What does a heel look like?
“After spending $7,000 with various board and train programs, we were frustrated with our dog’s lack of progress. Now that Hank is home, he is finally the polite dog we knew he could be!” – Matthew Love
Are you headed out of town and want your dog to upgrade his manners while you’re away? Or perhaps you’d like to contract out the lion’s share of training to an expert? Either way, consider Board and Train!
Why Pavlov?
Why Pavlov? There are a number of special aspects to Pavlov’s Board and Train Camp. First, your dog’s day will be filled with structured walks, training sessions, and three daily socialization groups. Your dog will build healthy social skills with fellow dogs. Most dog training facilities shy away from socialization groups, and isolate campers from one another. We feel that play groups fulfill a basic social need. Secondly, Pavlov’s training approach is a healthy hybrid of traditional and contemporary training. Consequently, your dog will excel quickly in learning new skills and stopping unwanted behaviors. Finally, your dog’s alumni status will open doors. Namely, lifetime access to group class and pack walks. Also, your dog may qualify for boarding with benefits. This way polite manners are maintained when you leave town.
Board and Train Camp Agenda
- Obedience Lessons – walk politely on a leash, heel (walk to the left of your hip, stop when you stop, walk with you walk), whoa (slow down), parallel sit, stay, come, no (stop doing that).
- Manners. Address jumping on people, barking, jumping on counter tops.
- Field trips to hiking trails and public parks.
- Video and/or photo updates twice a week, so you may admire your dog’s progress, and begin learning how to maintain the good stuff.
- Three private lessons are required to help you maintain your dog’s polite behavior.
Receive training updates like this.
Available Program Camps
I. On-leash Obedience (Obedience Level 1)
See the agenda items above. Solid training for all lessons inside, and on a leash outside. This program is 2 weeks.
II. Off-leash Obedience (Obedience Level 2)
Take your dog’s training off-leash, outside, and around real-world distractions. You and your dog will learn the skill of humane electronic collar training – the responsible and SAFE way to have your dog off-leash. An excellent program if you’d like to bless your dog with off-leash freedom on the hiking trail!
1 week for graduates of obedience 1, and 2 weeks for dogs who graduated a pro dog training program.
III. Puppy Camp (Puppy Lessons + obedience 0.5)
Proactively get your puppy off to a good start. Puppy Camp is for kiddos 3-6 months.
Addresses
- House training + crate training (go in crate on command; no barking)
- House manners: no jumping, no counter-surfing, no barking inside home
- Puppy mouthing and common destruction
- Food bowl wait, door wait, crate wait
- Walking on leash introduction (Basic intro: no formal heel.)
- Obedience Introduction: (emphasis on the word introduction, as your pup will still need obedience training after puppy camp) name recognition, sit, come, stay
- Socialization field trips
IV. Behavior Programs
Behavior programs address critical issues and everything in obedience 1 and 2. Our highest demand programs include: Leash Drama (for dogs who bark and lunge on leash, or behind barriers), threatening behavior towards humans, mild to moderate separation anxiety, and mild to moderate fears and phobias. This is a 3-4 week program.
Camp Price
Camp costs $1500 a week. (Pricing fluctuates based on supply & demand.) Typical programs are two weeks and cost $3000. If your dog is green to dog training, and you would like to progress through both the on-leash and off-leash programs, we can accomplish both in three weeks for $4500. Behavior programs are three weeks. A non-refundable deposit of $750 or $1125 is due at the time of booking. The remainder of the first half is due at drop-off, and the second half is due at pick-up.
Board and Train & Private Training Application
Campers enjoy 3 daily play sessions.
Field trips are included.
Common Questions
How is this board and train different? Your dog will live with your dog trainer in their cozy home. Contrast this with a loud industrial facility with 30+ dogs.- What is the ratio of board and train dogs per dog trainer? There are 4 dogs per 1 dog trainer. The industry standard in Portland is 4-15 dogs per 1 dog trainer. Enrollment is limited so we may focus on high-quality, individualized training.
- Where will my dog be when not actively training? Campers enjoy plenty of free time in the backyard to socialize with fellow campers. Additionally, your dog may lounge inside.
- Where will my dog rest? In a comfortable crate with cozy bedding. Meals and naptime are spent in crates, so your dog has time to recharge.
- How long is camp? Most programs are two weeks. Dogs new to training are enrolled in Obedience 1, which is an on-leash program. Dogs with a prior foundation of training may qualify for obedience 2, which is an off-leash program. Either they must have gone through obedience one with Pavlov, or another program elsewhere, and be responsive to obedience commands in a low-distraction setting like your home. If you’d like your dog to advance through both obedience levels 1 and 2, we’ll need a three-week program.
- Can I dictate training methods, or put restrictions on my dog trainer? No.
- Is this a superior program? Yes. Pavlov was voted Best Training in Portland on Expertise. We have over 100 5-star reviews between Google and Yelp.
- Why these agenda items? Pavlov specializes in family dog training. Curriculum is designed to encourage a grounded head space, and while the agenda has been tweaked over the years, we believe the current agenda provides the most return on investment.
- What is the minimum age? 3 months.
- I am unable to attend the required follow-up lessons, nor enforce polite behaviors after the program. Is this a wise investment? No. Without consistency, your dog’s training will not be sustained. Dogs are not robots. Dogs are sentient beings that make decisions based on the consequences of previous actions. It is important to understand that learning happens so long as your dog is alive. Your dog will be as consistent – or inconsistent – as your consistencies.
- Can I purchase additional boarding days? Yes. Additional boarding may be purchased at $80 a day.
- What is the price? $3000-$4500.
- What vaccinations are required? Rabies and one distemper/parvo vaccination. Titers are accepted.
- My dog completed a training program with Pavlov, and I want to board with a trainer who will insist on polite manners, and not comprise previous training. Is this an option? Yes, this is called Boarding with Benefits. Benefits include: maintaining house manners, socialization with other campers (for dog friendly dogs), correcting naughty stuff as it arises, and living in a cozy space. No more coming home from vacation to find that your dog has practiced naughty behavior! Price is $80 per day.
- Will my dog be supported after the program? Yes, group classes and pack walks are available for your dog’s lifetime.
- Where is Pavlov located? Trainers live on the northwest and southwest side of town.
- How can I discuss which training options are best for my dog? Fill out the Board and Train & Private Training Application. We will then contact you by phone.
