The 3-Week Board and Train Program That Transforms Your Dog
You made need our help if any of this sounds familiar: your dog pulls on the leash.
They bark at every dog, person, and leaf that moves.
You can't have guests over without a production.
And basic commands? They're more like friendly suggestions your dog chooses to ignore.
Here's the truth: It's not your fault.
You've tried YouTube videos. You've read the books. You've even attempted training classes where your dog was more interested in sniffing other dogs than learning anything.
But nothing stuck.
That's because most training methods don't address what your dog actually needs: real-world obedience training in environments where distractions exist.
The Collar Club Academy's 3-Week Board and Train Program solves this problem.
In 21 days, your dog learns foundational obedience, proper leash manners, and begins off-leash reliability training. No harmful collars or negative reinforcement. Just proven, military-grade training techniques that create lasting behavioral change.
This isn't a quick fix or a band-aid solution.
It's intensive, immersive training that builds the foundation every well-behaved dog needs. And it works, even for dogs other trainers have given up on.
What Is the 3-Week Board and Train Program?
The 3-Week Board and Train Program is a 21-day immersive training experience where your dog stays at The Collar Club Academy's Denton, Texas facility.
During this time, certified professional trainers work with your dog multiple times per day. Your dog learns basic obedience, leash manners, and begins e-collar conditioning, all while being exposed to real-world environments.
Here's what makes this program different:
Training happens in multiple environments. Your dog doesn't just train in a sterile facility. They train at local parks, dog-friendly stores, nature trails, and busy urban areas. Because obedience that only works in one location isn't real obedience.
You're involved in the process. This isn't a "drop off your dog and hope for the best" situation. You receive daily report cards showing exactly what your dog is learning. You participate in 2-3 private education sessions. And we conduct one home check-in to ensure the training transfers to your environment.
The training is customized. Every dog is different. Some need help with leash reactivity. Others need basic manners. Some have specific behavioral issues. Your dog gets a personalized training plan based on their needs, temperament, and your goals.
The focus is on foundation building. The 3-week program isn't designed to create an off-leash competition dog. It's designed to give your dog the fundamental skills they need to be a pleasant companion. Solid basics. Reliable responses. Good manners.
Think of it as obedience school, socialization, and behavior modification rolled into one intensive program.
Image of Nikki Musko training an English Mastiff of a veteran - The three week board and train program
Who Is the 3-Week Board and Train Program For?
This program works best for dogs and owners in specific situations.
Here's what makes this program different:
Your Dog Is at Least 6 Months Old
Adult dogs must be at least 6 months old (24 weeks) to enter the program. This ensures they're physically and mentally ready for the training.
But here's good news: Your dog is never too old to begin training. We've successfully trained senior dogs who've had behavioral issues for years.
You’re Going On Vacation
Most dog boarding is just a simple “dog hotel” where your dog will be comfortable; and that’s pretty much it. At TCCA, we kill two birds with one stone: your dog is going to stay with us for the program duration AND will go through bootcamp training. It’s the best of both worlds.
You Need Foundation Obedience Training
If your dog doesn't have basic obedience skills, this program builds them from scratch.
Your dog will learn:
Sit and stay on command
Down and come when called
Polite walking on a leash
Basic off-leash responsiveness
Introduction to e-collar training
These aren't tricks. They're life skills that make living with your dog easier and more enjoyable.
Your Schedule Makes Consistent Training Difficult
Let's be honest: Consistent training requires time you might not have.
Between work, family, and everything else, finding 30-60 minutes per day for training sessions is tough. And when you do train, are you doing it correctly? Are you being consistent? Are you accidentally reinforcing bad behaviors?
The board and train program solves this. Professional trainers work with your dog multiple times daily. They ensure consistency. They know what works. And they can spot and correct issues before they become ingrained habits.
You get the results without sacrificing hours you don't have.
You Want to Learn How to Work With Your Dog
This isn't just about training your dog. It's about training you.
Through private education sessions, you learn exactly how our trainers communicate with your dog. You learn proper timing, body language, and command delivery. You learn how to read your dog's signals and respond appropriately.
Because the training only lasts if you can maintain it. We make sure you can.
