Harvey | Golden Retriever | Playa Del Rey, CA. | In Training.
- heatheroffleashsoc
- Feb 15
- 16 min read
Updated: Feb 28
Meet Harvey!
Harvey is a one-year-old Golden Retriever from Playa del Rey, and he has just joined us for our Two-Week Community Board & Train Program. This handsome young man brings with him a wonderful temperament, a loving heart, and an impressive level of enthusiasm for… well, everyone.
Harvey has been described as getting a bit overexcited when greeting both people and dogs. While his intentions are entirely sweet—he truly believes every stranger is simply a friend he hasn’t met yet—his exuberance can sometimes be misinterpreted. In moments of excitement, he tends to forget to tune in to his family, which has made his recall less reliable than we’d like. When there are new friends nearby, “come” can occasionally sound optional in Harvey’s world.
Over the next two weeks, we will focus on strengthening Harvey’s off-leash obedience, improving his recall, and refining his house manners. Our goal is to help him channel that joyful energy into calm, controlled behaviors and polite greetings. With structure, consistency, and clear communication, we are confident Harvey will learn that good manners don’t diminish his personality—they simply help it shine in the right way.
We are especially excited to support him on his journey toward becoming a therapy dog. With the right foundation, this affectionate and social boy has all the potential to make a meaningful impact. Stay tuned as we guide Harvey toward becoming the well-mannered gentleman we know he can be.
2/15/2026
Today Harvey and I kicked off his training journey with a nice walk at the park—our official first introduction and the perfect opportunity for me to see what he already knows (and what we’ll be polishing up over the next two weeks).
Right away, Mr. Enthusiasm made it clear that he is a strong, confident boy who fully believed he would be the one taking me for a walk. Saying hello to every person within eyesight was high on his priority list. So, we started at a comfortable distance from distractions and introduced the Heel command. Once he realized that pulling ahead and dragging me toward new friends wasn’t the assignment, we began to see some really nice changes.
After he settled a bit and started walking more politely, we bravely moved closer to people. With a few well-timed “off” corrections, Harvey began to understand that launching himself at new friends wasn’t an option. And to his credit, he adjusted. By the end of our walk, he was heeling nicely and choosing to stay with me instead of scouting the crowd for his next best buddy. Huge win for day one!
Loading up afterward came with a brief negotiation about the crate—he wasn’t entirely convinced it was part of the plan—but with some encouragement, he hopped in like a champ.
Once we got back to my house, Harvey wasted no time conducting a full property inspection. He seems very pleased with his home away from home for the next two weeks. The only thing he’s still forming an opinion about? The cats.
At first, he was certain they were new playmates and rushed in with his usual golden retriever optimism. The cats, however, did not share his enthusiasm. After some protesting from them (and one very clear paw-to-nose reminder), Harvey looked at me in genuine confusion. I gave him a “leave it,” and he listened—another great moment of responsiveness. I’m confident he’ll learn their boundaries just like he’s starting to learn everyone else’s.
Harvey is truly just a big, goofy, sweet boy who wants to love the world. We’re already channeling that enthusiasm into better choices, and he’s picking things up quickly. I’m excited to see how much he grows over the next two weeks!
2/16/2026
Today Harvey and I took shelter inside Home Depot to stay dry and turn a rainy day into a productive training session. If you’ve ever stepped foot in there, you know it’s full of exciting distractions — loud forklifts, rolling carts, and plenty of friendly strangers. And according to Harvey, every single one of those strangers arrived solely to meet him and become his new best friend.
When we first walked in, Harvey was ready to hand out hugs and kisses to the entire store. So we got right to work on reminding him that heel was the name of the game. Each time he assumed someone needed a golden retriever greeting committee, I simply told him “off” and redirected him back into position. With consistency and guidance, he began to settle and focus.
