Mini Labradoodle Dog Training | Emma | La Habra Heights, CA

OffLeash SoCal
3 days ago
11 min read

Emma, Labradoodle from La Habra Heights, CA went through the Balanced Canine Training SoCal Board and Train dog training program. Emma was trained by Priscilla Khor in Rowland Heights, CA

Emma came to Balanced Canine Training SoCal with varying behavioral issues, including pulling on the leash, squirrel chasing, jumping up when greeting, counter surfing, generally not listening to commands, and barking at strangers. Balanced Canine Training SoCal was successful in transforming Emma into a well-managed pup.

The dog trainers at Balanced Canine Training SoCal are here to help you and your dog be as amazing as our before and after videos!

Pupdates:

Meet Emma! She’s a six-month-old Mini Labradoodle from La Habra Heights here for our Two-Week Board and Train Program! Emma is a friendly and playful pup who loves people and other dogs, but she’s still learning important manners. She has a habit of mouthing and biting during play, and listening to commands isn’t always her strong suit. Potty training has also been a bit of a challenge, so we’ll be focusing on helping her develop consistency. Over the next two weeks, we’ll work on improving her obedience, curbing her biting behavior, and reinforcing potty training so she can become a well-mannered companion. Stay tuned for Emma’s 2-Week Transformation!

Pupdate 4/12/25

E Collar System Explanation

Today was Emma’s first day with me, and she’s already showing what a sweetheart she is! At her home, Emma was full of confidence—barking, jumping, and eagerly trying to get me to play or chase her around. But once we stepped outside her familiar space, a totally different side of her came out. She became shy and stuck close to me, clearly unsure of her new surroundings.

When we got back to my home, Emma stayed glued to my side, looking to me for comfort and reassurance. We introduced her to my dog slowly, starting with a calm crate greeting. Emma gave a few curious sniffs but quickly returned to my side instead of engaging. Once my dog was out of the crate, Emma chose to hang back rather than interact—which is completely okay. She’s in a brand new environment and just needs some time to settle in and feel safe.

She did throw up in the car on the way home, likely due to nerves, but we’re keeping a close eye on her and making sure she adjusts at her own pace. Overall, she’s already showing trust in me, and I’m excited to see her confidence grow in the days ahead!

Pupdate 4/13/25

Today we focused on building Emma’s confidence and introducing some foundational obedience around the neighborhood. We began working on “heel,” and while Emma doesn’t quite understand the position yet, she naturally walks very close to me, which is a great starting point! Her sit and down commands are already becoming more stable, showing that she’s beginning to understand what’s being asked of her.

We also introduced “place” with various objects. Even though Emma loves to jump at home, she’s a bit hesitant when it comes to jumping onto raised place objects. However, she’s doing well with lower platforms and is learning to stay on them nicely. With continued practice and encouragement, she’ll build the confidence to tackle higher ones too.

Potty training is a work in progress—Emma hasn’t gone much yet, which is likely due to her being used to her designated potty area at home. The good news is that she’s great at holding it, and with consistency, patience, and plenty of opportunities, she’ll adjust to her new routine in no time. She’s off to a great start!

Pupdate 4/14/25

Today’s pupdate is about how Emma is learning his come to sit! This video will help you understand how to handle her and what to expect from her as well. She’s learning fast!

Pupdate 4/15/25

Emma had a big adventure today—we went to the park! She did an awesome job working on her heel, staying close and focused as we walked together. Her sit and down commands are looking super solid, and she held them well even in a busy new environment. The only times she popped out of position were when something startled her, which is totally understandable for a young pup still getting used to the world.

We also challenged her confidence with “place” on different surfaces and heights. She’s getting much more comfortable, even practicing on picnic benches and the car—big steps for a little girl! One fun moment from today was when we encountered some horses. One was especially curious about Emma, and the two of them shared a calm, quiet moment of mutual acknowledgment before going their separate ways. Emma handled it like a pro—cool, collected, and calm.

She’s making great progress and continues to surprise me with how quickly she’s adapting!

Pupdate 4/16/25

Today’s Pupdate is about Emma’s sit! She knows the command very well, but has a lot of trouble remaining in it, especially when I move around too. We are working on her stability in her sit every day, and she is showing a lot of improvement. We are also working on not going into a down during the sit, which is where a lot of pups get mixed up! Overall, Emma is doing well for this command and with time, she will have a rock solid sit!

Pupdate 4/17/25

Today Emma and I took a trip to an outdoor mall to help build her confidence and obedience in a high-distraction environment. We started with an extended sit in front of a busy grocery store—she was a little nervous at first, but she stayed put like a champ!

