Boarding, playcare and training facility at 3856 N Indianapolis Rd that also trains police K9s. Offers Basic Obedience 'Lodge & Learn' stay-and-train programs of 2-4 weeks, plus private and group courses and a therapy canine course.
Program details are summarized from Guardian-K9'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.
Guardian-K9 is based in Columbus, IN. Full details are on their own site at guardiank9columbus.com/services.html. Board and train clients commonly travel from surrounding areas, since the dog stays on site for the length of the program.
Published pricing for Guardian-K9 is Basic Obedience Lodge & Learn Programs -2 Week $900. Confirm directly with the trainer — program length, your dog's needs, and what's included (equipment, follow-up lessons) all change the final quote.
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.
Stay School is a lodge-and-learn program with training sessions Monday through Friday and overnight lodging; each course includes 3 daily learning sessions, play sessions, socialization and a pet-parent transition class. Levels include one-week Level 1 and a four-week Puppy Prep.
Board-and-train option for obedience with several short daily sessions on basic commands. It ends with a session teaching the owner what the dog learned. Also offers Puppy Pre-School, daycare and grooming.
Northeast Indiana trainer offering puppy training, basic obedience, day training and board and train. The site says it bought 3.5 acres to expand its board and train services.
Board and train of 2-4 weeks where the dog stays at trainer Bonnie's residence, with length set after a required 30-minute meet and greet. Serves Muncie and Delaware County.
Mishawaka trainer offering a three-week board & train in which the dog stays with the trainer, followed by a go-home session. There is also a puppy stay & train for puppies under 6 months.
Runs a Board & Train program at its X Center, an 11-acre facility in Mauckport, Indiana, where dogs board and receive structured training from a professional trainer.