Board & Train Programs
Personalized Training. Real-Life Results.
Our Board & Train programs are designed to help dogs build the skills needed to thrive both at home and in the real world. Through structure, consistency, enrichment, and individualized training, we help dogs develop better habits, improved manners, and greater confidence.
Unlike large kennel facilities, Board & Train dogs live in my home and receive a highly personalized training experience tailored to their unique needs, goals, and temperament.
Whether your dog needs a strong foundation, improved obedience, or help working through behavioral challenges, every program is designed to create lasting results while providing owners with the tools and support needed for long-term success.
Why Choose A Girl's Best Friend?
✔ Certified Advanced Canine Trainer
✔ Certified Canine Behaviorist
✔ Certified Canine Enrichment Specialist
✔ Personalized training plans
✔ Home-based training environment
✔ Detailed take-home training guide
✔ Complimentary follow-up consultation
✔ Lifetime support
✔ Small-scale, individualized care
What's Included In Every Program
✔ Living in my home, not a kennel facility
✔ Daily structured training sessions
✔ Individualized training plan
✔ Exercise tailored to your dog's needs
✔ Enrichment activities and mental stimulation
✔ Structured socialization when appropriate
✔ Real-world training integrated into everyday life
✔ Regular progress updates
✔ Personalized training booklet
✔ Go-home training session
✔ Complimentary follow-up consultation approximately one month after program completion
✔ Lifetime support for training questions and guidance
Puppy Foundations Program
2–3 Weeks
Designed primarily for puppies under 8 months of age who need a strong foundation for future success.
Focus Areas
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Name recognition and engagement
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Sit, down, and place foundations
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Beginning recall
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Leash walking foundations
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Crate training routines
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Potty training foundations
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Confidence building
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Appropriate socialization
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Handling and grooming exercises
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Impulse control
Program Investment
Starting at $1,800
Manners & Obedience Program
3–4 Weeks
Perfect for adolescent and adult dogs who need structure, improved manners, and greater reliability in everyday life.
Focus Areas
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Sit, down, and stay
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Place command
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Loose leash walking
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Recall foundations
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Greeting people politely
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Door manners
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Jumping reduction
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Impulse control
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Household manners
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Real-world training and distractions
Program Investment
Starting at $2,500
Behavior Modification Program
4–6+ Weeks
Designed for dogs struggling with behavioral challenges such as reactivity, fearfulness, anxiety, over-arousal, poor impulse control, and other unwanted behaviors.
Focus Areas
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Engagement with handler
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Confidence building
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Impulse control
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Structured socialization
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Neutrality around triggers
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Relaxation skills
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Counter-conditioning
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Real-world exposure
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Long-term management strategies
Every dog is unique. Program length is determined based on your dog's individual needs and training goals.
Program Investment
Starting at $4,000
Additional training weeks may be recommended for dogs requiring more extensive support.
Personalized Training Guide
Every Board & Train graduate goes home with a customized training guide designed specifically for them.
This guide serves as a roadmap for continued success and helps ensure a smooth transition from training back into everyday life at home.
Your personalized guide may include:
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Commands and skills learned during training
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Step-by-step handling instructions
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Recommended equipment and tools
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Daily routines and structure recommendations
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Management strategies
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Troubleshooting tips
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Continued training exercises
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Environmental setup recommendations
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Long-term maintenance and success strategies
Every dog and family is different, which is why each guide is customized to your dog's individual needs, goals, and training progress.
In addition to your training guide, all Board & Train graduates receive a go-home lesson and complimentary follow-up consultation approximately one month after program completion.
Tune-Up Stays & Continued Support
Training is a lifelong journey, and even well-trained dogs can benefit from occasional refreshers.
Board & Train graduates are eligible for Tune-Up Stays designed to reinforce training, refresh skills, and help address new challenges that may arise throughout different stages of life.
Whether your dog needs a confidence boost, a refresher on manners, or support through a new life transition, Tune-Up Stays can help keep training on track.
Families who complete a Board & Train program are also welcome to reach out with questions, concerns, or training advice at any time. My goal is to provide support long after your dog's program has ended.
Our Approach
Every dog is unique, which is why every training plan is tailored to the individual dog in front of us.
Board & Train dogs follow a structured daily routine designed to promote learning, confidence, and success. Training is integrated into everyday life through structured walks, enrichment activities, rest periods, household routines, and real-world experiences.
Access to household privileges, social interactions, and freedom is determined by each dog's individual needs, temperament, training goals, and progress throughout the program.
Structured socialization may be incorporated when appropriate, but not all dogs will interact directly with other dogs. Safety and successful learning always take priority over social interaction.
Dogs are never placed in situations that compromise their safety or the safety of others. Through thoughtful management, clear communication, and individualized training plans, each dog is given the opportunity to learn at their own pace.
To support consistency and progress, owner visits during the training portion of the program are generally discouraged. Regular updates, photos, and videos will be provided throughout your dog's stay.
Training Philosophy
At A Girl's Best Friend, training methods are selected based on each individual dog's needs, welfare, and learning style.
My approach follows the principles of LIMA method (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive), meaning I begin with the least intrusive and least aversive training methods appropriate for the dog and situation. I focus heavily on communication, relationship building, structure, management, enrichment, and positive reinforcement to help dogs learn and succeed.
Depending on the dog and training goals, I may incorporate tools such as food rewards, toys, clicker training, long lines, training leashes, slip leads, management equipment, and front-clip harnesses such as the J Walker.
Training plans are individualized, and recommendations are made based on the needs of the dog in front of me. The goal is always to create clear communication, build confidence, and help owners develop practical, sustainable skills they can continue using at home.
Owner Commitment
Board & Train programs create strong foundations and meaningful behavior change, but training does not end when your dog goes home.
Long-term success depends on consistency, structure, and continued practice after the program is complete. Owners are expected to participate in the go-home lesson, follow-up support, and continued reinforcement of the skills learned during training.
No dog is ever permanently "fixed." Just like people, dogs require ongoing guidance, practice, and maintenance throughout their lives. Behaviors that are not consistently reinforced can weaken over time.
My commitment is to provide the training, education, and support needed for success. Your commitment is to continue building on that foundation at home.
Together, we create lasting results.
Program Requirements
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Dogs must be current on required vaccinations.
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A consultation may be required prior to acceptance.
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Program placement and length are determined based on the dog's age, temperament, training history, and individual goals.
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Crate training may be incorporated into the program when appropriate.
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Severe aggression cases will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact A Girl's Best Friend to discuss your goals and determine which program is the best fit for your dog.
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