Today we also introduced the e-collar to his training while continuing to work on heel and his come to sit command. For Harvey, “come to sit” means coming around my right side and finishing in a sit on my left. While we didn’t perfect the maneuver just yet, I can confidently say he’s starting to understand the mechanics of it. What I love most about Harvey (aside from his happy-go-lucky personality) is how well he responds to corrections and guidance. He doesn’t argue — he learns. That’s a wonderful quality to have in a young dog.
We even dipped our toes into the down command, and he handled it like a pro. No complaints there!
By the time we left the store, Harvey was doing significantly better about keeping all four paws to himself. He was even able to calm down enough to politely accept some pets from a gentleman without launching into full celebration mode. Big win!
All in all, Harvey put in some solid work today. I’m very proud of the progress he’s already making — he’s a smart boy with a big heart, and he’s learning how to channel that enthusiasm in the right direction. Keep it up, Harvey! 🦮💛
2/17/2026
Today Harvey and I took another field trip to The Home Depot to continue polishing up his commands around real-world distractions. And of course, upon arrival, Harvey was convinced the entire store had shown up specifically to see him. His initial plan? Greet every single person with full-contact bear hugs.
With a swift “off,” he was reminded that unsolicited affection was not on today’s agenda. Once that expectation was made clear, he settled into a very nice heel. When he chooses to focus, he really does look handsome and put-together strolling through the aisles.
His come to sit is heading in the right direction as well. He’s definitely picking up on the mechanics and understanding where he needs to be. That said, he still likes to sprinkle in a little protest now and then—because in Harvey’s world, why can’t he just do as he pleases? (His thoughts, not mine.) With consistency, though, he’s starting to realize that cooperation is much easier than debating the rules.
We also began adding distance and duration to his sit and down, turning them into extended sit and extended down. So far, he’s doing very well with staying put, and we absolutely love to see that steadiness developing.
At home, we’re working heavily on his foraging hobby—specifically his love of collecting rocks in the yard and initiating an enthusiastic game of keep-away. Using the e-collar and the command “leave it,” he begrudgingly releases his prized treasures. He may not love giving them up, but he understands the assignment. Smart boy.
All in all, this big goofball is making solid progress, and I’m very proud of him. After all the hard work, we wrapped up the day the best way possible: cozy cuddles in the living room and a movie. Training balanced with snuggles—that’s the Harvey way. 🛋️✨
2/18/2026
With a break in the rain today but the parks still a bit too waterlogged—and a little adulting keeping me close to home—Harvey and I turned the neighborhood into our training space.
We started with a nice long walk around the neighborhood to let him stretch his legs, burn a little energy, and enjoy some sunshine. After our walk, we settled into the yard to focus on practicing his commands.
Today we reviewed everything Harvey has been learning over the past few days and also introduced a new command to his routine: place. Just like his other extended commands, Harvey picked this one up quickly. In fact, he seemed quite pleased with the assignment! He happily hopped onto the place cot, laid down, and appeared more than content to relax and take in the scenery.
His come to sit looked good overall. There were a couple of moments of confusion, but he worked through them nicely and showed a solid understanding of what’s being asked.
His heel is also coming along well. Our main challenge right now is his enthusiasm for “ground treasures.” Sticks and other interesting objects sometimes tempt him to try and pull off course. The good news is that as we continue reinforcing his leave it command, he’s improving a little more each day and making better choices.
All in all, Harvey made great progress today. He’s learning quickly, showing good effort, and keeping things entertaining along the way. I absolutely love how this goofy boy manages to make every session both productive and fun!
2/19/2026
Today Harvey and I took a field trip to the busy Westfield Santa Anita to continue practicing his commands around real-world distractions. This outing wasn’t just about obedience—it was also a great opportunity to work on something we know is a big challenge for Harvey: personal space. After all, in his world, everyone is his new best friend… they just don’t know it yet!