Your Dog Has Mild to Moderate Behavioral Issues
The 3-week program includes an introduction to behavior modification. It's not designed for severe aggression cases. Those need the 6-week program. But if your dog has:
Mild leash reactivity
Jumping on guests
Pulling on walks
Demand barking
Basic anxiety issues
Ignoring commands
This program addresses those issues through structured training and environmental exposure.
You're Looking for Long-Term Results
If you want a quick fix, this isn't it.
If you want lasting behavioral change that makes your dog a better companion for years, this is exactly what you need.
The 3-week program builds the foundation. But it includes follow-up support to ensure success:
12-month membership to The Collar Club Online for ongoing education
Unlimited refresher sessions (up to 6 months after the program ends)
Post-graduation follow-up to monitor consistency
We're invested in your dog's long-term success, not just the 21 days they're with us.
We’re The Highest Rated Dog Trainer in the dallas-fort worth metroplex
Here's exactly what happens during the 21 days your dog spends with us.
Comprehensive Basic Obedience Training
Your dog learns the fundamental commands every well-behaved dog should know.
Sit: Your dog sits on command and remains sitting until released. This isn't just sitting when they feel like it. It's reliable, consistent sitting. Even with distractions.
Down: Your dog goes into a down position and stays there. This command creates calmness and teaches impulse control.
Stay: Your dog remains in position while you move around them. We build duration gradually, working up to 5-10 minute stays.
Come: Your dog returns to you when called. This is potentially the most important command for safety, and one of the hardest to teach correctly.
Every command is taught using a progression:
Command introduction in controlled environment
Adding mild distractions
Building distance
Increasing duration
Real-world application
This ensures the commands work everywhere, not just in training sessions.
What's Included in the 3-Week Board and Train Program
Leash Manners Training
Your dog learns to walk politely on a leash without pulling, lunging, or dragging you down the street.
We teach proper positioning, attention to handler, and responsiveness to leash pressure. Your dog learns that the walk is more enjoyable when they're walking with you instead of fighting against you.
This is on-leash polite walking, not competition-level heeling. Your dog won't be glued to your left side at perfect attention. But they will walk nicely without pulling your arm out of the socket.
For perfect heeling and advanced leash work, the 6-week program is more appropriate.
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Partial Off-Leash Training
Your dog begins learning off-leash obedience skills.
This isn't full off-leash reliability. That requires the 6-week program. But we introduce the concepts and begin conditioning your dog to respond even without physical leash pressure.
This creates the foundation for future off-leash work if you choose to continue training.
Basic E-Collar Training
We introduce e-collar training during the 3-week program.
Here's what you need to know about e-collar training at The Collar Club Academy:
It's not painful. The e-collar creates a gentle stimulation. Think of it as a tap on the shoulder to get your dog's attention. We use the lowest effective level, never the maximum.
It's not a harmful collar. We don't use prong collars, choke chains, or any device that causes pain. The e-collar is a communication tool, not a punishment device.
It creates clear communication. Dogs learn that the stimulation means "pay attention to your handler" or "stop what you're doing." It's immediate, consistent, and clear.
You learn how to use it correctly. During your education sessions, we teach you proper e-collar usage, timing, and level selection. You're never left guessing.
The basic e-collar training in the 3-week program introduces the concept and begins conditioning. Full e-collar conditioning happens in the 6-week program.
On-Leash Heeling
Your dog learns to heel (walking in a perfect position at your left side) while on leash.
This is more advanced than polite walking. Heeling requires focus, positioning, and sustained attention.
We teach on-leash heeling during the 3-week program. Off-leash heeling requires more time and is included in the 6-week program.
Public Outings and Environmental Exposure
Your dog participates in 4-14 public outings during the three weeks.
These aren't just walks around the block. We take your dog to:
Local parks with other dogs and people
Dog-friendly stores like hardware stores
Nature trails with wildlife and natural distractions
Busy urban areas with foot traffic and noise
Each outing is a training opportunity. Your dog practices commands in increasingly challenging environments, building confidence and reliability.
This real-world exposure is critical. A dog that only obeys in a quiet training room isn't really trained. Your dog needs to perform in the environments where you actually live.
Distance Command Training
Your dog learns to respond to commands from a distance.
During the 3-week program, we work on basic distance commands. Your dog won't be responding from 30+ feet away (that's the 6-week program), but they'll be able to respond when you're several feet away.
