Day training
Day training vs a dog walker
It is tempting to file both under 'someone minds the dog during the workday', but they are different services with different scopes. A walker's agreement might be a midday outing, a training walk, or reinforcement of cues you have taught. Day Training keeps your dog with us on weekdays for one-on-one training, socialization and enrichment, then coaches you at a weekly lesson. We compare the two on scope, involvement and schedule.
Last reviewed September 29, 2026
What each includes
Agreed scope is the first thing to compare.
A dog walker's service is whatever you and the walker agree on. For many, that is a midday outing: your dog gets out, relieves itself and moves around. Some walkers also offer training walks or will reinforce cues you show them, and that coordination depends on you both. Prices and scope vary by walker, and we do not quote other people's rates. A walker is usually not offering a structured training program, and that is the clearest line between the two.
Day Training is a weekday program at $650 + GST per week. Your dog arrives between 8 and 10 am and goes home between 5 and 7 pm, Monday to Friday, and the day includes one-on-one training, structured socialization, supervised play and enrichment. It is not a continuous lesson; it is a structured day with training built into it. The weekly one-hour go-home lesson is where we show you what your dog has been asked for and how to ask for it yourself.
- Walker scope is what you agree
- Day Training runs weekdays
- Weekly one-hour go-home lesson
- We quote only our own price
Pick or combine
Choosing one, or using both.
A useful question is whether the gap in your dog's day is exercise, instruction, or both. A dog who walks nicely, settles alone and is restless by mid-afternoon may only need an outing, which a walker can provide. A dog who pulls, ignores its name or has never learned a place cue is missing instruction, and Day Training is built for dogs who need consistent work while sleeping at home. At the consultation we recommend a program, including a smaller one when it is enough.
Using both is an option rather than a standard route. A walker could cover weekends, or an outing outside the drop-off and pick-up windows on a training day. A walker could also reinforce specific cues once you have learned them at the go-home lesson and shown them how. Whether that helps depends on what the walker has agreed to do and how well you coordinate, since nobody can reinforce what they have not been shown. Ask us about it at the consultation.
| Dog walker | Day training | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Exercise and a break | Training, socialization and enrichment |
| Owner involvement | None | Weekly one-hour go-home lesson |
| Schedule | Varies | Weekdays, drop-off 8 to 10 am, pick-up 5 to 7 pm |
| Price | Varies by walker | $650 + GST per week |
| Best for | A well-trained dog that needs a midday outing | A dog that needs daily work and an owner who wants it home at night |
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
SW · Weekdays, drop-off 8–10 am · pick-up 5–7 pm
Day Training
Professional training all day, your couch at night.
Includes weekly one-hour go-home lesson, daily structure
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
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
What is the difference between day training and a dog walker?
A walker's service is whatever you agree on, often a midday outing, sometimes a training walk or reinforcement of cues. Day Training is a weekday program with daily one-on-one training, structured socialization, supervised play and enrichment, plus a one-hour go-home lesson each week for you. The clearest difference is that one is a structured program and the other is a service you define.
Should I get a dog walker or a trainer first?
We suggest asking what your dog is missing. If your dog behaves well and mostly needs an outing, a walker may cover it. If your dog pulls, ignores its name or has no manners around other dogs, instruction is the missing piece, and a consultation can tell you which program fits, including a smaller one when it is enough.
Is day training worth it compared with paying a walker every day?
They are different purchases, so we suggest comparing scope rather than price alone. Day Training is $650 + GST per week for one-on-one training, structured socialization, enrichment and a weekly lesson for you; walker rates and scope vary. If your dog needs to learn something, look for a service that includes instruction.
Can a dog have a walker and do day training at the same time?
Yes, it is an option. A walker could cover weekends or an outing outside the drop-off and pick-up windows, or reinforce cues you have learned at the go-home lesson, if that is within what the walker offers. Coordination between you and the walker matters more than the timing.
Keep reading
Sort exercise from instruction
Tell us about your dog's weekday. If a walker would cover it, we will say so. Book a consultation.
From real owners
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