Moose | Golden Retriever | Los Angeles, CA | In-Training
- Scott Hansen
- Aug 2
- 16 min read
Updated: 16 hours ago
Meet Moose! Moose is a six-month-old Golden Retriever here for our Two-Week Community Board and Train Program. Moose is a chill, relaxed, loving young pup that has a few unwanted behaviors. Although Moose doesn’t pull hard on the leash, he does wander off to do his own thing. His obedience is unreliable. Moose will counter surf, jump on furniture, and jump up on people at times. Moose can perform a command or two with proper motivation; however, he lacks structure and performs tasks inconsistently. Over the next fourteen days, Moose is going to learn to be an obedient pup through consistent, clear communication and balanced training at home and by discovering new people and places. Moose will learn to perform all these things on and off leash through a positive and balanced training environment. Through structure and consistency, Moose will demonstrate how great a pup he can be! Stay tuned for Moose’s two-week transformation!
Moose | Golden Retriever | Pupdate 08/02/26
Today, Mr. Moose joined me for his Two-Week Community Board and Train Program. On the way home, we stopped at a local park to see what commands Mr. Moose could perform. He performed a sit. That was it. He kept trying to sniff the ground and was interested in the people at the park. I think you know all that, and that's why he's here. After I tested his skills, we had a mini photoshoot for his profile picture for his blog. I don't know if you know this, but as soon as dogs see a phone or camera in front of their face, they are now invisible to them, and they must ignore you at all costs. Once we got what we needed, we loaded up and headed to Mr. Moose's temporary residence for the next two weeks. Mr. Moose did whine and bark on the way to the park. There was excessive drool in the crate when we arrived at the park, likely from stress
Once we got home, I let Mr. Moose smell Ms. Toji and Mr. Cash through the front gate. All the pups were excited to meet Mr. Moose. Mr. Moose sniffed them through the fence. I observed no reactivity in this initial meeting. Mr. Moose had no problems coming into the house. I let him explore each room and meet everyone. Throughout the introductions, Mr. Moose showed a little skepticism but was curious enough to investigate the new environment. He was excited to meet everyone. I let Mr. Cash smell the pups through my screen door to the dog run area. Once again, I did not observe any adversity. I took Mr. Moose outside to meet Ms. Toji and Mr. Cash. This did not go well. Mr. Cash apparently does not like Mr. Moose. Mr. Cash attempted to pin Mr. Moose on the ground, and Mr. Moose snapped back at Mr. Cash. Mr. Cash has been here for an entire week hanging out with other pups and showed no prior aversion to any other dogs. I had Mr. Moose on leash for his safety and to prevent things like this from happening. I have done this numerous times and would never let two dogs even interact if there were any signs of any pup not getting along. Mr. Moose and Ms. Toji will be fine together, but I am going to have Mr. Cash be separated from the other pups for his final week here. I fully inspected Mr. Moose for any injuries, but he was fine.
We then went on a long walk around the block so that he could get used to the sights, sounds, and scents of her temporary new neighborhood. He didn’t pull too hard or lag. He mostly walked in front of me. He did try to give up a few times and simply lay down. He sought the shade every chance he could and seemed to be tired by the end of the walk. He ignored all the other dogs in the houses that barked at us as we went around.
I put him into his assigned crate for his stay with me. He was not too thrilled about this. I might have to put a cover like a light sheet over his crate so that he can relax in a dark but still breathable environment. He barked incessantly for a while. Once he has been introduced to the e-collar, we will use this tool to minimize this unwanted behavior.
I expect to see him work well with the structure and positive reinforcement. I expect him to respond well to treats if he isn’t overwhelmed by the structure and e-collar. With clear, persistent communication and expectations, he will learn to be a consistently well-mannered pup!
I gave him dinner and observed how much he ate. I keep track of his weight and will ensure that he maintains his weight while he is with me. I also applied his eye drops for the evening.
I've attached the e-collar familiarization video. Please review the video a few times before Mr. Moose's turnover. We'll practice together to make sure you are comfortable with the system before using it with Mr. Moose. I will introduce the e-collar for tomorrow’s training. I will see how he reacts to training with the e-collar and flat collar (the one I put on him today) before exploring the slip lead. Seeing how mellow he is, the slip lead is likely the best tool to use if necessary.
Moose | Golden Retriever | Pupdate 08/03/26
Today, Mr. Moose and I headed over to Klingermann Park in Rosemead, CA to meet up with our fellow Off Leash trainers and their pups. Well, actually, it was one other trainer and one other pup. I worked with Mr. Moose while Mr. Mike worked with Mr. Cash to determine why Mr. Cash doesn't care for Mr. Moose. We ignored Mr. Cash and worked on Mr. Moose.
