Our Immersion Program (commonly known as a Board and Train) offers an intensive, transformative training experience for your dog, whether they are struggling with behavioural issues or simply needing to strengthen their obedience. Your dog will stay with their trainer in their home day-in and day-out, receive several hours of one-on-one interaction each day, allowing them to develop a new state of mind and improved behaviour. This hands-on approach is ideal for dogs with fear, anxiety, aggression, or reactivity, but it is also highly effective for dogs who simply need a solid obedience foundation or off-leash reliability.
Unlike larger facilities, we are a small batch facility, meaning your dog will receive more personalized care and attention in a home environment. Training takes place in our home, which allows us to address behaviour issues in the actual environment where they occur. In addition to training at home, dogs will have numerous opportunities to proof their training in real-world, highly distracting environments. They’ll visit pet-friendly stores, go on hikes, bike rides, snowshoeing adventures, and practice their skills in a variety of scenarios. By practicing in these variety of settings, your dog will build the confidence and reliability needed to handle everyday situations with ease.
The program addresses both obedience and behavioural modification, ensuring that your dog can unlearn undesirable behaviours while building new, healthier ones. In some cases, the program also includes off-leash training, giving your dog the skills to have a reliable recall. The Immersion Program is individually tailored in both length and price to the dog and behaviours involved, which is discussed during your initial consultation.
While the Immersion Program can deliver fast results, it’s important to understand that behavioural change takes time, and continued effort is necessary to maintain progress. Your commitment to following through with training protocols and lifestyle adjustments once your dog has returned home is essential to preventing problem behaviours from returning. In addition to the intensive training, all Immersion Program graduates receive free, unlimited support for the rest of their dog’s life*. This may include private lessons on site, in-home lessons, virtual sessions, or access to our Large Group Classes. Whether you need guidance on maintaining your dog’s progress, addressing new challenges, or simply reinforcing training, we are here to help every step of the way.
Once your dog has completed their Immersion Program, you will receive two, comprehensive private lessons that are 2-4 hours in duration. These lessons are designed to help your dog transition back into their routine with you, give you the skills and knowledge you need to successfully integrate your dog back into your home, and give you lots of hands-on experience in a variety of environments with your dog so you can leave feeling confident and empowered.
- *Failure to follow through with protocols given by Breakthrough K9 Training and requirements for training maintenance once the dog(s) goes home will result in removal of follow up services that are free of charge. If follow up maintenance is required, clients will be charged $125+ HST per hour per follow up session.