143 board and train programs across 100 cities in Ohio. Because your dog stays with the trainer, it's common to travel across the state for the right program.
3-week board and train in the trainers' home teaching sit, down, place, heel and come. Includes mid-way and go-home owner training plus two follow-up 1:1 sessions.
Board-and-train facility on 2.5 fenced acres in Monroe, Ohio, serving the I-75 corridor between Cincinnati and Dayton. Its 2-week off-leash program includes a go-home lesson and 4 follow-up lessons.
Run by U.S. Army veteran Mike Dooley. Offers 1-week on-leash and 12-day off-leash board and trains plus a 2-week puppy board and train, with included private lessons.
Stay & Train programs of 2 to 4 weeks in which the dog lives in the trainer's home for around-the-clock training, with separate tracks for puppies 6 months or younger and dogs over 6 months; the 4-week option targets more serious behavioral issues. All equipment (collars, long line, place bed, workbook) is included along with follow-up lessons and text/email support.
Tuscarawas County trainer Tom Shelley, a Tom Rose School graduate and IPO competitor, runs a 2-week board & train focused on obedience and socialization, with a Dogtra e-collar included. Dogs must be at least 5 months old.
Training and boarding business at 1615 County Road 995, Ashland. It offers a Puppy Foundations board & train, a custom board & train (two-week minimum), and a 7-night maintenance week, as well as private lessons, day training, classes, daycare and boarding.
Board and train programs in which the dog lives with the trainers, ranging from a 3-week on-leash Novice program to an 8-week off-leash Advance program. Private lessons, Day School, behavioral counseling, boarding and daycare are also offered.
Toledo trainer offering board-and-train programs, obedience training and behavior modification.
Akron-based trainer serving Summit and Medina Counties since 2012, offering board & train along with puppy obedience, in-home consultations, service dog foundation and group classes. The board & train is described as an accelerated, immersive program with behavior modification and off-leash work.
Shelby, OH trainer offering puppy and adult dog training, including a 2-week Puppy Start Right Board & Train in which the puppy stays at their Outpost for foundation training.
Home-based board and train lasting 3 to 6+ weeks for dogs over 6 months old. It covers leash walking, place, recall and kennel manners, includes field trips, and adds off-leash work for stays of four weeks or more.
Grove City trainer offering 2-, 3- and 4-week board and train programs plus private lessons and day training. The 2-week program is on-leash and includes an e-collar and 4 hours of owner handling lessons.
Academy at 3600 Farmstead Dr offering board and train programs in which dogs board in a home, using consecutive Monday–Friday stays. Also offers day training and private lessons.
Offers five- and six-week board-and-train programs tailored to the individual dog's needs.
Family-owned training, daycare and boarding business at 8586 East Ave., Mentor. Dogs in its 1-week and 2-week board & train programs stay overnight at the facility and learn recall, sit/down stays, place, off/leave it and loose-leash walking.
Residency (board and train) programs of 5, 10 or 15 days at the Obetz headquarters, where dogs stay at the facility and receive structure, obedience training and behavior modification throughout the day, ending with owner instruction on maintaining results. Second location in Pickerington.
Tiered immersive board-and-train programs of 12, 20, 25 and 30 days at their Weiner Lane facility, with the longer tiers adding public socialization and master-trainer instruction.
Board and train at the Columbiana facility covering basic obedience customized to the dog, with e-collar training taught to owner and dog; a puppy program is also offered.
Board-and-train program advertising off-leash obedience results in about eight days using their e-collar-based training method.
16-day residential obedience program in which the dog boards at the kennel and receives one-on-one on-leash basic obedience training with several daily exercise breaks; owners attend 2-3 sessions during the stay and one follow-up after the dog goes home.
Balanced trainer on Johnstown-Alexandria Rd offering board and train programs in which the dog stays at their facility for intensive training, plus private lessons, group classes, service dog training (psychiatric, medical alert, mobility) and boarding.
Boot Camp Training program in which the dog stays with the facility while trainers establish foundational skills, followed by one-on-one instruction so the owner can maintain and grow the training.
Offers immersive board-and-train programs on a 20-acre facility outside Columbus, including a 10-day puppy program, 15-day foundation program, 20-day advanced off-leash program, and a 25-day elite transformation program.