This creates the foundation for future distance work and improves overall responsiveness.
Distraction Proofing
Your dog learns to focus and respond even with low to moderate distractions present.
We systematically introduce distractions:
Other dogs at a distance
People walking by
Food on the ground
Toys and balls
Novel objects and sounds
Your dog learns that commands still apply even when interesting things are happening. This isn't high-level distraction proofing. That requires the 6-week program. But it's solid foundational work.
Extended Stay Duration
Your dog builds the ability to hold a stay for 5-10 minutes.
This requires impulse control and focus. Most dogs at the beginning of training can barely hold a sit for 30 seconds. By the end of three weeks, your dog can maintain position for extended periods.
This is useful for:
Keeping your dog calm during meals
Having guests enter your home
Veterinary examinations
Grooming appointments
Any situation requiring your dog to be still
Introduction to Behavior Modification
The 3-week program includes an introduction to behavior modification for common issues.
If your dog has:
Mild leash reactivity toward other dogs
Jumping on guests
Demand barking
Mild anxiety issues
Resource guarding (food, toys, space)
We begin addressing these issues through structured training. This isn't comprehensive behavior modification. Complex behavioral issues need the longer 6-week program. But we introduce the concepts and begin the process.
Owner Education Sessions
You participate in 2-3 private education sessions during the program.
These sessions happen at our Denton facility. You work directly with your dog under trainer supervision. You learn:
How to deliver commands with proper timing
How to read your dog's body language
How to use the e-collar correctly
How to maintain training at home
How to address common challenges
These sessions are critical. The training only lasts if you can implement it correctly. We make sure you can.
Home Check-In Visit
We conduct one home check-in visit during or shortly after the program.
A trainer comes to your home to:
See how training is transferring to your environment
Address any location-specific challenges
Work with you and your dog in your space
Answer questions about maintaining training
Make adjustments to the training plan if needed
Your home is where the training ultimately needs to work. We make sure it does.
12-Month Access to The Collar Club Online
Your program includes a 12-month membership to The Collar Club Online community.
This gives you:
Access to on-demand training videos
A community page to ask trainers questions
The ability to view other owners' questions and answers
Ongoing education beyond the 3-week program
The learning doesn't stop when your dog comes home. You have ongoing resources and support.
Frequently Asked Questions on our 3 week Board and Train Program
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Your dog will stay at our boarding facility or the trainer's home (depending on what’s best for the dog). This will be determined during your free consultation at our facility.
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You are always welcome to contact us, and we will provide you with a daily update of your dog's progress through phone or email support.
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Every dog is different, but it is possible. We strive to manage their weight and will communicate a course of action in the case.
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Training is fun! We make training enjoyable for every dog. Your dog will have outdoor time and go on walks with our staff.
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Our trainers will teach your dog how to read people. We will then teach you, as the owner, how to replicate exactly what we taught your dog.
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Our board and train programs offer unlimited sessions, during which we can refresh the training as needed (up to 6 months after the program ends).
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Absolutely! We can discuss this during our intake process.
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Adult Dogs must be at least 6 months old (24 weeks) to enter our Board & Train program. However, a dog is never too old to begin training!
(Check out our puppy training private lessons for dogs younger than 6 months!)
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Of course! You are always welcome to visit and check on your dog's training.
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We will contact you using the contact info you provided. If we believe the issue is not life-threatening, we will wait until you reply to our message. If we think the issue is life-threatening, we will get advice from a Veterinarian regarding the recommended next steps.
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Your dog will be worked multiple times a day. An exercise becomes muscle memory after 4,000 - 6,000 repetitions.
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Not at all. Our job is to teach you how we achieve the training results, in which your dog will see you as their loving owner.
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Yes, our customizable board and train programs include home training lessons to ensure your dog experiences training in its home environment.
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We guarantee that our expert trainers will use the same proven dog training techniques to train your dog. Sometimes, aggressive and/or fearful dogs, to name a few issues, have difficulty being trained. We typically identify behavioral issues before training begins, but sometimes, these issues are not evident during our free consultation.
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Enough food for the duration of training
If needed: medication and/or Heartworm, flea/tick
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The sooner, the better. We do get fully booked as we have a limited amount of space. Do not hesitate to reach out as soon as you see fit.