Pepper | Lab | Los Angeles, CA | In Training
- gregoffleashsocal
- Mar 19
- 12 min read
Updated: Apr 7
Pepper the 5-month-old Labrador Retriever has officially joined us from Los Angeles for her Three Week Puppy Board and Train, and we’re excited to have her here!
She’s at that perfect age—full of curiosity, energy, and ready to learn. Over the next few weeks, our focus will be on building a strong foundation in obedience while also shaping her manners so she can grow into a well-behaved, confident companion. That means working on leash skills, basic commands, impulse control, and appropriate behavior both in and out of the home.
Pepper is already settling in and starting to explore her new environment. As she gets more comfortable, we’ll begin guiding her through structured training in a clear, positive, and consistent way.
Looking forward to seeing her progress—she’s got a lot of potential, and we’re excited to help bring it out!
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 3/19/2026
Pepper is off to an energetic start! We’ve begun establishing a clear baseline for obedience, and she’s showing us she’s a very excitable girl with lots of enthusiasm but not much in the way of manners just yet. Right now she tends to jump up and has been nipping toward the face, so we’re focusing on setting clear boundaries and showing her more appropriate ways to engage.
We’ve started introducing the concept of pressure and, more importantly, how to turn that pressure off by making the right choices. This is a big foundational piece, and she’s already beginning to understand that her behavior directly influences the outcome.
She’s bright, eager, and very fun to work with. Once we channel that energy and give her structure, she’s going to make some really nice progress.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 3/20/2026
We got out early this morning to beat the heat and headed to a local park to start introducing Pepper to working in a more distracting environment. With it only being Pepper’s second full day, the focus isn’t on perfection—it’s on showing Pepper how to work, how to follow through on commands, and how to stay engaged even when there’s a lot going on around.
New smells, people, movement—all the things that can easily pull focus—but Pepper is already starting to understand the expectation. There’s still plenty of excitement and curiosity, which is completely normal at this stage, but Pepper is doing a great job beginning to check back in and respond when asked.
For such an early point in training, this is exactly what we want to see. Building that foundation of engagement in a real-world setting will go a long way, and Pepper is off to a strong start.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 3/21/2026
Pepper is such a happy girl—always bringing a positive, loving energy into everything she does. She’s very smart and already starting to pick up on things, especially for it only being her third full day with us.
Right now we’re focusing on slowing her down and beginning to show her what good manners look like. She’s still very excitable, but she’s starting to have small moments where she’s thinking instead of just reacting, which is exactly what we want at this stage.
We’re introducing the basics and starting to build that foundation of obedience, keeping everything clear and fair so she can understand without getting overwhelmed. She’s at the very beginning of the process, but she’s off to a great start and giving us a lot to work with.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 3/22/2026
We took Pepper out to a busy outdoor shopping center and put her right in the middle of everything—crowds of people, dogs passing by, and nonstop distractions all around. It’s a big ask for a young dog with her level of excitement, but that’s exactly how we start building real-world reliability.
We focused on encouraging engagement, helping her understand that even with all that going on, she still has a job to do. Worked through her commands in that environment, asking her to slow down, think, and respond instead of reacting to every sight and sound.
This pushed her out of her comfort zone in a big way, but she rose to the challenge. She didn’t shut down or check out—she worked through it. You could see her start to piece things together, choosing to engage more consistently as we went.
She’s responding really well and showing that she’s capable of handling more as we continue to build her confidence and expectations.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 3/23/2026
Pepper is doing great. Starting to really understand the guidance and follow through with direction, especially when it comes to leash pressure. Instead of fighting it or getting scattered, she’s beginning to respond to it and move with it, which is a big step.
We’ve been getting her out into new areas with more going on around her, and she’s noticeably less excitable each time. Still very much a puppy, still has those bursts of energy and curiosity, but she’s learning how to settle, focus, and make better choices even with distractions around.
She’s making steady progress and gaining more control and confidence each day.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 3/24/2026
Pepper has been a lot of fun to work with and brings a great kind of energy to each session. From the start, she’s been engaged, curious, and eager to move, which gives us a really nice foundation to build on. We’re taking things at a steady, fair pace to make sure she clearly understands what’s being asked, and she’s been responding well to both the equipment and the direction we give her.
For how young she is, she’s learning quickly and starting to put things together in a meaningful way. You can see the moments where it clicks for her, and she’s beginning to offer better decisions and settle into the flow of training. Her obedience and manners are coming along nicely, and while she still has that playful, puppy-like enthusiasm, she’s showing she’s capable of channeling it in the right direction.
There’s still plenty of room for growth, which is expected at her age, but the progress so far has been very encouraging. With more time ahead, we’re excited to continue building consistency and clarity for her. Overall, she’s doing really well and we’re happy with where she’s at right now.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 3/25/2026
Pepper had a great training session at the park today, working around other dogs and new surroundings. She absolutely loves being in new places and gets very excited when she first arrives, which is completely normal for her. It usually takes a few minutes for her to settle in, and we help her through that by slowing things down, keeping things structured, and guiding her back into a calm, focused state with clear direction.
