How It Works

• We'll meet for an Assessment at my home first, to discuss your goals and the training needed to get there. Your dog will meet my dogs so we can make sure that everyone will be comfortable living together in my home.

• We schedule a trial overnight ($200-$400*) to confirm that the boarding experience will be positive for everyone. This includes testing your dog’s ability to be left alone.

  • *$200 if you pick up your dog the next morning; $400 for your dog to stay for a full second day

• Please note that Board and Train is not a good fit for dogs who do not get along with other dogs, or who have separation anxiety.

• We decide on dates, and you pay in full to confirm your reservation.

• Day of, you drop off your dog along with food, bed, toys, etc.

• Your dog will receive 1 hour of intensive training each day until pick up day, along with practicing house manners, plenty of social time, and exercise.

• Notes are emailed to you each evening so you can follow along with your dog's progress, along with periodic videos.

• When you pick up your dog, we’ll do a 75 minute Private Lesson so that you can learn the rules and how to practice to keep your dog's training strong.

• Follow up lessons are encouraged to keep you on track. Remember that training is a long-term endeavor; if you do not follow the instructions and continue to work with your dog, his skills will regress and previous problems will resurface.

• Includes lifetime support by e-mail or phone.

What's Taught

The Board & Train program is individualized to every dog's and owner's needs. Some common examples are:

• Basic obedience and house manners (see sample package below).

• Reactivity to other dogs or people (see sample below).

• Handling or grooming issues.

• Confidence building for shy dogs.

• Tricks to work your dog's brain.

• Foundation sports training such as competition obedience, rally o, rally-free, agility, and K9 nose work.

Pricing

Board and Train costs $1,400 per week. If you are returning from vacation mid-week and want to pick up your dog right away, pro-rating is available. Once we select dates, a full deposit is required to confirm your reservation.

Sample Packages

Basic Manners (3 weeks; $4200)

Recommended for puppies and recently adopted dogs. Your dog will be taken through foundation training and learn to perform around other dogs, people, and distractions such as food on the floor.

• Obedience: sit, down, stay, come, leash walking, drop it, leave it, go to mat, wait at door

• House manners: potty training, crate training, chew training, not jumping up

Leash Reactivity (4 weeks; $5600)

Recommended for dogs who bark, growl, or lunge when they see other dogs or strangers while out on walks.

• Foundation: leash walking and redirecting exercises

• Set ups: with dogs or strangers helping out, to maximize the efficiency of the training session

• Real world practice: out in public

Note:

These sample packages are based on average amount of training time needed for a dog to learn a strong foundation and be reasonably able to respond to trained cues in common environments like at home, on walks, or in stores, IF the owner continues to practice with the dog, provide reinforcement (eg, treats, play, petting, or access to other things the dogs wants), and prevent rehearsal of bad habits (eg, not leaving food unattended to tempt the dog into stealing).

Dogs are not, obviously, robots that can be programmed. No ethical trainer can guarantee that a dog will respond to trained cues, and no training will last indefinitely if the owner does not continue to practice as instructed. Furthermore, successful training requires that the dog receive an adequate baseline of physical exercise, mental enrichment, good health, and clear communication.