Board & Train Dog Training in Reno, NV
Immersive, structured training in Reno, Nevada, for dogs who need more than an occasional lesson. Best Life K9 Academy’s board-and-train programs serve dog owners in Reno and Sparks, with a focus on practical obedience, leash skills, recall, confidence and behavior that carries into everyday life.
Training that transfers back to you
The goal is not simply a dog who listens to the trainer. Owner coaching is an essential part of the process so you understand how to communicate clearly, maintain the training and keep progressing after your dog comes home.
Obedience Board & Train
2-Week Foundations — $2,400
A focused introduction to everyday obedience with training built around real-world public environments. The 2-week program focuses on the basics: sit, down and loose-leash walking, while helping your dog learn to work with you around everyday distractions.
Included in your $2,400 program:
- A two-week immersive training stay.
- Foundation work on sit, down and loose-leash walking in real-world environments.
- Two private follow-up sessions after your dog returns home, with owner coaching to help you continue the training.
3-Week Real-Life Training — $3,300
Everything included in the 2-week program, with additional time to build greater reliability around real-world distractions. The 3-week program also adds play work, teaching your dog how to play tug and fetch and using those games to build engagement, cooperation and a stronger working relationship. Play helps create a dog that wants to work with you, rather than simply working for you. This program also allows time to address minor unwanted habits and everyday behavior issues.
Included in your $3,300 program:
- A three-week immersive training stay.
- The foundation skills from the two-week program, with more time working around real-world distractions.
- Play work with tug and fetch to build engagement and cooperation, plus work on minor unwanted habits.
- Three private follow-up sessions in total after your dog returns home, with owner coaching to help you continue the training.
4-Week Off-Leash & Advanced Training — $4,200
Everything included in the 3-week program, with additional time devoted to off-leash work and higher levels of real-world reliability. Training continues in public environments so your dog learns to respond with greater freedom and around everyday distractions. Off-leash work is introduced when appropriate for the individual dog.
Included in your $4,200 program:
- A four-week immersive training stay.
- The obedience, play and real-world training from the three-week program.
- Additional work on advanced reliability and off-leash skills when appropriate for your dog.
- Four private follow-up sessions in total after your dog returns home, with owner coaching to help you continue the training.
Behavior Modification
5–8 weeks • Starting at $6,000
Behavior modification is different from simply teaching more obedience. These programs are designed for dogs struggling with reactivity, fear, aggression or other significant behavioral challenges.
Play is the backbone of our behavior modification programs. We teach dogs to engage through games such as tug and fetch, using play to build cooperation, confidence and a stronger relationship with the handler. From that foundation, we work through appropriate exposure and real-world experiences to change how the dog responds to the things that have caused fear, reactivity or aggression. Our goal is not for you to spend the rest of your dog’s life managing unwanted behavior through obedience commands. Obedience is an important tool, but management alone does not change how a dog feels. We want the dog to reach a point where it no longer feels the same need to respond with fear or aggression and can more comfortably coexist in the world around people and other dogs.
5–6 Week Behavior Modification — Starting at $6,000
A five- to six-week immersive stay for individualized behavior work. Includes play and engagement, appropriate exposure, at least four private owner coaching sessions and free lifetime support.
8-Week Intensive Behavior Modification — Starting at $7,500
An eight-week immersive stay when your dog’s needs call for more time. Includes the same individualized approach, at least four private owner coaching sessions and free lifetime support, with additional time for behavior work.
Program length is determined by the dog’s individual needs and the severity and complexity of the behavior. A consultation or evaluation helps determine the appropriate program.
Both behavior modification programs include:
- Individualized training for your dog’s behavior challenges, built around play, cooperation and appropriate real-world exposure.
- A minimum of four private go-home/owner coaching sessions to help transfer the training to you.
- Free lifetime support after the program.
Training equipment is individualized
There is no one piece of training equipment that every dog needs. Equipment and training tools are selected according to the individual dog, the training goals and what will best support that dog’s success. Any recommended equipment will be discussed with you as part of the program.
Board & Train questions
How do I choose between private training and board and train?
Board and train provides an immersive training stay, followed by coaching to help you continue the work at home. Private training focuses on working with you and your dog in individual sessions. A free 30-minute evaluation is a chance to discuss your dog, your goals and which option makes sense.
Can you help with fear, leash reactivity or aggression?
Our behavior modification programs address these challenges through individualized training, play, relationship-building and appropriate real-world experience. Program length depends on the dog’s needs and the severity and history of the behavior. You can read about Willy’s progress with leash reactivity, Raven’s work with people and dogs, and Gretchen’s growing confidence.
Will I learn how to continue the training?
Yes. Owner coaching is part of the program. Obedience board-and-train programs include two, three or four follow-up private sessions according to the program selected. Behavior modification includes at least four go-home/owner coaching sessions plus free lifetime support.
Do you work with owners from Reno and Sparks?
Yes. Best Life K9 Academy serves dog owners in Reno and Sparks, and clients from surrounding areas are welcome to come to us for training. Visits are by appointment only, with no walk-ins. Contact us to arrange an evaluation.