As expected, Harvey arrived ready to share his signature enthusiasm with the public. Each time he attempted to give an unsolicited “bear hug,” he was met with a correction and the off command. With consistency and clear guidance, he began to understand the expectations, and by the end of our mall trip he was walking nicely past people without trying to recruit them into his fan club.
We also had a few structured opportunities to practice greeting manners—because let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to say hello to a happy Golden Retriever? At first, Harvey got very excited and leaned toward his classic full-contact greetings. We worked on showing him that a calm sit is the fastest way to earn the attention and affection he’s hoping for. By the end of our outing, he was able to settle himself much more quickly and politely receive the love he was craving.
Once the initial excitement wore off, Harvey did a great job heeling through the mall. His extended sit and down commands held up well in the busy environment. His come to sit still needs a bit more practice, but that’s one of the more technical skills, and he’s already moving in the right direction. With a little more repetition, I’m confident he’ll have it dialed in soon.
Overall, Harvey did a great job today and learned a lot. One thing I was especially proud of was his ability to take a correction, bounce right back, and continue on with his happy, confident attitude. That resilience is a wonderful trait and will serve him well as his training progresses.
Way to go, Harvey! 🐾
2/20/2026
Today Harvey and I headed back out to the Santa Anita Mall to continue practicing his commands around distractions while also reinforcing his boundaries with people.
When we first arrived, Harvey was very excited to see all the friendly faces—because in his mind, everyone is still a potential new best friend! However, it didn’t take long for him to remember all the hard work from yesterday. With a few reminders, he began checking himself and making much better choices. Once he settled into work mode, we were able to move through the mall in a beautiful heel, and he carried himself like a true gentleman.
His extended commands are coming along just as nicely as his heel. Harvey is showing good understanding and improving his patience and duration, even with the busy environment around him.
His come-to-sit is still a bit of a work in progress, but he’s starting to understand what’s being asked of him. The pieces are coming together—he just needs a little more practice to build consistency and confidence with the movement.
Overall, Harvey put in a great day of work. He showed impressive self-control, made thoughtful choices around people, and demonstrated growing focus in a high-distraction setting. I’m so proud of this good boy for the effort he’s putting in and the self-restraint he’s learning—it’s really paying off!
2/21/2026
Today Harvey and I headed out to the dog park to continue our work together while also giving him some well-earned freedom to run and play with other pups. We also used the opportunity to practice his recall in a more exciting, real-world environment.
We started with the business portion of our visit, running through his commands. Harvey did a nice job with his heel and extended commands. He stayed focused and responsive, only offering a down once when I had asked for a sit—an easy mix-up and a good reminder that he’s eager to work! His place command is looking solid as well. The only time he broke position was when another dog ran up to greet him, which understandably got him very excited.
We also worked on his come to sit using a loose leash. Since this command is a bit more technical—and Harvey was very aware that a whole park full of potential friends was waiting for him—this part was a bit more challenging today. That’s okay! We took our time, worked him through the mechanics, and helped him understand what was being asked. Even when he’d rather be playing, it’s important that he learns how to work through distractions.
After finishing our training, it was time for some fun!
Once released, Harvey quickly became the star of the park. Dogs and people alike wanted to say hello, and he was more than happy to make new friends. He had an absolute blast running, playing, and soaking up all the attention.
During his off-leash time, we practiced his recall. The first couple of times I called him, he hesitated and needed a repeat along with an e-collar reminder. After that, he came promptly each time he was called—great progress and a sign of how quickly he learns!
All in all, Harvey had a wonderful day filled with both work and play. He showed good effort during training and had a fantastic time enjoying the freedom he’s working so hard to earn. It was great to see him having so much fun—what a smart and happy guy!
2/22/2026
Today Harvey and I headed back to the dog park to continue working on his commands and recall. This was also his first day practicing with a dragging leash—an important next step toward future off-leash work—and he handled the transition well!
