Dog Boarding School Programs – Available in 7 Day, 14 Day, and 21 Day programs.
“Boarding School” is like an away camp for new dogs. We train your dog for specific behaviors over an extended period of time depending on the program. At the end of the program, we provide you with training to help your dog continue to thrive at home.
Chicago Dog Trainer has three separate training programs of different lengths: 7, 14, and 21 days, each built for a different level of behavioral need.
Sending a dog away for structured, immersive training is one of the fastest ways to see real change, since it removes the dog from the exact environment where the unwanted behavior usually happens and puts training in the hands of someone working with it *full time*.
NOTE: Boarding school dog training is an outstanding choice when you already need dog boarding for a trip or vacation. Have your dog stay with us and get trained while you’re away!
What is Our Dog Boarding and Training Program?
Dog training can take a lot of work, and not everyone has the time. We offer a fantastic option for those that would like us to start the training for them – a “Dog Boarding School.” Our dog boarding school is perfect for those that either do not have the time to start training their puppy on their own or those that were already going away and in need of dog boarding – and would like us to train their dog while they’re on a trip.
The Three Boarding School Programs
Different behaviors require different levels of intervention. Shorter programs are best for teaching dogs basic commands and behaviors. Longer programs are beneficial for dogs that need more significant help, like those that struggle with anxiety.
7-Day Program – Amazing Dog 7 Day Boarding School
This is the entry point, built for cooperative dogs or households that need a faster, more economical option. It lays the groundwork for better leash manners and basic house rules, and includes follow-up lessons once your dog is home to help those changes stick.
14-Day Program – Dream Dog 14 Day Boarding School
This is the most requested option for owners who want more complete training in one stay. Dogs in the 14-day program work on leash manners, polite greetings, coming when called, and eliminating common problem behaviors like jumping, digging, excessive barking, and counter surfing, alongside the full set of house rules covered in the 7-day program.
21-Day Program – Celebrity Rehab 21 Day Boarding School
This is built for more complicated situations: dogs with more advanced behavioral issues, such as:
- Severe anxiety
- Aggression
- Trouble with People or Dogs (often from Trauma)
It covers the same ground as the 14-day program, with substantially more time built in to help new behaviors become genuine habits rather than skills a dog can only perform under supervision. It also tends to be the right fit if you’re traveling for an extended period and need boarding and training handled at the same time.
What Every Program Includes
Every boarding school program, regardless of length, includes daily training sessions and walks. Our team at Chicago Dog Trainer supplies everything your dog needs during the stay. All you need to bring is your dog’s food.
On the final day, training shifts to you. Rather than sending your dog home with new skills nobody in the family knows how to reinforce, Marc Goldberg or a member of his team walks you through exactly what your dog learned and how to keep using it once you’re home.
Follow-up lessons are also included free for six months after the program ends, in case anything needs reinforcing once your dog settles back into your routine.
What Happens When Your Dog Comes Home
Dogs don’t automatically apply what they learned at boarding school to every environment on their own. A dog that reliably responds to commands at Little Dog Farm may need some help generalizing those same skills to your house, your yard, and your daily routine. That is why each program includes follow-up lessons and take-home training day are designed to support. A few specific steps can make that transition smoother in the first few weeks home.
Choosing the Right Program Length
The right length usually comes down to how complex the behavior is and how much time you have before your dog needs to come home.
The 7-day program works well for a dog that’s generally well-behaved but needs a fast start on manners, or those new to your home but otherwise ready to learn.
The 14-day program fits most households dealing with a real mix of everyday problem behaviors. The 21-day program is the right call for aggression, severe anxiety, or any behavior that’s been going on long enough to feel deeply ingrained.
If you’re not sure which length fits your dog, that’s a normal starting point, not something you need to figure out alone. A conversation with Marc Goldberg or his team before enrolling can help match the program to what your dog actually needs.
Boarding School vs. Private Training
Boarding school fits complex or entrenched behaviors best. For more everyday issues, jumping, pulling on the leash, ignoring basic commands, the Pack Leader Program covers the same ground through private, one-on-one sessions without your dog leaving home. For puppies between 8 and 16 weeks old, Puppy Pack Leader is built specifically for that age range instead.
Matching the right program to the actual problem, rather than defaulting to the most intensive option, tends to get better results and costs less.
About Chicago Dog Trainer
Chicago Dog Trainer is run by Marc Goldberg, CDT, co-author of three published books on dog training and behavior, including Let Dogs Be Dogs, The Art of Training Your Dog, and The Joy of Playing With Your Dog. His approach centers on communication and leadership between dog and owner rather than punishment or force, and it shapes every boarding school stay from day one.
March and his team have trained dogs from across the greater Chicago area for years, including Evanston, Naperville, Oak Park, Schaumburg, and the surrounding suburbs, working out of Little Dog Farm. Boarding school specifically requires an in-person stay, since the training happens at Little Dog Farm itself.
If your dog needs more than everyday manners work, whether that’s a stubborn set of bad habits or a more serious behavioral issue, boarding school is often the fastest way to see real, lasting change. Call 331-286-1174 to talk through which program length fits your dog, anywhere in the greater Chicago area.