10/13/2026
Meet Pongo, a handsome 1-year-old Border Collie who has joined us for our 5 week Board and Train program
Pongo is here to work on building confidence outside of his home, developing neutrality around other dogs, and strengthening his recall. While these may seem like three separate training goals, they all work together to create a more confident, reliable dog and a better quality of life for both Pongo and his owner.
For Pongo since he has low confidence in unfamiliar environments it can feel overwhelming and make something as simple as going for a walk a stressful experience. By gradually exposing him to new environments and teaching him how to navigate unfamiliar situations, we want to help him develop the confidence to explore the world without feeling the need to worry about everything around him.
Neutrality is another important part of his training. Our goal isn’t for Pongo to interact with every dog he sees, but rather to teach him that other dogs can exist in his environment without requiring a reaction or interaction. This will allow his owner to enjoy walks, outings, and everyday activities without constantly worrying about how Pongo will respond when another dog is nearby.
We will also be strengthening his recall, teaching Pongo that coming back to his owner is valuable, even when distractions are present. A reliable recall helps create safer opportunities for freedom, exploration, and adventures together.
Ultimately our goal goes beyond teaching Pongo just obedience commands. We want to give him the skills to make good decisions, regulate his responses to the environment, and look to his owner for the guidance he needs.
