Board and Train Dog Training in Kansas City
3 or 4 weeks in my home with my family and my own dogs, not a kennel.
5.0 from 132 Google reviews
What does your dog do?
Pick all that fit
Rather talk now? Call (816) 608-8483
Your dog pulls you down the street on every walk, and nothing you have tried has stuck.
A lot of that pulling comes from a need to get out and sniff that nobody is meeting. I'm Andrew, owner of Good Dogz KC, and I run board and train in Kansas City. With me, the sniffing becomes the reward for a loose leash. My goal is to get your dog to where you can take them places: calm at dinner, settled in a store, coming when called.
Sound familiar?
- My dog pulls me down the street on every walk.
- He goes crazy every time the doorbell rings.
- She jumps on every guest who walks in.
- I can't take my dog to a store or a patio without a scene.
- We tried lessons, but the old habits come right back.
- I don't have the time to train every single day.
You've tried the internet
You don't need more videos. You need someone to look at your dog and tell you what to do.
The internet is full of dog training. Some of it is really good. Where people get stuck is making it work for their dog. I've done the trial and error thousands of times, and I've built a system that works for most dogs.
How I train
Management
Stop the bad moments before they happen, so your dog stops practicing them.
Obedience
A language your dog understands, built at home, then tested on your street, at the park and in stores like Home Depot.
An outlet
When people say give your dog a job or an outlet, this is what they mean: your dog's natural needs to sniff, run, chase and catch get met, so the energy goes somewhere good.
It's easier than you thinkWith the right coaching and just 10 to 15 minutes a day, you'll be amazed how much your dog can learn
Why a Few Weeks in My Home Works
Every skill starts small, inside the house, and moves to busier places one step at a time. I never test a dog on a step it was never taught. Your dog also lives with my own dogs. Calm, neutral dogs teach faster, because they understand each other's body language much better than we do. I also build in days off. Stress adds up, and after a day off, "the dog will be way more interested."
How the Training Builds
The training builds in steps. First comes the relationship and calm in the house, around the kennel and the doors. Next are the basics, and walking can start. Then come loose leash walks and the first calm public places, like a quiet park. Last, I raise the challenge and work closer to the things that set your dog off. While I'm teaching, a miss is never corrected with the leash or the e-collar. I walk away, reset and try again.
Two Board and Train Programs
3 weeks is $3,500. It is what most dogs do, and what I recommend for potty training. 4 weeks is $4,500, and the fourth week adds public outings like stores and coffee shops. Both include sessions at your house, because that is where the behaviors happen. The sessions during the stay cover the e-collar, play, pausing at doors, the kennel and stopping unwanted behaviors.
Why Board and Train With Good Dogz KC
During the stay and after, I train you. I teach you to read your dog's body language, so you can start good behaviors and stop unwanted ones. Training should not become another job. That is why the sessions include play. It is your dog's outlet, the job people talk about giving a dog: their natural need to chase and catch gets met.
See the training
Pricing
- 3 weeks $3,500
- 4 weeks $4,500
Questions I get asked
How long is board and train, and what does it cost?
There are two lengths: 3 weeks for $3,500 or 4 weeks for $4,500. I take one dog at a time, sometimes two, so the calendar is the real limit.
Where does my dog stay?
In my home in Gladstone, in the Kansas City Northland, with me, my family and my own dogs.
What happens on the first day?
On day one, I'm really just assessing who your dog is. Are they shy, nervous, scared or excited? Then I decide how and when your dog meets my dogs.
Will it last once my dog comes home?
The sessions at your house are how it lasts. A 3 week program is 6 sessions: 3 during the stay and 3 after your dog is home, all in the price. The first one after is reassurance, and you keep track of what goes well and what does not. Then we troubleshoot.
Can a puppy do board and train?
"A board and train's gonna go the same way whether it's a puppy or not."
What gear do you use?
My default gear is a slip lead, an e-collar, or both. Every skill is taught on the leash first. I do not recommend a harness except for very small dogs, because "it kind of lets that dog just pull."
How do I hold a spot?
A $500 deposit holds your spot, and the balance is due at drop-off. I need current vaccination records before your dog comes.
Do you offer board and train?
Yes. Your dog lives in my home with my family and my own dogs, not in a kennel run. I run it at 3 weeks for $3,500 and 4 weeks for $4,500. Three weeks is what most dogs do and what I recommend for potty training, and the fourth week adds public outings like stores and coffee shops. I take one dog at a time, sometimes two, so the calendar is the real limit. Start with a free 30-minute in-person consultation and I will tell you which length fits.
What stops the training from falling apart when my dog comes home?
The owner sessions. Every week your dog is with me, I bring them to your house for a session, so you learn the skills in pieces as we go instead of getting handed everything at graduation. Then you get the same number of sessions again after your dog is home. A 3-week program is 3 sessions during the stay and 3 after. That handoff is where most board and trains lose the results, so it is built into the price rather than sold as an add-on.
What is Raise & Train, and how is it different from board and train?
Raise & Train is my deep-immersion program: your dog lives and trains with me for at least two months, one dog at a time, and I only take it on selectively. It's a much bigger commitment than a stint in a kennel, closer to raising the dog than boarding it, which is why it starts at $10,000 and runs by application. You cover your dog's food and training supplies. It isn't right for everyone, and I'll be straight with you about whether it fits or whether in-home coaching gets you there for a fraction of the investment. That's a conversation for the free in-home evaluation.
How do I figure out the right option for my dog?
Start with a free 30-minute in-person consultation. Tell me about your dog, what is going on, and what your life looks like, and I will give you my honest recommendation: Board & Train, or in-home coaching if that gets you there for less. There is no script and no hard sell, and if I am not the right person, I will tell you that too. A $500 deposit holds your spot, the balance is due at drop-off, and I need current vaccination records before your dog comes.
Start with a free in-home evaluation
I come to your home, meet your dog, and tell you where to start. Or call
(816) 608-8483.