Ranch boarding and training near Craig, with intensive board-in obedience training. It also runs AKC CGC and puppy classes in Craig and Steamboat Springs.
Program details are summarized from Rocky Mountain Happy Paws'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.
Rocky Mountain Happy Paws is based in Craig, CO. Full details are on their own site at rockymountainhappypaws.com. Board and train clients commonly travel from surrounding areas, since the dog stays on site for the length of the program.
Rocky Mountain Happy Paws 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.
Owner Dawn runs a two-week boarding and training program on 40 acres of ranchland outside Parker, with the dog staying in her home environment. The package includes follow-up lessons and unlimited phone support.
Standard 2-week board and train program with multiple daily training sessions, socialization and supervised care at the facility; puppy board and train programs are also offered.
Standard 2-week board and train program with multiple daily training sessions, socialization and supervised care at the facility; puppy board and train programs are also offered.
Standard 2-week board and train program with multiple daily training sessions, socialization and supervised care at the facility; puppy board and train programs are also offered.
Elizabeth trainer offering a board & train program where the dog stays for daily training, plus in-home training and protection training.
Offers customized 2–6 week board-and-train programs where the dog lives with professional trainers and works daily on obedience, structure and behavior.