![The Board Hound [ Premier Boarding Facility: Shirlington, Arlington, Virginia + Old Town Alexandria, Virginia ]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/the-board-hound-logo.png){kind=logo}
Small-Group Training Classes
Our fear-free approach to dog training prioritizes cultivating a healthy learning environment for you and your pup to maximize success for every training plan. Our trainers are affiliated and certified through organizations such as the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), and Fear-Free Pets.
If you have any questions about our classes, please email training@theboardhound.com to speak with a member of our training department.
Register for Obedience Classes & Workshops
All semi-private classes require New Client Registration with up-to-date vaccines. Additional information including descriptions and prerequisite details can be found below.
Missed a class? Schedule your make up session by emailing training@theboardhound.com
Commitment to Compassionate Training
Our training philosophy is always aligned with the scientific community. Ensuring an animal’s emotional and physical safety is most important to cultivate an effective learning environment. Leading with compassion and establishing a strong foundation of trust between owners and their dogs is the basis for all great training partnerships.
The Board Hound’s training philosophy is supported by current research in animal behavior, learning, & training.
Our very high standards for humane training practices ensure minimal stress for you and your pup through every stage of development. The Board Hound will always implement humane methods that support physical & emotional safety, animal health, and development of all animals.
The Board Hound does not support the use of aversive training methodologies including the use prong, shock, pain, fear, coercion, or force.
Foundational Skills
Introduction to clicker training and obedience skills. Curriculum includes sit, down, intro to stay behaviors, and intro to leash manners! For puppies and adult dogs 16 weeks and older. Foundational Obedience meets once per week for 5 weeks. Each class meeting is 50 minutes.
Prerequisite: New Client Registration
Intermediate Skills
Focus on advancing knowledge and improving consistency of skills. Curriculum and activities include advancing stay behaviors, advancing leash manners, polite greetings, and outdoor generalizing! Intermediate Obedience meets once per week for 5 weeks. Each class meeting is 50 minutes.
Prerequisite: FO
Advanced Skills
Our advanced classes are offered in two different formats. Choose one or take them both! See descriptions for each class option below:
Café Manners
Focus on developing real-world skills for public places. Curriculum includes advancing your dog’s down stay, developing a “place” cue, and other key skills necessary to taking your dog into public spaces. This class is primarily held indoors (in our facility) and some of the class may be off-leash. Café Manners meets once per week for 5 weeks. Each class meeting is 50 minutes.
Prerequisite: FO & IO
Urban Canine*
Focus on generalizing real-world leash skills, and other key outdoor skills, in downtown Old Town, Alexandria! This class is held all outdoors, and a perfect class option for owners that love to go on outings with their pup! Urban Canine meets once per week for 5 weeks. Each class meeting is 50 minutes.
Prerequisite: FO & IO
*Because Urban Canine is hosted 100% outdoors, this class may not be suitable for clients or dogs with mobility restrictions, or for dogs with leash reactivity or aggression.
Master’s Skills Workshops
Master’s workshops are offered for further advancing training skills and are currently offered for students that have completed the matching advanced Obedience topic.
Café Manners Workshop
Single-session, drop-in style, classes custom to your and your dog’s skill level. This class is designed to troubleshoot training challenges and continued advancement of your dog’s Café Manners skills.
Prerequisite: FO, IO, & AOCM
Urban Canine Workshop
Single-session, drop-in style, classes custom to your and your dog’s skill level. This class is designed to troubleshoot training challenges and continued advancement of your dog’s Urban Canine skills.
Prerequisite: FO, IO, & AOUC
At The Board Hound, our daycare was established to enrich the lives of the dogs in our community through healthy outlets for play and socialization. Our smaller play groups come with individual care and attention, while providing a low-stress, safe, daycare environment at our location in Alexandria, Virginia. Since safety is our first priority, we start with providing a high staff to dog ratio of about 1 to 10. This personalization ensures that your dog is always closely monitored.