Board & train
Board and train for adult dogs
An adult dog arrives with a résumé. The pulling, the door rush and the selective hearing have all been practised, sometimes for years, and they work well enough from the dog's point of view. That changes the job. Training an adult is less about teaching sit and more about giving a familiar habit a better replacement, then proving it outside the house.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Adult versus puppy
What a grown dog brings to training.
A puppy is mostly a blank page with a short attention span. A dog in the two-to-seven range often has the opposite profile: plenty of focus and stamina, plus a library of rehearsed responses. Many adult dogs already know what sit means; they have simply learned that it is optional on the sidewalk. So the work starts by clarifying the deal with markers and rewards, with any tool matched to the individual dog.
Seniors are a different conversation again. An older dog may move more slowly, tire sooner, or have joint or health changes that deserve a vet's eyes before any program starts. We do not publish a senior track or an age cut-off, so ask about this at the consultation. For a healthy adult in its prime, the structured daily routine of a board and train often suits that steady energy well.
- Rehearsed habits, not missing skills
- Longer focus than a puppy
- Vet check for older dogs
- Proofing outside the house
Matching the program
Which programs suit a dog past puppyhood.
These programs commonly suit adult dogs. On-Leash Foundations is two weeks at $1,865 + GST, built for dogs who drag, lunge at squirrels, or treat heel as a rumour. Functional Off-Leash, three weeks at $3,030 + GST, works on recall around distractions, with an Educator remote collar included. Advanced Off-Leash, four weeks at $3,940 + GST, adds off-leash heel, distance commands and public manners for dogs who already have the basics.
If the adult habit is fear, reactivity or aggression rather than manners, Behaviour Rehab is the program built for it: five to six weeks, $4,850 to $5,760 + GST, set after a full assessment, and dogs with bite histories are accepted once assessed. What we do not publish is how long any adult dog will take. The consultation makes the recommendation, including a lighter program when that covers it.
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
NE · 2-week board & train
On-Leash Foundations
If every walk is a wrestling match, pulling, barking, zig-zagging, this two-week program rebuilds the walk from the ground up with foundational on-leash obedience..
Includes handover lesson, follow-up session, lifetime support, slip lead + collar
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.
Is my 4 year old dog too old for board and train?
Four is not too old. Adult dogs often bring better focus than puppies, along with practised habits, so the work centres on replacing those habits and proofing them in real places.
Can an older dog still learn in a board and train?
Many older dogs learn new routines well when the steps are clear and the rewards are worth working for. We do not publish a senior program or an age limit, so ask about your dog at the consultation. A vet check first is sensible for any dog with joint or health changes.
Which board and train program is best for an adult dog that pulls?
On-Leash Foundations is the program built for pulling: two weeks of loose-leash walking, heel and everyday distractions for $1,865 + GST. It includes a follow-up session and lifetime phone and email support. The consultation confirms whether it fits your dog.
Do you take adult dogs with a bite history?
Dogs with bite histories are accepted into Behaviour Rehab after a full assessment. That program runs five to six weeks and is priced $4,850 to $5,760 + GST once the assessment shapes it. Start with the consultation so the assessment comes before anything else.
Keep reading
Talk through your adult dog
Book a consultation and tell us what your dog practises. We will recommend a program, or a smaller step if that is enough.
From real owners
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Real Northline dogs