If you’re looking at this page, it means you are doing your research and working hard to find the right dog trainer for you. Great work! It is very important to research dog training companies before hiring one. We always recommend that dog owners do the following in their search for a dog obedience training program:

• Check online for reviews from past dog training clients (Google, Facebook, etc)
• Look through past social media posts (Facebook and Instagram), looking at the attitude of the dogs and the results
• Interview the dog trainer over the phone prior to enrolling your dog in a dog boarding and training program
• Ask about the dog-to-trainer ratio at the dog training center
• Inquire about your dog trainers professional experience, including:
  • Years in the field as a full-time dog trainer
  • Experience in other parts of animal husbandry (animal shelter work, veterinary care, boarding and daycare services, etc.)
  • Professional accomplishments such as titles in competitive dog sports, awards, or otherwise
  • Any mentorships, seminars, dog training workshops they have completed
  • Number of years spent working under other dog trainers (did they just open a business without experience?)

At Up N Atom Dog Training, we believe nothing beats years in the field working with a team, learning the most up-to-date dog and puppy training methods, and proving ourselves on the competition field. Dog training is a constantly changing — and unregulated — industry, and there is always more for a dog trainer to learn. Learn more about our Ohio Dog Trainers and their accomplishments here.

Private lessons begin at $1300 for a package of six lessons, but are included with board and train programs. Board and trains run approximately $1100 per week and can cover puppy school, off leash dog training, behavioral concerns such as lunging and barking on leash, aggression, resource guarding, or separation anxiety. Group dog training classes run around $30 per class.

Remember to factor in that most one-on-one training packages and group classes do not include dog training equipment, whereas day training as well as boarding and training programs include the boarding, training, recommended equipment, treats while in training, and follow up private lessons.

Yes! We accept multiple financing options you can apply for. Reach out and we can discuss these options over the phone.

We can begin boarding and training for puppies any time after 16 weeks of age. Due to increased risk of illness and intestinal parasites in young puppies, we do request a fecal test (poop sample) prior to beginning an overnight or daycare puppy training camp. This can be done at your veterinarian as soon as you bring your new puppy home! Puppies must be current on vaccinations, including bordetella and distemper/parvo, for their age.

Puppies can begin Puppy Day Train as early as 10 weeks of age with the same requirements as above.

We are a balanced training facility, meaning we start all dogs off with a liberal foundation of positive reinforcement training through shaping and luring behaviors. Once they have a solid understanding of the obedience skills on the leash, we then overlay the “have to” part of training via thoughtful use of corrections. We then work to build their skills unleashed, with the goal being a reliable off-leash trained dog. Using a balanced training methodology we produce happy, motivated dogs who want to work, but also know they have to listen for their safety and the safety of others. 

Here’s a little secret about dog training… it is not a magic pill. Dogs are living, breathing creatures and not computers we can program. We can guarantee that if you follow our training advice and do your homework, you will see positive dog training results. However, as we cannot control how you live with your dog at home, whether or not you use your training equipment and recommended training techniques, or how you control the environment to help set your dog up for success, we cannot offer a money-back guarantee on training programs.

Dog owners who commit to doing right by their dog and follow our training recommendations will receive individual dog trainer support so everyone is satisfied with the results. We will never guarantee a “cure” for behavioral problems, but we will help you figure out how to make them easier to live with via obedience training, management strategies, and behavior modification techniques.

While our goal is off leash training for adult dogs, some dogs may not be appropriate candidates for off leash adventures. This may include dogs with high levels of fear or anxiety, aggression towards dogs or people, dogs with noise phobias, and dogs with high prey drive. Your dog trainer will give you honest feedback of what they think is realistic for your individual dog.

Choosing a board and train program versus a private dog training lesson package is a personal decision. We can help you decide what works best for your individual situation over the phone or during an in-person consultation. The biggest factors that affect the decision making process are:

• Budget. Private lessons are an affordable way to train a dog.
• Time. Dog owners must commit to training their dogs each and every day while going through a private dog training package, as they are responsible for the outcome of the program. Boarding and training programs get your dog solid repetitions daily, done by a professional. Dog trainers also tend to have access to appropriate distractions (other dog trainers, trained dogs, tried and tested places for field trips) and since this is what we do all day every day, we can get things moving quickly.
• Behavioral concerns. A dog with aggressive or anxious behavior can do better outside of their trigger environments, so a board and train program may be more appropriate.
• Physical limitations of the owner. Dog training is a physical activity and dogs can be very strong. If a dog owner is not physically able to do the dog training lessons, a board and train is a better choice.
• Convenience. Boarding and training is a popular option for dog owners who are going on business trips or vacations.
• Location and Schedule. Currently, private lessons and group classes are only available at our Mentor, Ohio dog training facility on specific days/times of the week. Unfortunately, we currently do not have much flexibility to offer in-home private lessons, or lessons in other areas of Ohio. If you are located in the greater Cleveland area, lessons and classes at our facility may be appropriate for you.

Dogs enrolled in our overnight boarding and training camps have a dedicated “kennel room” in our dog trainers home, where they will sleep in large, escape-proof dog crates. This allows dogs to live and sleep in a home-like environment, not a noisy kennel or off-site building.

In our Day Train programs, dogs are crated when they are not actively working, playing, or exercising. They will receive numerous training sessions throughout the day, as well as plenty of opportunities to potty, and go on walks/treadmill sessions/play with other dogs or individually.

