At A Glance
Hank is a 7-month-old Golden Retriever who started training with Chance at Off Leash K9 Training of Dayton, Ohio. His owners shared that he knew commands like “sit,” “down,” and “roll over,” but whether he chose to listen was another story. Hank was still a rowdy puppy who loved doing his own thing, struggled with recall, jumped on people and counters, barked for attention, and used biting during play and interaction.
Dog: Hank
Breed: Golden Retriever
Age: 7 months
Location: Dayton, OH
Program: Dog Training Program
Main Issues: Poor recall, selective listening, jumping on people, counter jumping, barking for attention, biting, and rowdy puppy behavior
Outcome: Goal of stronger recall, better puppy manners, improved obedience reliability, and more control around distractions
The Challenge
Before training, Hank had the intelligence and some basic command knowledge, but he was not consistent. His owners said he knew “sit,” “down,” and “roll over,” but he often chose whether or not he wanted to follow through.
Like many young Golden Retrievers, Hank had a lot of energy and excitement. He barked for attention, jumped on people, jumped on counters, bit during interaction, and had poor recall when out and about. Those behaviors made daily routines harder and created the need for a clearer structure.
Hank needed help with:
- Reliable recall
- Listening when distracted
- Reducing biting and rowdy puppy behavior
- Stopping jumping on people
- Reducing counter jumping
- Barking for attention
- More consistent obedience
The Training Approach
Chance’s first step was to assess what Hank knew and how willing he was to respond. Hank showed he could perform some commands, but he also showed the need for stronger consistency and better impulse control.
Training focused on:
- Strengthening recall
- Improving response to known commands
- Building more reliable obedience
- Reducing jumping on people
- Addressing counter jumping
- Reducing biting during excitement
- Improving attention and focus
- Teaching Hank to make calmer choices
Because Hank is still young, the goal was to guide his energy into better manners without taking away his playful personality.
The Results
This transcript shows Hank’s starting point before the next phase of training. Chance noted that Hank is a smart dog, but he likes doing his own thing and enjoys being a “wild crazy puppy.”
What improved as the training goal:
- Stronger recall
- Better listening and command follow-through
- Improved puppy manners
- Less jumping and biting
- Better impulse control
- More reliable behavior around distractions
Trainer Insight
Smart puppies often know commands but lack consistency, especially when they are excited or distracted. Training helps turn “I know it when I feel like it” into dependable obedience. With structure, repetition, and clear expectations, high-energy puppies like Hank can keep their fun personality while becoming easier to manage.
Ready to Improve Puppy Manners and Recall?
If your puppy bites, jumps, barks for attention, or ignores recall when distracted, professional training can help build a stronger foundation.
Schedule a consultation today to find the right program and learn how to maintain better manners at home.
