Board + Trains

What is a Board + Train?

A board + train, as the name suggests, is a hybridization between boarding your dog and training them. Typically, a board + train is 1-2 weeks long, though in rare, more intensive cases could be longer. During that time, your dog will live in my own home with me, a professional with years of experience in both a training facility that included board + trains, as well as a facility dedicated entirely to boarding and grooming, and I will provide 24 / 7 care and multiple training sessions per day. The content of these training sessions is determined by the goals that have been outlined in our meeting before the drop off date, and regular updates of progress will be provided throughout the duration. Dogs in my care will also be taken on 'field trips' to practice their skills in new environments to generalize the behaviours and create a better rounded dog. At drop off, you will be welcomed into my home and allowed to see where your dog will be staying during their time with me. At pick up, there will be a roughly 1-2 hour go-home lesson where I go over everything your dog and I have worked on over their stay and teach you how to implement them in your own home. Additionally, for the 30 days following the go home date, I will be available via email, phone, or in person if necessary to work through any issues with the implementation of the board + train at home.

Who is a Board + Train for?

Board + trains can best benefit anyone who feels that their dog could use a complete reset from scratch on some of their problem behaviours, or anyone who wants to set a good foundation for new behaviours. I find that the people who most enjoy what they have to offer are those who are too busy or overwhelmed to dedicate the time and knowledge needed to work through problem behaviours, as well as those who may not have the health or physical capability to safely handle and work through those same issues. Another good use for a board + train can be setting a solid foundation for a younger dog or puppy so that they are taught how to learn, be confident in themselves while still biddable to you, and learn some basic obedience and how to be calm and collected in public places. More complex skills, such as ecollar / off-leash training can also be great candidates for board + trains, because it can streamline the initial learning curve a bit to have someone who has worked through that process many times before handle the hardest parts and design a plan to continue the work at home. Finally, for behaviours that require more intensive training to alter, such as intense reactivity or aggression cases, a board + train can be a really great total reset in a new environment with a new handler for a week or two to curb and work through some of those impulsive decisions and make room for new, more thoughtful decisions and behaviours to take over.

To summarize, a board + train can be great for anyone, and it is extremely customizable! The duration, content, training plan, equipment used, and skills focused on can all be discussed to create a dedicated plan for your specific board + train service.

Board + Train Pricing:

The base price for a board and train is 1k / week. They are typically done over 1-2 weeks of time with daily training and care as well as frequent updates. Included in cost, for the 30 days following the end of the board and train, I will be available for up to two standard hour long sessions to work through any issues that come up with implementing the skills practiced in the board and train.

For B+Ts that are not a multiple of 7 days, I add $150 / additional day to the $1k / week (7 days) price

*B+T cost is set with the intention of affordability within the local Truro area, but is subject to increase if a dog requires additional care, such as medications or concerns / challenges that increase the difficulty of the board and train.