30-Day Behaviorial Dog Board & Train in Sacramento

I’m not interested in becoming the strict substitute teacher your dog obeys out of fear.

I want your dog to become genuinely comfortable with me and develop a relationship built on trust, communication, structure, and respect.

Dogs often suppress their true behavior when they are uncertain around someone new. Once they feel comfortable, their real patterns begin to surface—and that is when meaningful behavioral work can happen. The goal is not simply to control your dog for 30 days. It is to understand your dog, change the patterns behind the behavior, and teach you how to continue that relationship when your dog comes home.

Trust cannot be rushed, especially with dogs experiencing aggression, reactivity, fear, anxiety, resource guarding, or other deeply established behavioral patterns.

The first part of the stay is about helping your dog settle in, feel safe, and build a relationship with me. From there, I can begin seeing the dog’s authentic behavior—not simply the inhibited version that may appear around an unfamiliar trainer.

Thirty days gives us time to build trust, establish new patterns, practice them consistently, and prepare your dog to transition those skills back into real life.

It is a behavioral program first. Obedience is included, but obedience and behavior are not the same thing.

Obedience teaches etiquette behaviors such as sit, stay, place, heel, and come. Behavior is how your dog functions throughout the other 23 hours and 55 minutes of the day.

We address the dog, the human, and the environment together. The goal is not merely a dog who can perform commands. It is a dog who can make better decisions, regulate themselves, understand expectations, and live more successfully within the home.

Your dog stays with me on the premises for the entire 30-day program. This is not a facility where dogs are dropped off at the end of the workday and left without knowledgeable oversight.

There is 24-hour care on the premises, allowing me to observe your dog outside formal training sessions. Some of the most important behavioral information appears during normal daily life—not during a scheduled lesson.

Absolutely. Affection is not an à la carte upgrade.

Your dog is living with me for 30 days, and building a healthy relationship is an essential part of the process. Dogs need structure, but they also need connection, safety, play, rest, and affection. I genuinely enjoy dogs, and giving them love should not require an additional charge.

No. Clear boundaries and accountability are part of the program, but the goal is communication—not fear.

I want the dog to understand what is being asked, why it matters, and how to make a better choice. A dog who only responds because they are afraid of the trainer has not truly learned how to function successfully.

The relationship must contain both trust and respect. One without the other does not create lasting behavioral change.

That is why the transfer process is such an important part of the program.

I can create new patterns with your dog, but I cannot create your relationship with your dog for you. You must learn the language, understand the system, and become part of the process.

Your dog is returned and transferred in the home environment where the behavior was previously occurring—not solely demonstrated in a controlled training environment. This allows us to work with your dog, your routines, your household, and the environmental triggers that matter in everyday life.

Yes. Board & Train clients receive the complete Primal Needs Behavioral System curriculum and lifetime access to the virtual community.

There is no ongoing monthly membership fee for Board & Train clients. The curriculum gives you the education and reference materials needed to understand the system and maintain what your dog has learned.

No. I do not offer an à la carte version of this program.

The relationship-building, behavioral work, practical training, owner education, and in-home transfer process are designed to function together. Removing individual pieces would compromise the system and the long-term outcome.

No—and anyone promising to completely “fix” a complicated dog in a few days should make you cautious.

The 30-day stay creates a powerful foundation, but lasting success depends on what happens after your dog returns home. Behavioral patterns are affected by the dog, the human, and the environment. If the home returns to its previous patterns, the dog may eventually do the same.

This is a partnership. I do the intensive initial work, and then I teach you how to continue it.

Yes. You receive the curriculum so you can begin learning the system before your dog returns.

Your dog is learning a new language and culture—and you need to learn it, too. This allows the transfer process to focus on applying the system rather than introducing every concept for the first time.

Off-leash reliability is part of the training process, but responsible off-leash freedom must be based on the individual dog, the environment, local laws, and the owner’s ability to maintain the system.

No ethical professional should guarantee that every dog will be appropriate off leash in every circumstance. The goal is to develop the strongest, safest reliability possible for that individual dog.

The goal is not to erase your dog’s personality. It is to reduce confusion, anxiety, impulsivity, and unsafe behavior so your dog’s best qualities have more room to emerge.

Structure should not make a dog smaller. Properly introduced, structure creates confidence.

Behavior is not a mechanical defect that can simply be removed.

