Nori | Boxer/Labrador Retriever Mix | Inglewood, CA | In- Training

Meet Nori! She’s a 13-month-old Boxer/Lab mix from Inglewood here for our Two-Week Board and Train Program. Nori is sweet, playful, and full of energy, but her enthusiasm can sometimes get the better of her. She’s known to bark at other dogs, pull on the leash during walks, and struggle with consistency in commands like “down,” “leave it,” and “drop it.” Though she’s great with her family and enjoys playtime with their dog, her high energy and playful behaviors—like jumping on guests and occasional nipping—are areas that need some fine-tuning. Over the next fourteen days, we’ll focus on improving her leash manners, sharpening her obedience skills, building calm socialization with people and dogs, and teaching her better off-leash control and fetch etiquette. Stay tuned for Nori’s 2 Week Transformation!

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Pupdate 5/31/25

Nori is off to a strong start on her first day of training! At pick-up, she was happy and curious, and with a little help from mom and dad, she hopped right into the car and settled into the crate with no trouble. She already knows some of her basic commands like “sit” and “down,” but she hasn’t yet learned to hold those positions until she’s released with a cue like “break.” That’s something we’ll be focusing on throughout her program to help build impulse control and clarity.

Today, I introduced her to the “place” command, and she was quick to step onto the cot and get into position. Like with her other commands, she held it for a few seconds before getting up on her own, which is a great starting point. She’s responsive and eager to learn—it’s just a matter of helping her understand the rules and expectations with more consistency.

She also met my dog today! Nori barked a bit at first out of excitement, but after a proper introduction and some sniffing, they were able to play together in a calm and respectful way. It’s clear she wants to be social—she just needs a little help channeling that energy.

Nori is a calm and sweet-natured girl, and I can already see that with a little structure and clear communication, she’s going to thrive. We’re excited to see how much progress she’ll make. Stay tuned for more updates as her transformation unfolds!

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Pupdate 6/1/25

Today, I introduced Nori to the e-collar, and she’s already picking up on it quickly! Right now, I’m pairing the e-collar stimulation with leash pressure to help her understand that both cues mean I’m asking her to follow through on a command. She’s responding well, and I’ve already started easing off the leash pressure to let the e-collar take the lead. We’re starting with commands she already knows, like “sit” and “come,” so she can make the connection that the e-collar is just another way I’m communicating with her.

I also noticed a bit of barrier frustration this morning. When Nori has more energy—like during our early morning routine—she tends to bark and growl at the other dogs when she’s still in her crate. However, once everyone is out and in the open, she relaxes and has no issues interacting with the group. This vocalization seems to come more from frustration and wanting to be part of the action than anything aggressive, and with structure and consistency, she’ll learn how to manage that energy more appropriately.

On a positive note, Nori is doing a great job learning how to engage with other dogs. She’s still a bit awkward and needs a little space now and then, but she’s confident and eager to play. Her social skills are improving by the hour, and I’m excited to see how much more she blossoms as her training continues!