us yesterday, giving Gunter the opportunity to work around some new canine distractions while navigating the hustle and bustle of the store.
Gunter approached today’s outing with excitement and curiosity, eager to explore his surroundings. He had the opportunity to make a few introductions with the unfamiliar dogs, and I was very pleased with how respectful he was during each interaction. He even held a nice pose alongside his new friends for a photo! These positive, controlled interactions are an important part of helping Gunter learn that being around other dogs doesn’t always have to lead to excitement or unwanted reactions, but can instead be calm and neutral experiences.
The busy store itself didn’t faze Gunter one bit. Between the shopping carts, loud noises, and steady stream of customers, he walked through Home Depot like he owned the place while maintaining a beautiful Heel. Working in environments like this helps reinforce that his obedience applies everywhere—not just in quiet parks or around the neighborhood—and teaches him to remain engaged with his handler even when there are countless distractions competing for his attention.
Gunter also did an excellent job with his obedience commands today. His extended Sit and Down were both very reliable, and he remained patiently in position despite everything happening around him. We also spent time working on his Come to Sit, and I was excited to see some noticeable improvement. While he still needs a bit of guidance to consistently finish in the correct position, he didn’t stop behind me or offer an incorrect sit a single time today, which is a huge step forward. He’s beginning to understand exactly what is being asked of him, and with continued repetition his confidence and consistency will only continue to improve.
Overall, I couldn’t be happier with how Gunter handled today’s outing. He was confident, engaged, and eager to learn from start to finish. I’m incredibly proud of the progress he’s making each day, and I’m looking forward to continuing to build on this strong foundation!
8/5/2026
Today Gunter and I headed back to the park to continue building on his training, and he did a fantastic job! Just like Lucy, he’s really beginning to show a wonderful understanding of his work. Of course, he still likes to be his funny self throughout the process. Gunter has never had a problem letting me know exactly how he feels about practicing his commands, and he can definitely be a bit sassy at times! Honestly though, I can’t help but laugh at some of his dramatic theatrics because they’re part of what makes him such a lovable guy. Beneath all that personality is an incredibly smart dog who genuinely wants to do well.
His heel command continues to look very nice, and he’s becoming much more attentive while walking at my side. His sit and down commands are also looking great, and he’s steadily improving his patience when asked to hold those positions until released. Building that duration is an important part of training because it teaches dogs that the command isn’t finished until they’re given permission, creating more reliable obedience in everyday situations.
Gunter also showed some wonderful progress with his come to sit command today. He had a couple of moments where he wanted to pause behind me after noticing another dog off in the distance, but with a gentle reminder he worked through the distraction and finished the command beautifully. It’s great to see him learning to redirect his attention back to his handler instead of allowing the environment to dictate his decisions.
My favorite part of today’s session was working on his place command. I wasn’t entirely sure if I could convince him to hop up onto one of the picnic tables, but we gave it a shot—and to my surprise, he didn’t hesitate for a second! He confidently jumped right up and even offered a down on his own without me having to ask. It was such a fun moment to watch.
What made it even more impressive was what happened next. A gentleman I regularly see at the park stopped to ask me for some advice about one of his dogs that has recently begun showing signs of reactivity. As we stood talking, he and his two dogs gradually moved closer to us—never too close, but certainly close enough to be a meaningful training opportunity. I stayed calm and kept a close eye on Gunter just in case, but he exceeded my expectations. He remained on his place command the entire time, calmly acknowledging the other dogs without fixating on them or feeling the need to react. Moments like these are exactly why we practice place around distractions. It teaches dogs that they can observe the world without needing to engage with everything happening around them. Once the gentleman continued on his walk, I made sure to reward Gunter with a tasty snack and plenty of praise to let him know he had made the right choice.
Overall, I’m so proud of the effort Gunter is putting into his training. Every day he’s becoming more engaged, more thoughtful in his decisions, and more confident working through distractions. He’s proving that even with his goofy, sassy personality, he’s capable of making some truly incredible choices. Great work today, big handsome!
