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Private In-Person
and Residential
Dog Training
Services in the
Greater Burlington
Area

Welcome to Play Dog Play Training!

We specialize in tailoring dog training approaches to fit the wide-ranging needs of our clients in the greater Burlington VT area. Whether it be an obedience goal or a more significant behavorial issue, our typical clients come to us with the following issues:

  • Recall Training

  • Puppy Training

  • Jumping on Guests

  • Leash Pulling

  • Demand Barking

  • Socialization Issues

  • Resource Guarding

  • On-Leash Reactivity

  • Muzzle Conditioning

  • Reactivity Towards Humans

  • Fear

  • Anxiety

  • Aggression

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Take a look at our services below to get a better idea of what program might be right for you and your pup!

Board & Train - 3-5+ Weeks

Training your dog takes a lot of time and repetition-- we’re here to put in the work to get you there! This program allows us to do the heavy lifting for you, then bring you back into the picture as your dog’s behaviors become more rehearsed and reliable. Your dog stays with our staff Tuesday-Saturday for the agreed upon number of weeks (usually 3-5). While with our staff, your dog will receive at least 3 training sessions daily, tailored to work towards your training goals. Dogs will return home with their owners on Saturdays after a short in person lesson, returning on Tuesday for the next week. Weekends at home will allow us to identify any shortcomings in our training plans and tailor what we’re doing along the way!

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Board & Train programs may be a good choice for owners who need help with behavioral issues, or if your busy life is just making it hard to find time to give your new dog the headstart you’d like it to have.

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Basic training gear is included in the price (training tool, long line, treat pouch), if your program includes e-collar or if a muzzle is necessary, cost for those tools will be in addition to the stated price of the service.

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Benefits of Board & Train:

  • This service represents the best product we can offer.

  • Most reliable results.

  • Less stress on the owner.

  • Less overall time commitment. 

  • The dog goes home on the weekends, allowing the owner and trainer to communicate about what's working and what's not along the way. 

  • For more significant issues, this is a safer approach to solving behavior than private lessons. 

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3-4 Week Board & Train ($2,499-$3,349)

3-4 Week Board & Train is the right program for dogs exhibiting mild behavioral issues, or for owners who want improved obedience. If your goals are obedience based, we’ll focus on sit, down, place, recall and loose leash walking with your pup. If a behavioral issue is your priority, we’ll teach the dog relevant obedience that allows us to focus more on resolving the issue and building effective strategies for those problems.

 

  • 3-4 Send Home Sessions, at the end of each Board & Train week.

  • 1 Follow Up Lesson, to be used within 2 months of completed training.

  • Access to our standalone Day Train days, private training and socialization services, as well as admittance into our weekly pack walk where appropriate.

  • Basic training gear.

  • Continued email and phone support as needed.

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5+ Week Board & Train ($4,199, +$850 per additional week)

This program is appropriate for dogs with moderate to severe behavioral issues. The extra time incorporated into these programs allows us to approach issues at the dog’s pace, while still tackling all of the challenges we need to safely create behavioral change.

 

  • 5 or more Send-Home Sessions, at the end of each Board & Train week.

  • 2 Follow-Up Lessons, to be used within 4 months of completed training.

  • Access to our standalone Day Train days, private training and socialization services, as well as admittance into our weekly pack walk where appropriate.

  • Basic training gear.

  • Extra weeks allow for more repetition around higher degrees of distraction.

  • Continued email and phone support as needed.

In-Person Private Lessons

5-Session Package ($799, $100/per lesson after 5)

Private lessons allow us to meet weekly and work together towards your training goals. New clients start with a package of 5 lessons; single sessions can be purchased after completion of a package/program ($100/per). Sessions generally last 1-1.5 hours. Clients in the greater Burlington area may choose to conduct lessons in-home when appropriate, generally after initial lessons occur in our facility. Owners and dogs will work through basic on-leash obedience and target additional behaviors when desired. We will work to implement strategies to help improve your dog’s behavior across the board.

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This program is not appropriate for more severe behavioral cases.

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Basic training gear is included in the price (training tool, long line, treat pouch), if your program includes e-collar or if a muzzle is necessary, cost for those tools will be in addition to the stated price of the service.

Frequently Asked Questions (Private Lessons)
 

WHEN CAN I START? As soon as we have space. Saturdays generally have a longer waitlist (2 or 3 months generally speaking), but those available to run weekday sessions during business hours may be able to get in sooner. Check with our staff for current availability!

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WHERE DO WE MEET FOR TRAINING? Our first training sessions are typically going to occur at our Training Center. Once the dog has made progress in neutral environments, we’re happy to run in-home sessions or seek out other locations.

 

CAN I BRING MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER? We encourage all of the main caregivers to attend! The caveat is that the more folks that attend, the less hands-on time each individual has.

Maria & Jeff

We appreciate Ross’s teaching style. He gets to know his clients by asking simple questions, is very perceptive and picks up on the little things, remembers them, and meets both the human and the pup where they are at.

Ross has been amazing as he has taught us how to adapt to the daily changes [of our silly and LARGE Bernese Mountain puppy] because he EXPLAINS EVERYTHING in a way that each of us can understand.

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David

I cannot recommend Ross enough - he is an incredible dog trainer who truly cares about his clients and their furry companions. His patience, kindness, and expertise have worked wonders with my reactive (show is also very sweet) dog, and I have seen such a remarkable improvement in her behavior thanks to Ross' guidance and support. He has a way of connecting with dogs that is truly special, and I am so grateful to have found him. If you are looking for a skilled and compassionate dog trainer, look no further than Ross - he is simply the best!

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