Our Suburban K9 Gives Back program is here to provide FREE dog training to those who are in need!
Everyone, meet Capone (isn’t he the cutest!) and his parents, Maria & Connor! Maria is a nurse in the Chicago area & Connor works at a logistics company and they’ve recently adopted Capone. Capone has been giving his new owners a run for their money; chewing holes in the screen door & running out, playing chase ON TOP of the tables and chewing on everything that isn’t his. Maria & Connor just moved into a new apartment so they’re needing these behaviors under control asap!
Suburban K9 Dog Training
Follow Capone’s journey through training by following #TheCaponeChronicles
Lesson #2
Time for an update on #TheCaponeChronicles! Capone is working his way through training. He is quick to learn but also quick to get stubborn. His parents are learning how to take charge and get Capone to listen for longer periods.
Below you can see Capone showing off the new skills he has been practicing his sit-stays! He does such a great job at staying while his favorite treats and toys are tossed to the ground. He’s been working so hard he is whooped!
Join us in congratulating Capone and his parents on working so hard!
Lesson #3
Capone has been showing off lately! His trainer, Holly, has been showing him how to listen better and stay more calm inside the house. The main way she is doing this is through repetitive obedience!
Lesson #4
Capone had an exciting day today! He officially knows all his basic obedience so his new buddy, Ani along with their owners headed to a nearby park. At the park, Capone had the chance to work on listening to his basic obedience around heavy distractions; dogs running around, people and traffic passing by. At first, it was hard for Capone to settle down and listen but his owners and trainer went back to the first thing Capone learned in training, walking in a heel. This gave Capone the ability to calm down and listen in order to finish out the day successfully!
Lesson #5
Just like most English Bulldogs, Capone can be stubborn. However, he has taken his stubbornness and changed the way he uses it! He’s become determined to learn quickly! Check out Capone’s latest video; he is holding his stay command, not just with other dogs around but also while having them tempted by treats. And Capone sure does love his treats!
Some may think that using food as a distraction can be unfair and we hear where you are coming from! But, the way we see it is that if we can set up situations over and over again that are hard for Capone to listen then we can be more confident that when random situations pop up that Capone will listen!
Lesson #6
Capone just keeps charging ahead! He is only on his sixth lesson with us and he is already practicing his off-leash skills! Check out this video!!!
Capone is walking away from his owner and the moment she calls him, he turns around and walks straight to her! This is just lesson six!! In six quick lessons, Capone has learned to walk nicely on leash, improved on his sits, downs, stays, and comes, even around heavy distractions!
Lesson #7
Capone’s biggest struggle is now listening when he is in the heart of the city, with all the distractions it has to offer. Capone has spent a lot of time practicing his listening skills and containing his excitement while walking around the city. It was a bit hard for him during this lesson, but he promised to come back and keep trying! He also has kicked his bad habit of biting the leash to the curb!
Lesson #8
Sometimes Capone doesn’t know his size and strength. When he gets around dogs that are a lot smaller than him, he tends to get too rough with them. Luckily, his trainer was also training a smaller dog during this lesson, so Capone got a lot of practice during this lesson with learning to play gently. At the same time, he was able to come when called while off-leash playing with other dogs, which is a HUGE accomplishment!
Lesson #9
As Capone comes to the end of his training package, he has gotten so good at his commands that he even anticipates them. Because of this, Capone worked on making sure he is listening to his commands, instead of jumping the gun! Overall, he did so well, and we are SO proud of how far he has come!!
Not only did he work on listening to the actual commands he was given, instead of anticipating them, but he also worked on counter surfing. It’s hard for Capone to risk searching the countertops when he knows there is something tasty up there!
Lesson #10
CAPONE HAS OFFICIALLY GRADUATED!! When we started training with Capone, he would steal things off the table and go running across the table while trying to get away from his owners. He didn’t care to listen to his obedience or walk nicely on the leash. When his parents requested that he listen, he would throw a fit. Fast forward five short weeks later and Capone is not only listening to his obedience 95% of the time, but he is also playing more calmly with dogs, keeping off the table, and is a boss at listening to his commands OFF-LEASH!! He has his moments once and a while and will get a little sassy, but those moments are few and far between and not very intense anymore. His parents now have the tools to continue to work him through those situations!
Congratulations Capone! The entire Suburban K9 Team is so proud of you!
