Dog Academy: 3-Week Puppy Board & Train Program (geared for pups up to 5 months old)
Thank you for choosing Dog Academy for your puppy’s early training journey! Our 3-week Board & Train program builds a strong foundation for life-long learning by focusing on essential skills, early socialization, and structure.
Program Overview
This program includes:
• Continuing Education Classes (Required)– Held on Wednesday evenings 6:30-7:30PM and/or Sundays at 1PM or 3PM at various locations throughout Bay County.
• 3-Private, In-Home Lessons to prepare you and your puppy before, during, or after the training.
• 3 Weeks of Immersive Board & Train Schooling
• “Come” (recall)
• Leash walking skills
• “Kennel” command
• Potty training
• House manners (no jumping, quiet barking)
• Weekly Video Tutorials to help you reinforce skills at home
• In person tutorials to prepare you for your puppy’s weekend visits for home integration.
Potty Training
At Dog Academy potty training is included, built around routine, supervision, consistency, and rewarding success. Puppies are taken outside on a structured schedule: after waking, eating, drinking, playing, training, and throughout the day to give them frequent opportunities to succeed. We closely supervise indoors, limit unnecessary freedom, and use appropriate crate or kennel time when direct supervision isn’t possible. Our goal is to teach puppies where and when to potty while helping owners establish a routine they can consistently continue at home.
Weekend Integration: Where Training Becomes Real
A key component of our program is bringing training into your home environment.
As your puppy develops the necessary skills, they will begin going home on weekends (or other available days) for real-world application.
This allows:
- Owners to learn alongside their puppy
- Puppies to apply training in their actual home
- Trainers to identify and address gaps quickly
- A smoother and more successful transition at graduation
“Weekend” Owner Transfer
When your puppy goes home for the “weekend”:
Friday (or other day) SCHEDULED Pickup (9AM-5:30PM):
- In-person instruction
- Training videos
- Written guidance
- Homework
Sending a puppy home too early helps no one. Sending them home at the right time changes everything.
Continuing Education Classes (Sunday or Wednesday):
- Attend Continuing Education Class (see DogAcademyLLC.com for dates/times)
- Return puppy after class or at another previously scheduled day/time
This phase is critical.
It bridges the gap between what your puppy can do with us and what your puppy can do with you.
Registration
Register your puppy using our online portal:
After registering, bookmark your personal Owner Portal to:
• Upload vaccine records
• Request appointments
Scheduling:
Call 850-303-0510 to schedule your puppy into our program
Health Requirements
All puppies must:
• Be current on age-appropriate vaccinations, including Rabies (if puppy is 16 weeks or older), DHLPP, and Bordetella
• Have a negative fecal exam
• Remain on monthly flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
Program Cost & Payment
• $1,000 Payment is due at drop-off. If more training is needed or desired, $400 a week thereafter
• Payment Methods: Cash, check, Zelle, Venmo, or credit/debit
• Credit/Debit or Venmo Payments: Please add 2.5% to cover processing fees
Discounts Available
We proudly offer a 10% discount to:
• Active military and veterans
• Law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics
• Nurses and teachers
• Seniors 65+
Thank you for your service and commitment to our communities and country!
Stay Connected
• Website: DogAcademyLLC.com
• Facebook: Dog Academy LLC
Dog Academy Board & Train – Structured, Week-to-Week Training
Thank you for considering Dog Academy’s Board & Train program.
Our program is designed to give dogs a strong, lasting foundation through daily structure, clear communication, hands-on training, and owner follow-through.
This is not a quick fix.
It is an immersive training experience that teaches your dog how to live successfully both with us and in your home.
Our Foundation: Experience Meets Reality
At Dog Academy, we’ve spent decades training dogs in the real world, not just controlled environments.
Over time, we developed a traditional 5-week Board & Train model based on consistent results:
Around that timeframe, most dogs begin to understand, perform, and retain foundational behaviors when training is done properly and in the correct order.
However, experience has also shown us something equally important:
Not every dog fits into a fixed timeline.
- Some dogs, with strong genetics and early structure, progress quickly
- Most dogs require more time to truly stabilize and generalize behaviors
So we’ve evolved.
Why We Moved to Week-to-Week Training
Rather than forcing dogs into a preset timeline, we now train based on:
- The dog in front of us
- Genetics and temperament
- Prior exposure and life experience
- Ability to handle stress, pressure, and learning
Because training isn’t about rushing—it’s about building something that lasts.
What Most Dogs Are Missing
The majority of dogs we work with lack the foundational experiences needed to navigate the world calmly.
They are often missing:
- Exposure – structured introduction to environments
- Desensitization – learning not to overreact
- Habituation – understanding most things are irrelevant
- Neutrality – existing calmly without engagement
Combined with too much unstructured socialization, many dogs live in a constant state of reaction, confusion, or overstimulation.
Understanding the 3-3-3 Adjustment Period
Training does not begin at full speed the moment your dog arrives.