Mr. Moose was using the e-collar today with the slip lead. I didn't want to use the prong collar because I don't think Mr. Moose is that stubborn. I am also worried about shutting him down if we put too much pressure on him. He has been receptive and showing good understanding of the e-collar already. I will introduce the gentle leader to him tomorrow. I think this will be a fantastic tool for Mr. Moose.
We introduced "heel", "sit", "place", and "down" to Mr. Moose today. We focused on the "place" and "down" while around the other pups. I also started working on his door manners, where he has to perform a "sit" before going through a door. Unfortunately, his car manners are going to require a dedicated training session to get him in and out of the vehicle. He is a chill guy that doesn't like to work too hard at things. We'll find a way to motivate him in the most positive way we can.
I managed his time inside and outside for the remainder of the day to ensure that he isn't outside for too long with the heat. He is still getting used to spending time in the crate. I let him hang out with me in my office to manage his time in the crate. He's not thrilled about going in there, but despite a little bit of whining overnight, he survived. It will likely take about three days for him to get more comfortable hanging out in there.
I gave Mr. Moose his eye drops in the AM and PM. He's not a fan, but it's ok; it's for his health and wellness! He is a picky eater and takes his time eating his food. His weight is still good. I tossed in his dental treat and will mix in a few other treats to try to motivate him to eat his food.
Moose | Golden Retriever | Pupdate 08/04/26
Today, Mr. Moose and I worked on some of his commands in my backyard with no distractions. I also introduced the gentle leader to help motivate him to stay in the proper position. He was a fantastic student with the use of the gentle leader. I sprinkled in a few low-level stimulations from the e-collar, at about level 10, and he did pretty well for only his second day of official training.
We focused on the "heel" for most of today's training. I also focused more on his duration in his "sit" than on my distance from him. Duration will come first, and then I'll start sprinkling in my distance from him to get us off-leash ultimately. I had him perform a "place" where he quickly and independently offered a "down". Awesome! All the work we put in yesterday on shaping the "down" paid off. Mr. Moose decided on his own that he didn't want to have me guide him into the "down" and offered the behavior on his own. Lastly, we did the "Break!" command. I gave him a lot of love and attention, even more than I had already been during the training.
Moose | Golden Retriever | Pupdate 08/05/26
Mr. Moose and I loaded up and headed over to Liberty Park in Cerritos, CA. We worked on all of his commands, including "come-to-sit". It was nice and overcast when I first got there, but then the sun came roaring out, and it felt like the humidity wrapped us like a blanket. Despite the adverse weather conditions, we were able to get most of our training completed promptly without overdoing it.
We started with the "heel" command. Mr. Moose is a really chill, low-speed kind of guy. He was way more interested in small spots of shade or the kids playing on the playground next to us. He just mosies along, living his best life. However, I know he can do better than that. His "heel" was looking good a few times as he stuck to me like Velcro. I'll take this for now over him wandering too far away. We can be strict with the structure early on as we shape the behavior and be a little more tolerant as he understands the command and finds a comfortable place for himself. We reinforced his extended "sit", extended "place", and extended "down". Once again, he performed the "down" without leash pressure from me. We mixed in his "come-to-sit". I used a few bits of kibble to motivate him.
Mr. Moose is getting better at sleeping in his crate without whining or crying; however, he still won't go in there willingly. This bleeds over into his refusal to "load up" into the car. I'll have to work on this and teach it as a command. He is a little awkward climbing on things or jumping out of the car, but I'll do my best to help with his confidence. I have a ramp to help him into the vehicle, but Mr. Moose is only six months old and has no medical issues. He should be able to jump in without a problem, but he just doesn't want to go in the crate.
He has been consuming all of his food. He does enjoy the dental treats. He is not a fan of the eye drops, but we must do what we need to do for his well-being!
Moose | Golden Retriever | Pupdate 08/06/26
Today, Mr. Moose and I headed over to my local Home Depot in Lakewood, CA. We are coming along nicely with most of his commands. His "heel" can still be like Velcro at times. Once again, I prefer this over not being by my side. He would check out at times and just wander forward. I would reset him with leash pressure and an e-collar stimulation.
Overall, it was a new environment for Mr. Moose. He was a little skittish of oversized things like the step ladders, a cart with a giant box in it, and some of the loud noises. He wanted to say hi to everyone. He really likes little kids when they are running around. He also wanted to say hi to another pup that was walking around, but it wasn't time for social hour. He performed a good extended "sit", extended "place," and "down." We walked the entire footprint of the store until he was executing the "heel" in a much more acceptable manner.
One of my favorite parts about today is his attempts to jump into the car and the crate. He was only throwing his front paws up there, but he was willing to try. This is a good sign. I'll try again tomorrow with a little more momentum and see if we can get him to do it on his own.