Even though Harvey was very excited knowing that playtime would follow our session, he stayed fairly focused and put in solid effort. The area he struggled with most today was his come to sit, especially without the added guidance of the leash. With some patience and well-timed steps backward on my part to help guide his movement, he was able to work through it. By the end of our session, he was coming in and finishing his come to sit smoothly and effortlessly—great progress!
His recall was a bit selective today. Instead of coming straight to me, Harvey decided it might be more fun to hide behind other pet parents before finally making his way back. What a rebellious young man! It seemed like he may have thought being called meant the fun was over, and he gave me a little pout—but as soon as he was released again, that big goofy smile came right back.
Overall, Harvey made good progress today and had a great time. We’ll continue building his recall so he understands that coming when called doesn’t always mean the fun ends. Proud of this happy, playful boy and the strides he’s making toward reliable off-leash freedom! 🐾
2/23/2026
Today Harvey and I headed out to a park in Rosemead to meet up with some fellow trainers and continue practicing his commands around higher levels of distraction. When we first arrived, Harvey was very excited — two of his favorite things were everywhere: people and dogs! Because of his excitement, we started by practicing his commands while I held the end of the leash. This gave him slack and freedom to work, but prevented any quick dashes toward the things he wanted most.
Once Harvey settled in, he did a very nice job. We began working on leash dragging and practiced his place command. To add distractions, another trainer walked by with their dog. As expected, Harvey initially wanted to pop up and go say hello, but he was quickly corrected and guided back to his place cot. When they passed a second time, he stayed put — great improvement!
His extended commands looked very solid, and his come to sit was just as nice. During heel work with more slack on the leash, Harvey did get a little confused and lagged behind at times, but with some encouragement he checked back in and finished with a beautiful heel.
Overall, Harvey made great progress today, and I’m very proud of him. Even with all the excitement of the park, he was able to work through his energy, settle himself, and successfully perform his tasks. This young man is learning that even when fun things are happening around him, he still has a job to do!
2/24/2026
Today Harvey and I headed out to the park to continue practicing his commands while working with the leash dragging. Overall, Harvey did a great job, though the busy park environment definitely tested his focus.
With all the activity around us, Harvey was very interested in his surroundings and wanted to say hello to just about every person and dog we passed. To help set him up for success, we started our session with less slack on the leash and gradually gave him more freedom as we moved through the park and he began to settle in.
As Harvey calmed down, he showed improvement in staying with me and maintaining position. However, when we passed groups of people who were especially lively and enjoying their day, the excitement sometimes got the best of him and he would veer off to investigate what all the fuss was about. Each time, I was able to call him back into a heel successfully, but our goal is for him to stay committed to his handler unless he is clearly given permission to go free. We’ll continue working through these distractions in the coming days to further strengthen his off-leash reliability.
Despite the challenges with focus, Harvey showed some great progress today. His come-to-sit has improved significantly, and he continues to be a rock star when it comes to his extended commands.
All in all, we made solid progress today, and I’m very proud of this goofy boy!
2/25/2026
Today Harvey and I headed back out to the park to continue working on his commands, with a main focus on improving his reliability while leash dragging. To put his skills to the test, we took a long walk around the entire lake, giving him plenty of opportunities to practice staying engaged and making good choices around real-world distractions.
I’m happy to report there was a noticeable improvement compared to yesterday! There were only two instances where Harvey veered off the path. The first was when we passed a group of people having lots of fun at the park—naturally, this curious and social boy wanted to investigate. The great news is that when I called him, he responded quickly and returned to me right away.
The second moment came when a gentleman in a wheelchair was approaching from behind us on the path. I asked Harvey to sit so we could allow the man to pass. Harvey was very interested in saying hello and broke his command, but after a quick reminder and follow-up command, he refocused and responded appropriately.
For the rest of the walk, Harvey stayed right with me, which was very impressive. You could see the temptation as people passed by, but he made thoughtful, appropriate choices and maintained his focus. I’m very proud of the self-control he showed today.
