Ep 18. Rocky

In Lucky Dog season 7 episode 18, titled "Rocky," host Brandon McMillan works with a black and white pit bull mix named Rocky. Rocky is an energetic and friendly dog who is in need of a forever home. Previously, Rocky had been surrendered to a local shelter by his previous owners who could no longer take care of him.

Brandon begins the episode by introducing Rocky to his team and assessing his needs to determine the best approach to his training program. Rocky's energy level is high, and Brandon discovers that he loves playing with toys, so he decides to incorporate his love for playtime into his training. Brandon's training approach involves a combination of playing, exercise, and positive reinforcement to help Rocky become the best version of himself and find his forever home.

Brandon's first goal for Rocky is to teach him basic commands, starting with "sit." He begins with small training sessions of five to ten minutes at a time and rewards Rocky with treats to reinforce his good behavior. Through repetition, Rocky catches on quickly and is able to perform the "sit" command with ease. Next, Brandon moves on to "stay" and "come," which proves to be a bit more challenging for Rocky. He struggles with staying still, but with patience and practice, he is eventually able to master the commands.

As Rocky progresses in his training, Brandon introduces him to a smaller dog to evaluate his behavior with other animals. Initially, Rocky is excited and exuberant when he meets the smaller dog, but Brandon is there to help him learn how to play gently and appropriately. Through lots of playtime and positive reinforcement, Rocky begins to understand how to interact with other dogs.

Next, Brandon takes Rocky to a park to work on his leash skills. Rocky is a strong dog, and the leash can be a bit of a challenge for him. However, through playful training techniques and patience, Brandon is able to teach Rocky how to walk calmly on a leash. With his leash skills improving, Brandon takes Rocky on a walk in an urban setting to help him become comfortable with traffic and crowds of people.

Throughout the episode, Brandon works with Rocky to teach him other important skills like potty training and crate training. He also helps Rocky with his socialization skills, introducing him to new people and experiences to help him become a well-rounded and confident pup. As Rocky's training progresses, Brandon begins to interview potential adopters to find the perfect forever home for him.

In the final moments of the episode, Brandon introduces Rocky to his new family, a young couple who had lost their dog and were eager to open their hearts and home to a new furry friend. Rocky is overjoyed as he meets his new family and begins to explore his new home. The episode ends with a heartwarming moment of Rocky finding his forever family and settling into his new life with love and security.

Overall, Lucky Dog season 7 episode 18, "Rocky," showcases Brandon McMillan's expertise and compassion as he works to training a lovable and energetic pit bull mix named Rocky. Through positive reinforcement and playful training techniques, Brandon helps Rocky become the best version of himself and finds him the perfect forever home. As always, the episode is both entertaining and heartwarming, demonstrating the power of love and patience in the world of dog training and adoption.