We also practiced placing on higher objects, which was a bit of a challenge for her at the start. But with some gentle encouragement and a few tries, Emma pushed past her hesitation and became much more confident hopping up onto those elevated surfaces.

Her heel work looked great overall, though she did get distracted here and there. By the end of our outing, we had smoothed out most of those moments, and I even introduced her to off-leash heeling by giving her the full 15 feet of the leash. She was unsure at first and lagged behind, but with lots of praise and guidance, Emma figured out that heel is about walking with me, not just following the leash.

She’s a fast learner and showed a lot of heart today—I’m so proud of her progress!

Pupdate 4/18/25

Today’s pupdate is on how Emma is learning to lay down on command, and how I’m teaching her stability in it! She is expected to stay in all of her commands until we release her, and down is a good one to teach her that accountability.

Pupdate 4/19/25

Emma and I took on Home Depot today—off leash the entire time! She did an awesome job staying by my side, navigating the store with growing confidence. There were a few moments when loud noises startled her and caused her to drift away, but she always worked her way back with a little reassurance.

We focused a lot on her “come to sit” command, and she absolutely nailed it today. Emma really concentrated on getting the position just right, and her hard work paid off—it looked beautiful!

She got quite a bit of attention from shoppers wanting to say hi, but Emma was a bit shy around them and preferred to stick close to me. That said, her progress in off-leash obedience is really shining through. She’s growing more confident each day, and I’m super proud of how far she’s come!

Pupdate 4/20/25

Today’s pupdate is on Emma’s heel command! She’s gotten a lot better with it already and can do it off leash, but the video shows you how to handle her with the leash. She’s definitely using a lot of her puppy brain to stay close during this command!

Pupdate 4/21/25

Emma had a fun-filled day at the park with a bunch of her doggy friends while we worked on sharpening her obedience skills! She did a great job holding her heel on the paved walkways, staying close and focused. Once we hit the grassy areas, though, the tempting smells were almost too much to resist—she needed a little extra time and reminders to get back into heel, but she pulled through with some encouragement.

We spent time working on “place” using benches and picnic tables, and Emma did a great job jumping up and settling into position. At first, she needed a little help remembering to stay, especially with the added distractions of other dogs playing nearby, but once she locked in, she held her place confidently. Her extended sit is also looking strong—she’s learning to stay calm and focused even in busy environments, which is a huge step forward for her. With each outing, Emma is showing more confidence, better impulse control, and a growing ability to work through distractions. She’s really starting to shine!

Pupdate 4/22/25

Emma and I headed to Lowe’s today for another round of off-leash obedience practice, and she really stepped up her game! Her focus and confidence have come a long way—she stayed right by my side throughout the store, even with loud noises and unfamiliar faces all around.

We spent time working on “place” with a variety of textures and heights to challenge her. She was a little unsure at first with things like the wobbly cart and the grated benches in the garden section, but with some encouragement and repetition, she got the hang of it. By the end, she was hopping up on each surface with much more confidence.

Her sit and down were also solid today—no sneaking out of position or inching closer. Emma held her commands calmly and reliably, showing just how much progress she’s making. She’s becoming more comfortable and composed with each outing, and I’m proud of how far she’s come!

Pupdate 4/23/25

Today’s video is about Emma’s place command as well as her send away to place! The place command is where she is most comfortable at home and she loves to fall asleep here or just rest after a training or play session.

Pupdate 4/24/25

Today’s pupdate is about Emma’s door manners! She is very good at this, and knows not to charge out the door when I open it. I put her in a sit to let her know I’ll be opening the door and doing things, and when I’m ready, I tell her to come. This is useful since it helps keep her safe from the traffic outside. Emma also practices these door manners with the backyard door, so she only goes through when I tell her “break” or “come”.

Pupdate 4/25/25

Emma took on the Santa Monica Pier—and she absolutely crushed it! Despite having shown some nervousness around machinery and loud environments in past outings like Home Depot, Emma handled the hustle and bustle of the pier like a pro. Her off-leash heel was fantastic, staying right by my side almost the entire time. The only moments she strayed were when she didn’t catch a turn I made while she was busy taking in the sights—but she quickly found her way back to me.

Her confidence really stood out today, especially with placing on objects. She not only jumped up on higher surfaces with ease, but she was able to do so even when I stood a bit farther away—something that takes real trust and focus. Her sit and down commands were super solid too. I was able to walk away without her breaking position, and her down command was especially helpful as we stood right next to the flow of foot traffic.

We also had lots of people come up and ask to pet her, and Emma impressed me with her greeting manners. She stayed in a sit the whole time—nervous, but accepting the affection like a polite little lady. We also practiced her “under” command, which she seems to really enjoy. It gives her a safe, cozy spot to settle down and relax, even in busy settings.

