Roxie | Labrador Retriever | Simi Valley | In Training
- Chelsea Benz
- Jun 27
- 10 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Please welcome Roxie!
Roxie is a 3-year-old Labrador Retriever from Simi Valley, California. Roxie comes to us with an eagerness to work but she struggles with finding proper outlets to get that work ethic energy out. It's led to some pretty big problems for her family, one of which is pure over-excitement when meeting new people and rearing up on her hind legs to try and get to said person, no matter the cost. Great sympathy for whoever holds the leash! And that usually is dad who has to hold her back.
Roxie and I are going on a one-week but very important journey to teach her that while it can be exciting to see people, it's not always in her best interest to try and tackle them! She will come to understand that calm behavior is much more rewarding than being an overgrown puppy and we will help her channel that energy to more positive work going forward.
Follow along as we take each day by storm while Roxie learns to not burst into the scene like a hurricane and make life just a little bit easier for her and her family!
Pupdate 6/27
Today was Roxie's very first day of training, and she got started on the right paw! One of the first things we introduced was the Heel command while utilizing the prong collar. Beginning with the prong helps establish clear and consistent communication from day one. Rather than allowing pulling or forging ahead to become a habit, the prong provides gentle, even pressure that clearly communicates where we want Roxie to be. As soon as she finds the correct position at my side, that pressure is released, making it easy for her to understand that staying in Heel is the right choice.
A huge part of these first few days is simply repetition. Dogs don't master new behaviors after hearing a command just a handful of times; they learn through consistent practice and repetition. Every successful Heel, every reset, and every correct repetition build a stronger understanding of what's being asked. While it may seem repetitive from the outside, each repetition is another opportunity for Roxie to develop good habits and make the right choice more naturally.
For her very first session, Roxie did an excellent job! She was eager to learn, took to the new expectations better than I could have hoped, and showed some really promising moments throughout our training. There's still plenty to build on over the coming week but today laid a fantastic foundation for everything that's to come.
I've seen many labs but she seems to have come from a fantastic breeding line with how engaged she was to train and a lot how well it goes initially depends on their background and genetics. She demonstrated her eagerness from day 1 which is wonderful to work with. The eyes were focused, I had her attention, and she was happy to do said commands.
I'm excited to watch her confidence and understanding grow with each session, and I can't wait to share her progress with you along the way. Great job today, Roxie! You're off to a wonderful start!
Pupdate 6/28
Today we took our training on the road with a trip to Lake Balboa! This was Roxie's first opportunity to practice her obedience in a highly distracting environment filled with people, dogs, bicycles, squirrels, and all the sights and sounds that come with a busy public park. We also utilized a slip lead to see how she'd handle new pressure around her neck to a prong.
Training in locations like this is an important step because dogs don't automatically understand that commands apply everywhere. By working in new environments, we're teaching Roxie that Heel, Sit, Down, and her other commands mean the same thing no matter where she is or what's happening around her.
For her first outing in such a busy setting, Roxie did an awesome job! She stayed engaged with me and worked hard despite all the distractions competing for her attention. There were certainly moments where her curiosity got the better of her; and that's completely normal for a dog still early in training; but she recovered quickly and chose to re-engage with me. Those moments of choosing the correct behavior are exactly what build reliability over time.
Every trip like this helps strengthen Roxie's confidence and understanding that listening to her handler is always the right answer, regardless of the environment. She laid another great brick in the foundation of her training today, and I'm excited to see how much she'll continue to grow over the coming days. Fantastic work today, Roxie!
Keep it up, sweetheart!
Pupdate 6/29
Today we headed out to Klingerman Park for a more focused training session, and Roxie was ready to put in the work! One of her biggest challenges has been learning how to channel all of her excitement in a productive way. When she becomes overstimulated, her first instinct is to rear up, paw at the air, and pull herself toward whatever has caught her attention. While that enthusiasm is part of her wonderful personality, we're teaching her that staying grounded and looking to her handler is a much more rewarding choice.
