Milo's Story
14-week-old puppy with no boundaries, biting kids and zero recall. Reliable sit, stay and come with gentle behaviour around children and great off-leash recall.
THE CHALLENGE
What Sophie Was Dealing With
Milo was a 14-week-old Golden Retriever who was terrorising Sophie's household. He bit the children constantly during play, had zero recall when called and treated every household rule as a suggestion. Sophie and her husband had three kids under eight and the chaos was becoming unmanageable.
The biting was the most urgent issue. Milo's puppy teeth were razor sharp and the kids had scratches all over their arms and legs. The youngest child had started crying whenever Milo came near her. Sophie's husband was threatening to return Milo to the breeder.
Sophie had watched YouTube training videos and tried the "yelp and turn away" method but Milo just got more excited. She needed professional help before the biting escalated and before her family's relationship with their new puppy was permanently damaged.
OUR APPROACH
How We Trained Milo
Milo wasn't aggressive — he was a completely normal Golden Retriever puppy who hadn't been taught any boundaries. Our puppy foundation programme focused on giving the whole family the tools to communicate clearly with Milo.
We started with bite inhibition training that the children could participate in. Instead of the ineffective "yelp and ignore" method we taught a clear consequence for biting: immediate removal of attention plus a brief time-out. Milo learned within two sessions that teeth on skin ended the fun.
We also built a solid obedience foundation (sit, down, stay, come, place) using a balanced approach appropriate for a young puppy. Critically, we trained the whole family — including the kids — so Milo received consistent communication from everyone. We ran socialisation outings to Remuera shops, cafes and parks to build Milo's confidence in different environments.
THE RESULT
Milo Today
Milo is now the family dog Sophie dreamed of. The biting stopped within two weeks of starting the programme and the children's relationship with Milo has completely transformed. The youngest child who used to cry now falls asleep cuddling him on the couch.
His obedience is impressive for a puppy his age. Milo holds a stay while the kids run around him, comes when called even when distracted by other dogs at the park and walks nicely on the lead through Remuera Village. Sophie takes him to school drop-off and he sits politely while the kids pat him.
The family consistency was the key to success. Because everyone — including the eight-year-old — uses the same commands and expectations, Milo doesn't get mixed messages. He's a confident and well-adjusted puppy who is growing into a brilliant family dog.
“We were about to return Milo to the breeder. After four sessions with 100%K9 he's the perfect family dog. The kids adore him and he's so gentle with them now. Best investment we've ever made.”
AT A GLANCE
Training Summary
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Ready for Your Own Transformation?
Sophie thought Milo's behaviour was hopeless. Look at them now. Your dog deserves the same chance.