Board & Train
Pawsitive Pathway Programs
R+ Board & Train at The Better Companion
The Better Companion’s Pawsitive Pathway Programs are our new, positive-reinforcement–based Board & Train options for dogs who are ready to build real-life skills in a calm, structured environment.
This program was developed to give families an ethical, science-based alternative to traditional board and train: one that protects the dog’s emotional wellbeing and emphasizes long-term success at home.
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Program Overview
Pawsitive Pathway Programs are designed for companion dogs who need:
• Consistent daily training using reward-based methods
• Clear structure and predictable routines
• Confidence-building enrichment and body awareness work
• Real-world practice in a safe, supportive setting
Each stay includes:
• A customized training plan based on your dog and your goals
• Multiple short, focused training sessions each day
• Daily enrichment, rest, and decompression
• Progress updates during the stay
• A go-home lesson to transfer skills to the owner
• Written follow-up recommendations to maintain behaviors at home
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Program Options - Length of Stay
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7 Days
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14 Days
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21 Days
Who This Program Is For
Pawsitive Pathway Programs are ideal for:
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Adolescent and adult dogs needing better daily manners
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Families wanting a strong foundation or a “reset” on skills
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Owners who prefer an R+ (positive reinforcement) approach only
Common training focuses include:
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Basic manners (sit, down, stand, polite greetings)
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Recall foundations
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Loose leash walking
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Crate training and household routines
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Focus and engagement with the handler
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Muzzle conditioning (R+ based)
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Confidence building and body awareness
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General household and life skills
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Eligibility Criteria
To ensure the safety and wellbeing of all dogs and humans involved, Board & Train participants must:
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Be 16 weeks of age or older
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Be current on required vaccinations
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Be medically fit for training and boarding
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Have no history of:
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Human-directed aggression
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Dog-directed aggression
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Bite incidents or bite-risk behavior requiring behavior modification
Dogs exhibiting significant fear, reactivity, or aggression are not candidates for this Board & Train program and are better served through behavior modification lessons where the owner is actively involved.
Why We Do Not Use Board & Train for Behavior Modification
Many people look to Board & Train as a quick solution for serious behavior concerns such as reactivity, fear, or aggression. While board and train can be helpful for teaching and rehearsing skills, it is not an appropriate primary tool for behavior modification.
Effective behavior modification requires:
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The dog and owner learning together in real time
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Careful coaching of the human half of the team
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Repeated practice in the dog’s actual environments
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Management and safety strategies tailored to the household
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Consistency in handling, body language, and reinforcement
When a trainer works with the dog in isolation and then sends the dog home, the most important piece—the owner’s skills—often remains underdeveloped. This can create unrealistic expectations, incomplete progress, or even unsafe situations for dogs with serious behavior challenges.
For these reasons, The Better Companion:
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Uses Pawsitive Pathway Programs for obedience, manners, and life skills
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Reserves behavior modification (reactivity, aggression, severe fear, bite history) for owner-involved private lessons and behavior consults
This separation allows us to protect safety, set realistic expectations, and support better long-term outcomes.
What to Expect as a Client
When you enroll in Pawsitive Pathway Programs, you can expect:
1. Pre-Program Intake
• Detailed history and goal-setting form
• Review of medical and behavioral information
• Confirmation that your dog meets program criteria
2. Customized Training Stay
• Daily R+ training sessions
• Enrichment, rest, and structured routine
• Handling consistent with our force-free philosophy
3. Go-Home Lesson & Support
• In-person transfer session to teach you what your dog has learned
• Written homework and practice plan
• Guidance on how to maintain and grow skills at home
Owner follow-through is essential. Board & Train provides a strong boost, but behaviors last only when the family continues the training and management plan.
Ready To Book?
Contact Us for Available Dates
Start Your Behavioral Intake Forms Below:
Vacation With An Education
A Training-Infused Getaway for Your Dog
Need to travel but don’t want your dog’s training to slide while you’re gone?
