Board & Train
A world away from traditional board & train (B&T), our Platinum Round-Trip program combines intensive training for your dog in a home environment with hands-on coaching for you.
How It Works
Your dog stays with the trainer, training on what matters most to you
Every day, you receive a detailed update of how your dog spent their day (including exercise, play, and enrichment)
You also receive a video every day of one of your dog’s training sessions. These videos provide a window into your dog’s day – happy, healthy, and learning – as well as demonstrating how to train your pup, even before your dog returns home!
At the end of the stay, you and your dog reunite for your transition lesson. Hands-on coaching at pickup enables you to maintain your dog’s training.
At home, you and your pup practice these skills—with the support of a second, online transition lesson a few days later—before your service dog returns for more training
Your dog alternates between “training weeks” and “home practice weeks,” making real-world progress while you gain mastery in preserving these skills at home or in the community
Right For Every Stage
- Foundations trained right: socialization, handling, potty and crate training, calm settling
- Relief from puppy hassles (house training, chewing, nipping)
- Progress at a time when training may otherwise plateau or regress
- Results – and a break! – when your teen is bigger, stronger, and testing boundaries
- Advanced skills trained quickly and correctly – heel, ignore distractions in public, tasks (alert, retrieve, guide)
Service Dog Training Convenience for New England and New York State
Our New Salem, MA (west of Worcester), board-and-train is just 1.5 to 2 hours from Boston, Albany, Providence, Manchester, and Hartford. Only 45 minutes from Brattleboro.
Pet Taxi is available for drop-off and pick-up. We accept service dogs from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York. (Outside the Northeast? Contact us to discuss logistics.)
Your dog will flourish in our beautiful rural setting. Watch our video tour.
"Specific Instructions and Deep Feedback"
I loved the improvement I saw in just such a short time with Phoenix’s down/stay duration, his playing with other dogs, and his very increased ability to follow commands around distractions. Catching my breath and having a break was a highlight. The individual deep feedback was so helpful – getting very specific instructions on what I need to do with my unique puppy. I would do B&T again in a heartbeat!!
- Lee Atherton & Phoenix
Your Passport to Effective Service Dog Training
- Your dog will be trained on the most important skills for public access and task success
- Your dog will not be trained on common obedience behaviors that are actually counterproductive for service animals
- We understand what’s at stake. Our ethical guarantee promises that we prioritize your dog’s success. That’s one reason we only train one or two dogs at a time!
- Fosters a quicker, gentler adjustment to B&T
- Preserves the strong bond between you and your dog
- Keeps your dog home when you need them – and gives you a break when you need it, too!
- Provides ongoing support in how to advance your dog’s new skills with you, where it matters most
- A stress-free “second home” enhances your dog’s learning
- Training occurs all day, in “real life” moments: during family dinners, Zoom meetings, and chores
- Puppies learn household manners that make them a pleasure
- Adult dogs train advanced skills in a low-distraction environment, then “proof” them with public access field trips
- Your dog trains on calmly ignoring the distractions of other dogs, cats, adults, and teens in the trainer’s home
Get on the fast-track to independence, freedom and confidence for just $250 per day.
He Always Returns Better Trained
We love sending Bode to At Your Service Dog Training Board & Train. We know he is well taken care of while he is there, we get daily updates – I love watching the training videos! – and every time he returns, he is better trained – touch, settling, loose leash walking. And as much as we miss him, it's nice to have a little break 🙂
–Katy Ward & Bode
- Complete our brief Board & Train application. (Learn requirements for B&T.)
- Once we receive your application, we’ll schedule a consultation. At the consult, we’ll set up your dog’s training plan, and when and how to incorporate B&T to meet your dog’s training goals.
- Together, we’ll schedule your dog’s drop-off and pick-up dates (and pet taxi, if needed). A 20 percent deposit holds your dog’s reservation.
- Four weeks prior to the start of your dog’s stay, you’ll complete our forms on your dog’s typical schedule and emergency contacts, and pay the balance.
Day School: Intensive Training without the Overnight
Are you in the Pioneer Valley or North Quabbin area? Would you like your dog to get the benefits of intensive training, but still sleep at home? Our Service Dog Day School is the solution! Your dog stays with their trainer during the day, but goes home at night:
Every day is packed with beneficial training and enrichment:
- Daily training update
- Daily training video
- 1-2 hours of training in the home OR training field trip
- 30 to 45 minutes of walking or other exercise
- Manners and settling around the home
Weekly transition lesson
Logistics:
- 3 to 5 days per week
- 8:30-10 AM drop off
- 3:30-5:30 PM pick up
- Pick-up and drop-off can be arranged at a mutually convenient location (including Amherst, Pelham, Northampton, Greenfield, Athol, etc.)