Once she works through that initial excitement, she really starts to shine. She becomes much more responsive and engaged, and you can see her making better choices as she settles into the session. We’re focusing on helping her understand how to manage that excitement so she can stay more consistent from the start, even in stimulating environments.
Overall, she’s doing a great job and continues to make steady progress. She’s a very happy, enthusiastic girl, and we’re channeling that energy into her work so she can be successful wherever she goes.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 3/26/2026
Pepper had a really nice session today and the video shows a great example of us shaping the down.
“Shaping” a behavior means increasing the level of distance, distraction, and duration to build it from the ground up into a solid, reliable command. With Pepper, we’re taking our time layering those pieces so she clearly understands the job instead of rushing through it.
In this clip, you’ll see us working through all three D’s in a natural way—adding a little space between us, introducing some mild distractions, and asking her to hold the position just a bit longer each time. She definitely comes in excited, especially in new environments, but once we guide her into the work she starts to settle and make better, more thoughtful decisions.
She’s doing a great job learning how to focus through that initial excitement. You can see her starting to think things through and stay more consistent as we build on each rep. Really nice progress from her.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 3/27/2026
Today we worked Pepper in a very high-distraction, real-world environment at a busy mall. There was a lot going on—people, movement, noise—which can be overwhelming, especially for a young dog still figuring things out.
Her puppy brain definitely kicks in at times and she loses focus, which is completely normal at this stage. When that happens, we step in with clear guidance and help redirect her attention back to the task at hand.
The important part is that she’s learning how to work through those moments instead of getting stuck in them. She’s making steady progress, and each outing like this is helping her build better focus and confidence in real-world situations.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 3/28/2026
Pepper continues to be such a joy—she comes into training so excited and happy, which makes working with her a lot of fun. Today we took her into a highly distracting, very busy indoor mall that she had never been in before, and she handled it extremely well.
She really rocked it. Her focus and engagement with the handler were noticeably better than yesterday, and she was able to work through the completely new environment with more consistency. We’re starting to tighten things up now, building more precision and reliability as she continues to gain confidence in these real-world settings.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 3/29/2026
Pepper is doing great and bringing lots of energy into her sessions! From here on out, we’ll be focusing on training in very high-distraction environments to really challenge her and continue pushing her progress forward. She’s capable of a lot, so we’re leaning into that and asking more of her.
With all the excitement, she can get a bit wild in her heel at times, especially in busy environments. When that happens, we simply have her sit to reset, let her settle for a moment, and then continue working. This is helping her learn how to manage that excitement and stay more controlled and focused.
She’s learning that even in stimulating environments, the expectations stay the same. With consistency and structure, she’s continuing to improve and channel that energy in a more productive way.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 3/30/2026
Pepper has been putting together some really great sessions lately, and you can see that progress coming through clearly. She’s holding her commands beautifully and showing a lot of confidence in settling into position and staying there.
In this session, we worked her in close proximity to other dogs that are newer to training and still developing their manners, so there was a lot of added movement, excitement, and unpredictability in the environment. That kind of setup can be challenging, especially for a young dog, but Pepper handled it really well.
You can see moments where she notices everything going on around her—she’s naturally curious and aware—but instead of getting pulled into it, she works through it and stays committed to her commands. That’s a big part of her training, being able to acknowledge distractions without reacting to them.
She understands what’s being asked of her and is showing that she can stay calm, composed, and focused even when the environment isn’t calm or controlled. These sessions are continuing to build consistency in her behavior, and it’s great to see her make those solid decisions in more challenging situations.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 3/31/2026
Pepper had a fun start to her morning at a softball field—we grabbed some pictures and she randomly decided home plate was her spot. Kept hopping up there and standing proud like she owned it. Confident, relaxed, and clearly enjoying being somewhere new.
Training-wise, she’s already proving she can handle real-world pressure. We’re putting her right into busy, distracting environments and expecting her to stay locked in, and she’s doing exactly that. Her focus and engagement are where they need to be, and she’s showing she understands the job. When she gets a little amped in heel, we reset her and she settles back in quickly without any drawn-out correction. She’s thinking through things instead of just reacting, which is exactly what we want.
A quick not about her stomach… We’ve noticed a little pattern the past couple days—Pepper will have a normal stool earlier on, then a looser one later. Nothing else has changed with her behavior or energy. We made a small adjustment to her meals by adding some white rice and pumpkin with extra water just to keep things balanced and hydrated. She’s doing perfectly fine, and we’ll just keep a light eye on it.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 4/1/2026
Pepper continues to make great progress, and we’re starting to really focus on the bigger picture of her training. It’s not just about commands—it’s about helping her understand how to behave appropriately in different social situations and at different times throughout the day. That’s what turns training into real-life reliability.
