Board & Train

A Training Immersion Program for Real World Results

Choosing the Right Training Approach: Board & Train vs Private Lessons

One of the biggest differences between private training and board and train is how the learning process happens.

In private lessons, the focus is on teaching you how to train your dog. You’ll learn how to build skills, address behavior, and communicate effectively, all while your dog learns alongside you. This includes developing timing, observation skills, and the ability to problem solve and adjust training in real time. Because both you and your dog are learning together, there are multiple layers of learning happening at once, and progress depends on consistency and follow through between sessions.

In a board and train program, your dog lives and trains with a professional, allowing skills to be installed more efficiently through consistent, structured work. Once those behaviors are established, transfer lessons focus on teaching you how to handle your dog, maintain the training, and continue building on those skills at home.

Both options are effective, but if your goal is the most efficient path to reliable, consistent behavior, a board and train program provides a more accelerated learning process.

Board & Train is an intensive training program where your dog receives daily professional training in a structured, supportive environment while staying in our program. This program is ideal for owners who want focused, consistent training for their dog, or who feel stuck trying to work through challenges on their own. By working with your dog every day, we can build clear communication, strong foundations, and meaningful progress in a relatively short period of time.

While your dog is in the program, they will participate in multiple training sessions each day along with structured exercise, enrichment, and appropriate rest. Training is individualized for each dog, and the work we do will be tailored to both your dog’s needs and your long term goals.

Board & Train can be a powerful way to jump start training, but lasting success depends on more than what happens while your dog is with us. Our goal is not simply to train your dog during their stay, but to build skills and communication that continue long after your dog returns home.

Because of this, owner education is a core part of the program. You will learn how your dog has been trained, how to handle them effectively, and how to continue building on the progress they have made. Clear communication, good timing, and consistency from the owner are all important parts of long term success, and our program is designed to support you in developing those skills.

What Makes This Program Different

Board & Train programs are customized to each dog, but common goals include improving obedience, strengthening engagement with the handler, and building better manners and impulse control in everyday life. Some dogs benefit from a structured training environment to build confidence, develop focus around distractions, or learn how to settle and relax. Others may need help establishing reliable recall, improving leash skills, or creating clearer communication with their owner.

For owners interested in dog sports or working roles, board and train can also be used to begin developing foundational skills for those activities. This may include early development for sport dogs, engagement and focus work, building drive and clarity in training, and introducing foundations for activities such as nosework, field work, or other performance sports.

Because every dog and family is different, training plans are developed individually based on your goals and your dog’s needs.

Skills We Commonly Work On

During a Board & Train program, dogs typically work on foundational skills that help them live more successfully with their owners in everyday life. Depending on the dog and the goals of the program, training may include:

• Walking politely on leash
• Coming when called
• Settling and relaxing in the home
• Basic obedience skills such as sit, down, and place
• Improved focus and engagement with the owner
• Better impulse control around distractions
• Crate training and household manners

For dogs involved in sports or working activities, training may also include early foundations for engagement, drive development, and focus needed for performance or work.

The specific skills addressed during a program will depend on the individual dog, their training history, and the goals discussed during the consultation.

What We Work On

One of the most important parts of a successful Board & Train program is preparing you for when your dog returns home. Your dog may make significant progress during their stay, but maintaining and building on that progress requires you to understand how the training works.

For that reason, every program includes transfer sessions where we work together so you can confidently handle your dog and continue practicing the skills in your daily life. You will leave the program with clear guidance, practical skills, and a plan for continuing progress with your dog.

Owner Involvement

Board & Train programs typically range from two to four weeks, depending on your dog’s needs and the goals of the training. Because every dog is different, programs are customized to focus on the skills and behaviors that matter most for you and your dog.

The first step is scheduling a consultation where we can evaluate your dog, talk through your training goals, and determine whether a board and train program is the right fit. During this consultation, we will discuss what you are hoping to accomplish and outline a training plan that supports both you and your dog.

If the program is a good fit, we will schedule your dog’s stay and review the details so you know exactly what to expect. To schedule a consultation, please contact us.

Availability is intentionally limited so that each dog receives focused, individualized attention. Early scheduling is recommended.

Program Structure & Getting Started