Vacation With an Education at The Better Companion is a trainer-hosted boarding option that blends cozy overnight care with positive-reinforcement training and enrichment.
Your dog gets a safe, structured “sleepover” with a trainer — and comes home with skills brushed up, confidence boosted, and routines maintained.
What This Program Is (and Is Not)
Vacation With an Education is:
• A boarding stay with daily training & enrichment
• A way to maintain and polish existing skills
• A chance to introduce or lightly build new foundation behaviors
• A calm, structured alternative to traditional boarding
Vacation With an Education is not:
• A formal Board & Train program
• A behavior modification program for fear, reactivity, or aggression
• A “quick fix” for complex behavior issues
Training during the stay lays the groundwork – but owners still play a critical role. You’ll get coaching at pickup so you can keep skills going at home.
Who It’s Great For
• Families traveling who want more than “just boarding”
• Dogs who do better in a quieter, trainer-run environment
• Puppies who need structure and continued learning while you’re away
• Adolescent or adult dogs who could use a manners refresh
• Shy or sensitive dogs who benefit from predictable, low-stress routines
If your dog has a bite history, significant reactivity, or advanced behavior needs, we may recommend a dedicated behavior modification program instead.
What Your Dog Gets Each Day
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Every Vacation With an Education stay includes:
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Two daily training sessions
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Focus & engagement
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Manners: sit, down, stay, polite greetings
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Loose leash walking practice
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Recall games
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Place/settle work & calm behaviors
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Tricks and confidence games (as appropriate)
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One enrichment session
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Snuffle work & food puzzles
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Sniff walks & sensory exploration
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Tactile confidence (different surfaces, obstacles)
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Simple parkour-style movement or body awareness
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Structured daily routine
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Regular potty breaks and rest periods
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Quiet time for decompression
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A safe, supervised environment in a trainer’s home or structured space
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Owner updates
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Daily photo/video check-ins
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Summary of what your dog practiced and how they did
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Post-Stay Transfer Session
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A 30–60 minute in-person or virtual handoff
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We show you what your dog learned and how to keep it going
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Time for Q&A about training and next steps
Program Options & Pricing
Rate: $70 per day
Optional Add-Ons (availability may vary):
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Extra daily training session
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Parkour or enrichment outing
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Sniffari / advanced enrichment
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Cooperative care (handling, brushing, muzzle conditioning, etc.)
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Nail trim during stay
Holiday surcharges and special-handling fees may apply; we’ll review all pricing with you during booking.
How It Works
1. Behavioral Intake & Meet & Greet
• Complete our behavioral intake form and provide vet records.
• We review your dog’s history, needs, and goals.
• For some dogs, a short in-person evaluation may be required.
2. Book Your Dog’s Stay
• Choose your dates and stay length.
• Go over training focus (manners refresh, confidence, puppy foundations, etc.).
3. Drop-Off Day
• Bring your dog, their food, and any approved comfort items.
• Review your dog’s routine with the trainer and confirm emergency contact info.
4. During Their Stay
• Your dog settles into a predictable, structured routine with training and enrichment.
• You receive daily updates so you can relax while you’re away.
5. Pickup & Transfer Session
• We walk you through what your dog practiced and how to cue/maintain behaviors.
• You leave with clear, simple homework so training continues to stick at home.
Owner Commitment
Vacation With an Education sets your dog up for success — your follow-through keeps it thriving.
To help training transfer from the trainer’s home to yours, we ask that owners:
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Practice the skills we demonstrate at pickup
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Follow the management and training recommendations provided
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Reach out with questions instead of “guessing” at the cues
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Think of it as: we get the ball rolling, you keep it moving.
Is My Dog a Good Fit?
Your dog is likely a good fit if:
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They are up-to-date on vaccinations
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They are comfortable being crated or can learn short crate durations
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They can safely be handled by a trainer
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Any behavior concerns are mild to moderate and clearly disclosed in advance
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If you’re unsure, just contact us — we’re happy to help you decide whether Vacation With an Education, Day Training, or another service is the best match.