To help with this, today we introduced the Heather's Hero. This is a fantastic communication tool because it gently guides the dog's head rather than relying on strength to control the rest of the body. Where the head goes, the body naturally follows, making it much easier to redirect attention back to the handler before excitement has a chance to boil over. It isn't about forcing Roxie into obedience or causing discomfort; it's about creating clear, gentle guidance so she can make better decisions while she's still learning.
As you'll see in the video, Roxie did an amazing job! Every time she started to fixate on something exciting, I was able to calmly redirect her attention back to me using the Heather's Hero along with clear leash guidance and her obedience commands. The moment she chose to keep all four paws on the ground, stay with me, or offer calm behavior, she was rewarded with praise. By consistently showing her what does earn attention instead of allowing the jumping and swatting to continue, she's beginning to understand that calm choices are the fastest path to success.
We certainly do have a bucking bronco but with guidance and a firm hand, she's already understanding acting out in such a manner isn't going to help her win anything.
This kind of progress doesn't happen overnight but today was a huge step in the right direction. Roxie showed that she's absolutely capable of slowing herself down, thinking through her excitement, and making much better decisions. I'm incredibly proud of how well she handled herself today, and I can't wait to continue building on this success!
Pupdate 6/30
Today Roxie and I took a trip to Century City Mall to continue building her confidence and obedience in a busy, high-distraction environment. Malls are wonderful places to proof a dog's training because they expose them to all kinds of sights, sounds, smells, and people while still asking them to remain focused on their handler. It's where we begin teaching that the commands they've learned at home apply everywhere; not just in quiet, familiar places.
Roxie did a fantastic job throughout our outing! She remained attentive, worked through the crowds nicely, and continued showing a great understanding of her commands despite everything happening around her. I'm very proud of how much she's grown in such a short amount of time.
One thing we're still working through is that Roxie can occasionally become "stuck" in place. Rather than making the wrong choice, she'll sometimes decide not to make one at all and hesitate to move forward. This is where the e-collar has become such a valuable communication tool. Used at a low, working level, it isn't there to punish or scare her. Instead, it acts as a gentle tap on the shoulder, reminding her to follow through with the command she's already been given. Once she understands what's being asked, she's happy to continue on and is rewarded for making the correct decision.
Overall, Roxie continues to impress me every day. She's becoming more confident, more responsive, and more willing to work through new environments instead of being overwhelmed by them. I'm excited to see what she accomplishes next, way to go, Roxie!
Pupdate 7/1
Today Roxie and I took a trip to the Santa Monica Promenade to continue proofing her training in one of the busiest environments we can find. With people constantly passing by, other dogs, loud noises, music, and plenty of exciting smells, it's a wonderful place to reinforce that listening doesn't stop just because the world gets more interesting.
Roxie did a fantastic job throughout our outing! She worked through the bustling atmosphere with growing confidence and continued showing a nice understanding of her commands. Even when something caught her attention, she was able to settle back into her work and stay engaged with me. It's wonderful seeing her become more comfortable navigating these busy public spaces while making good decisions instead of letting the excitement take over.
I also wanted to give you an update on her hot spots. I've continued applying the NT Canine Powder to the affected areas to help keep them dry and encourage healing, and I'm happy to say I'm keeping a close eye on them each day. My goal is to make sure she's as comfortable as possible while they recover.
Because her skin is currently a bit sensitive, I've made a small adjustment to her routine compared to many of my other board-and-train dogs. During the day, while I'm working at my desk, I've been allowing Roxie access to the front living room rather than having her spend all of that time in her crate. This gives her a little more space to stretch out, change positions, and relax without the constant pressure that can sometimes irritate sensitive skin. She is still crated overnight and during appropriate downtime to maintain structure and her training routine, but I feel this balance is the best way to support both her recovery and her comfort.
This extra freedom also gives us another opportunity to work on one of her training goals: resisting the temptation to "shop" around the house. Supervised room access allows me to reinforce that household items aren't hers to investigate or steal, helping her practice making good choices even when she has a bit more freedom. It's another way to teach her that calm, appropriate behavior earns privileges.