Its Board & Train program gives 2–4 weeks of continuous training while the dog boards at the Blue Ash facility (11551 Deerfield Rd). Dogs come home with basic obedience, potty training and crate training.
Offers residency (board and train) programs alongside private lessons, group lessons, in-home training and boarding. It also runs free puppy preschool socialization classes.
Balanced trainer offering a 3-week on-leash board and train ("The Homebody") and a 5-week advanced off-leash board and train ("The Traveler"), plus a Master the Walk program and boarding.
Owned by certified canine behavioral trainer Cheryl Corbett. Offers obedience and off-leash board and trains, plus obedience courses, therapy and CGC prep.
Offers 2- and 4-week board and train programs with follow-up lessons, as well as day training, in-home lessons, puppy and behavior modification programs.
Training and boarding facility in East Liberty that opened a new building in May 2023. Its programs include a stay of 18 days with follow-up lessons and a Board and Train Hybrid Program with a 4-day stay.
Dog boarding and training facility at 597 Ravenna Rd in Streetsboro, serving Hudson, Stow, Twinsburg, Aurora and Solon. It takes Train and Board appointments, in which dogs are trained while they board.
2-week board and train covering sit, down, stay, wait, come and leave it plus leash walking. A separate 2-week off-leash program is for dogs that run off.
Dogs stay at the Dayton facility for 2- or 3-week board-and-train programs, which include private lessons, group classes and optional remote collar training.
Central Ohio training and pet care business offering weekly coached sessions and a Board & Train in which the dog stays for intensive training, with follow-up lessons included.
Training business operating since 1993 that offers puppy classes, private lessons, service dog training and Residency Programs. In the residency programs the dog stays at the facility for training.
Foundation Board & Transition Program in which the dog stays in the trainer's home to work on calmness, leash skills, recall and house manners. Also offers puppy, therapy dog and service dog training.
Based about 20 minutes northeast of downtown Columbus, offering CORE 4-6 week and ELITE 6-8 week board & train programs. Both include private in-home/neighborhood sessions and group/public sessions.
Offers Puppy Immersive and Adult Manners board & trains in which dogs live in the trainer's home on her farm in Wilmington (Clinton County), not in a kennel. Serves the Dayton and Cincinnati areas.
3-week and 4-week board and train options in which the dog stays at the North Ridgeville campus for daily structured training and real-world practice; includes multiple owner sessions during the stay, follow-up lessons after the dog goes home and training equipment.
Two-week and four-week board-and-train programs for Greater Cleveland limited to two dogs at a time, with the four-week track focused on aggression, reactivity, resource guarding and separation anxiety.
Board and train where the dog learns at the trainer's home with his pack and practices in real-world places. Programs: 2-week Leash Legends (on-leash), 3-week Off Leash Essentials, and 4-week ultimate family dog.
Retriever trainer that takes two client dogs per full-time kennel training session, each lasting about three months at minimum. Dogs stay at the trainer's home. Programs include puppy foundation, hunt test and gun dog training.
4 Week Board & Train Program in which the dog lives in the trainer's home (not a kennel) for four weeks with multiple daily training sessions covering potty and crate training, obedience commands, leash work, behavior modification for reactivity and anxiety, and e-collar and clicker training. Ends with a private go-home session; the primary facility is at 312 Sycamore St. in Lancaster and diabetic alert service dog training is also offered.
2-3 week board-and-train at a 24/7-monitored facility addressing aggression, separation anxiety and obedience, with a Board & Tune refresher for past clients.
Board and Train program combining boarding with intensive training at the company's Findlay facility at 825 Londonderry Dr; dogs stay overnight in a supervised, video-monitored facility, typically for two to three weeks with extended options.
Positive-reinforcement trainer Gretchen Flood (KPA-CTP, RVT) runs a board and train in her own home for the London and Columbus area. Dogs get daily training sessions, and owners get a follow-up session at home.
Board and train is a standard two-week stay at the facility, during which the dog is taught the fundamentals. Also offers in-home packages and boarding.
Trainer Hans Wilke offers an 'Exclusive In-home Board and Train' alongside obedience, behavior modification, puppy consultations and personal protection training.
Urbana trainer offering a 2-3 week BASIC Board and Train Academy and a PUPPY Board and Train Academy, with daily photo and video updates and a lifetime guarantee. It also runs group, private and online classes.
Training, boarding, daycare and grooming business specializing in home-based board and train programs, where dogs stay in the trainers' home for daily immersive training.