- Two weeks (8-days) minimum for the initial session
- $180 per day
Confidence with the Toughest Scrutiny
Board & Train and Day School have helped elevate Georgie’s manners above what I could have done alone. It’s given me the confidence to take her to locations that get the toughest scrutiny for service animals – airports, federal buildings, and theme parks. It has enabled me to bring her when I travel for work which has significantly improved my quality of life since I average 300 days of travel a year. Thank you for helping us!
Georgie learning to settle in public in day school: Watch Video.
–Kayla Rahimi & Georgie (miniature poodle)
FAQs
How much does the Platinum Round-Trip Board & Train program cost? Is it expensive?
Because this is an exceptional program that exclusively trains one service dog at a time, designed to save you months of training time, it is a significant investment. Tuition is $250 per day, which includes all training and equipment. You supply only your dog’s food and any specialty items (e.g., medications, their vest or other unique gear). View our Sample Training Plans for a detailed breakdown of estimated costs.
Are there any behavioral requirements for dogs to attend board & train or day school?
Yes, to protect your investment in your service dog’s career, we only accept dogs for the Platinum Program that will thrive and learn efficiently:
Health – Healthy, vaccinated, with no current illness or injury that would affect learning. Proof of a recent fecal test is required prior to arrival at the first B&T.
Behavioral Requirements (Adolescents and Adult Dogs)*
- No known separation anxiety
- No reactivity or aggression toward people.
- No known aggression toward other animals, including other dogs, cats, etc.
- Crate trained (willing to enter and stay in a crate or pen for up to 5 hours without undue distress or vocalization)
- Car comfort: Rides contentedly, not typically motion sick. Comfortable in a parked car (in safe, appropriate weather) for up to two hours.
- No excessive vocalizing (i.e., does not typically bark or whine repeatedly or continuously in the home, including at night).
- Not due to go into heat. Intact females that go into estrus during B&T may need to return home until they have finished their cycle.
*Puppies (8-20 weeks)
Since puppy raising focuses on training your puppy in basic “house manners,” puppies do not need to meet the behavioral requirements for adult dogs above.
Is there any minimum stay for B&T or day school?
Yes, we have length of stay requirements to support your training goals. If you’ve ever adopted a rescue dog, you might have noticed that dogs typically need three to five days to settle into a new environment. This also means that your dog will need a few days to get used to B&T the first time before being able to train at their best. (Puppies generally acclimate more quickly than adults.)
For an initial B&T, for best results, we recommend three weeks (15 days) (divided by short breaks). Five-day stretches at B&T, broken up by weekends home, is ideal. If this is not possible, a minimum of two weeks (10 days) is required to support your dog’s efficient training.
Because returning dogs are already acclimated to the trainer’s home, shorter stays can be effective. A minimum stay of 5 days results in the best training for returning dogs. For details on recommended frequency and duration of training, and sample training schedules, see below.
How often should my dog attend B&T?
For best results, we recommend your dog train with us intensively for a few weeks – with periodic quick trips home – and then take a longer break at home for training to gel. Then another round, repeating as needed. For example…
- Month 1: 4 weeks of M-F B&T, home for weekends
- Months 2 & 3: Alternate weeks at B&T with weeks home
- Month 4: One week at B&T
- Month 5: No B&T
- Month 6: 4 weeks of M-F B&T, home for weekends
What will my puppy learn during a Puppy Raising B&T?
So much! Your pup will learn to potty outside, keep their teeth to themselves, settle quietly in their crate, happily occupy themselves while you’re busy or out, and be calm for grooming, leashing, and handling.
Because puppyhood is a critical period for socialization, we’ll prioritize training to be calm and confident with different situations, environments, noises, people, and animals, as well as with body handling (paws, nails, ears, tail, mouth).
Your puppy will also learn foundation skills: “Wait,” “Touch” (hand targeting), “Sit,” “Down,” “Drop It,” and “Go to Your Place.”
Lastly, your puppy will learn to be a happy and confident learner who chooses to pay attention to you despite distractions.
How many dogs do you accept into B&T at a time?
