Board & Train
BOARD & TRAIN
A Different Kind of Board & Train.
Board & Train can be an incredibly convenient and effective way to give your dog consistent professional training.
But how your dog is trained matters.
At Paws At Play, we offer an immersive Board & Train experience built around positive, reward-based training.
NO E-COLLARS.
NO PRONG COLLARS.
NO SHORTCUTS.
We use communication, reinforcement, repetition, structured experiences, environmental exposure, and progressive challenges to teach dogs what we want them to do.
We're not looking for quick compliance.
We're building understanding, confidence, and reliability.
And before we ever recommend a Board & Train program, we get to know the dog at the other end of the leash.
STEP 1: TRAINER MEET & GREET
Every Board & Train Starts With a Conversation.
All Board & Train dogs are required to complete a Meet & Greet with one of our trainers before beginning induction.
The Meet & Greet gives you dedicated time with our trainer to discuss your dog, the behaviors you're experiencing, and what you hope to accomplish.
We'll discuss:
Your dog's behavior history
Previous training
Current obedience skills
Behaviors you'd like to improve
Leash manners
Recall
Household behaviors
Social behavior
Confidence
Environmental concerns
Your daily lifestyle
Your priorities
Your training goals
This also gives our trainer an opportunity to meet your dog and determine whether Board & Train is an appropriate option.
We don't believe in promising a predetermined result before we've met the dog.
STEP 2: 5-DAY BOARD & TRAIN INDUCTION
Observe. Learn. Then Build the Plan.
Following the Trainer Meet & Greet, dogs complete a required 5-Day Training Induction before entering a 14-, 21-, or 28-Day Board & Train.
During induction, our training team evaluates your dog's:
Temperament
Learning style
Motivation
Handler engagement
Current obedience
Leash skills
Recall
Social behavior
Confidence
Environmental responses
Individual training needs
The Meet & Greet tells us what you're experiencing at home and what you'd like to accomplish.
The induction shows us how your dog learns and responds while working with our training team.
Together, those pieces allow us to establish individualized goals and recommend the Board & Train length best suited to your dog.
14-DAY BOARD & TRAIN
Foundations for Everyday Life.
5-Day Induction + 14-Day Board & Train
Our 14-Day Board & Train focuses on creating stronger foundational obedience and practical everyday manners.
BEHAVIORS INCLUDE:
Sit + Sit Stay
Down + Down Stay
Place
Go to a designated training cot or bed and remain until released.
Loose-Leash Walking
Walking without pulling.
Recall
Coming when called.
Leave It
Release Command
Training also includes:
Structured Socialization • Environmental Exposure • Daily Training • Progress Updates • Individualized Goals • Go-Home Lesson
BEST FOR:
Dogs needing stronger everyday manners, improved leash skills, foundational obedience, better impulse control, and greater communication with their owners.
21-DAY BOARD & TRAIN
Greater Reliability. Greater Challenge.
5-Day Induction + 21-Day Board & Train
The 21-Day Board & Train gives our trainers additional time to take foundational behaviors and develop greater reliability around distractions and in different environments.
BEHAVIORS INCLUDE:
Sit + Sit Stay
Down + Down Stay
Place
Loose-Leash Walking
Functional Heel
Advanced Recall
Leave It
Release Command
The additional training time allows for considerably more:
Proofing • Distractions • Environmental Exposure • Public Outings When Appropriate • Recall Work • Duration • Distance • Individualized Goals
BEST FOR:
Dogs who need more than foundational obedience and would benefit from additional repetition, distraction work, stronger leash skills, impulse control, and real-world reliability.
28-DAY BOARD & TRAIN
Our Most Comprehensive Training Experience.
5-Day Induction + 28-Day Board & Train
Some behaviors simply need more time.
Our 28-Day Board & Train gives our training team the greatest opportunity to teach, reinforce, generalize, and proof behaviors across different environments and situations.
Dogs work through our advanced Board & Train curriculum with substantially more time dedicated to:
Sit + Sit Stay
Down + Down Stay
Place
Loose-Leash Walking
Functional Heel
Advanced Recall
Leave It
Release Command
Advanced distractions
Public outings when appropriate
Environmental exposure
Duration and distance
Stronger real-world reliability
Individualized training goals
BEST FOR:
Dogs requiring a more comprehensive training experience, dogs with multiple training goals, or owners looking for the greatest amount of professional training and real-world proofing.
WHAT'S INCLUDED WITH BOARD & TRAIN?
More Than Training Sessions.
Your dog isn't spending two or three weeks sitting around waiting for the next lesson.
Our Board & Train experience considers the whole dog.
Depending on your dog's individual needs and training plan, their experience may incorporate:
Daily positive, reward-based training
Structured socialization
Appropriate play
Individual enrichment
Environmental exposure
Public outings when appropriate
Exercise
Intentional rest and decompression
Individualized training goals
Progress updates
Trainer observations
Owner education
And every program concludes with one of the most important parts of Board & Train:
THE HANDOFF.
YOUR DOG LEARNED THE SKILLS.
NOW WE TEACH YOU.
Training your dog is only part of our job.
A dog can learn a tremendous amount while working with a professional trainer, but those skills have to transfer back into everyday life.
That's why every Board & Train includes a comprehensive Go-Home Lesson.
During your private handoff, we'll teach you how to communicate with your dog using the same cues, expectations, reinforcement, and techniques used throughout their training.
You'll learn how to:
Use each trained behavior correctly
Reinforce good choices
Maintain expectations
Continue practicing at home
Handle common setbacks
Prevent old habits from returning
Continue building reliability
Because a successful Board & Train shouldn't create a dog who only listens to the trainer.
It should create a dog and owner who understand each other better.
THE BOARD & TRAIN JOURNEY
Trainer Meet & Greet
↓
5-Day Training Induction
↓
14, 21 or 28-Day Board & Train
↓
Private Go-Home Lesson
↓
Continue Building at Home
OUR TRAINING PROMISE
Positive Methods. Practical Skills. Better Communication.
Every dog who walks through our doors is an individual.
Training isn't about forcing every dog through the exact same process.
It's about understanding the dog in front of us, finding what motivates them, teaching them how to succeed, and progressively building skills they can use in everyday life.
POSITIVE, REWARD-BASED TRAINING
We reinforce the behaviors we want and teach dogs how to make better choices.
NO E-COLLARS OR PRONG COLLARS
Our training philosophy does not rely on these tools.
INDIVIDUALIZED TRAINING
Every dog learns differently. Our trainers adjust the process to the dog in front of them.
REAL-WORLD SKILLS
Training should work outside the classroom — at home, on walks, around distractions, and throughout everyday life.
PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE
Our trainers don't just train dogs. We help owners understand how to continue the process.
AKC MILESTONES
With an AKC Approved CGC Evaluator on our training team, eligible dogs can work toward nationally recognized AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy® and AKC Canine Good Citizen® achievements.
A CLEAR NEXT STEP
Training doesn't end at graduation.
We'll help you decide where to go next.