8/6/2026
Today Gunter and I headed out to Lake Balboa Park to continue his training, and he had an excellent day! This park has much more going on than the local park we visited yesterday, with plenty of people, other dogs, geese, squirrels, and a variety of small birds. We also met up with some fellow trainers and their pups, making it the perfect environment to continue building his obedience while working through his reactivity in a controlled setting.
I have to say, Gunter handled himself like an absolute gentleman today. He made several respectful introductions with other dogs as we made our way through the park, remaining calm and polite throughout each interaction. These positive experiences are incredibly valuable because they help teach him that he doesn’t need to react to every dog he encounters. Instead, he can remain calm, look to his handler for guidance, and simply move on with confidence.
He also made wonderful progress with his commands. His heel continues to come along nicely, and his extended sit and down commands are becoming more reliable even with plenty of distractions around us. We spent some time working on his place command using park benches and picnic tables. The picnic tables were no problem for him, but the bench took a little extra encouragement. He wasn’t quite convinced he could get those back legs up there at first, but after a couple of attempts he figured it out and hopped right up. Brave boy! Building confidence through challenges like these helps Gunter become more willing to work through uncertainty instead of avoiding it.
His come to sit also showed fantastic improvement today. Not once did he pause behind me as he has in the past. Every time I gave the command, he followed it all the way through and finished right in position. We made sure to celebrate each success with plenty of praise and affection, helping reinforce that completing the behavior is always worth it.
Overall, Gunter did an amazing job working through situations that would have previously had the potential to trigger a reaction. I am so proud of how far he has come in such a short time. He is really beginning to understand that he doesn’t have to make every decision himself and that it’s okay to let someone else take the lead. Watching that trust continue to grow has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m excited to keep building on today’s success!
8/7/2026
Today Gunter and I took a trip to The Oaks Mall to continue his progress in a new environment, and this big handsome boy did a great job! Taking our training into new places is important because it gives Gunter the opportunity to practice his commands around different sights, sounds, people, and distractions while learning that his expectations stay the same no matter where we are.
Gunter showed some nice improvement with his heel today! When we first get started, he still needs a little reminder that he’s supposed to walk nicely with me rather than taking the lead, but once we get into our rhythm, he does a great job matching my pace and staying with me. We’ll continue working on those first few moments of the walk so that he understands right from the beginning that we’re moving together.
His extended sit and down were also looking great! Gunter did well offering the command that was asked of him and, more importantly, staying put until he was given the cue to move. This continued impulse control is an important part of helping him become more reliable around distractions.
His place command, however, is still something Gunter has some opinions about. He isn’t always thrilled about being asked to hop up and stay put, so we had a few moments where he decided he would rather hop back down. But that’s okay! Instead of letting him turn that into an option, anytime he hopped down without being released, I simply guided him back up and asked him to settle into his down again. The goal is to help Gunter understand that once he has been given his place command, he needs to remain there until I tell him otherwise. With more consistency and practice, I’m confident he’ll come around!
His come to sit was another highlight today. Gunter did a fantastic job following through with the command and finishing in the correct position without much hesitation. This is especially exciting considering how he initially had a tendency to offer a down instead, so seeing him consistently understand what is being asked and complete the behavior correctly is a great sign of his progress.
All in all, Gunter seemed completely unbothered by the new environment today and actually seemed to enjoy getting to work inside the mall. He handled the new sights and distractions well and continued to show us just how much he is learning. I’m very proud of how far this big guy has come and the progress he continues to make each day!
Way to go, big handsome boy! Keep up the great work, Gunter! 🐾❤️
8/8/2026
Today Gunter and I decided to keep things close to home and work around my neighborhood, but this time we brought his sister Lucy along for the adventure! Since this was our first time attempting a group walk together, I wanted to start somewhere familiar where I could keep the distractions manageable. Of course, “manageable” doesn’t mean boring! We still had neighbors walking their pups, people coming and going, and all the usual sights and sounds that come with a neighborhood outing.