Typically, just one! We’re obsessed with your dog’s results. If we believe having a second dog present will enhance both dog’s training, we will accept two dogs at a time. That’s our max.
I want to get the best value out of this program. When is the best time to use board & train?
Ideal times for B&T may include…
- Puppyhood and adolescence
- You’re on vacation, in the hospital, or dealing with illness, injury, or other lifestyle disruptions that make it harder to care for and train your dog
- Socialization (puppyhood) or public access training – if you have trouble training in certain public environments
- When you simply need a break (e.g., adolescence, when you’re ill or dealing with family emergencies, etc.)
- Training difficult or advanced skills (e.g., retrieve or certain other tasks, handling)
- Training an important skill that you need trained faster (loose leash walking, guiding, etc.)
or more details on when intensive training is most useful, please refer to this article.
Which types of service dogs benefit most from your round-trip B&T program?
Any dog that meets our health and behavior requirements can benefit! But if there was one situation we would particularly recommend for B&T, it would be parents who are training a service dog for their child. Combining board & train, lessons, and online classes seems to provide just the right combination of rapid progress, flexible scheduling, and periodic breathers that suits busy parents. As you’ll see from the testimonials from Katy (mother of Ty, handler of Bode) and Tere (mother of Kati, handler of Heidi), combining B&T, classes, and lessons was perfect for fully training a service dog that is making a difference for their child.
What will my dog learn during B&T?
Specialty Positioning: Curl up in a small space (e.g., for bus or air travel), back up next to a wheelchair, go through a doorway and wait on the other side, follow a wheelchair
Public Access Skills: Ignore other dogs, ignore friendly strangers, settle under a table while ignoring spilled food, calm and quiet on arrival to new locations
Handling: Calmly and happily accept harness, vest, or grooming
Tasks: Chin rest, deep pressure therapy, guide around obstacles, stop at changes in elevation, retrieve medication
Manners: Settle and stay in place (at home and in public), loose leash heel, happily wear a head halter
How long does this program take, total?
The timeline will vary with your dog’s age, learning rate, and training goals. For example, deep pressure therapy or turning on a button light are usually trained more quickly than guiding, retrieving, or medical alert. Adult dogs take less training time than puppies.
Also, the more B&T you do, the faster your dog will be trained. Because a week of Platinum Board & Train is usually equivalent to a month of owner-training, our round-trip program can cut a year off your dog’s training time.
An adult dog being trained in public access and task skills may be trained in 6-10 months. A puppy may require a year-and-a-half of training. Check out our sample training plans, which include time estimates.
What happens at a transition lesson? How many are included with B&T?
At a transition lesson, your trainer will demonstrate how to train your dog in the skills they’ve been learning, and then clearly and gently instruct you in how to continue that training. You’ll also have a chance to ask all your questions, and get a written progress report and homework instructions to take home. Transition lessons support you in keeping your dog’s skills strong at home and in the community, and prepare them to make even faster progress at the next round of training.
The number of transition lessons in each package depends on the length of your dog’s stay. Typically, two lessons are included for every 5-10 days of B&T. In most cases, you’ll receive a transition lesson in person at the end of each stay, then enjoy a second training session (over Zoom) after your dog has been home for a few days. For a longer stay, we’ll provide a third transition lesson the following week. During the consultation and scheduling process, we’ll go over how many transition lessons your dog should have and set a schedule that works for you.
How do I know my dog will be safe and healthy while under your care?
- we use only reward-based, gentle methods
- your dog is living in our trainer’s home, sleeping in their bedroom
- we usually only board one dog at a time
- your dog is always either under active supervision or is safely confined
- there are no off-leash walks or play (except in a fenced yard)
Sure, it’s still possible for any dog to develop an ear infection, break a dew claw, or have an allergy flare. If we ever notice any sign of injury or illness, we contact you right away. We also immediately take care of any minor injuries or first aid needs, and stabilize the dog until we can reach you or get the dog to the vet. We have a relationship with a local vet who will see B&T dogs when needed.
Much Better!
Eli not only kept our dog safe, but also made forward progress with multiple goals including excitement with little critters, dogs, and friendly people, and public access behavior. Our dog is MUCH better! We used a pet sitter one time in the past, and our dog actually went backwards in training and dog reactivity. Eli's communication and videos, as well as his training expertise working with our dog, was much better! The videos are very helpful for review in the future if we don't remember exactly how to do the training.
–J.S.