Home-Based
Board & Train Programs
Our Home Location in La Porte, TX
Our private one-on-one sessions offered are extremely effective but may not always be available or feasible for your situation. Board & train programs can be a good option for busy owners who do not have the time or expertise to train their dog, or for dogs with behavior issues that require intensive training.
Our board and train program is a specialized program designed to provide obedience skills and behavior modification for a dog while they stay at the trainer's home. As experienced CCPDT Certified Professional Dog Trainers and behavior consultants, we utilize the most up-to-date, scientifically-backed, positive reinforcement techniques, ensuring that dogs are trained using rewards and encouragement rather than punishment or harsh aversive methods. This approach promotes a strong bond between the dog and the owner and fosters a positive (and faster!) learning experience for the dog.
Interested? Read it all below!
Can you believe she used to be reactive and pull on leash relentlessly?
3 weeks of board & train!
Here's an overview of how our in-home board and train program typically works:
The sooner you schedule a Board & Train, the better the outcome for training. However, you can always teach an old dog new tricks!
Evaluation: The program begins with an initial evaluation which costs $100 where the trainer assesses the dog's behavior, temperament, and specific training needs. This helps us create a customized training plan for the dog and see whether we are best fit for your needs. An evaluation for dogs 6 months and older is needed and is a 30-60 minute in-person meeting to ensure a good fit. Current private training clients and puppies under 6 months old do not need an evaluation prior to reserving program dates.
Boarding: Your dog will stay in our home with our family and personal dogs. Please let us know prior to booking if you are unsure if your dog will be friendly with ours. Your dog should learn best how to behave in a home environment. Your dog is then boarded in our trainer's home for a specific duration, which typically is 2-3 weeks, depending on the training goals and the dog's progress. We utilize kennels/crates, playpens, and baby gates in our home during resting periods and overnight. Please let us know prior to booking if you are unsure if your dog will stay calm in a kennels/crates or playpen, or behind baby gates.
Training Sessions: During the stay, your professional trainer conducts multiple daily training sessions one-on-one with your dog. These sessions focus on teaching and reinforcing desired behaviors using positive reinforcement methods, such as clicker/YES verbal marker, treats, praise, toys, and other individually valued rewards. We may work on basic obedience commands (sit, stay, come, place), leash manners, socialization, problem behaviors, or any other specific training goals identified during the evaluation. Please let us know prior to booking if your dog has allergies or a sensitive stomach.
Socialization and Enrichment: Alongside the training sessions, the dog is exposed to various socialization experiences and environmental stimuli to help them become comfortable and confident in different situations. This may include interactions with other dogs, supervised playtime, exposure to different sounds, environments, and people. Please let us know prior to booking if you do not want your dog to leave our property on outings.
Progress Updates: Throughout the board and train program, we keep dog owners updated text or email. We send an update on the progress made with a mid-program progress report describing the dog's advancements, behavior improvements, and challenges encountered during training. However, please do keep in mind the time spent sending updates may take away from time available for training which is our top priority, so we appreciate your patience and understanding if there are delays. Think no news is good news anyways! When available and with prior approval, you have the option to reserve 1 hour appointments to see your dog for $175 (some dogs with separation anxiety this is not recommended for, so ask your trainer in advance).
Owner Training: Towards the end of the program, the trainer typically provides 1 FREE TRANSFER SESSION PER WEEK STAY where we teach the owner how to maintain and reinforce the trained behaviors. This ensures a smooth transition once the dog returns and settles back in at home. The transfer sessions need to be scheduled in advance due to limited availability. In-home sessions are only valid for owners within our service area, or the owner may visit the Trainer for the sessions or elect to have them on Zoom. Transfer sessions begin the following week of return, and occur within 14 days of the prior scheduled session. All sessions owed should be completed within a time frame of 60 days post-completion of the training program.
Follow-up Support: After the board and train program is complete and the dog has returned home, we offer follow-up support, including phone consultations or additional training sessions if needed, to help the owner and the dog continue progressing and addressing any lingering concerns.
Pricing: For puppies under 5 months old and under, a Board & Train program with Sammye’s Dogs is $2,100 for 14-days.
For dogs 6 months and older, the price is generally $2,700 - $3,500 depending on complexity of goals or behavior issues.
Starting 1/1/2024, Full payment for the Board & Train program must be paid upon reserving program dates. $100 evaluation fee is deducted from the total program costs if paid for on the day of your Evaluation.
Additional Caretaking: Please let us know prior to booking if your dog will require special caretaking during its stay. For example, if you have a Doodle and need grooming upkeep such as daily brushing or wiping, we do charge a reasonable fee for these services. For example, a dog weighing 10 lbs or more will be charged $75-200 per occurrence of grooming needed.
If you book a program during our appointment, your evaluation price of $100 is deducted from the total cost!
Expires 4/1/24
Please note:
*Fees must be paid in full at booking and is NONREFUNDABLE.
*Dogs will periodically spend short periods of time in their kennel/crate. Since we are home-based and not a facility with kennel runs, a dog who barks incessantly or have separation anxiety while inside kennels might not be a good fit.
*Dogs may travel for outings off of the trainer’s property
*Dogs need to be free of any veterinary ailments. Dogs with ear infections, sores, upset stomachs, in estrus/heat, pregnant, or recently healing from surgery are not candidates for this service.
*Dogs that require special care or grooming-upkeep may require additional fees. It is recommended to plan for or schedule grooming after the completion of the program.
