At A Glance
- Dog Name: Peaches
- Breed: Golden Retriever (puppy)
- Location: Richmond-area (RVA)
- Main Goal: Build an early, reliable obedience foundation at the best developmental stage
- Program: 2-Week Board & Train
- Outcome: A confident “base” of obedience + continued progress at home with trainer support and follow-through
The Challenge
When Gillian Schilling brought home her golden retriever puppy Peaches, she wanted to do things the right way—early. Like most puppies, Peaches was bright and enthusiastic, but still learning what the world expects: how to settle, how to listen through distractions, and how to respond consistently to cues in everyday life.
Gillian searched for a board-and-train program that felt safe, structured, and worth the investment. She wanted more than a quick “sit”—she wanted a foundation that would carry Peaches through adolescence, social outings, and real life in a busy environment. Price mattered too, but only if the value was real.
From the very beginning, Gillian emphasized two things:
- Clear communication and a plan, and
- Confidence that Peaches was in the right hands—especially because Gillian would be out of the country during training.
The Diagnosis & Solution (The Expert Process)
What we identified
Peaches wasn’t “stubborn.” She was a puppy—meaning success would come from structure, timing, consistency, and clarity. Our job was to install a reliable foundation and then make it easy for Gillian to maintain that foundation at home.
The custom plan we built
1) Decompression + relationship building (Days 1–2)
We started with routine, engagement, and confidence-building so Peaches could learn in a calm, predictable environment.
2) Foundation obedience (Core skills + house manners)
We installed the building blocks that owners need daily—especially for puppies—so Peaches could practice success repeatedly (not just “perform” once).
3) Real-world proofing (distractions + environments)
We worked Peaches through progressively higher distractions so her obedience wasn’t limited to one quiet setting. (This mirrors how the Richmond program describes exposure to multiple environments during board & train.)
4) Owner success plan (handoff + coaching)
A huge part of Gillian’s win was support during and after the program—progress updates while she traveled, plus follow-up troubleshooting once Peaches came home.
The Results
After two weeks, Peaches returned home with exactly what Gillian wanted: an excellent base that kept improving with daily follow-through.
What changed
- Stronger obedience foundation: Peaches came home more responsive and prepared for real life (not just “training mode”).
- Better day-to-day consistency: Gillian noted that every day she gets better and better with homework.
- Support that actually continued: When Peaches struggled with a command at home, the trainer reviewed videos and provided next steps until Peaches got back on track.
The Owner’s Reaction
“This service checked the boxes for everything we were looking for and more… Austin was exceptional at sending us progress videos and updates… Training wise, he went above and beyond our expectations. Peaches came back to us with an excellent base… To us, that indicates that this is an effective, safe and enjoyable way of training our puppy… All in all, we would 100% recommend Off Leash K9 Training and especially Austin.”
— Gillian Schilling
Ready to Transform Your Dog?
Whether you have a brand-new puppy like Peaches—or a dog that needs a reset—our Richmond team services the greater Richmond area and surrounding communities.