All in all, Emma showed major growth today. She’s calmer, more confident, and really beginning to show signs of becoming an everywhere dog. I’m so proud of her progress!

Pupdate 4/26/25

Today’s pupdate is about Emma’s door manners! Before loading up into the car, I tell her to sit and wait while I open the trunk and get the space ready for her. When I want her to jump into the car, I’ll give her the command “Up” and she jumps up into the car. Then I tell her crate and she goes in to her crate in the car to keep her safe. It did take her a while to build the confidence to jump into the car herself, but we work through that and now she is as happy as ever to load up all by herself .

Pupdate 4/27/25

Today Emma and I took a trip to an outdoor mall to continue building her obedience in busy environments. She practiced her extended sit and down throughout the different stores, and she did a fantastic job staying calm and composed even with lots of distractions around. We also worked on her “place” command using various benches, which helped boost her confidence with new textures and heights—she’s getting braver every day!

Back at home, we focused on improving her food manners. We took advantage of her meal times to practice, since she’s often not very motivated by her kibble outside of those moments. Emma is learning to hold her sit patiently while waiting for her food, showing more and more self-control. Once she’s consistently steady with her kibble, we’ll level up the challenge by practicing with her wet food, which will definitely require even more focus and discipline!

She’s making great strides and showing more maturity with each session—I’m so proud of her progress!

Pupdate 4/28/25

Today Emma and I worked on helping her better understand the difference between her “place” and “under” commands using the same set of picnic benches. In the video from today, you’ll see us moving between “place” and “under” in a fun circle of benches, keeping the reps short and upbeat to keep her engaged.

Emma is doing a great job with her “under” command—she’s getting the hang of sliding underneath and staying comfortably in place. When it comes to “place,” she’s still figuring out how to handle the send-away when I’m farther away; sometimes she defaults to her “come to sit” command instead. But the exciting thing is that if she starts with “come to sit,” she can successfully transition into “place” from there, showing that she’s putting the pieces together!

Overall, Emma is picking things up quickly, staying positive, and making great strides in her understanding of these more detailed obedience skills. She’s such a hard worker!

Pupdate 4/29/25

Today’s pupdate is about how Emma got to work on her obedience around a variety of dog distractions, and she truly impressed me with her focus and impulse control! Even with several dogs moving around her, she held her commands like a champ. Unless another dog physically bumped into her, she didn’t break position—she would either readjust or calmly move around them to get back into place.

Her confidence in “place” is strong, and she’s continuing to improve on her “under” command as well. She’s showing great understanding of both, and I love how composed and thoughtful she’s becoming in busy environments. Emma is proving every day that she’s capable of being cool, collected, and well-mannered—even in the presence of exciting distractions!

Pupdate 4/30/25

Emma headed back to the pier today for some focused practice on her greeting manners, and she did a fantastic job! With her fluffy coat and sweet face, she naturally draws a lot of attention—so she’s had plenty of opportunities to practice staying calm and polite while being approached.

She remained in her sit beautifully as people came up to pet her, even when she was curious about their hands. While she can be a little more cautious around men, she warms up quickly to those she’s met a few times and becomes her usual cuddly self.

Emma is doing a great job learning how to greet people respectfully and confidently in public, and it’s been so rewarding to see her progress!

Pupdate 5/1/25

Emma had a great day at the Santa Monica pier, showing off just how far she’s come with her obedience! She was solid in all of her commands—holding her “place,” “heel,” and especially her “under” with impressive focus, even in the middle of a busy, high-distraction environment.

The only challenge she faced today was transitioning from a “down” into a “sit,” which took her a few extra tries. But with some gentle guidance and repetition, she figured it out and got back on track.

She also made quite the impression with the crowd—several people stopped to admire her and even commented on how photogenic she is! Through it all, Emma stayed calm, collected, and right on task. She’s gaining confidence every day and really embracing her role as an everywhere dog!

Pupdate 5/2/25

Today marks Emma’s last day with me, and we celebrated it with a peaceful morning hike! I gave her a bit of freedom to explore ahead of me, and true to her nature, she never strayed more than a few feet. She kept checking in with me every few seconds, showing how connected and responsive she’s become.

As we passed other hikers, Emma remained calm, polite, and composed. She got to enjoy all the sights and smells—flowers, squirrels, and fresh air—and it was clear she was having a great time. She handled the trail with confidence and ease, like a seasoned hiking buddy.

I’m incredibly proud of how far Emma has come during her three-week transformation. She’s leaving with so much more confidence, self-control, and connection—and I know she’s ready for whatever adventures come next!