That’s why you’ll see us working on Greeting Manners here. This is such an important piece because it teaches Pepper how to appropriately interact with people without getting overly excited, jumping, or losing focus. We specifically worked her around a group of kids because they naturally bring a lot of energy, movement, and unpredictability—exactly the kind of real-world distractions we want her to learn to handle. By practicing in that kind of environment, she’s learning to stay composed and make good decisions even when things are a bit chaotic.
Pepper still has a good amount of time left with us, which is great because it gives us more opportunity to keep building on these behaviors and reinforcing consistency. She’s doing really well so far, and we’re excited to keep pushing her forward.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 4/2/2026
Pepper the pup, full of spark and flair,
With a curious nose and a confident stare.
She’s learning her commands and holding them tight,
Even with distractions all in her sight.
Dogs running around? Kids full of cheer?
She’s figuring out how to stay steady right here.
Some moments are silly, a little bit wild,
Then she locks back in—focused and dialed.
She keeps us all laughing, that much is true,
With her goofy charm and the things that she’ll do.
From training to play, she gives it her all,
A big personality in a body so small.
She’s building her skills day by day,
Learning to think before rushing to play.
Not finished yet—still growing each day,
Putting the pieces together her way.
Pepper’s got drive, a heart full of fun,
And she’s right in the middle of getting it done.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 4/3/2026
In today’s video update you’ll see Pepper enjoying some time with her favorite toys. Play isn’t just for fun (even though she definitely thinks it is 😄)—it’s actually a big part of how we build engagement, confidence, and a stronger bond with her. We use play as a reward, a reset, and a way to keep training enjoyable and meaningful for her.
She works hard all day, every day, learning how to navigate the world with better manners and clearer structure. Because of that, we make sure to intentionally build in time where she can just be a puppy—run around, interact, play, and genuinely enjoy herself.
These moments matter just as much as the structured training. They help keep her motivated, balanced, and excited to keep learning.
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 4/4/2026
Pepper had an exciting day at Bass Pro Shop! Training isn’t just about commands—it’s about learning how to behave in all kinds of social situations. Today, we focused on practicing Greeting Manners with anybody we could—kids, adults, and everyone in between. With so many distractions around, it was the perfect opportunity for Pepper to work on staying calm, polite, and confident while meeting new people.
Each interaction helps Pepper understand how to respond appropriately in different environments. She’s learning to read social cues, stay composed even when things get lively, and approach new situations with confidence. Every successful greeting reinforces her skills and builds her trust in herself and her surroundings.
Outings like this are an essential part of her ongoing development. By exposing Pepper to a variety of people, places, and experiences, we’re helping her become more adaptable, attentive, and well-mannered in any situation. She’s making incredible progress, and we’re proud to see how much more confident and poised she’s becoming every day.
Pepper worked on Car Manners today, specifically jumping into her crate from the ground—and she’s got the hang of it!
This skill is more important than it might seem. Teaching Pepper to confidently and calmly load herself into the crate creates a smooth, stress-free routine when it’s time to go somewhere. Instead of hesitation or needing help, she’s choosing to follow direction and take initiative.
It’s also a big safety factor. A dog that loads into the crate on command is much less likely to wander around the vehicle or make unsafe decisions in busy areas like parking lots or new environments.
And because Pepper is going to be a big dog, this is something she really needs to learn now. It might seem small while she’s still manageable, but if it’s not addressed early, it can quickly turn into a major challenge later on. Setting that expectation early makes life much easier for everyone down the road.
On top of that, this continues to build her impulse control. Even when she’s excited, she’s learning to stay focused and complete the task correctly.
She’s showing great consistency, confidence, and a solid understanding of what’s being asked of her—really nice progress all around!
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 4/6/2026
Pepper is doing great and continuing to impress us every day. She had a fun outing at the park today, working around lots of other dogs and handling the environment really well. It was a great opportunity to reinforce her training with real-world distractions, and she rose to the occasion.
We’ll be filming her final video this evening to showcase all the skills she’s learned during her time with us, and she’s more than ready to show off all her hard work.
She’s heading home on Wednesday, and we can’t wait for her owners to see just how much progress she’s made!
Pepper | Lab | Pupdate 4/7/2026
Pepper is wrapping up her last full day of training, and we couldn’t be more proud of how far she’s come. From day one to now, she’s put in consistent work, shown great focus, and really stepped up to every challenge thrown at her.
She’s built a solid foundation in obedience, improved her manners in real-world environments, and learned how to stay calm and responsive even with distractions around. More importantly, she’s learned how to think through situations instead of just reacting—which is a huge win.
Tomorrow she heads home, and we’re excited for her owners to see the transformation. Pepper didn’t just learn commands—she learned how to be a well-behaved, confident companion, and she’s ready to keep that progress going at home.
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