Sporting-breed boarding and training kennel in Alliance, Ohio, offering monthly live-in training for starting, fine-tuning or finishing gun dogs. A minimum 6–8 week stay is recommended for first-time dogs.
Board N' Train is a 5-day intensive obedience program at its Springboro facility. Also offers a 7-week Puppy Preschool and private lessons.
Overnight Training Camp of 1-4 weeks at a Delaware County facility where each dog has its own sleeping quarters and is trained using games and distraction work; includes daily updates, a training manual, hands-on owner instruction and weekly refresher classes. A Day Camp version sends dogs home at night.
Customized 21-day training program while the dog stays at the lodge. It covers loose-leash heel, sit, stay, down, come, place, problem behaviours and public socialization, with private lessons after graduation.
Puppy and adult Board & Train programs in which the dog stays with a trainer in a home environment for 3–5 weeks. Each program ends with a 2–6 hour graduation lesson and includes follow-up lessons.
Training facility whose programs include Puppy Pre-School, Boots On The Ground, a Basic Training & Top Dog residency program, Canine Cadet, and Behavior Modification & Special Needs. It also offers grooming, veterinary services and retail.
Board-and-train with facility and community field-trip training, progress videos, free group classes and lifetime support.
Delaware, OH training facility offering group puppy preschool, obedience, behavior modification and residential training, which the site lists as its most popular option.
Jim Wright runs this Wooster dog training business. It offers a Weekend Warrior remote-collar program, a two-week residential '6-2-8' program with two private lessons, private behavior lessons, and group classes at Spring Meadow Veterinary Clinic in Ashland.
Training facility at 957 S Dayton-Lakeview Rd offering an Exclusive Board & Train Program. Also offers puppy, obedience, behavior modification, scent work, tracking and personal protection training.
Retriever trainer whose programs include basic obedience, basic, intermediate and advanced gun dog training, tune-up training and puppy head start, with dogs sent to the trainer. Works on decoys, boats and blinds for waterfowl dogs.
In the board and train, the dog lives in a home environment with trainer Christa and gets daily training, structure and socialization. Graduates can also join pack hikes and boarding.
Family-owned dog training business in Jefferson, Ohio. During board and trains, dogs stay overnight and train 7 days a week on obedience, leash manners, crate training and distractions, with weekly owner lessons.
3 Week Boarding & Training Camp in which the dog lives and trains at The Dog Oasis. The training runs in three phases, ending with proofing around everyday distractions.
Board & Train is a 2-3 month process built around a 4-6 week live-in stay at the trainers' home and farm near Sandusky, with daily structure, training and socialization; it includes 4 private lessons before, during and after the stay, 3-4 weekly video updates, and lifetime boarding and consulting access. A $450 non-refundable deposit reserves the spot.
Family-run Delaware, OH facility offering a 2-week on- and off-leash remote-collar board and train for dogs 6 months and older and a 7-10 day puppy board and train for dogs 4-6 months old. Also offers boarding, daycare and grooming.
Offers on-leash Board and Train programs with boarding in a neutral environment. Also offers Puppy Pre-School, basic and advanced obedience, behavior modification and off-leash training.
Waynesville, OH trainer offering puppy classes, private lessons, and 8-, 16- and 24-day board and train programs that include daily photo and video updates and a go-home session for owners.
In-home Board and Train programs teaching Come, Sit, Down, Place, Heel and tone avoidance/recall while addressing jumping, counter surfing and barking. Includes photo/video updates, all equipment, an in-home lesson at conclusion and a life-of-the-dog guarantee.
Offers a board-and-train service in the Columbus area where dogs live with trainers for the duration of the obedience program.
Founded by police K-9 handler Rob Cook, offering board & train packages (2-week and 3-week) and one-on-one obedience training, with behavior modification for anxiety, reactivity, fear and aggression.
Youngstown trainer with NePoPo certification offering Board & Train programs alongside Basic, Pro and Elite lesson packages. A free training assessment comes before any package is purchased.
Balanced-method board and train academy in Minerva, OH offering a 4-week General Board & Train, a 4-week Everywhere Dog program and a 6-week Behavior Modification board and train. Also offers puppy lessons and an owner shadow program.
Cleveland training company offering one-on-one classes and board and train programs, plus overnight boarding and daycare. It has served the greater Cleveland area since 2019.