For board and train, due to the unique home-environment we offer, crate time will vary each day. The first few days of training, your dog will never be left at home alone unattended. This helps your dog trainer get to know your dog, and make sure they will behave appropriately in their secure crate while unattended. Rather, your dog will spend a few hours at a time in their crate in between training sessions, playtime, and potty breaks, so they practice hanging out in their kennel safely.

Once your dog trainer feels comfortable leaving your dog crated, they will find reasons to intentionally leave your dog at home for up to five hours at a time, ALWAYS in a kennel and monitored by video surveillance. We want your dog to be successful when they return home from training, which means they must be used to being left alone for periods of time during the program. Dogs who cannot be left alone will come with your dog trainer on necessary outings (like picking up groceries curbside) and this will be communicated with you so you know how to continue the crate training at home. Dogs are always secured in a Ruffland Kennel during travel in a vehicle.

Overnight, dogs are crated from approximately 10pm to 7am. Young puppies or dogs who bark in the middle of the night will be taken out as necessary; another perk of in-home board and train!

If a dog is social with other dogs, they will have structured daily interactions with other dogs — either your trainers own personal dogs, or other dog-friendly training campers. That being said, what a dog’s individual interaction may look like will change based on their personality, and their training needs. Some friendly dogs arrive to training severely OVERsocialized, and are “dog obsessed”. These dogs require more neutral experiences around other dogs so they can learn to behave appropriately around them in public spaces. If your dog is barking/lunging at dogs on leash, cannot settle around new dogs, or shows signs of becoming dog obsessed, focusing on “playtime” with strange dogs will make these problems worse, not better.

At Up N Atom, we want dogs to be able to go more places and do more things with their owners. This means we will not promise playtime with other dogs if it does not truly benefit YOUR individual dog, but all dogs in training will spend plenty of time each day in close proximity to other dogs.

For safety reasons, most adult dogs who have shown inappropriate aggression towards other dogs will not be allowed to have physical contact with other dogs. They will still train and relax in close proximity of dogs, safely!

This comes down to the individual dog. For most dogs, we recommend multiple part-way visits where we can begin training exercises and get you learning hands on with the new training skills. For dogs with high levels of separation anxiety, fearfulness, or other behavioral concerns, it may not be beneficial for your dog to see you and then have you leave again. We can discuss visits once we get to know your dog and your situation a little better.

Unlike many other training programs, dogs enrolled in our board and train program live in their dog trainers home. This means there is no set daily schedule, as it is a 24/7 training experience. On an average day, dogs are up around 6am, and go to bed around 10pm. Their day is split up between structured, active training sessions (teaching skills), passive training sessions (bed stays in the house or at the facility, practicing “settling” on leash at their trainers feet, crate time with a frozen kong in areas of high activity so they learn to self-soothe when it isn’t their turn), playtime, downtime in their designated crate, and time spent in a large outdoor dog run or play yard, weather-permitting. All training dogs go with their trainer on regular field trips to stores, parks, trails, training events, and more. Your dog will travel with their trainer where ever they go, helping generalize their skills in new places and making sure your dog is comfortable traveling, as well as training and relaxing in many new environments.

The first step to enrolling in one of our training programs is to set up a phone consultation. We will discuss your training needs and goals, what you can expect from a training program, and set a timeline. If we choose to move forward with booking a program, we take a non-refundable deposit to hold the space. Dogs with behavioral concerns will need to attend an in-person consultation prior to setting a start date, for the safety of the dog and our staff.

These programs are a great way to get advanced dog obedience training FAST. We work with your dog daily to give your dog training repetitions in the house, on the training property, and out on field trips (pet friendly stores, parks, trails, and more). Your dog will spend every training day with a professional trainer, getting in multiple training sessions and working on house manners. 

You can expect that your dog will have a solid understanding of critical dog training skills in new environments, and under distraction. But, dog training only works if you work it! You should expect that your dog will make some mistakes when they come home, and for the remainder of their life! Dog training is about knowing how to respond to those mistakes, and how you can use your dogs new obedience skills to prevent them from happening in the first place.

Once your dog graduates from the training program, the client education portion begins! We need to teach you how to work with your dog like a dog trainer. You will receive written and video instructions on how to enforce the training, how to use the equipment, and what to do when your dog blows you off (because dogs WILL test your dog training skills when they come home). For the first two weeks post-graduation, we will ask you to keep everything low distraction. It is important you learn to read your dog and know how react proactively in new situations before upping the difficulty. Once those two weeks are up, we can meet for a private follow up lesson to test the training skills in more difficult situations. Our programs will train your dog, but they will also train you… which is almost more important!

Up N Atom Dog Training is located in Northeastern Ohio, including our facility in Eastlake and our home close to the town of Ashtabula. Our training programs are perfect for anyone close to Cleveland, Ohio. 

We have extensive experience with the following problem dog behaviors:

overall disobedience
jumping on guests 
barking at dogs or people on leash
aggression towards dogs
fear aggression
general anxiety
potty training
fence fighting
counter surfing
running away
chasing prey (chickens, cats, livestock)
car chasing
reactivity towards joggers, skateboards, bicycles, etc.
lack of impulse control

Up N Atom can help you create a training plan to work with most problem behaviors. Due to our intimate training environment, we are not able to take dogs with high levels of aggression towards people, extreme separation anxiety, or dogs who cannot be safely contained in a crate. If you’d like to discuss your situation, we’d be happy to set a phone consultation.