Western Mass
Dog Training
Do you have a friendly pup that enjoys other dogs and hikes well off leash? Send them to camp!
Serving Shelburne Falls, Buckland, Charlemont, Ashfield, Conway and Greenfield
Doggy training camp is a gift to both you and your dog. After an adventurous day with their friends, your dog will be tired and ready to curl up and relax with you when you get home from a hard days' work. We will save you time by conveniently picking up your pup and bringing them back home.
Camp is a holistic alternative to traditional doggie day care that allows dogs to tap into their natural instincts. Your dog will have lots of time to explore things on its own, and freedom to play in a spacious environment with dogs it has come to know and trust.
We provide everyone with constant support to make sure all the dogs are comfortable and can succeed. They enjoy their freedom, but are also coached on how to be aware of others' space, listen to each others' social cues, and relax when asked. Your dog will come home with new life skills you can apply in daily activities outside of camp!
Life skills at training camp!
Extended 'sits' and
'downs' under high distraction
We teach your dog how to hold their sits and downs in a challenging environment. Wouldn't you love it if your dog was less inclined to lose its mind at the first sight of a squirrel or other distraction? Holding sits teaches your dog impulse control.
Waiting patiently for their turn
Does your dog charge out the front door or car? Not at camp! We need dogs to be calm in close quarters with each other, get in and out of the car in a relaxed state, and wait for their pack leader before starting the hike. These are also great skills to have for your own adventures together!
Strengthened recall
Getting our dogs to return to us when we need them to is the most important skill at camp. Our number one training priority is to make sure your dog comes back when called, regardless of whatever may have their attention!
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Relaxation, fun, social skills, emotional regulation, and discipline
Through the different training exercises at camp and having to respond to the constant distractions in the outdoor environment while also functioning in a pack, your dog learns how to control its impulses, regulate its emotional state, and listen to their pack leader and other dogs better. We do this by asking your dog to switch out of prey drive when called, consistently rewarding it for relaxation, and guiding it in healthy dog-to-dog play and other interactions. Camp is a great place for your dog to polish up on all these skills!
How camp works
A typical day
Camp runs on Wednesday and Friday, beginning in the morning when we pick up your dog and ending when we bring it home. Depending upon where you are along our pick-up route, we will get your dog sometime mid to late morning and return it late afternoon.
Your dog will have a wonderful adventure in the open fields, streams, and woods of New England. At the end of the hike, we'll conveniently drop your dog back off at home, having had their body, mind, and spirit enriched.
The hike is typically 1 to 1.5 hours during each camp session and the cost $45 per dog per day. Weekly attendance is required to solidify the training we perform with your dog and the rest of the pack. A second dog is half the rate.
We are currently picking up dogs in Shelburne Falls, Buckland, Charlemont, Ashfield, Conway, and Greenfield.
We have an evaluation process and guidelines set up to make sure your dog will be a good fit for camp and enjoy the experience. Good camp dogs are friendly, and have reliable off-leash recall .
Each dog who joins our pack is slowly integrated into the group through a 4 day trial period. This ensures the success of your dog joining our pack and the safety of all pack members. We want your dog to succeed, have fun, and have positive experiences while at camp!
Our packs are hand-picked!
Requirements
-
Proof of current Rabies vaccination
-
Health screenings prior to starting camp for distemper/parvo
-
Weekly participation
-
Flea and tick prevention program
-
Good off-leash recall, friendly with other dogs, and can ride well in a car Recall needs work? No problem, inquire about private recall training with us and we'll get your dog ready for camp!
-
A dog that loves people and other dogs, and isn't aggressive or overly fearful
-
A dog must have been with its owner for a minimum of 6 months and be at least 18 months old
-
Evaluation, and a signed Release Agreement
Application Process and On-boarding
Evaluation and on-boarding: We have an evaluation and on-boarding process put into place to make sure your dog is ready for camp, and that allows us to ensure potential pack members will not be a danger to others or themselves. It is crucial to the safety of our pack that all dogs do not present any form of aggression. The trial period enables us to slowly integrate your dog into our pack and give him or her the best possible opportunity to succeed and have an amazing experience at camp.
Step 1: Fill out a service inquiry form.
Step 2: We'll call you to learn more about your goals and dog.
Step 3: If it seems your dog might benefit from camp, we will request to come to your home to meet your dog and perform an in-person evaluation. We will be able to see how your dog interacts in an environment where they feel comfortable and familiar. We'll also do some simple activities outside to see how your dog responds to the pack leader, and how he or she does when you leave.
Step 4: If your dog is a good fit, it can begin his or her 4 day trial period! Trial days consist of Laurie taking your dog out for an off-leash walk to develop a relationship with your dog and assess their basic skill levels. She will also bring your dog out with another dog for a private camp session. For the rest of the trial days, your dog will hike with the pack. Each trial day is $45, the same as our day camp rate.
Step 5: If your dog does well in the trial period, and gives a clear indication that he or she will be a good fit with the pack, they're officially a member of our pack!
