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At A Glance
Bikardi is a 1-year-old Mini Goldendoodle who came to our 2-Week Board and Train in Woodbridge, VA.
Main issues
- Timid and underconfident
- Anxiety and separation anxiety
- Destructive chewing (chewing “anything and everything,” even collars)
- Leash manners (heel position inconsistent, cuts in front on walks)
Outcome goal
More confidence, calmer manners, reduced destructive habits, and cleaner leash walking.
The Challenge
At drop-off, Bikardi was very timid and underconfident, and her owner reported she had become destructive at home, chewing items around the house and even managing to chew off collars. That kind of chewing can quickly become a safety issue and create constant stress at home.
Her trainer also noted she was an anxious dog, with owner-reported separation anxiety, which often contributes to destructive behavior when the dog is left alone or unsure what to do.
Walks were another challenge. Bikardi’s heel was inconsistent, and her owner shared that when walking Bikardi with their other dog, Bikardi would try to cut in front, making leash walks chaotic and frustrating.
The Diagnosis and Solution
Bikardi’s chewing and leash issues were closely tied to anxiety, low confidence, and lack of structure. Our plan focused on confidence first, then layered obedience and leash manners.
The plan
- Settle and build trust: predictable routine so Bikardi could relax and learn.
- Build confidence daily: simple wins, engagement, gradual exposure.
- Reduce destructive chewing: prevent rehearsal, add structured enrichment, teach calm off-switch behaviors.
- Improve obedience: tighten sit and down reliability, rebuild “place” for calmness.
- Fix leash manners: clean heel position and stop cutting in front, especially on multi-dog walks.
The Results
After two weeks, Bikardi’s progress looks like this:
Confidence: calmer body language, less hesitation, stronger engagement
Chewing: fewer attempts to grab inappropriate items, easier redirection, and a clear at-home plan
Place: more reliable holds with longer duration
Heel: cleaner position, less cutting in front, and better control on walks
Ready to Transform Your Dog?
If your dog is anxious, chewing everything, or walks are stressful because of pulling and cutting in front, we can help.