All You Need to Know About our Programs

During this intensive program, your dog will stay with us in a nurturing environment while receiving personalized training from our skilled professionals.

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Week 1: Foundation Training

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• Your dog will settle into their new surroundings and meet our trainers.

• We'll conduct a thorough behavior assessment to understand your dog's temperament, current skill level, and any specific challenges.

• ​Recall (Come): Establishing a reliable recall command, crucial for off-leash safety and control.

• Sit: Teaching your dog to sit on command, which helps with impulse control and calm behavior.

• Down: Training your dog to lie down on cue, promoting relaxation and obedience.

• Place: Teaching your dog to go to a designated spot and stay there until released, useful for controlling movement and providing structure.

• "Off": Teaching your dog to move away from objects or people on command, promoting polite behavior and respect for boundaries.

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Week 2: Advanced Commands and Practical Application

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• Heel: Teaching your dog to walk calmly beside you without pulling on the leash, promoting loose leash walking and better manners.

• Load Up: Teaching your dog to get into a vehicle or crate on command, ensuring safe and cooperative behavior during travel.

• Door Manners: Teaching your dog to wait calmly at doors and gates, preventing bolting and reinforcing polite behavior.

• Practicing all commands in various environments to generalize obedience.

• Introducing distractions to strengthen your dog's focus and response to commands.

• Fine-tuning each command to ensure reliability and consistency.

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Daily Routine:

• Your dog will receive multiple training sessions daily, tailored to their individual needs and learning pace.

• They'll also enjoy structured playtime, mental stimulation activities, and socialization with other dogs (if appropriate and desired).

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Owner Involvement:

• We provide regular updates on your dog's progress through photos, videos, and progress reports.

• On the final day, we conduct a thorough transfer session where you'll learn how to maintain and reinforce the commands your dog has learned. 

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Post-Training Support:

• We offer follow-up support to address any questions or concerns you may have after your dog returns home.

• Additional training sessions can be scheduled as needed to support ongoing progress.

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Our comprehensive four-week board and train dog training program is designed to elevate your dog's obedience to off-leash reliability and excel in distracting environments. Your dog will stay with us in a supportive and enriching environment, receiving intensive, personalized training from our experienced trainers.

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Week 1: Foundation and Basic Commands

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• Your dog settles in and gets acquainted with our trainers and surroundings.

• We conduct a thorough behavior assessment to tailor the training to your dog's temperament and needs.

• Recall (Come): Establishing a reliable recall command, crucial for off-leash safety and control.

• Sit, Down, and Stay: Teaching these foundational commands to build impulse control and obedience.

• Place: Training your dog to go to a designated spot and stay until released, promoting calm behavior in various environments.

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Week 2: Intermediate Commands and Initial Distractions

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• Heel: Teaching your dog to walk calmly on a loose leash beside you, preparing for off-leash control.

• Off-Leash Introduction: Introducing off-leash work in controlled environments to reinforce commands without physical restraint.

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Week 3: Advanced Commands and Distraction Proofing

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• Off-Leash Reliability: Strengthening off-leash obedience in progressively challenging environments.

• Advanced Recall: Enhancing recall reliability with distractions present, ensuring responsiveness in real-world scenarios.

• Distraction Work: Introducing and managing distractions such as other animals, people, and environmental stimuli.

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Week 4: Refinement and Real-World Application

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• Fine-tuning all commands for consistency and reliability in different settings and distractions.

• Transitioning commands to off-leash reliability in public spaces, parks, and busy environments.

• Conducting mock scenarios to simulate real-life situations and reinforce training outcomes.

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Daily Routine:

• Your dog participates in multiple training sessions daily, customized to their learning pace and individual needs.

• Structured playtime, mental stimulation activities, and controlled socialization are provided to maintain balance and well-being.

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Owner Involvement:

• We provide regular updates on your dog's progress through photos, videos, and detailed progress reports.

• On the final day, we conduct an extensive transfer session where you learn how to maintain and reinforce the advanced commands and off-leash reliability.

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Post-Training Support:

• We offer ongoing support to address any questions or concerns you have after your dog returns home.

• Additional training sessions can be scheduled to support continued progress and mastery of commands.

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Our goal is to equip your dog with advanced obedience skills and off-leash reliability, enhancing their safety, freedom, and your peace of mind!