Overall, Harvey did a wonderful job! He’s showing great progress with his impulse control and reliability, and his ability to recover quickly when distracted is a strong sign of his continued growth. Keep it up, Harvey!
2/26/2026
Today Harvey and I headed out to the park bright and early to beat the heat. Our focus was practicing all of his commands with distractions while working on the transition from leash dragging to being fully off leash.
We began the session with leash dragging since Harvey did so well with it yesterday, and he continued that success today. As we moved further into the park and he showed good engagement, we took the next step and removed the leash entirely.
Overall, he did well off leash, though things were a bit chaotic at times. Harvey had a few moments where his excitement got the best of him and he wanted to jet over to nearby people or dogs. It took a couple of corrections in those instances, but he responded and came back to me. By the end of our session, he was doing a much better job choosing to stay close and focused.
He also performed nicely with his commands. There were only a couple of moments of confusion, which is normal during the transition since he didn’t have the leash as a guide. With a little extra direction and encouragement, he was able to work through it and succeed.
Harvey is a very smart boy—his excitement can sometimes get the better of him, but his understanding is there and his effort really shows. Today was a big step forward in his off-leash progress, and I’m very proud of the work he put in!
2/27/2026
Today Harvey and I kept things close to home and started our morning with a walk around my neighborhood. Since this is a lower-distraction environment, it was a great opportunity to practice his commands off leash. Harvey did a wonderful job staying with me, checking in, and responding to all of his commands. He showed great focus and reliability, and it was nice to see how well he can work when the environment is calm and structured.
After our walk, we returned home to continue working on his house manners. These include door manners, food manners, and car manners. These are skills we’ve been consistently reinforcing throughout his stay, and overall, he’s been doing very well with them.
For door manners, Harvey is asked to sit and remain in place when the door is opened, rather than rushing out. He should hold that position until he is released, even if you step outside before him.
His food manners follow the same concept. He is asked to sit while his food is placed down and should wait calmly until given a release command such as “break” or “ok” before eating.
The only area that gave us a little trouble at first was his car manners. Initially, Harvey was unsure about jumping into the car on his own. With encouragement and consistent practice, he has become much more confident. He’s now very brave and hops into the crate in the car effortlessly.
Aside from that early hesitation, the rest of his house manners have mostly been a breeze. Harvey has been very receptive to the structure and continues to make great progress.
Overall, today was a great day of training, and I’m very proud of how well Harvey is doing!
2/28/2026
This morning Harvey and I headed to the park bright and early to beat the crowds and cooler temperatures. Today’s goals were to practice all of his commands fully off leash and to film his final video. When we first arrived, Harvey showed his usual enthusiasm — he was very excited about all the people and dogs around and definitely wanted to go say hello. The great news is that it was much easier today to help him settle, relax, and tune back in to me and the work we were there to do.
Once he got into working mode, Harvey performed his commands very well. Even when distractions caught his attention, he did a nice job staying with me. As we passed people and I noticed his interest starting to peak, I simply reminded him of the job he was responsible for, and he did a great job refocusing and continuing along with me. What a good boy!
We also spent time working on his greeting manners, which we know has been one of his bigger challenges. In the past, when someone reached their hands out to him, Harvey would get very excited and jump up to be all over them. Today, however, he showed wonderful progress and self-control. When a kind woman stopped to say hello, Harvey was able to sit politely and remain calm while she greeted him — a big win for this sweet, social boy!
Overall, I am so proud of the progress Harvey continues to make. He is such a sweet, goofy boy with a loving personality and so much potential. As his training continues and he gains more consistency and practice, I truly believe he will only keep improving.
I also want to take a moment to thank you for trusting me with your boy and allowing me the opportunity to be part of his training journey. My hope is that I’ve provided you with the tools and foundation to continue building on his progress together, and I would love the chance to support you further as he continues working toward becoming the well-mannered gentleman we all know he can be.
Harvey really is such a good boy (and the best hugger!), and he has all the potential to succeed!
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