We work to understand the causes, change the dog’s patterns, improve communication, build confidence, and give the owners the ability to manage real-life situations successfully. Progress depends on the dog’s history, genetics, health, environment, severity of behavior, and the family’s follow-through.

The goal is meaningful, sustainable improvement—not an unrealistic promise that a living animal will never struggle again.

Yes. Pain, neurological conditions, hormonal changes, medication, and other medical factors can influence behavior.

When appropriate, I may recommend that your dog be evaluated by a veterinarian before or during the behavioral process. Training cannot—and should not—be used to cover up an untreated medical problem.

This program is designed for owners who are emotionally invested in their dogs but feel overwhelmed by serious behavior, household chaos, leash problems, fear, aggression, reactivity, or a lack of control.

It is best suited for owners who want to understand their dog, learn the system, and participate fully in the transfer process.

It is not designed for someone who simply wants to send the dog away and have a completely different dog returned without changing anything at home.

The program starts at $6,500. Final pricing depends on your dog’s behavioral history, the severity and complexity of the behavior, household circumstances, and your overall goals.

Because this is a customized behavioral program—not a one-size-fits-all obedience package—I will evaluate your dog and situation before providing a final price.

Your dog does not simply come home with a list of newly learned commands. You and your dog go through a comprehensive reintroduction and transfer process.

Behavior modification begins with perception modification. Your dog’s perception of you influences how they respond to you. We all understand this instinctively: we may perceive and respond differently to our mother, father, coach, teacher, employer, or close friend. Dogs form different relationships and expectations with different people, too.

During the 30-day program, I create a relationship with your dog based on trust, communication, structure, and respect. When your dog returns home, we must transfer that same clarity to you. You will learn how to reintroduce yourself, change established relationship patterns, and help your dog perceive you in a new way.

Your dog is not a robot. My relationship with your dog cannot simply be copied and pasted onto your relationship. That is why the transfer process is every bit as important as the training itself.

The program includes five three-hour, in-home transfer sessions.

The first three sessions are completed on three consecutive days as part of your transfer weekend. I will not leave your dog with you after a quick demonstration and expect you to figure everything out. You receive at least nine hours of hands-on training over that initial weekend so you can feel comfortable, capable, and confident moving forward.

The remaining sessions allow us to reinforce the system and address questions that arise once you begin living with your dog again. Most clients feel confident after four sessions and keep their fifth session “in the bank” in case they need it later.

Because behavior happens in the home.

Your dog is returned to the environment where the previous behaviors, relationships, routines, and triggers existed. That allows us to work with the complete picture: the dog, the humans, and the environment.

A dog behaving beautifully in a controlled training environment is only part of the equation. The real test is whether we can help you create the same clarity and confidence in your everyday life.

Yes. Owners generally receive photos, videos, and updates approximately once a week.

I jokingly call these your “proof of life” updates, but they give you an opportunity to see how your dog is doing and follow their progress. Owners understandably miss their dogs, and these updates are always a favorite part of the experience.

You are welcome to visit the premises before enrolling or before dropping your dog off. I want you to see where your dog will be staying, meet me, and feel comfortable with the environment.

Once the program begins, however, owners cannot visit their dogs during the 30-day stay. Those first weeks are dedicated to helping your dog settle in and allowing me to establish a new relationship without interruption. A visit from home can disrupt that developing relationship and create a two-steps-forward, one-step-back situation.

You will be fully involved once the reintroduction and transfer process begins. It is only during those initial 30 days that I ask you to give me the space to keep your dog’s program moving forward.

Yes. Transportation between Sacramento and Mt. Shasta is included.

You will bring your dog to my Sacramento location. I will transport your dog to Mt. Shasta for the 30-day program and then personally return your dog to your home for the transfer weekend.

Because this is a small, bespoke program with only a few dogs on the premises at a time, I do not have the same blanket vaccination requirements as a large commercial boarding facility.

We will discuss your dog’s health, medical history, medications, and any special considerations before the program begins.

Please bring enough of your dog’s food for the duration of the program, along with any medications your dog requires.

If your dog currently eats kibble, we will also have a conversation about diet and nutrition. Food affects the brain and body, and I do not believe in ignoring nutrition while asking a dog to learn, regulate their emotions, and make better decisions. It would be like feeding a child Oreos and Nutter Butters before school and then wondering why they are struggling to focus.

We will discuss any additional items your dog needs before drop-off.

Yes. Intact dogs are accepted and evaluated individually, just like every other dog in the program.

Absolutely. Puppy raising is one of the best forms of behavioral prevention.

