Wopper | Shepherd/Husky Mix | Long Beach, CA | In-Training

Say hello to Wopper, a handsome 6-month-old Shepherd/Husky mix from Long Beach, CA, who just joined us for our Three Week Board & Train Program!

Wopper may still be a puppy, but he's already bringing BIG puppy energy and an even BIGGER personality! Like many pups his age, he has a few unwanted behaviors we'll be working on, including resource guarding, leash pulling, counter surfing, and getting overly excited around other dogs.

Over the next three weeks, we'll focus on building a strong foundation of obedience, improving leash manners, developing impulse control, and most importantly, building confidence!

Through structure, consistency, clear communication, and positive experiences, we'll teach Wopper how to stay focused, make better choices, and remain calm even when distractions are all around him.

Let the transformation begin!

Stay tuned as we turn this big ball of puppy energy into a more confident, well-mannered gentleman!

Welcome to the pack, Wopper!

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Pupdate 10/25/26

Welcome to Whopper’s First Pupdate!

After drop-off, Whopper and I spent some time getting familiar with one another. We started with a walk around the park, where I immediately began introducing his Heel command and working on his leash manners. You were definitely not kidding when you said he was a strong boy! He has quite a bit of pulling power, so teaching him to walk calmly beside me will be one of our priorities.

Once our park session was complete, it was time to head home. As you mentioned, Whopper is not very comfortable around cars, so getting him into his travel crate was a bit challenging. Rather than rushing him, I gave him time and encouragement to help create a more positive experience. With some patience, he was able to enter his travel crate.

Upon arriving at my home, it was time to introduce Whopper to Miss Dottie! My daughter assisted me with a structured pack walk, keeping both dogs at a safe distance while allowing them to become familiar with each other's presence. The goal was to help Whopper understand that Dottie is part of our pack and that he can remain calm around her without feeling the need to react. I was happy to see him gradually settle and become more relaxed as our walk continued.

Since this is Whopper's first day, we kept training light and focused primarily on building trust, confidence, and establishing a routine.

We continued practicing his Heel command during a neighborhood walk and introduced him to his kennel. This was another challenge for Whopper, as he was initially hesitant to enter. It took approximately 10 minutes, but with patience and encouragement, he eventually walked inside independently!

From my initial observations, Whopper appears to have some fears and insecurities that we will need to work through. My goal is to help him build confidence by allowing him to explore unfamiliar situations at a comfortable pace rather than forcing him into something that makes him uneasy. Building trust is especially important because I want Whopper to feel safe and understand that I am here to guide him.

After his first successful kennel entry, we repeated the exercise several times, practicing going in and out. I was so happy to see that he became noticeably more comfortable with each repetition. What initially took 10 minutes became a much more relaxed experience!

This may seem like a small accomplishment, but for a dog who is hesitant around unfamiliar situations, it is a big step toward building confidence.

Overall, Whopper had a productive first day! We have plenty of work ahead of us, but today was all about establishing trust, introducing structure, and helping him feel comfortable in his new environment.

I am excited to see how much Whopper will learn and grow over the next 21 days. Let the training journey begin!