Madison, Ohio trainer (formerly Man's Best Friend Dog Training) offering boarding and training programs, basic to advanced obedience, protection training and assistance dogs.
Stay and Train (board and train) programs for dogs 5 months and older, described as focused, immersive training to build reliable everyday on- and off-leash obedience, run from an 8200 Crouse-Willison Rd facility serving Johnstown and Central Ohio. Also offers puppy programs and private training.
In-Kennel Training: the dog stays at the facility for the course of training while the owner attends private sessions; four weeks of In-Kennel Training also includes free follow-up group lessons. Price includes training, boarding, handler instruction, instruction manual and reentry protocol.
Offers the 4-5 week Northstar Path board and train with on- and off-leash obedience, and the 12-day Stepping Stones basic obedience board and train.
Board and train programs from the Loveland location: 1-week Manners Mastery, 2-week Board & Train with 7 guaranteed commands, and a 2-week aggressive/reactive dog program, each with a lifetime refresher warranty.
An Off Leash K9 Training location at 7000 OH-29 in Mechanicsburg that serves the Dayton area. It offers 1- and 2-week board-and-train programs in which the dog boards with a pro trainer.
Two-week board-and-train focused on everyday obedience completed off-leash with distractions.
An Off Leash K9 Training location offering 1-week and 2-week board-and-train programs for dogs 6 months and older, in which the dog boards with a pro trainer. It also offers training for dog aggression and reactivity.
The dog stays at the trainer's home with 2-4 hours of active training daily. 1-Week Freedom program covers Come, Sit, Place and household manners; 2-Week program adds Heel, distance Down and field trips with 6 guaranteed commands. Dogs must be at least 6 months old.
Board-and-train, puppy training and aggression rehab serving Toledo, Maumee, Holland and Lambertville.
Board and Train programs of 8, 14 or 25 days; all commands are included along with socialization and environment exposure, with homework for owners to keep up the work.
Two-to-four-week board-and-train stays in a home environment rather than a kennel, including off-leash work, public outings and behavior modification for aggression, anxiety and reactivity.
Board and train with 2 weeks of boarding in a pro trainer's private home, customized obedience and field trips, a 2+ hour return lesson and an included e-collar.
Board and train programs of 2, 4 or 6 weeks in which the dog stays in the facility's kennels and receives daily structured training covering crate structure, leash manners, place, recall and environmental exposure; an owner handoff lesson is included.
Basic Board & Train is two weeks of boarding with a customized education plan focused on home obedience (come, sit, place, down, heel, off, leash manners, house and door manners, behaving around guests); Advanced Board & Train is three weeks and adds public interaction. A pick-up session teaches owners how to continue at home.
Marietta trainer offering a 2-week board & train for obedience, a 4-week behavior modification board and train for reactivity, fear and anxiety, and an 8-week aggression rehabilitation board & train for dogs with bite history, plus private coaching.
On-Leash and Off-Leash training retreats have the dog stay at the trainer's home for 2-3 weeks with daily training, socialization and rest. On-Leash covers sit, down, heel, stay, on your bed and leave it; Off-Leash adds come with an e-collar; both include a go-home lesson and follow-up lessons.
Cincinnati-area trainer based in Blue Ash. Board-and-train dogs stay at the facility and get one hour of training every day, and the company also works with puppies and dogs with behavior problems.
PetSuites' Stay and Study program is a board and train stay of 2, 3, or 4 weeks in which trainers build cues, distance, duration and distraction work, with regular progress reports. Pick-up includes a personalized transfer lesson and a go-home packet.
PetSuites' Stay and Study program is a board and train stay of 2, 3, or 4 weeks in which trainers build cues, distance, duration and distraction work, with regular progress reports. Pick-up includes a personalized transfer lesson and a go-home packet.
A pet boarding and training facility at 1280 Stringtown Road. It offers a Stay and Study board-and-train program in which dogs stay for 2, 3 or 4 weeks.
A pet boarding and training facility at 4928 Urmston Mdws. It offers a Stay and Study board-and-train program in which dogs stay for 2, 3 or 4 weeks.
A pet boarding and training facility at 2690 Water Park Drive. It offers a Stay and Study board-and-train program in which dogs stay for 2, 3 or 4 weeks.
