When life gets busy, our two-week Board & Train program gives your dog the focused, structured training they need — without putting everything else on hold. Your dog lives with our trainer in a real home environment, following a consistent daily schedule from day one. No kennels. No concrete runs. No long stretches of isolation. Just personalized attention, positive reinforcement, and real results.
At The Service Dog Team Academy, we only accept a small number of dogs at a time so every dog in our program gets the individual care and attention they deserve. We are fully bonded and insured, and your dog is our responsibility from the moment they arrive.
What Your Dog Learns in Two Weeks
Our Board & Train curriculum is built around foundational skills that create a calm, confident, well-mannered dog. By the end of the two-week program, your dog will have a working understanding of:
- Sit
- Down
- Stay
- Wait
- Leave it
- Loose-leash walking
- Potty training
- Bite inhibition
- A structured daily routine they can maintain at home
Every skill is taught using positive reinforcement methods — the same science-backed approach used in our service dog training program. We don’t use punishment, intimidation, or aversive tools. We build trust, and trust builds results.
What Happens After Board & Train
The two weeks with us are just the beginning. When your dog comes home, they return on the same schedule and structure we established — which means the transition is smooth and the skills stick. From there, we move into the next phase of training together:
- Weekly public training sessions with you and your dog out in the real world
- Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification prep — 10 AKC steps focused on socialization and manners
- Upon passing CGC: plane privileges and access to additional approved public locations
- Option to continue into CGC Urban and task-specific service dog work if applicable
Dogs who complete our Board & Train and continue into the service dog pathway also receive public access rights as a Service Dog in Training (SDIT) immediately after completing the program. Under Texas law, SDITs have the same public access rights as fully trained service dogs.
Why Home-Based Board & Train Is Different
Most board and train facilities are kennels. Your dog spends the majority of their time in a run, gets a few training sessions a day, and comes home having learned in an environment nothing like where they actually live. That’s a setup for regression.
Our program works differently. Your dog lives in a home — the same kind of environment they’ll return to. They learn how to behave on a leash, with other dogs around, and in daily real-life situations. The structure and routine they build with us transfers directly to life with you. That’s why our results last.
Pricing and Program Details
The two-week Board & Train program is $1,950, due in full at drop-off. A $200 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot.
After the two-week program, follow-up training sessions are available at $600 per four sessions. These weekly public training sessions are where you and your dog work together under our guidance to build on what your dog learned during board and train.
To get started, contact us and we’ll schedule a time for you to come meet us and see where your dog will be staying. We’ll walk you through the program, answer your questions, and make sure it’s the right fit before you commit.
Board & Train FAQs
How long is the Board & Train program?
The program is two weeks. Your dog lives with our trainer full-time during that period, following a structured daily schedule. Drop-off and pick-up times are coordinated with you directly when you book.
What is included in the $1,950 price?
The $1,950 covers the full two-week in-home board and train program, including all training sessions, daily care, and the structured routine your dog will follow. A $200 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your spot, with the remaining balance due at drop-off. Follow-up public training sessions after the program are billed separately at $600 per four sessions.
Will my dog forget everything when they come home?
Not if the program is done right — and ours is. Your dog comes home on the same schedule and structure we built during the two weeks. We also transition into weekly public training sessions with you after the program, so you learn how to maintain and reinforce everything your dog learned. The follow-up work is what makes the training stick long-term.
Is my dog too old for Board & Train?
No. We work with dogs of all ages, including adult dogs and shelter dogs that need housebreaking or behavior adjustment. While puppies tend to build habits quickly, older dogs are absolutely capable of learning new skills — it just requires consistency, which is exactly what our structured program provides.
Where does my dog stay during the program?
Your dog stays in our trainer’s home — not a kennel, not a commercial facility. We only accept a small number of dogs at a time so every dog receives genuine individual attention. Before you drop off, we invite you to come visit and see the environment where your dog will be staying.
What training methods do you use?
We use positive reinforcement exclusively. Our trainers are certified through the Karen Pryor Academy and Animal Behavior College, and we follow science-backed methods that build confidence and cooperation — not compliance through fear. We do not use punishment, prong collars, shock collars, or aversive tools of any kind.
Can Board & Train be used as the first step toward service dog training?
Yes — and for many of our service dog clients, it is. Our Board & Train program builds the foundational obedience skills required before a dog can begin task-specific service dog training. After completing the two-week program, dogs who qualify can continue into our service dog training pathway, which includes Canine Good Citizen certification, CGC Urban, and task training.
Do you work with aggressive dogs?
We do offer behavior adjustment programs for dogs with specific behavioral issues, including aggression toward people or other animals. We assess each dog individually before enrollment to make sure our program is the right fit. Contact us to discuss your dog’s specific situation.
How do I get started?
Reach out through our contact page or call us at (469) 786-7877. We’ll schedule a time for you to come meet us, see where your dog will stay, and talk through whether Board & Train is the right program. A $200 deposit holds your spot once you’re ready to commit.
Do you serve areas outside of Rockwall?
Yes. While we’re based in Rockwall, TX, we serve clients throughout the greater DFW area including Dallas, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Garland, Mesquite, and surrounding communities. Contact us to confirm availability in your area.