We follow the natural progression of the 3-3-3 model:
- Within First 3 Days: Decompression, uncertainty, adjustment
- Within First 3 Weeks: Trust builds, clarity develops, learning begins to stick
- Within First 3 Months: Behaviors become reliable habits-which is where owner participation is paramount
(Continuing Education and Private Lessons are critical during this stage)
This is why true training cannot be rushed and why structure matters.
Our Structured Training Progression
While timelines may vary, our system remains consistent and intentional, just as it was in our original 5-week program:
- Movement & Engagement
Teaching the dog that the handler is the place to be (leash work, recall, following, engagement)
- Place, Bed, Kennel
Building duration, calmness, and independence
- Moving Away & Staying Away
Developing confidence, accountability, and clarity at a distance
- Stationary Behaviors (Sit/Down)
Teaching not just commands—but how to relax
This progression creates a dog that is not just obedient—but mentally balanced and capable in real life.
Basic Skills Your Dog Will Learn
(Based on individual needs)
- Recall (“Come”)
- Leash skills
- Place/Bed/Kennel with Implied Stay with distance, duration, distraction (DDD)
- Sit, Implied Stay, Wait (DDD)
- Down & Down-Stay (DDD)
- Potty training (on/off leash, bell training)
- House manners
- No jumping
- No nuisance barking
Daily Life in Training
Your dog will experience:
- Structured daily routine
- Supervised socialization
- Daycare-style recess (for capable dogs)
- Ongoing behavior work
- Weekly video updates
Weekend Integration: Where Training Becomes Real
A key component of our program is bringing training into your home environment. Our Board & Train program is most successful when it is a collaborative partnership between Dog Academy, your dog, and your family. While your dog receives daily training with us, lasting results depend on owners learning how to communicate with, handle, and reinforce those behaviors at home.
To support that success, Continuing Education Classes, private lessons, and owner transfer sessions is an essential part of the program. These continuing education opportunities provide owners with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to maintain and build upon their dog’s training.
As your dog develops the necessary skills, they will begin going home on weekends (or other available days) for real-world application.
Dogs who are not yet ready will remain with us until they are prepared. Sending a dog home too early helps no one. Sending them home at the right time changes everything.
This allows:
- Owners to learn alongside their dog
- Dogs to apply training in their actual home
- Trainers to identify and address gaps quickly
- A smoother and more successful transition at graduation
“Weekend” Owner Transfer
When your dog goes home for the “weekend”:
SCHEDULE a Pickup Friday (or other day) 9AM-5:30PM:
- In-person instruction
- Training videos
- Written guidance
- Homework
Continuing Education Classes (Sundays 1PM or 3PM or Wednesday 6:30-7:30PM):
- Attend Continuing Education Class (see DogAcademyLLC.com for dates/times)
- Return puppy after class or at another previously scheduled day/time
This phase is critical.
It bridges the gap between what your dog can do with us and what your dog can do with you
What This Means for Your Dog
Instead of a one-size-fits-all program:
- Minimum: 3 weeks (foundation begins)
- Average: 4–6 weeks
- Advanced or behavioral cases: Usually requires additional time
We guide you based on your dog’s progress not a calendar.
Our Philosophy
We are not here to rush dogs through training.
We are here to:
- Build clarity
- Create stability
- Develop real-world reliability
Because a well-trained dog is not just obedient: it is calm, confident, and capable of existing in the world without constant stress or reaction.
If you are unable to attend a scheduled lesson or class, please let us know as soon as possible so we can discuss potential alternatives. Trainer-approved absences may be accommodated on a case-by-case basis whenever feasible.
Because consistency and owner participation play a critical role in achieving long-term results, Dog Academy expects owners to actively engage in all required training components. If required classes, lessons, or follow-through expectations are repeatedly missed or not completed without prior trainer approval, Dog Academy reserves the right to discontinue a dog’s participation in the training program, without refund.
- Our goal is always to help every dog and owner team succeed. We are committed to providing guidance, support, and flexibility whenever possible, and we encourage open communication about scheduling challenges so we can work together toward the best outcome for you and your dog.
Getting Started
- Register using our online portal:
After registering, bookmark your personal Owner Portal to:
• Upload vaccine records
• Request appointments
2. Schedule Drop-Off
Call 850-303-0510 to schedule your dog for our program
3. What to Bring
- 3 weeks + of food (sealed container)
- Medications (including preventatives)
- Leash, collar, or harness
All other supplies provided.
Health Requirements
- Rabies (not suitable for pups under 16 weeks old and not yet a requirement due to age)
- DHLPP (current)
- Bordetella (current, vaccinated within 6 months)
- Negative fecal (within 6 months)
- Monthly preventatives
Program Structure & Investment
We strive to keep our pricing fair and accessible so more families can enjoy a well-trained dog.
In return, we ask for owner participation and follow-through, because long-term success depends on it.
Training works best when owners are part of the process—not just at the end.
- $1,200 (due at drop-off)
- $400 per week after initial 3 weeks (as needed, based on your dog’s needs)
After the initial period, training continues week-to-week based on progress and goals.
Discounts Available
We proudly offer a 10% discount to:
• Active military and veterans
• Law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics
• Nurses and teachers
• Seniors 65+
Thank you for your service and commitment to our communities and country!
Stay Connected
Website:
Facebook: