FAQ’S
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Training
FAQ’S
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Training
SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION
- All
- Frequently Asked Questions - Board & Train
- Frequently Asked Questions - Boarding Services
- Frequently Asked Questions - Private Training
- Frequently Asked Questons - Puppy Training
We require dogs to be up to date on veterinary care. The core vaccines that we require are:
- Rabies
- Distemper/parvo (DHPP)
- Bordetella (kennel cough)
We also require dogs to be up to date on flea/tick preventatives as well as heartworm medication/preventative.
We strongly recommend influenza, and leptospirosis.
During training we house dogs in our home where they’re treated as one of our own. Because our client’s dogs are part of the family we find running board and train programs out of our houses yields the best results as well as keeps dogs calm and happy. Learn more about the board and train program here.
We do not allow visits during training. This is because training is all about building new habits and a visit would interfere with your dog’s progress.
Absolutely! We are as excited about progress as you and your puppy are! We send daily updates with pictures/videos during training to let you know how your dog is doing as well as see them having fun during the training process.
In a nutshell we are a rewards-based balanced training company. Positive reinforcement is the foundation of all good training but it’s not the end-all be-all. We use ecollars, prong collars, food, toys, tugs. The most important thing is to tailor the type of training to meet the individual dog.
Some dogs need more time, some need more rewards, some need more encouragement, some need more structure. The dog dictates the training via their behavior. We are guided by our goal of helping dogs be happy and obedient and helping you have a well-rounded family companion.
Yes. In our view, every dog is trainable. We enjoy and are skilled at behavior modification and accept all breeds and needs. However, if your dog has a bite history we do require muzzle conditioning prior to training.
Absolutely! The dog training is the easy part! It’s essential you know how to handle your dog so the people training is the most important part of what we do. Upon completion of a board and train program we have an intensive go-home lesson that includes an email outline and lifelong support.
The best way to sum up the difference is private lessons are geared towards teaching you how to teach your dog while board and trains get the best training results.
Because dogs live with trainers during training, the amount of training reps going into dogs is substantially higher than during private lessons. If you are looking for help training your own dog we recommend lessons, and if you want the best training results we recommend a board and train program. Learn more about each of these programs in our Programs section.
Start as soon as you bring your puppy home, typically around 8 weeks old. Puppies are learning constantly from their environment, and early training ensures they are learning the right things. Our puppy program is designed for dogs 4 months and under.
Most puppies can be reliably potty trained within 4–8 weeks with a consistent schedule and supervision. Smaller breeds often take longer due to smaller bladders. Our program establishes the routine and teaches you how to maintain it at home.
Yes, when done properly. Our facility provides a structured environment with supervision, controlled socialization, and age-appropriate exercise. We monitor puppies closely for stress and adjust their experience based on their individual comfort level.
Puppies older than 4 months are entering adolescence and benefit from our private training or board-and-train programs, which address the different challenges that come with this developmental stage.
Yes, but with a caveat: you need to continue practicing at home. The going-home lesson and training handouts give you the tools to maintain what your puppy has learned. Without reinforcement, puppies can forget — especially during adolescence.
Contact us for current pricing. We offer a free consultation to assess your puppy’s needs and recommend the program that best fits your situation.
No. Our boarding service is exclusively for dogs who have completed a training program with us. This ensures we know your dog’s personality, needs, and training history before they stay with us. If you are interested in training first, explore our puppy training, private training, or board-and-train programs.
Your dog stays in the home of one of our trainers. This is not a kennel or boarding facility. It is a real home with a normal family environment.
Yes. Provide clear written instructions including dosage, timing, and any special requirements. We will follow your instructions exactly.
Bring enough of your dog’s regular food for the duration of the stay, plus a few extra days in case plans change. You are welcome to bring your dog’s bed, blanket, or a favorite toy. We provide everything else.
We recommend booking as early as possible, especially for holidays and peak travel seasons. Our capacity is limited because dogs stay in trainers’ homes, not a large facility.
It depends on the trainer and the dogs involved. If your dog is social and comfortable with other dogs, they may interact with other boarding dogs or the trainer’s personal dogs. If your dog is reactive or prefers solo time, they will be managed accordingly. We know your dog’s history and will match their environment to their needs.
Contact us for current rates. Pricing depends on the length of stay and any specific needs your dog may have.
A board-and-train program is an immersive training arrangement where your dog lives with a professional trainer for a set period, typically 15 to 30 days or longer. Daily training sessions are conducted throughout the stay. The result is faster, more consistent progress than most other training formats.
Haven offers four program lengths: 15 days (The Biscuit), 20 days (The Bone), 30 days (The Toy), and a custom 6-week-plus behavior modification program (The Hike). The right length depends on your dog’s current behavior and your goals.
Your dog stays at the assigned trainer’s home for the duration of the program. This is not a kennel or facility. The home environment keeps stress low and mirrors the domestic setting your dog will return to.
Our programs cover on-leash obedience, off-leash obedience, loose leash walking, public manners, jumping, excessive barking, reactivity, anxiety, impulse control, and serious aggression or behavioral challenges. The program you choose determines the depth of focus in each area.
In board-and-train, your dog lives with a trainer and receives daily instruction. Results come faster because of the daily repetition and professional handling. In private training, your dog stays home and sessions happen weekly, with you actively involved in daily practice. Private training suits dogs without severe behavioral issues and owners who want to be hands-on from the start.
Every program ends with a 1.5-hour going-home lesson where you and your dog work directly with the trainer. You learn the handling techniques, commands, and reinforcement methods used throughout the program. You leave with handouts, the training equipment your dog was worked with, and a clear plan for maintaining progress at home.
Yes, with consistent reinforcement. The going-home lesson and take-home materials give you everything you need to maintain and build on what your dog learned. Dogs can regress if owners do not follow through, which is why we invest significant time preparing you before the program closes. Ongoing support is also available after the program ends.
Contact us for current pricing on each program. We offer a free consultation where we assess your dog and recommend the right program before any decisions are made. Call (919) 360-6817 or visit havendogtraining.com/contact-us.
Private dog training is one-on-one instruction in which a professional trainer works directly with you and your dog, typically in your home or real-life environment. Sessions are tailored to your dog’s specific behaviors and your goals, rather than following a general group curriculum.
Our program consists of four one-hour sessions. Most families see meaningful change within the first two sessions. The full four-session structure allows for foundation building, practice between sessions, proofing under distraction, and refinement before the program closes.
Private training covers foundational obedience (sit, stay, come, heel, place) and targeted behavior issues including leash pulling, jumping, excessive barking, door dashing, impulse control, reactivity, and resource guarding. Your specific priorities guide the session plan.
In private training, your dog stays home and sessions are held weekly. You are present and actively coached throughout. In board-and-train, your dog lives with a trainer for an intensive period and receives daily training. Private training gives you more ownership as the handler. Board-and-train is better suited to severe behavioral issues or owners with limited time to practice. Learn more at havendogtraining.com/programs/dog-boarding-and-training.
Our private training program is designed for dogs six months and older. If your dog is under four months old, our puppy training program is the better fit. If your dog is between four and six months, contact us and we can recommend the right approach for their developmental stage.
Yes. Private training sessions take place in your home, your neighborhood, and the real-life environments where your dog needs to perform. This is not gym-based or facility-based training. We come to you wherever you are in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Wilmington, or Jacksonville.
Contact us for current pricing. We offer a free consultation to assess your dog’s needs and confirm that private training is the right program before any commitment is made. Call (919) 360-6817 or visit havendogtraining.com/contact-us.
- All
- Frequently Asked Questions - Board & Train
- Frequently Asked Questions - Boarding Services
- Frequently Asked Questions - Private Training
- Frequently Asked Questons - Puppy Training
We require dogs to be up to date on veterinary care. The core vaccines that we require are:
- Rabies
- Distemper/parvo (DHPP)
- Bordetella (kennel cough)
We also require dogs to be up to date on flea/tick preventatives as well as heartworm medication/preventative.
We strongly recommend influenza, and leptospirosis.
During training we house dogs in our home where they’re treated as one of our own. Because our client’s dogs are part of the family we find running board and train programs out of our houses yields the best results as well as keeps dogs calm and happy. Learn more about the board and train program here.
We do not allow visits during training. This is because training is all about building new habits and a visit would interfere with your dog’s progress.
Absolutely! We are as excited about progress as you and your puppy are! We send daily updates with pictures/videos during training to let you know how your dog is doing as well as see them having fun during the training process.
In a nutshell we are a rewards-based balanced training company. Positive reinforcement is the foundation of all good training but it’s not the end-all be-all. We use ecollars, prong collars, food, toys, tugs. The most important thing is to tailor the type of training to meet the individual dog.
Some dogs need more time, some need more rewards, some need more encouragement, some need more structure. The dog dictates the training via their behavior. We are guided by our goal of helping dogs be happy and obedient and helping you have a well-rounded family companion.
Yes. In our view, every dog is trainable. We enjoy and are skilled at behavior modification and accept all breeds and needs. However, if your dog has a bite history we do require muzzle conditioning prior to training.
Absolutely! The dog training is the easy part! It’s essential you know how to handle your dog so the people training is the most important part of what we do. Upon completion of a board and train program we have an intensive go-home lesson that includes an email outline and lifelong support.
The best way to sum up the difference is private lessons are geared towards teaching you how to teach your dog while board and trains get the best training results.
Because dogs live with trainers during training, the amount of training reps going into dogs is substantially higher than during private lessons. If you are looking for help training your own dog we recommend lessons, and if you want the best training results we recommend a board and train program. Learn more about each of these programs in our Programs section.
Start as soon as you bring your puppy home, typically around 8 weeks old. Puppies are learning constantly from their environment, and early training ensures they are learning the right things. Our puppy program is designed for dogs 4 months and under.
Most puppies can be reliably potty trained within 4–8 weeks with a consistent schedule and supervision. Smaller breeds often take longer due to smaller bladders. Our program establishes the routine and teaches you how to maintain it at home.
Yes, when done properly. Our facility provides a structured environment with supervision, controlled socialization, and age-appropriate exercise. We monitor puppies closely for stress and adjust their experience based on their individual comfort level.
Puppies older than 4 months are entering adolescence and benefit from our private training or board-and-train programs, which address the different challenges that come with this developmental stage.
Yes, but with a caveat: you need to continue practicing at home. The going-home lesson and training handouts give you the tools to maintain what your puppy has learned. Without reinforcement, puppies can forget — especially during adolescence.
Contact us for current pricing. We offer a free consultation to assess your puppy’s needs and recommend the program that best fits your situation.
No. Our boarding service is exclusively for dogs who have completed a training program with us. This ensures we know your dog’s personality, needs, and training history before they stay with us. If you are interested in training first, explore our puppy training, private training, or board-and-train programs.
Your dog stays in the home of one of our trainers. This is not a kennel or boarding facility. It is a real home with a normal family environment.
Yes. Provide clear written instructions including dosage, timing, and any special requirements. We will follow your instructions exactly.
Bring enough of your dog’s regular food for the duration of the stay, plus a few extra days in case plans change. You are welcome to bring your dog’s bed, blanket, or a favorite toy. We provide everything else.
We recommend booking as early as possible, especially for holidays and peak travel seasons. Our capacity is limited because dogs stay in trainers’ homes, not a large facility.
It depends on the trainer and the dogs involved. If your dog is social and comfortable with other dogs, they may interact with other boarding dogs or the trainer’s personal dogs. If your dog is reactive or prefers solo time, they will be managed accordingly. We know your dog’s history and will match their environment to their needs.
