Puppy problems have a way of looking small until you are living with them. House-training accidents, jumping on every visitor, and a puppy who piddles the moment she meets someone new. That was Kiko at six months old, before she came to Off Leash K9 Training Charlottesville.
You can read Kiko’s full review on Google – her owner walks through exactly what changed.
Where Kiko Started
Kiko is a six-month-old puppy whose owner was working through house-training struggles and general puppy behavior. She jumped on people. She had a habit of peeing when she met new dogs or new people. And like most puppies, she had no framework for what to do with herself when the household was busy.
Her owner found us the way many of our clients do – a recommendation from a friend of a friend, who had watched our trainer Lauren turn a very yappy dog into a calm companion.
The Training Journey
At six months Kiko was old enough for our 2-Week Board & Train program, so that is the route we took with Lauren as her trainer. Her owner describes our method and goals as organized and effective, which is exactly what we are after: not a bag of tricks, but a system a real person can run at home.
That is why the handoff matters as much as the training. Kiko came home with a manageable set of commands – few enough to actually use, strong enough to build on.
Kiko’s Wins
Kiko finished knowing all of her commands. The jumping on people stopped. So did the nervous peeing when meeting new dogs and people, which is often the first thing to fade once a puppy feels settled and clear about what is expected.
Her owner also gained something practical: when Kiko wants a share of dinner, there is now a command to send her to a spot and have her wait there until she is released. The same tool works during work calls.
What It Changed for Her Family
Her owner has been extending the training into daily routines ever since – which is the real measure of whether training took. Kiko did not come home as a finished dog. She came home as a puppy her owner knows how to keep teaching.
Why Kiko’s Story Matters
Puppy behavior is not something to wait out. The habits a puppy builds early become the habits you live with, and the window where they learn fastest is the window most owners spend hoping the chewing and jumping will pass on their own. Kiko’s story is a good reminder that a young dog with the right foundation grows into an easy adult dog. Helping Charlottesville families get there is a favorite part of the job.
Have a Puppy Who Needs a Foundation?
We work with puppies and young dogs at every stage. Explore our puppy training options or our obedience training, compare all of our programs and current pricing, check the FAQ, or call (434) 205-9905 and we will tell you honestly what your puppy is ready for.