Training

How do I choose which training program is right for me?

The flowchart below should help! In summary, all training includes a private lesson package - puppies under 6 months of age and no severe behavioral challenges such as reactivity, separation anxiety, or resource guarding are assigned to The Ruby package (2, 1 hour lessons in your home), and dogs over 6 months of age are assigned to The Liam package (5, 1 hour lessons in your home). We also have a “Grow with Me” package - The Mermaid - for puppies, designed to support the puppy parent in the first 18 months.

For those who may need or want a headstart or polish, we offer Stay and Train programs - both leash and ecollar - which can be completed prior to, in the middle of, or after private lesson package completion. We generally see the best results when the Stay and Train is completed before or during the private lesson package. We also offer discounted packages that include both a private lesson package and the Stay and Train program (on one invoice).

For ongoing support after private lesson package completion, we offer single refresh lessons (at your home) or The Maude (shorter duration refresh lessons, at our home).

What is a typical lesson like?

Lessons are 1 hour in total length; we work for 45 minutes or so, and the remainder is left for questions, to repeat any work needed, and to summarize key points. We generally start outside (I meet you in your driveway or in front of your home) to go for a walk and do some leash drills, then we head inside to work on crate, place, thresholds, and more. Please have all non-working dogs crated and/or in another room while we are training for as few distractions as possible. Children are welcome to join if they are well behaved and can follow instructions (generally 6+ years of age); we love including all household members in the training plan!

Logistics: Do you come to me? How long is a lesson? How often do we meet? What if I live far away?

For The Ruby, The Liam, and The Mermaid: I come to you! For The Maude: you come to me. Lessons are one hour in length. We will meet every 10-14 days for The Ruby package and weekly for The Liam package. If you live beyond our included mileage (20 miles round trip), additional mileage can be added - billed at our current rate. If you would like to work with us remotely, we do offer online training and consultations. For those who are not local but interested in a Stay and Train program, we can create a commuter package for you with online lessons instead of in person lessons (please inquire).

What do I need to bring to lessons?

Please pack a fanny pack with poop bags and LOTS of treats. For our first lesson, please have your dog on his/her usual tools so that we can perform a baseline assessment. All aggressive dogs (those who have attempted to bite or successfully made contact on a human with their teeth) must be muzzled for the duration of the first lesson, if not all lessons.

Communication training tools will be recommended during/after the first lesson; common tools we recommend include the sliplead, harness, prong collar, and ecollar (most of which we carry for retail or less). We love using an elevated cot for place, which you can find on Amazon or Chewy (many varieties and price points - linked are two that we use). For crates, we recommend a sturdy wire crate, Ruffland, or Impact - please inquire for sizing recommendations. Primo pads are wonderful for any crate.

What kind of behaviors can you help with?

We have worked with dogs of many ages, breeds, and temperaments. Most dogs arrive at their first lesson with over excitement/arousal, nervous system dysregulation, reactivity, anxiety, and/or opportunistic and impolite behaviors such as jumping on guests, counter surfing, as well as “not listening” when asked to recall, go in the crate, or lay down to relax. We work with behaviors ranging from manners to reactivity, anxiety, and resource guarding.

What results can I expect from a Stay N Train?

The results of a Stay and Train vary, depending on the dog, tools (leash vs ecollar), and length of program. But in general, owners can expect their dog to walk nicely on a leash, stay on place, and understand how to pause at thresholds during their go home lesson. For those who invest in longer programs with the ecollar, recall, treadmill, nails, patio pup manners, and social work may be included.

What are your background and qualifications?

You can find more information about Jen on Our Story page. In summary, we have been in existence since 2021 and began by fostering dogs, then boarding dogs, and then training dogs. Jen worked for another company for many years and regularly expands her toolkit and knowledge base through shadow programs, seminars, and classes.

What is your training philosophy?

You can find more about our training philosophy HERE. In summary, we treat each dog-owner dyad as individuals and therefore create custom training plans for each. We do consider ourselves positive first, balanced trainers.

What tools do you use?

Since each dog-owner dyad is unique, we do not use the same tools for everyone. The most common tools that we recommend include slipleads, harnesses, prong collars (Herm Sprenger only!), and ecollars (Ecollar Technologies or Dogtra). We also use LOTS of treats as tools, as well as affection, praise, and play.

What are your prices?

You can find our prices HERE.

What are the options for follow up and support after our Stay and Train or private lesson package has ended?

Once you work with us, we are always here to support you! Follow up training options include single refresh lessons (1 hour, in your home or at an outing location of your choosing), a 3-pack of refresh lessons (The Maude, three 30-minute lessons at my home), Stay and Train, or Day Train. We are also happy to provide a la carte single refresh Stay and Train boarding nights for those who have completed a 6+ night Stay and Train program previously. For questions, you are welcome to email at any time, and if the best fit for your needs, we can hop on a Zoom or phone call. Please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time! We will reply as soon as possible within business hours.

