Choosing a trainer
How to choose a board and train for a reactive dog
Sending a reactive dog away for weeks is a big decision, and a brochure rarely tells you what matters. The useful questions are about what happens before the dog arrives, how the work is paced around triggers, and what you leave with. Below is a buyer's checklist, our own published answers, and a simple path for deciding.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Before you book
Ask what the assessment looks for first.
Reactivity has many sources: fear, frustration on the leash, guarding, over-arousal. A program that skips the assessment is guessing at the cause, and a plan built on a guess tends to be generic. Ask any provider how they assess, what they watch for, and whether the price or length can change once they have met your dog. Our Behaviour Rehab is customized after a full assessment, which is why it is quoted as a range of $4,850 to $5,760 plus GST.
Ask too whether the work is one-on-one. A reactive dog dropped into a group is often practising the very reaction you are paying to change. Everything we do is one-on-one, with no group classes. Then ask how the provider handles a dog with a bite history. We accept those dogs into Behaviour Rehab after a full assessment, and we say so plainly rather than leaving you to wonder.
- Assessment before any program quote
- One-on-one work, never group classes
- Trigger work paced to the dog
- Bite history discussed openly
What you take home
Follow-ups and owner education decide the second half.
A reactive dog comes home to the same street, the same fence line and the same neighbour's dog. If you have not learned to read your dog and manage those moments, the training has nowhere to land. Ask how much owner teaching is built in, whether it is a single handover or ongoing, and how many follow-up sessions are included in the price rather than sold on top.
Our Behaviour Rehab is five to six weeks of daily, individualized work, with two free follow-up sessions and in-depth owner education, so you learn the why and not just the what. If the consultation shows the issue is mostly leash frustration, we will tell you a smaller program may fit, such as On-Leash Foundations at $1,865 plus GST or Private Training at $150 plus GST a session.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Is board and train good for reactive dogs?
It can be, when the program starts with an assessment and includes real owner education. The work happens away from home, so the handover and follow-ups matter as much as the daily sessions.
What should I ask a board and train before sending my reactive dog?
Ask how they assess, whether every session is one-on-one, and how they pace exposure to triggers. Ask which tools they use, how you will be taught to use them, and what follow-ups are included.
How much does board and train cost for a reactive dog in Calgary?
Our Behaviour Rehab is $4,850 to $5,760 plus GST, set after a full assessment of your dog. It includes five to six weeks of daily work and two free follow-up sessions.
Should I see a vet before training a reactive dog?
If the reactivity appeared suddenly or comes with signs of discomfort, a vet check is the right first step. Pain and illness can change behaviour, and no trainer should rule that out for you.
Keep reading
Start with an assessment
Book a consultation and we will look at your dog's triggers before recommending anything, including a smaller option if it fits.
From real owners
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