Pet resort at 8275 Darrow Road, Twinsburg. Its Stay and Study board-and-train program keeps the dog for 2, 3 or 4 weeks with regular progress reports and a personalized transfer session at pick-up.
A pet boarding and training facility at 901 Sharon Dr. It offers a Stay and Study board-and-train program in which dogs stay for 2, 3 or 4 weeks.
PetSuites' Stay and Study program is a board and train stay of 2, 3, or 4 weeks in which trainers build cues, distance, duration and distraction work, with regular progress reports. Pick-up includes a personalized transfer lesson and a go-home packet.
Dayton police K9 training company that also trains pet dogs through private lessons, board and train, drop-off/pick-up and in-home training.
Board and train programs: a 3-week Puppy Foundations program, 4- and 6-week on/off-leash obedience programs and a 6-week behavior modification program for reactivity, aggression and resource guarding; each includes two private lessons, an elevated place bed and an e-collar for off-leash programs.
Home-based puppy board-and-train program covering crate training, potty training and basic obedience in a home setting. Recommends at least four weeks, with a two-week option.
Columbus-area trainer offering a Gold Star Board & Train program and a Puppy Board & Train, with the dog staying in-home with a professional trainer. Private lessons and boarding are also available.
Board and train in a home environment. Puppies learn basic on-leash obedience in one week, and behavior issues such as potty training and aggression are worked on during the stay. Also offers one-on-one lessons and personal protection training.
Positive-reinforcement board-and-train programs where dogs stay at the company's Gahanna boarding facility during training.
Board and train programs of 3 to 6 weeks, with training at the facility and in real-world settings. Covers obedience, doorway and crate manners and off-leash work, plus longer programs for reactivity, aggression or separation anxiety.
Serves Canton and Akron; the board-and-train package is described as its most popular program.
Trainer at 1061 West Bagley Road offering immersive board and train (including puppy board and train), private lessons, and behavior modification for aggression, reactivity and anxiety.
Offers Board and Train, where the dog stays with the trainers 24/7 at 1921 N. Ridge Rd. E. in Lorain and is trained for the owner, alongside Drop Off Training (DOT), private lessons, and group and specialty classes. Training plans are individualized and focus on obedience and behavior modification.
Positive-reinforcement trainer in Akron offering in-home training, training at its facility, and Board & Train. Each board and train starts with an in-home behavior consultation followed by a customized stay at the facility.
Xenia, OH kennel offering boarding-and-training packages: one-week basic obedience, one-month off-leash training with an e-collar, and hunting/gun dog training with a four-month minimum.
Uses 5-day board/train blocks at its facility, including for puppies starting formal training at 16 weeks.
Sit Means Sit location at 705 Radio Drive, Lewis Center. Its Board & Train program immerses the dog in training with a professional trainer, with outings to parks, the training center and pet stores. Day training and private lessons are also offered.
Board and Train 'Boots' Camp' where the dog is boarded at the Rock Haven Road facility for 5 or 10 full days of immersion obedience training, aimed at dogs with more severe behavioral issues. Also offers day training, private lessons and group classes.
Sit Means Sit franchise at 1425 Cooper Foster Park Rd, Amherst. Offers Board & Train Immersion programs plus day training, private lessons, a puppy program and group classes, and every dog gets a lifetime group class membership.
Off-site Board and Training Package of 7 days with daily training sessions, two public field trips and a pick-up lesson. Training covers obedience, off-leash work and aggression control.
Tiered 1- and 2-week board-and-train packages (Get Me Started through Ultimate Behavioral) with follow-up lessons and lifetime phone/email support; no aggressive dogs.
Training, daycare and boarding facility at 8671 McLean Lane, Athens. During board and train, trainers work each dog through the day on basic obedience, leash skills, socialization, place and crate training, and follow-up sessions are required afterward.
Boarding and training facility founded by Chris DeBoard on wooded acreage at 12805 Adams Rd, where staff live on-site. Offers obedience, off-leash, behavior, service dog and protection training.
Dog Wizard franchise location offering board and train programs alongside private lessons, day training, puppy training and group classes, with lifetime support after graduation.
Dog Wizard franchise location offering board and train programs alongside private lessons, day training, puppy training and group classes, with lifetime support after graduation.
Dog Wizard franchise location offering board and train programs alongside private lessons, day training, puppy training and group classes, with lifetime support after graduation.