How can I apply our new skills in the real world?

We offer monthly pack walks, quarterly coffee hours, and pop up group training classes, such as Patio Pup class and clients-only small group outings. Please check out our Events page for more details and to RSVP.

Boarding

What is a typical boarding day like for my dog?

As of the writing of this page (April 2026), each day looks pretty close to the schedule below, although please note that it changes daily (times are approximate):

• 4am: wake up and first potty

• 6:30am: second potty and breakfast

• 7:30am: walks

• 9am: nap in crate

• 11am: potty and social time in yard

• 1pm: place or relaxation time

• 4pm: nap in crate or social time in yard

• 6pm: dinner and potty break

• 8pm: bedtime potty

What are your prices?

You can find our prices HERE.

Can I tour your facility?

As we board dogs in our home (we do have a separate kennel room, connected directly to our kitchen!) and also care for behaviorally complex dogs, we do not offer tours of our space due to liability and privacy reasons. You are welcome to schedule a FaceTime or Zoom call to look at the space, or you can find videos on our Instagram “Boarding 2026” highlight. The kennel room is also posted frequently on Instagram stories.

How many dogs do you take at one time?

Our boarding dog census varies based on the dogs’ temperament and needs, but in general we take 3-8+ total dogs on any one given day. We only take one training dog at a time except in special circumstances (housemates or end of one program overlaps with the start of another, for example). Holidays we generally take more dogs than non-holidays, but this varies significantly based on need. We only take 1-2 special dogs (reactive, etc.) at once.

How am I updated about my dog’s stay?

You can find updates about your dog’s stay on our Instagram story. Please note that we do not post pupdate stories on Sundays or holidays.

What are your drop off and pick up hours?

Our drop off and pick up times are below:

• Monday through Friday: 7am to 6pm (close at 5pm on Wednesdays)

• Saturday: 7am to 4pm

• Sunday: 11am to 4pm

We do not offer drop off or pick up appointments on holiday dates (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Day). Thank you for your understanding! You can find more about holidays on our Boarding page.

Early drop off is available from 7am to 12pm most days (includes daycare and a scheduled walk on drop off day - otherwise walks begin next day) for $30. You can expect an email 4-6 weeks prior to your reservation start date, with a link to schedule drop off and pick up appointments. Please note that a walk is not guaranteed for pick ups before 12pm.

Do you administer medications, care for behaviorally complex dogs, and accommodate any medical needs?

Yes, we care for dogs of all shapes, sizes, ages, and temperaments. Please note that behaviorally complex dogs do require the special dog tax (see Pricing page). Special dog spots are limited; please inquire early! Oral medication administration is included in the boarding package, but wound care, topical, ear, and eye medications or treatments are an additional cost (50% of the special dog tax fee). We offer nail trims, but we do not offer full baths as a solo practitioner business.

Where can I find photos from my dog’s stay?

You can find photos of your dog’s stay in our Shutterfly albums; links to the albums are located on Our Clients page.

Where are you located?

We are located in the Moorland-Rimrock neighborhood of Madison, Wisconsin - conveniently just off the highway and county road (12/18 and MM, respectively, and between Fitchburg, Monona, and Madison. You can find our exact address on Google Maps.

What should I pack for my dog’s boarding stay?

We recommend packing as little as possible - just food, medications or supplements, and their tools (muzzle, ecollar, prong, harness, leash, etc.). Please note that we are not responsible for lost or damaged items brought to boarding. We supply crates, primo pads, stainless steel water buckets and bowls, and blankets if needed. All are sanitized appropriately between dogs and at reasonable intervals for longer stays. Our sanitizers of choice are EfferSan and WyshiWash.

What is the new client intake process like?

The new client process is detailed at the top of our Boarding Inquiry page. The meet and greet appointment is completed at our location, south Madison in the Moorland-Rimrock neighborhood. We go for a short walk together (15-20 minutes) to answer any questions, get to know each other, and determine if the special dog tax is required.

Once your reservation is accepted, an invoice will be sent for a holiday deposit, if needed - no deposit is needed for a non-holiday stay. On the first of the month prior to your drop off, you will receive an email with information and reminders, including a packing list and a link to schedule your drop off and pick up appointments (for example, if your stay is from June 26 to July 2, you will receive this email on May 1).

What do your clients say about you?

We’ll let them tell you! You can check out our Google reviews (feel free to leave us a 5 star review, if you’d like to support us!) and our testimonials HERE.