And let me tell you… Gunter seemed pretty excited about his new role as leader of the ladies! The moment we got started, this handsome boy decided he knew exactly where we were going and immediately tried to take the lead. After a quick reminder about his heel, however, he settled back in and did a great job matching our pace. Once he realized that he was not, in fact, in charge of the expedition, he was happy to walk nicely alongside us.
When it came time to work on his commands, Gunter was feeling a little more… selective today. He tried taking his sweet time responding, and at one point even decided that perhaps walking away from the situation was a better option. Nice try, buddy! After a quick reset and a reminder that listening is not optional just because we’re having a different kind of day, Gunter was able to get himself back on track.
This is actually an important part of his training. We don’t want Gunter to only listen when he feels like it or when everything around him is perfectly calm. We want him to understand that the expectation stays the same regardless of the environment, distractions, or even his mood that day. Once that lightbulb comes on, he’ll have a much easier time making the right choice on his own.
We also made our way over to a little league field in the neighborhood to work on our place command. Gunter needed a couple of resets, but once he understood what I was asking, he did a nice job! He’s still learning that “place” means hopping onto the surface I choose and staying there until he’s released. Today we practiced on benches and tables, which helps build his confidence while also teaching him that the command applies wherever we happen to be. With some more repetition, I have no doubt this boy will be hopping onto just about anything like a professional. Practice makes perfect, after all!
Then came the real test: other dogs. We had several small dogs pass us during our walk, and Gunter was the first to decide he had something to say about it. He started his usual huffing and puffing, and naturally, Lucy began to follow his lead. Apparently, one dramatic sibling is enough to start a family group project!
Thankfully, both pups responded to the “off”command. They were able to disengage, reset themselves, and continue walking politely with me—even while the little dogs continued barking at them as we passed.
That moment made me especially proud because it showed us exactly why working these two together is so valuable. Dogs can easily feed off one another’s energy, but today Gunter and Lucy got to practice doing the opposite: hearing their handler, disengaging from the excitement, and continuing forward instead of joining in. That ability to recover from a reaction and return to a calm state is a huge part of their progress.
All in all, I’d definitely call our first group walk a success! Gunter may have needed a few extra reminders today, and he certainly had some opinions about how our outing should go, but he worked through each challenge that came his way. Most importantly, he showed me that even when he gets distracted or decides to be a little stubborn, he is absolutely capable of resetting and making the right choice.
And honestly, seeing these two walking together on loose leashes, listening to their handler, and successfully moving past barking dogs was such a proud moment. Our hard work is starting to show!
Way to go, Gunter! Keep up the good work, handsome boy! And remember… the ladies may appreciate your confidence, but I’m still the one holding the leash! 😂🐾💙
8/9/2026
Today, Gunter and I headed out to Lake Balboa Park to continue building on the progress we made yesterday as a group. I wanted to see how Gunter and his sister would handle working together in a more public setting, and Gunter did a fantastic job!
One thing I was especially happy to see today was Gunter doing much better about not trying to take us ladies for the walk! He did a great job staying alongside us rather than feeling like he needed to be the one leading the way. His heel looked nice overall, and he needed far fewer reminders to stay with me and match my pace.
I was also really impressed with how well Gunter handled passing dogs while walking alongside his sister. We did use the “off” command proactively when we saw other pups approaching, helping him understand that he didn’t need to engage with them or let them become a distraction. The best part was seeing Gunter take that direction and keep his attention on his work rather than reacting to the other dogs. This is exactly the type of focus we want to continue building in these real-world situations!
Gunter also did very well with his extended commands. He was able to hold his positions patiently and wait until he was given his cue to get up, showing that he is really starting to understand the importance of staying put until he is released.
When it came time for our solo session, Gunter still made sure to let me know that he is not exactly a fan of his place command. However, even though he may not be completely sold on the idea yet, he is making some very good progress! It no longer takes nearly as much persuasion as it did originally to convince him to stay put, and he is becoming more willing to settle into the command and wait for his release.