When owners learn their puppy’s language and culture from the beginning, they can often prevent the behavioral problems they experienced with previous dogs. In fact, many clients who first come to me with an adult behavioral case later send their next puppy to me because they do not want to repeat the same mistakes.

For preventative puppy raising, the ideal starting age is generally around five-and-a-half to six months, once the puppy has moved beyond the most critical early developmental period and into a more juvenile stage of mind.

If a very young puppy is already displaying serious or dangerous behavior—what I jokingly call “coming out of the womb on fire”—I may accept the puppy earlier. Those situations are evaluated individually.

Yes. A bite history does not automatically disqualify a dog.

I have extensive experience working with serious behavioral issues, including aggression and biting. I will need complete and honest information about every incident, including the circumstances, targets, injuries, triggers, and frequency, so I can determine the safest and most appropriate way forward.

I will contact you, explain what is happening, and discuss the appropriate next step whenever circumstances allow.

I have provided Board & Train services for more than 20 years, and veterinary incidents have been extremely uncommon. The few situations I have encountered have generally involved ordinary issues—such as a burr becoming lodged in a paw or a minor strain from running and playing.

Your dog’s safety and well-being always come first.

Your contract authorizes me to obtain and approve necessary veterinary care if an emergency occurs and I cannot reasonably wait for your direction.

I will always attempt to contact you, but your dog will not be left without necessary care because I cannot immediately reach you.

Veterinary treatment and related expenses are the owner’s responsibility and are not included in the Board & Train price.

I have never had to end a program because a dog was considered too unsafe to help. However, safety is continually evaluated, and I will communicate with you immediately if serious concerns arise.

If an in-person Board & Train is no longer the safest or most appropriate format, we can discuss whether the Virtually Guided Behavioral System would be more suitable. If you already have a safe working relationship with your dog, I may be able to guide you through the process without placing the dog in an unfamiliar person’s physical care.

A 25% deposit reserves your dog’s place in the program and provides access to the curriculum.

The deposit may be canceled and refunded within seven days of payment. After that seven-day period, the deposit becomes non-refundable because your dates have been reserved and preparation for your dog’s program has begun.

The Board & Train payment schedule is:

• 25% deposit to reserve your dates
• 25% due when I pick up your dog
• Remaining 50% due at the end of the transfer weekend

You do not pay the final half until your dog has returned home, you have seen the results, and we have completed the initial transfer weekend.

Absolutely. I do not disappear simply because the scheduled sessions have been completed.

Most clients feel comfortable after four transfer sessions and keep the fifth session available for later. If you eventually need additional help after using all five sessions, I am still here for you. Additional in-person support can be arranged at either my Mt. Shasta or Sacramento location.

Yes—and everyone who regularly handles or lives with the dog is encouraged to participate.

Your dog will develop a different relationship with each person because your dog is not a robot. Everyone needs to understand the language, expectations, tools, and reintroduction process. The more consistent the household becomes, the clearer life becomes for the dog.

Your dog may learn that different rules apply to different people.

As a child, I knew what I could get away with at my aunt and uncle’s house. But when I returned home, my mother only had to give me “the look,” and I knew exactly whose household I was in and what the expectations were.

Dogs recognize those differences, too. One inconsistent family member does not necessarily erase your results, but that person may not experience the same behavior, reliability, or relationship that someone following the system will experience. Consistency creates the strongest results.

I stand behind my work, and I am committed to making sure you are happy with your dog’s progress at the end of the transfer weekend. That is one reason the final 50% is not due until then.

What I cannot guarantee is another human being’s future behavior or follow-through. I can give you the dog, the education, the tools, the transfer training, and a proven system—but I cannot practice it for you after I leave.

It is like receiving an excellent program for developing six-pack abs: if someone stops exercising and eats pizza every night, the program did not fail. The person stopped following it. I can lead you through the entire process, but your long-term results depend on continuing what you have learned.

Yes. In most cases, you will initially continue using the same tools your dog learned during the program, which may include an electronic collar.

A major part of the transfer process is teaching you how to use the e-collar correctly for communication, training, and behavioral purposes. You will not simply be handed a remote and sent home. You will learn how the tool works, when to use it, what your dog’s responses mean, and how to avoid misusing it.

You will also learn how and when to begin weaning away from the tool as your communication, relationship, and your dog’s reliability develop. The goal is not lifelong dependence on equipment. The goal is clear communication and dependable behavior.