Overall, Roxie continues to make me proud. She's working hard, recovering well, and taking each day in stride. I'm hopeful our sweet girl will continue healing over the next few days while making even more wonderful progress in her training.
Way to go, Roxie!
Pupdate 7/2
Today Roxie and I returned to the Santa Monica Promenade to continue building her confidence and reinforcing her training in a busy, distraction-filled environment.
Returning to the same location is an important part of the training process because it allows us to measure progress while showing Roxie that the expectations remain the same, no matter how familiar or exciting the surroundings may be.
Roxie did a wonderful job navigating the crowds, passing other dogs, and working through the constant activity around us. Each visit helps her become a little more comfortable, allowing her to focus less on everything happening around her and more on looking to her handler for guidance. It's been great watching her confidence continue to grow as she realizes she can remain calm and make good choices, even in a place as lively as the Promenade.
We're continuing to build reliability with all of her commands while encouraging longer periods of focus and engagement. Every successful outing like this helps reinforce that obedience isn't just for quiet neighborhoods or the backyard; it's a skill she can carry with her wherever she goes.
Roxie continues to impress me with her willingness to learn and the steady progress she's making each day. She's becoming a more confident, attentive companion, and I couldn't be happier with how she's doing.
Way to go, Roxie!
Pupdate 7/3
Today Roxie and I headed to Home Depot to put her training to the test in another busy, distraction-filled environment. With shopping carts rolling by, forklifts beeping, loud machinery, and people constantly coming and going, it's a fantastic place to reinforce that her commands should remain just as reliable in the real world as they are in quieter settings.
Roxie did a wonderful job showing off her Heel, Sit, Come to Sit, and Place commands! For today's demonstration, we even utilized one of Home Depot's rolling carts, and she handled it beautifully. The movement of the cart, along with all the surrounding noise and commotion, can be a lot for many dogs to process, but Roxie stayed engaged and worked right through it. It's always rewarding to see a dog choose to focus on their handler despite so many competing distractions.
Our sweet girl is still a bit of a lumbering goofball at times and can get carried away by her excitement, but each outing is bringing a little more maturity and focus. She's beginning to understand that she doesn't have to react to everything happening around her and that looking to her handler for guidance is the right choice. Those moments of calm attention are becoming more frequent, and it's exciting to watch her confidence and reliability continue to grow.
I'm incredibly proud of the progress Roxie has made. She's working hard, having fun, and proving that even a rowdy pup can learn to slow down, think things through, and make great decisions.
Way to go, Roxie!
Pupdate 7/4
Today was Roxie's final day with me as she enjoyed an extra boarding day before heading home tomorrow. After all of the hard work she's put in over the past few weeks, I decided today would be all about taking things slow. We enjoyed a peaceful walk through the local park, soaking in the fresh air and simply letting Roxie be a dog. Sometimes, a calm, relaxing day is just as valuable as an intensive training session.
Giving dogs a chance to decompress is an important part of the learning process. It allows everything we've practiced to settle in while giving both their minds and bodies an opportunity to rest. Rather than constantly asking for commands, today was about reinforcing that calm behavior is rewarding too. Roxie has certainly earned a day to simply enjoy herself after working so diligently throughout her program.
I also wanted to give you one last update on her hotspot boo-boos. I'm happy to report they're healing very nicely! Because the areas are still recovering, I decided to skip giving her a full bath, as prolonged moisture can slow the healing process. Instead, I gently wiped down her coat and gave her a thorough brushing, so she'll be fresh, clean, and looking her best when she returns home tomorrow.
Overall, it was a wonderful, gentle day for our sweet girl. She got to relax, enjoy some well-deserved downtime, and finish her stay on a peaceful note while continuing to let all of her training come together. I'm so proud of how far Roxie has come, and I can't wait for you to see all that she's accomplished. You did well today, Roxie; you've certainly earned your rest!
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