Therapy dog training includes everything in our 4 week Board & Train program, socialization, exposure to different environments, and specialized skills for interacting directly with people. Our therapy dogs must learn to remain calm and gentle in every situation.

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Therapy dogs can visit hospitals, nursing homes, schools, libraries, disaster areas, and other settings where people might benefit from their presence.

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What age should I start training my puppy?

You can start training your puppy as early as 7-8 weeks old. Early training focuses on basic commands and socialization.

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What are the basic commands I should teach my puppy? Start with simple commands like sit, stay, come, down, and heel. These foundational commands are essential for good behavior and safety.

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How do I house-train my puppy? House-training involves establishing a regular schedule for bathroom breaks, using a consistent command for elimination, and rewarding your puppy for going outside. Crate training is one of the best ways to ensure positive house training!

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What is crate training and why is it important?

Crate training involves teaching your puppy to see their crate as a safe and comfortable space. It helps with house-training, provides a safe place when unsupervised, and can reduce anxiety.

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How do I socialize my puppy? Expose your puppy to different people, places, sounds, and other animals in a controlled and positive manner. This helps prevent fear and aggression as they grow older.

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What is positive reinforcement? Positive reinforcement involves rewarding your puppy for desired behaviors, such as sitting or coming when called. Rewards can be treats, praise, or playtime. It encourages your puppy to repeat good behaviors.

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How do I stop my puppy from biting? Puppies explore with their mouths, but you can redirect biting by offering chew toys and discouraging biting people by saying "no" firmly and offering an alternative.

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How do I handle separation anxiety in my puppy? Gradually accustom your puppy to being alone by leaving them for short periods and gradually increasing the time. Ensure they have toys and a comfortable space to reduce anxiety.

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How often should I train my puppy? Short, frequent training sessions are best. Aim for 5-10 minutes, multiple times a day. Puppies have short attention spans, so keep sessions engaging and fun.

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What if my puppy isn't responding to training? Patience is key. Consistency and positive reinforcement are crucial. If you're struggling, consider reaching out for an in-depth puppy consultation!

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When should I start leash training my puppy?

Begin leash training as soon as your puppy is comfortable wearing a collar. Start indoors and gradually move to outdoor walks, rewarding your puppy for walking nicely on the leash.

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How do I prevent my puppy from chewing on furniture? Provide plenty of chew toys and redirect your puppy's chewing to appropriate items. Puppy-proof your home by removing temptations and supervising your puppy.

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E-Collar FAQ

 

What is an e-collar? An e-collar, or electronic collar, is a training tool that delivers stimulation (such as a beep, vibration, or static shock) to a dog to reinforce commands or correct unwanted behaviors.

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How does an e-collar work? E-collars have a transmitter (remote) and a receiver (collar). The handler uses the transmitter to send a signal to the collar, which delivers stimulation based on the settings chosen.

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Is using an e-collar safe for my dog? When used correctly and responsibly, e-collars can be safe. It's essential to start with the lowest level of stimulation and gradually increase if necessary. Consult a professional trainer to ensure proper usage.

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What types of stimulation do e-collars provide? E-collars typically offer several types of stimulation: audible tones or beeps, vibrations, and static shocks. Some advanced models may also include features like GPS tracking.

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At what age can I start using an e-collar on my dog? Most experts recommend using e-collars on dogs that are at least six months old. Younger puppies may not respond well and could become fearful.

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Can e-collars be used for all dogs? E-collars can be used for many dogs, if used and sized properly. No dog is too big or too small!

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What behaviors can e-collars help correct? E-collars can help with various behaviors, including off-leash training, recall, excessive barking, and correcting aggressive or undesirable behaviors. They are also used for advanced training tasks.

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How do I introduce my dog to an e-collar? Introduce the e-collar gradually. Let your dog wear the collar without activation for a few days to get used to it. Start with the lowest stimulation level and pair it with positive reinforcement.

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How long can my dog wear an e-collar? Dogs should not wear e-collars continuously for more than 8-10 hours a day to avoid skin irritation or pressure sores. Always follow the manufacturer's guidelines.

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What are the common mistakes to avoid when using an e-collar? Common mistakes include using too high a stimulation level, inconsistent training, using the collar as a punishment, and not pairing the collar with positive reinforcement. Proper education and guidance are essential.

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