His come to sit is also looking really good! Gunter is showing much more understanding of the command and is following through with very little hesitation. It’s been great watching this command come together for him, especially since he initially had a habit of offering a down instead of completing his sit.
Overall, Gunter had another fantastic outing today! He continues to make steady progress with his commands, his focus, and his ability to work around distractions. While he may still have a few opinions about certain parts of his training, he is showing us more and more that he understands the work—and I’m very proud of the progress this funny, sassy boy continues to make! 🐾💙
8/10/2026
Today Gunter and I headed out to the Oaks Mall to continue working on his progress with his commands around distractions, and Gunter did a great job! He continues to show us that he’s really understanding his work, even when we bring it into busier environments.
With his heel, Gunter still needs a little reminder at the start to walk with me rather than trying to take the lead, but once we get going, he does his best to match my pace and stay with me. We’ll continue reinforcing this so that eventually he understands from the very beginning that we’re walking together!
With his extended commands and place, Gunter is getting better about staying put. Every now and then, though, his patience gets the better of him and he decides he’s ready to move on to the next thing before he’s been given his cue. 😂 When this happens, we remain consistent, redirect him, and start again. It’s important that we hold him accountable in these moments because if we allowed him to get up whenever he pleased, he could quickly learn that breaking position is acceptable. Consistency helps him understand that he needs to wait until he’s released, even when he’s feeling a little impatient.
His come to sit is looking fantastic! He’s showing a great understanding of what is being asked of him, and his follow-through is becoming much more consistent. I’m really happy with the progress he’s making here!
We also had Lucy join us for a bit, where we spent some time walking around the mall together and practicing our extended commands here and there. Gunter did very well having his sister with us, and I was especially happy to see that he didn’t try to take us for the walk again! 😆 That’s another great improvement for him.
I can definitely see how Gunter has become a bit of a safety net for Lucy. There were a couple of moments where I could see Lucy feeling a little unsure about her surroundings, and having Gunter there seemed to help ease some of those worries. It’s honestly so sweet watching him be so attentive to his sister and help her feel a little more comfortable. 💙 They really do make quite the team!
All in all, Gunter had a great day of work and continues to make wonderful progress. Of course, he still has to add a little bit of his signature sass into our sessions every day—and honestly, that’s okay! 😂 He definitely knows how to keep each session interesting. Gotta love a big boy and his Lucy! 🐾💙
8/11/2026
Today, Gunter and I headed out to Home Depot, and we had his sister Lucy join us for our outing! We wanted to continue working on their progress together and give them another opportunity to practice their commands while navigating a busy environment as a team. And Gunter did a fantastic job!
Gunter handled his heel very well as we made our way throughout the store. He did a wonderful job staying with me and navigating around the different distractions without allowing them to pull his attention away from his work.
His come to sit was also looking great today! Even with Lucy involved in the motion, Gunter showed a wonderful understanding of what was expected of him. He only needed one little reminder about where he should finish the command at my side, and after that, he was right back on track. It’s great to see him becoming more consistent with this command, especially when he has his sister moving around alongside him.
And then came his extended commands, where Gunter really showed off his progress! He patiently held his commands throughout our session and didn’t need a single reminder. Not. Even. Once! This is a huge improvement for our big guy and shows just how much his patience and understanding are developing.
Of course, Gunter also found some time during our outing to be the best big brother he could be. ❤️ Lucy was feeling quite nervous about the environment at one point, and Gunter seemed to notice that she needed a little reassurance. Before long, he was giving his sister kisses all over her face! 🥹 It was such a heartwarming moment to witness.
It’s very clear that Gunter absolutely loves his sister, and getting to watch their bond and the way they interact with one another during moments like this has been so wonderful. He may be here to learn, but he certainly hasn’t forgotten how to be a good brother along the way!
All in all, I’m incredibly proud of Gunter and the amount of progress he continues to make. He is really starting to become such a patient and thoughtful pup, and seeing these little changes add up each day is so rewarding!
Way to go, big handsome! Keep up the great work, Gunter! 🐾💙
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