Day Training
A Day of Training, Not Just a Day of Play
Day Training is for dogs who need structure, training, and continued practice while their owners are at work, busy for the day, or simply want some extra help keeping their dog on track.
This is not traditional dog daycare.
Your dog is not spending the day running around with a group of dogs with little structure or direction. There is no free for all environment where dogs are left to entertain themselves.
Your dog is here to train.
Traditional daycare environments can create more problems than they solve. Dogs are often placed into large groups and encouraged to play for hours, while being supervised by staff who may have little to no training in dog behavior or handling.
Dogs learn through repetition. If a dog spends all day practicing barking, chasing, jumping, body slamming, ignoring boundaries, guarding toys, or becoming overstimulated around other dogs, those behaviors become habits.
Constant group play can also create frustration and overexcitement around other dogs. In many cases, this can contribute to or worsen reactivity.
A tired dog is not necessarily a well behaved dog.
Exhausting a dog for the day is not the same thing as training a dog.
Day Training gives your dog structure, boundaries, leadership, and purposeful training instead.
What Is Day Training?
Day Training gives your dog the opportunity to continue learning while they are in my care during the day.
Your dog will be trained throughout their time with me. Depending on their needs, we may work on:
- Basic obedience
- Place and duration
- Leash manners
- Recall
- Impulse control
- Household manners
- Neutrality around distractions
- Appropriate social behavior
- Confidence
- Reactivity
- Behavior modification
- Maintaining previously learned skills
Every dog is different, so the training we do will depend on your dog’s individual needs and current level of training.
Some dogs need to learn new skills. Others simply need upkeep.
Training is not something you do once and forget about. Dogs need repetition and consistency to maintain reliable behavior. Regular Day Training can help keep your dog’s skills sharp and prevent old habits from coming back.
Structure, Boundaries, and Training
Your dog will not spend the day doing whatever they want.
I provide structure and boundaries throughout the day and use everyday situations as opportunities for training.
Your dog may practice holding place, walking appropriately on leash, settling, listening around distractions, following commands, or simply learning how to exist calmly without constantly seeking stimulation.
The goal is not to send home the most exhausted dog possible.
The goal is to send home a better trained dog.
Every Dog Is Evaluated
Safety and suitability are extremely important to me.
Every client I work with, whether they are coming for private lessons, Board and Train, or Day Training, starts with an in home evaluation.
This allows me to meet your dog in their normal environment and get a clear picture of their behavior, temperament, household, and the issues we need to address.
But the in home evaluation is only part of the process.
Dogs can behave very differently depending on their environment.
A dog may act one way inside their home and completely differently when they leave it. That is why dogs who are new to Day Training also complete a trial day at my facility.
During the trial day, I evaluate how your dog handles a new environment, new expectations, separation from you, other dogs, distractions, structure, and being handled by me.
The combination of the in home evaluation and the trial day gives me a much more complete picture of your dog.
It also allows me to determine whether Day Training is actually appropriate for them.
Not every dog is a good fit for Day Training. A dog with severe aggression, for example, may need a different training plan before participating in this type of program.
I would rather tell you that upfront than put your dog into an environment that is not appropriate for them.
Who Can Do Day Training?
Day Training is automatically available to clients who have already completed private lessons or a Board and Train program with me.
Since I already know your dog and have worked with them, we can use Day Training to continue building on the work we have already done.
If you have not worked with me before, your dog will need to complete the in home evaluation and a trial day before being approved for ongoing Day Training.
Owner Involvement Still Matters
Day Training gives your dog additional training time with me, but it does not replace your role as their owner.
The best results happen when the skills your dog practices with me are reinforced at home.
You are the person your dog lives with every day. You need to know how to communicate with them, maintain boundaries, reinforce appropriate behavior, and continue the work.
This is why Day Training works especially well alongside private lessons.
I can put the training into your dog during the day, while you learn how to maintain it at home.
Packages or Individual Days
Day Training is available through packages for owners who want consistent training and upkeep.
I also offer individual Day Training days for those who only need occasional help.
Maybe you have a long workday. Maybe you’re going away for the day. Maybe your dog needs some extra training that week.
You can purchase a single day when you need it without committing to a larger package.
For dogs who benefit from regular training, packages provide consistency and help keep their skills reliable.
Is Day Training Right for Your Dog?
Day Training may be a good fit if:
- Your dog has completed private lessons or Board and Train with me
- Your dog needs regular upkeep on their training
- You want additional training without an overnight stay
- Your dog needs more structure during the day
- You work long hours and want your dog’s day to be productive
- You want to reinforce skills your dog has already learned
- You want your dog to continue progressing between private lessons
- You occasionally need somewhere for your dog to go during the day but do not want traditional daycare
If your dog has significant behavior issues, we will determine whether Day Training is appropriate or whether another training program should come first.
Daycare Isn’t the Goal
If you are looking for a place where your dog can spend eight hours playing with a group of dogs, this is not that.
Dogs do not need to spend their days in chaotic group environments to be happy or fulfilled.
Dogs need structure. They need boundaries. They need leadership. They need opportunities to learn and make good choices.
Your dog doesn’t just need somewhere to go. They need something productive to do.
Day Training gives your dog a productive day instead of simply a busy one.
If you want your dog to spend the day with me while receiving actual training, structure, and continued reinforcement, Day Training may be the right fit.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are an existing private lesson or Board and Train client, Day Training is available to you as an additional way to maintain and build on your dog’s training.
If we have not worked together before, we’ll begin with an in home evaluation followed by a trial day at my facility.
