BOARD & TRAIN PROGRAM

Why Choose a Board & Train? 

 

     The Board and Train Program is the most effective way to achieve significant change in your dog’s behavior in the shortest amount of time, and with the least amount of strain on you. While most training goals are achievable with other lesson programs, many dog owners underestimate the immense time and mental commitment necessary to see the results they’re expecting.  In the Board and Train Program, we will be doing the majority of the hard work needed to teach your dog the desirable behaviors, followed by coaching you to maintain the same level of behavior at home.

 

     This style of program is often the most practical choice for those who are looking for behavior modification, such as dealing with reactivity or other major behavior problems, and/or have little time to invest and dedicate to major training efforts.  Depending on the severity of the behavior issue, it can sometimes be the only realistic approach to see change, as it allows the trainer to provide a new and neutral environment to help reset your dog's behavior, and the ability to introduce triggers in a more controlled way. The trainer also has the experience necessary to use precise timing of rewards and feedback to provide clear communication with your dog and accelerate the learning process.  

 

     It’s also a great choice for new or young dogs to get a healthy foundation set before a dynamic is established in the home.  Puppies between six to twelve months of age are great candidates because owners are often shifting out of the baby phase in which they didn't need to implement much obedience, and their little puppy is turning into a larger and more unmanageable dog. And at this age, they tend to grasp the training well and have not yet solidified bad habits. In general, the earlier you start, the easier training is! Puppies under six months would be considered a "raise and train" type program which could include potty training, crate training, and proper socialization along with the other basic obedience behaviors. Raise and Train puppies are sent home with a solid foundation, and with owners on board from a very young age they tend to develop into exceptional dogs relative to those without professional training during the critical puppy period. Candidates are evaluated individually and a custom program is developed for each pup and family. Please inquire about a Raise & Train if you're interested in the board and train approach for your young puppy. 

 

     Another good time to choose a board and train is when you're introducing a new older dog to the household, such as a rescue dog, and you don't have the time to focus on establishing good behavior expectations.  It helps make sure you start off on the right foot with clear communication and a healthy relationship filled with respect and appreciation for each other.  In general, there are few cases when a board and train wouldn't be beneficial, although some training is much more manageable at home than others.   

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How is the Board & Train Structured?

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     During the Board and Train, your dog will be lovingly cared for while staying with the trainer at their personal home for the duration of the program.  Each dog is carefully evaluated to consider temperament, and a customized toolbox of rewards and motivators is established to make training the most successful and positive for your dog as possible. We often use home baked chicken breast or high quality single-ingredient treats to supplement their regular diet and provide a gut healthy food reward with extra value.  Most dogs are also hand fed their regular meals during their stay in order to maximize the amount of reward available and foster the bonding process with the trainer.  

 

     Updates, most including pictures and videos, are sent nearly DAILY to the owner so they can see the progress as it’s being made and the time being put into training.  The dogs typically adjust very well after realizing they get so much attention and so many rewards and experiences during their stay. Although they’re learning challenging new skills, it’s always with love and encouragement and we often refer to it as a sort of Doggie Summer Camp. The owner gets to sit back at home and admire their progress, most of the time incredibly surprised and proud of what their dog is capable of. Generally speaking, it is a wonderful experience for all!

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     A typical board and train program involves multiple walks and/or training sessions every day, starting with shaping the behaviors at home in a distraction free environment and evolving through controlled introduction of distractions all the way to trips into town around lots of distracting stimuli.  The program is customized completely to the dog’s needs and pace for progress.  The minimum length of stay for a board and train program is 3 weeks for dogs without any major behavior modification and averages 4-6 weeks for cases with existing behavior issues.  

 

     Towards the end of the program, the trainer will provide you with all the documentation you need to review your dog’s new commands, lifestyle recommendations, handling tips and other information to help get set up for a successful transition. After the weeks of stay are complete, there is an initial “Go Home” session where the trainer, owner and dog meet together and go over all the dog’s new commands and capabilities and the trainer answers any questions the owners have. Once back at home, there will be ongoing interaction with the trainer via phone, text and/or email followed by numerous in-person visits over the next several months to ensure the owners are able to continue achieving the same results at home. These visits aren’t a set length of time or number of visits, but are determined by the need for follow up after transitioning home.  We’re committed to having a successful transition and passing of the torch to the owner and will provide as much follow up as appropriate to ensure the owner can continue moving forward with their training. There is often an abundance of communication in the first week following the dog’s return and a visit once a week or so in the weeks immediately after, followed by tapered communication and more time between visits as the owners gain more confidence. After the owner is comfortably handling their trained dog, the trainer is available as a resource for questions or "tune-up" sessions for a year following the Go-Home date!