Moose | Golden Retriever | Pupdate 08/07/26
Today, Mr. Moose and I headed over to Rynerson Park in Lakewood, CA to start working on leash dragging commands. Mr. Moose is coming along nicely with all of his commands! We kept things around level 15 all day today, and he had no issues.
We started with his "heel". This is getting better, and when I use a low-level stimulation as a reminder to stay on task, that is all it takes to assist Mr. Moose with performing better. I allowed the leash to drag while training. He's headed in the proper direction for off-leash work. If he continues to improve at this "heel" and other commands, I expect to be off-leash early next week. Next, we had him perform his extended "sit". No issues there. I do check in with him by giving him some physical reinforcement. There has to be something in it for them to perform these tasks; otherwise, it won't be lasting and meaningful for them to perform the task. We performed a little more "heel" and then went into the "come-to-sit" drills. At this point, I am moving a lot to entice him into position. I am also giving him a small piece of kibble as he comes around me to reward the behavior. Then we had him perform his "place" and "down". He has no problem performing the "down" on the cot. Lastly, we give him the "Break!" command, and he is free to be Mr. Moose.
On the way there and on the way back, he keeps trying to jump in, but just kind of runs into the bumper with his lower half. He's no Air Bud (yet). I will unlock his ability to jump into and onto higher platforms or, at the very least, into a vehicle.
He is doing much better in the crate. It's still tricky to get him in the thing at times, but once he's in there, he doesn't cry or whine.
Overall, his training is coming along well. He comes into the house from playing outside with Ms. Toji, full of puppy energy. He is still himself while learning how to be a well-behaved version.
Moose | Golden Retriever | Pupdate 08/08/26
Today, Mr. Moose and I worked on his door manners. There are two types of door manners. The first and most frequently used version is the first one I demonstrated for you. This involves approaching a closed door and having Mr. Moose perform a "sit". We slowly open the door and then allow him to proceed through the door after or with us, but never before us. This works going into and out of the door. This is a very structured process. This does not mean that Mr. Moose will not run out of an open door. He might think about sitting at first, but unless you are nearby, this is not guaranteed. However, frequent and consistent reinforcement of this behavior will reduce his willingness to blindly run out an open door.
The second type of door manners involves having Mr. Moose perform a "place" and then "down". This is also highly structured. This method is great for when you need to bring groceries in and out of the house, take the trash out, or are allowing guests into your house. I practiced going in and out to make sure he didn't jump up every time I entered the house. I pretend took the trash out and let him stay there. I had my little one run in and out as a high-value distraction. This got his attention. He popped up the first few times. I also caught him sitting up several times when I was out of his view. We reset, reset, reset, and reset again until he understands that he is supposed to stay in the "place" and "down" unless I ask him to do anything else.
I will say that he was showing signs of excitement (his lipstick was showing) throughout the training. It is good that he is excited, but it can also interfere with his ability to concentrate. This is why we have to be patient, clear, and consistent in what our expectations are of Mr. Moose. The simpler we make the expectation, the easier it is for him to concentrate and perform the command. As he matures and gets better control of his impulses, he will get better and better at these commands.
I brought home a new board and train today, Mr. Ares. Mr. Moose and Mr. Ares didn't mind each other during the introductions today; however, later on, I let them out together in my office while working. Mr. Ares had given a few growls at Mr. Moose when they were next to each other. I let them out to see if Mr. Ares was being kennel proud (protecting his space). They were fine until Mr. Moose started licking Mr. Ares' face. Mr. Ares did not like that very much. There has to be something with Mr. Moose going through maturity. We have to be very careful that he does not make the wrong pup angry, as it could have psychological impacts, creating lasting issues with his ability to interact with other pups in the future. This is the second 18-month-old male pup that has had issues with Mr. Moose. From my observations, it is not on purpose, and Mr. Moose is not instigating anything; it simply has to do with where he is in his maturation process. Mr. Moose and Ms. Toji have no issues. Mr. Ares lives with another male dog that is much older than him. Mr. Cash associates with other pups at his dad's brewery. Mr. Moose, aka MoMo, is such a sweet guy. He probably is confused why the other pups don't like him, but he's a good-sized pup oozing hormones that the other pups can pick up on.
Overall, another good day of using the e-collar to communicate with Mr. Moose and teaching him his new obedience tasks.
Moose | Golden Retriever | Pupdate 08/09/26
Today, I attempted to resolve Mr. Moose's unwillingness to jump into the car. I have had fifteen- to twenty-pound pups that can easily jump into the car, but Mr. Moose is just not having it. I started from simple to complex, and this system usually works.
