Board & Train

 

Introducing my new premium offering: a completely immersive, live-in training experience for your dog.

I’ve offered mobile training in my customers’ homes for nine years. The biggest advantage to doing so is seeing a dog in its natural environment, where the problems are happening. It’s one thing to have a dog perform in a classroom setting. But being able to see and respond to flaws in handling or communication can do wonders.

But these training programs are labor-intensive for you as a customer. You have homework to do after I leave each week! You have to practice what you’ve learned, making sure you, your dog, and your family/roommates/spouse/partner/etc. is doing something similar. This is all while still experiencing problematic behaviors you may not be prepared to deal with.

Board-and-train programs are fantastic for when you’re short on time or ability but have a long list of issues to address with your dog. They’re also helpful if you’re physically overwhelmed by your dog or are otherwise uncomfortable with working through the dog’s challenges alone. Of course, your dog will not be a perfectly programmed robot upon returning home. That’s why you get three training sessions too, to keep up with what your dog is learning! You’ll both know and be able to communicate much more to one another, and problems can be smoothed over with much less time and frustration.

So what can your dog expect to learn with a board-and-train program with me? I use my unique Manners-Obedience-Mindset approach to tackle issues in the order of priority, with each skill building off of the ones prior.

What are manners? Things your dog should just simply assume are implied. Manners include:

  • Being able to settle down quickly, particularly in the crate

  • Loose-leash walking (“heeling” for the pet dog)

  • Not jumping on or barking at people

  • Staying off of furniture unless invited

  • Not stealing food or showing possessive or territorial behavior

Obedience includes those things we have to give commands for. Things like sit, down, stay, and come. These commands are no mere tricks. While many dogs have heard these words before, most routinely ignore their owners, perform the wrong command, or cycle through their repertoire of tricks without prompting. By the time we are done, you will have the confidence that your dog not only knows these behaviors but can perform them when you say so. That confidence enriches the lives of both dog and owner, opening up all kinds of experiences that poorly-behaved dogs will never know.

Mindset is the dog’s mood and general demeanor. While we can’t alter these directly, I’ve found that leveraging good habits in manners and obedience lead directly to dogs’ mindset improving. As their physical reactions to the world improve, their mindset tends to follow suit. The rules they’ve been taught help them make sense of the human world around them, and ultimately helps them understand how best to live in it. In other words, they learn coping mechanisms and emotional regulation skills. Your mindset will improve too. Not only will you have the aforementioned confidence in your dog’s training, but you’ll feel more aware of your dog’s needs and know how to communicate easily with your companion.

This is not a kennel; your dog will be living with me and my own dogs, following the same routine and rules. This has various benefits, but most notably it leverages the power of social pressure to encourage good behavior for your dog. Everyone needs a role model! Plus, the transition back to your own home environment is less jarring.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • Your dog will receive a new leash and prong collar or slip lead depending on their needs.

  • Your dog will receive an electronic remote collar from E-Collar Technologies.

  • You’ll learn how to use all these tools safely and effectively.

  • Your dog will learn and improve consistency in their responses to basic commands and manners like the ones above. No yelling necessary.

  • You will learn how to address mistakes when they occur and prevent bad behaviors from becoming habits in the future.

  • Includes THREE face-to-face lessons: One about halfway through your dog’s training program, one on the day your dog comes home, and a follow-up within the next month.

  • You’ll get periodic updates and photos/videos of your dog in action!

  • You gain the option to board your dog with me in the future

  • You’ll deepen your bond with your dog, improve your relationship through trust, and enrich the quality of their lives with additional freedom!

Cost:

3-Week Board & Train — $3,995

3 weeks is a minimum commitment for Board & Train. Additional weeks may be recommended based on your training goals and the dog’s learning speed. Considerations that may slow a dog’s progress are working through serious fear, anxiety, aggressive tendencies, and/or reactivity.

If you believe your dog would benefit from a Board & Train with me, let’s talk about it.