*If the owner is not able to take the dog on the scheduled return date, i.e. out of town, illness, yard repair, etc... the normal boarding fee will apply from that date until the dog is returned with approval. Normal boarding fees are $110 per day.
*The Board and Train Program will not short cut the amount of work you will need to continue to put into your dog for the rest of your life.
Review from Owner:
"When I first got my puppy, I thought I was doing all the things right, playing crate games, working on obedience, etc, but still wound up with a pup with horrible separation anxiety. I tried every online tutorial and blog, working for months on my own trying to gradually desensitize my dog to being alone. After months of little to no progress, I was starting to worry I'd have a dog with life long panic attacks who I could never leave alone. I tried several private trainers, who more or less parroted the same things I was reading online and had already tried on my own. Anytime I left the house I either had to take my pup with me or pay someone from rover if I couldn't find an available friend to watch her. I had several months off before starting a new job, and I treated training my dog like a full time job yet still wasn't making progress.
Sammye's reverse board and train changed everything. After a few weeks of reverse board and train days (The trainer comes to your house for several hours to work on a problem in the dogs home environment), I now have a dog who I can leave at home without a second thought. No crying, no whining, and certainly no more panic attacks!
Sammye was always very respectful of my home and I always felt comfortable leaving her with my pup and a house key. As a bonus, my pup was always exhausted after a full day of working with Sammye, which meant I got to enjoy a tired out, snuggly pup when I got home. Sammye was incredibly patient with her, and used positive reinforcement methods that aligned with my own philosophy (I can't say the same of the other trainers I tried).
Sammye was so professional and clearly very knowledgeable in her field, and I cannot recommend her enough.
If I could give her 10 stars I would. As my pup grows more I'm sure we will run into other problems, and I fully intend on reaching out to Sammye when the time comes." Thank you Sammye for all your hard work!"
- Dr. Elyse Lopez
BEWARE OF SALES TACTICS
"Guaranteed results" "Results in X amount of time"
Real dog trainers CANNOT "Guarantee" behavior of a living, breathing animal or state an issue can be "fixed" in any certain amount of time. It is unethical to mislead potential clients into thinking otherwise to make a quick buck.
Our favorite example is Nicole Wilde's friend's rhinoplasty procedure. "Her parents eventually agreed to allow her to have a rhinoplasty—a “nose job.” After careful research and consultations with various plastic surgeons, they settled on one who guaranteed that if they didn’t like the results, he would modify it again, free of charge. Armed with this assurance, they moved forward. As it turned out, my friend did not like the results. In fact, she hated them. As promised, the second surgery was performed free of charge. Unfortunately, it yielded results no better than the first. My friend was not any closer to having the straight, narrow nose she’d envisioned, and although I would never have said so, it now looked downright odd. It took a third surgery, performed by another surgeon, to get it right."
What value does a guarantee of additional services hold if the provider lacks the proficiency to achieve success initially? Think a dog training company that pledges results, asserting they can solve your dog's issues in a single session. Even if unsuccessful, they commit to returning until the problem is resolved. Is this a worthwhile arrangement, particularly if the initial session comes with a hefty price tag? Doesn't the foundation of this "quick fix" approach suggest a lack of appreciation for the time needed to modify certain intense or deeply ingrained canine behaviors?
Of course simple, basic obedience skills like teaching sit and down can be taught quickly. However, in the majority of instances, trainers who pledge immediate guaranteed resolutions for significant issues such as aggression often rely on aversive and punitive methods. While the quick fix may appear miraculous, there are repercussions associated with the use of punishment—it merely stifles behavior rather than tackling the root problem. Furthermore, attempting to replicate the trainer's actions may not yield identical results for the owner, and there have been instances of individuals being bitten in the process. And the transfer sessions with these trainers, if any are given, are not in the owner's home and usually these skills do not transfer to success in the owner's home rendering their attempt at training provided at their kennel useless. Additionally, is it truly desirable to treat your dog harshly and potentially jeopardize the trust between you and your furry companion? Certainly not.
Another example referencing a similar concept is teaching a child a foreign language. Can fluency really be guaranteed in the true meaning of the word?
Every dog is unique, with distinct temperaments, personalities, and responses to training. Positive reinforcement scientifically works for ALL mammals (they must not be doing things correctly, if these trainers think otherwise). A dog trainer cannot predict or control all variables that may influence a dog's behavior. Ethical trainers acknowledge and respect the individuality of each dog, understanding that outcomes may vary.
A dog's behavior is often influenced by its environment, including the owner's home, lifestyle, and other external elements. Ethical dog trainers recognize that factors beyond their control may impact a dog's behavior, making it impossible to guarantee specific outcomes.
Successful dog training often requires active participation and consistency from the dog owner. Ethical trainers understand that if the owner doesn't follow through with training techniques or fails to maintain a consistent approach, it can affect the dog's behavior. Guaranteeing results without considering owner commitment is not ethically responsible.
Dogs may encounter new and unpredictable situations that can affect their behavior. Trainers cannot foresee all potential scenarios that a dog may face, and therefore, they cannot guarantee how the dog will react in every circumstance.
Health issues or genetic predispositions may influence a dog's behavior. Ethical trainers recognize that these factors are beyond their control, and guaranteeing behavioral outcomes would be unrealistic and potentially misleading.
In summary, ethical dog trainers emphasize the importance of a customized and flexible approach, understanding that living beings, including dogs, exhibit variability that cannot be entirely controlled or predicted.