Board & Train

Choosing a board and train or day 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, but require heavy owner involvement and dedication during the learning process. Board and Train/Day Train programs still require dedicated owners, but for learning how to live with a newly-trained-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 Eastlake, 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.

We HIGHLY recommend attending weekly classes during your dogs board and train, beginning after the *second* week of training. This lets you begin the learning process while they’re still enrolled, and allows you time to visit with your dog while they’re away.

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 (or, if you’re an A+ student, during their program via group classes), 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!