Board and train packages include a 2-week Puppy Jumpstart (puppies under 6 months), a 2-3 week Skills Camp and a 4-5 week Basic Obedience Program; the dog stays within the home of its assigned trainer, who cares for no more than three dogs at a time, with weekly video/photo updates and owner go-home coaching. Also offers service dog, protection dog and behavior modification training.
Program details are summarized from Canine by Design's own website. Confirm current pricing, program length, and availability directly with the trainer before booking — and see what to check before you hand over your dog.
Canine by Design is based in Lehi, UT. Full details are on their own site at canine-by-design.com/board-and-train. Board and train clients commonly travel from surrounding areas, since the dog stays on site for the length of the program.
Canine by Design does not publish pricing, which is normal for board and train — most trainers quote after an evaluation. Board and train programs generally run $1,500–$6,000 depending on length and intensity. Request a quote to get their number.
Two weeks is the common minimum for meaningful obedience results, and three to four weeks is typical for off-leash reliability. Serious behavior cases — aggression, severe reactivity, resource guarding — generally need four to six weeks or more, and many trainers set a minimum stay for those. Programs shorter than a week are usually best understood as a jump-start or a refresher, not a transformation.
It works when the handoff works. A good trainer can reliably teach your dog new skills in a few weeks, but dogs do not generalize automatically — the results hold only if you learn to maintain them. This is why the go-home lesson and follow-up support matter more than almost anything else in the program. Ask specifically how many follow-up sessions are included and what happens if the behavior returns two months later.
Ask: How many dogs are in your care at once, and who handles my dog? What training methods and equipment do you use, and what happens if my dog does not respond? Where does my dog sleep? Can I visit the facility before booking? How many follow-up lessons are included? What updates will I get during the stay? Vague answers to any of these — especially about methods and supervision — are a reason to keep looking.
Reputable programs are, but the industry is largely unregulated, so due diligence is on you. Visit in person before you book. Ask to see where dogs sleep and exercise, confirm the trainer carries insurance, ask about staff-to-dog ratios and overnight supervision, and check that they have a working relationship with a local vet. Be cautious of any trainer who will not let you see the facility, or who guarantees a specific outcome on a fixed timeline.
Springville trainer serving Utah County. Board and train dogs stay in the trainer's home, with follow-up lessons at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after the program.
Trainer Wayne Ogden runs board-and-train programs at his two-acre home facility near Fish Lake, in 2-, 3- and 6-week versions. He also offers in-home sessions and service dog training.
Board and train in Ogden typically lasting 4-6 weeks.
Cache Valley trainer and boarding facility offering board and train, private sessions, and a Pup Bus with pickup points around Cache Valley. Trains puppies, obedience, reactive and aggressive dogs.
Northern Utah trainer serving Ogden, North Ogden, Brigham City and the surrounding area. Offers in-home and board and train programs for puppies, behavior modification and aggression rehabilitation, plus protection dog training.
5-week intensive board & train focused on obedience and off-leash control, serving St. George and Cedar City.