Balanced-training location at 226 N State Rd offering board and train packages for each type of training alongside private lessons, group classes and puppy training, with lifetime group class support for graduates.
Board & Train program run out of the 7350 Liberty Way facility (shared with Liberty Bark Resort), where the dog lives and trains daily with certified balanced trainers on a customized plan, with 14- and 21-day options and ongoing support after graduation.
Dog Wizard franchise location offering board and train programs alongside private lessons, day training, puppy training and group classes, with lifetime support after graduation.
Grooming, boarding, daycare and training business at 642 W. National Rd. Offers group obedience, private lessons and a Board & Train program.
Board and train at a 127-acre facility with hours of one-on-one training each day plus socialization, a free one-hour follow-up and phone support afterwards. Offered in 2, 3 and 4 week lengths.
Board-and-train programs in the Dayton area aimed at reliable obedience and real-world behavior.
Trains exclusively through immersive board and train programs in which dogs stay with the trainers full time at the Wapakoneta location; no boarding, daycare or drop-in services are offered. Programs run 5 or 8 weeks and require a deposit and full payment before drop-off.
Offers board and train programs, including a 10-day Puppy Development Board and Train for puppies under 16 weeks. In-home obedience, behavior modification and day training are also available.
Cincinnati-area trainer with centers in Oxford and West Chester. In its board-and-train programs, dogs live with the trainers' families for 3–5 weeks, and owners are then coached to keep the behaviors going.
Runs 10-day puppy, 10-day jump start, and 3-week in-depth board-and-train stays that include private lessons and group classes after the dog goes home.
Board-and-train clients stay with staff at their private residences for training and behavior modification, followed by owner instruction. Led by a retired U.S. Air Force Military Working Dog Kennel Master.
After an assessment, board and train runs three, four or five weeks to address behavioral issues, with all equipment included. Private session packages, a puppy class, structured boarding and daycare are also offered.
"Out & About" program built around a two-week stay at the trainer's house followed by five private sessions teaching the owner to maintain loose-leash walking, place, crate training and off-leash listening; a training kit and one year of phone/email support are included. A longer 5-6 month "Set For Life" program is also offered.
Residential board-and-train camps run in the head trainer's home rather than a kennel, covering obedience, impulse control, recall, aggression and anxiety.
Family-operated trainer offering a 9-Day Board and Train and a 3-Week Board and Train in which the dog stays at their West Chester location for intensive daily training, alongside a 6-week one-on-one program and a 1-week off-leash program.
Offers a 2-week Boarding School in which the dog stays in the trainer's home for daily positive-reinforcement obedience and manners training, ending with a transition session.
Hartville-area trainer, operating since 2005, whose board & train dogs live in a family home on a six-acre property rather than a kennel. Puppy board & train runs up to 2 weeks; adult/juvenile programs typically run 1–2 weeks.
21-day residency training where the dog lives in a structured routine with daily hands-on work, ending with a go-home handoff. Also offers puppy plans, obedience, service-dog foundation and PSA sport training.
Dogs stay at the Westerville facility for a 4-Week Foundation Board & Train or a 6-Week Advanced Off-Leash program. A behavioral modification board and train of custom length covers aggression, reactivity and anxiety.
Gahanna trainer focused on reactivity, obedience and board and train. During the 2-week board & train the dog stays in the trainer's home, not a kennel.
Residential board and train at 1399 Ashland Road in Mansfield: 2- and 3-week Puppy Boot Camps covering manners, basic commands and crate training, 2- and 3-week adult obedience programs, and 2- and 3-week off-leash e-collar programs. A 50% non-refundable deposit is required; a 6-week group basic commands class is also offered.
This directory lists 143 board and train programs across 100 cities in Ohio, including Columbus, Dayton, Akron. Listings are verified against each business's own website; the directory grows as new programs are added and confirmed.
Expect roughly $1,500–$6,000 for most Ohio programs. Metro-area trainers and those keeping only a few dogs at a time charge more; rural kennel-based programs tend to be cheaper. Behavior modification for aggression or severe reactivity runs highest, often $4,000 and up for a four-to-six-week stay.
Often, yes. Because your dog stays with the trainer, you only make the trip at drop-off and pick-up — so a two-hour drive to a trainer who specializes in your dog's specific problem usually beats a nearby generalist. The main reason to stay local is the follow-up lessons, which are easier to attend if the trainer is close.