I started by getting Mr. Moose used to walking on my ramp on the flat ground. He seemed to do fine with this. I then moved the ramp to my front porch. I had him climb up the ramp onto the porch. Then I had him jump up a few times without the ramp. All of this was to build up his confidence. Then I backed my car up to my patio to have him walk in on the ramp. I was saying "load up!" throughout these drills to hopefully pair it in his mind. I then pulled the car up to allow for space for the ramp to be used. Mr. Moose did great with just the ramp. Then I tried to have him jump in on his own. We hit a brick wall, or rather straight into my bumper! Fail. I have one other trick to use, which is I back my car up to a slightly inclined area of Rynerson Park in Lakewood, and the leap is about as high as it is to go up to the patio. This will hopefully teach him the confidence to jump into the vehicle without the ramp. Mr. Moose is always attempting to do things with the least amount of effort possible; however, I know that he can do this, and I will do my best to get it out of him over the next week. I will incorporate the ramp so that he does start loading in the vehicle on his own.
Moose | Golden Retriever | Pupdate 08/10/26
Today, Mr. Moose and I headed over to Rynerson Park in Lakewood, CA to work on all of his commands with the leash dragging. We are starting week two of his training and he's close to where he needs to be in order to be off leash. There's always something to work on. After today's training, we need to focus on his "come-to-sit" and getting more repetitions in with little input from me on the leash. The trickiest thing with Mr. Moose is making sure that the e-collar is in a secure, consistent place. I get it on him, and it has good contact with his skin, which keeps the numbers nice and low. But because of his fur, it will slide around, and then he won't be as responsive to the low numbers. We always check our equipment first before attributing inconsistencies to Mr. Moose. If I feel like I am going too high on the levels, I stop and check everything. I make sure the unit is properly paired, I ensure that the unit is properly located on the top part of his neck, I ensure that the contact points are making good contact with skin and not fur, and I also ensure that it is on firmly enough to minimize movement.
We focused on conducting all of his obedience with the leash dragging today. Overall, it was not too bad. We started with a good "heel" session. He went to Velcro dog and then loosened up a little bit. We then worked on his extended "sit". He did lie down in the middle of the first attempt. Although it is cute and he's not going anywhere, I did not ask him to "down". I reset him and checked in with him at about the one-minute mark and again around 1 minute 45 to make sure he held his position. We then moved on to more "heel" and then extended "place" and "down". He had no issues with these. I gave him the "Break!" command and lots of physical interaction and reinforcement for working so hard! I then loaded him into the vehicle with the assistance of my ramp. He went right up and in without any issues. When I got home, I tried to convince him to jump in without the ramp, and he once again just put his two paws up on the inside. We will continue to try to encourage him to jump up and in! I might try to teach a separate "hup" command, which means to go up or up and over. This is usually a lot easier when we can motivate the pup with a ball or some food, but Mr. Moose is too chill for all that. If we use too much pressure and compulsion, then he will have a negative association with the task, so we can't use that as a motivator either.
Moose | Golden Retriever | Pupdate 08/11/26
Today, Mr. Moose and I headed over to Liberty Park in Cerritos, CA, to determine if we can let Mr. Moose work off-leash. As it turns out, he can! The caveat is that Mr. Moose is still trying to do Mr. Moose things. This results in us having to go higher on the e-collar stimulation. Hopefully the next few days of training will help him understand to perform the task at the lowest level of stimulation to avoid me having to raise it. I am also hoping that Mr. Moose has a clearer understanding of how to perform the task at hand rather than trying to do his own task. This is usually the point in the training where the pups try to go back to their old ways. They played along for the first week and decided that they want to go back to their old ways. I stay consistent, persistent, and maintain clear expectations in order to push through these times.
We practiced half of his commands with the leash dragging, and when I felt like he was performing everything well with just my voice command and mostly low-level stimulations, I gave him a chance to perform off-leash. Overall, pretty good! He tried to break off and do his own thing once or twice, but I was persistent in what I was asking of him, and he finally gave up his side quest and came back to me. He was a little fixated on a pup that walked by towards the beginning of the training, but I stayed consistent and raised the e-collar up until I was more distracting than the distraction. He seems to respond more to the constant stimulation than the quick pressing of the button. I have been trying to hold it down at lower levels to get his attention before moving up.
He is very funny to me because he was barking at me the whole time while I was training Mr. Ares prior to Mr. Moose. He comes out of the car and then goes straight into lying on the grass and chilling. All that barking and excitement just to lie on the grass. What a silly dog Mr. Moose is. He tried not to jump on the bench when I asked him to; however, he went up there several times on his own when he was trying to not listen to me. I was not going to allow that on these low-level benches.
Good start to being off-leash!
Comments