Comparisons
Behaviour Rehab vs private training for reactivity
A reactive dog puts two formats on the table. Behaviour Rehab means the dog lives with us for five or six weeks and is worked one-on-one every day, on a plan built after a full assessment. Private Training means one-hour sessions at $150 plus GST, each ending in a written weekly plan the household carries through the week. Both are real answers. They differ in who does the daily handling.
Last reviewed September 25, 2026
What each does
Who holds the leash, and how often.
In Behaviour Rehab the dog boards with us for 5 to 6 weeks and is trained one-on-one every day. The plan is built after a full behaviour assessment and covers reactivity work at the dog's pace, anxiety rehabilitation, fear-based behaviour work, confidence building and structured socialization. The price, $4,850 to $5,760 plus GST, is set after that assessment. Two free follow-up sessions and in-depth owner education are included, so the household learns the why, not just the what.
Private Training flips the handling. We spend one hour with the dog and the owner, work on the behaviour in front of us, and end the session with a written weekly plan customized to their home. The owner does the repetitions between visits. Each session is $150 plus GST, and part of the hour is honest guidance on whether a bigger program would help, or whether the sessions are enough on their own.
- Daily one-on-one work in Rehab
- Owner handles between private sessions
- Written weekly plan each session
- Plan built after full assessment
The honest cases
Built for whom, and who decides.
Behaviour Rehab is built for dogs that bark, lunge, hide or growl: anxiety, reactivity and aggression, worked at the dog's pace on an individualized plan. Dogs with bite histories are accepted into it after a full assessment. Private Training is built for hands-on owners who want to do the training themselves with a professional reading over their shoulder, and it covers behaviour troubleshooting and relationship building alongside obedience. Neither description is a verdict on any particular dog.
The consultation is where the decision gets made. We look at the dog, the triggers, the history and the household, then recommend one program. Sometimes that is Rehab. Sometimes it is a run of private sessions, because a smaller program gets recommended when it is enough. Rehab is a single price fixed after the assessment. Private Training is $150 plus GST per one-hour session, with a written weekly plan included each time.
| Behaviour Rehab | Private Training | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 5 to 6 week board and train | One-hour sessions with you |
| Price + GST | $4,850 to $5,760 after assessment | $150 per session |
| Who handles the dog daily | We do | You do, with a written weekly plan |
| Best for | Anxiety, reactivity, aggression, bite histories | Specific problems, owner coaching, mild cases |
| Includes | Assessment-built plan, 2 follow-ups, deep owner education | Written weekly plan |
The programs
Programs and prices
W · One-hour session
Private Training
One-on-one coaching with you on the other end of the leash.
Includes a written weekly plan to work from
S · 5–6 week board & train
Behaviour Rehab
Kaitlin's specialty, and the work she loves most.
Includes assessment-built plan, 2 follow-ups, deep owner education
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Behaviour rehab vs private training: which is better for a reactive dog?
Neither is better in the abstract. Our Behaviour Rehab is a 5 to 6 week board and train with daily one-on-one work on a plan built after a full assessment. Our Private Training is $150 plus GST per one-hour session, and the owner does the handling between visits with a written weekly plan.
Is board and train good for reactive dogs?
Behaviour Rehab is our board and train for anxiety, reactivity and aggression, and it is customized after a full assessment. It includes in-depth owner education, a handover lesson and two free follow-up sessions, so the household is taught alongside the dog rather than handed a finished product.
Should I choose board and train or private lessons for my reactive dog?
We make that recommendation at the consultation, after looking at the dog, the history and the household. Both formats are on the table, and when private sessions are enough, that is what we say. Dogs with bite histories are accepted into Behaviour Rehab after a full assessment.
Do you offer private training for a reactive dog in Calgary?
Yes. Private Training is $150 plus GST per one-hour session, one-on-one with the dog and the owner, and each session ends with a written weekly plan. It covers behaviour troubleshooting and relationship building as well as obedience, and the hour includes honest guidance on whether more help would help.
Keep reading
Let the assessment decide.
Book a consultation and we will say which program fits the dog, and which one it does not need.
From real owners
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Real Northline dogs