Contact us for current rates. Pricing depends on the length of stay and any specific needs your dog may have.
A board-and-train program is an immersive training arrangement where your dog lives with a professional trainer for a set period, typically 15 to 30 days or longer. Daily training sessions are conducted throughout the stay. The result is faster, more consistent progress than most other training formats.
Haven offers four program lengths: 15 days (The Biscuit), 20 days (The Bone), 30 days (The Toy), and a custom 6-week-plus behavior modification program (The Hike). The right length depends on your dog’s current behavior and your goals.
Your dog stays at the assigned trainer’s home for the duration of the program. This is not a kennel or facility. The home environment keeps stress low and mirrors the domestic setting your dog will return to.
Our programs cover on-leash obedience, off-leash obedience, loose leash walking, public manners, jumping, excessive barking, reactivity, anxiety, impulse control, and serious aggression or behavioral challenges. The program you choose determines the depth of focus in each area.
In board-and-train, your dog lives with a trainer and receives daily instruction. Results come faster because of the daily repetition and professional handling. In private training, your dog stays home and sessions happen weekly, with you actively involved in daily practice. Private training suits dogs without severe behavioral issues and owners who want to be hands-on from the start.
Every program ends with a 1.5-hour going-home lesson where you and your dog work directly with the trainer. You learn the handling techniques, commands, and reinforcement methods used throughout the program. You leave with handouts, the training equipment your dog was worked with, and a clear plan for maintaining progress at home.
Yes, with consistent reinforcement. The going-home lesson and take-home materials give you everything you need to maintain and build on what your dog learned. Dogs can regress if owners do not follow through, which is why we invest significant time preparing you before the program closes. Ongoing support is also available after the program ends.
Contact us for current pricing on each program. We offer a free consultation where we assess your dog and recommend the right program before any decisions are made. Call (919) 360-6817 or visit havendogtraining.com/contact-us.
Private dog training is one-on-one instruction in which a professional trainer works directly with you and your dog, typically in your home or real-life environment. Sessions are tailored to your dog’s specific behaviors and your goals, rather than following a general group curriculum.
Our program consists of four one-hour sessions. Most families see meaningful change within the first two sessions. The full four-session structure allows for foundation building, practice between sessions, proofing under distraction, and refinement before the program closes.
Private training covers foundational obedience (sit, stay, come, heel, place) and targeted behavior issues including leash pulling, jumping, excessive barking, door dashing, impulse control, reactivity, and resource guarding. Your specific priorities guide the session plan.
In private training, your dog stays home and sessions are held weekly. You are present and actively coached throughout. In board-and-train, your dog lives with a trainer for an intensive period and receives daily training. Private training gives you more ownership as the handler. Board-and-train is better suited to severe behavioral issues or owners with limited time to practice. Learn more at havendogtraining.com/programs/dog-boarding-and-training.
Our private training program is designed for dogs six months and older. If your dog is under four months old, our puppy training program is the better fit. If your dog is between four and six months, contact us and we can recommend the right approach for their developmental stage.
Yes. Private training sessions take place in your home, your neighborhood, and the real-life environments where your dog needs to perform. This is not gym-based or facility-based training. We come to you wherever you are in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Wilmington, or Jacksonville.
Contact us for current pricing. We offer a free consultation to assess your dog’s needs and confirm that private training is the right program before any commitment is made. Call (919) 360-6817 or visit havendogtraining.com/contact-us.
SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION
SEE HOW OUR CLIENTS (AND THEIR DOGS) FEEL
TESTIMONIALS
Very happy with the results, I really like that the dogs live in a trainers house during training. All in-home training goals were met as well as public access goals.
Marie Luna
We are pleased with the results of the lesson program our dog now walks in heel, won’t jump, and is very polite when guests come over. We got exactly what we wanted and then some.
Louise Nichols
Excellent training results! We sent our Labrador Bella in for the two week program and were floored with the results. Ben was kind and clearly knows his stuff. Highly recommend.
Jose Duncan
