Exclusive Dog Training Packages for Behavioral Success

A well-mannered, confident dog brightens life at home and transforms every walk or outing into a source of pride and joy. At Saugapaws, your dog’s comfort and growth are always at the center of everything we do. That means treating each dog as family - providing hands-on care and science-based instruction in a peaceful, spacious Michigan setting. Whether you have a lively puppy, a spirited adolescent, or a companion who needs gentle help with behavior challenges, the right environment paired with individualized training brings out your dog’s best.

Our board and train philosophy goes beyond routines and checklists. We aim to nurture trust, foster emotional regulation, and develop reliable skills that carry forward into daily life. Each carefully crafted package pairs the warmth of our Private Boutique Residency with the expertise of a certified trainer, so your dog can relax, play, and learn under attentive, compassionate guidance. Owners remain connected throughout - building understanding and practical skills for a harmonious future together.

Read on to discover how our boutique, exclusive training packages create lasting change and how you can select the ideal fit for your dog’s unique needs.

Understanding Exclusive Dog Training Packages

Exclusive dog training packages at Saugapaws are intended for families who want more than basic obedience. Every element of the experience - from the evidence-based teaching methods to the cage-free home-style environment - supports your dog’s confidence and well-being.

What Defines an Exclusive, Boutique Dog Training Package?

• Intimate, Home-Style Setting: Limited to five guests, your dog enjoys the comfort and calm of a real home. No rows of kennels or impersonal spaces - just daily life as a family member with dedicated care.

• Individualized Training Plans: Each program is tailored to your dog’s age, background, temperament, and behavioral goals.

• Science-Based, Reward-Focused Training: We use gentle, force-free methods rooted in modern behavioral science. No harsh corrections, prong, or shock collars ever.

• Lasting Partnership for Owners: Your involvement is welcomed from day one, with skill transfer sessions and year-long access to professional coaching.

Why Positive Reinforcement and Science-Backed Methods Matter

• Motivates dogs to enjoy learning, sparking curiosity and eager participation.

• Builds lasting confidence and trust between you and your dog.

• Lowers stress, reduces anxiety risk, and prevents fear-based responses.

• Creates a joyful, empowered experience for both dog and owner.

The Role of Environment: Cage-Free, Home-Style Residency Advantages

• Eliminates many stress triggers common to kennel settings - such as barking, isolation, or repetitive routines.

• Supports gentle social exposure with people and peaceful, well-matched canine companions.

• Offers structure and enrichment, from playtime to cozy naps.

• Helps dogs with previous anxiety or kennel-related concerns feel safe and supported.

How Structured Packages Support Lasting Behavioral Improvements

• Clear, focused curriculum - covering house training, polite greetings, leash manners, or behavior modification as needed.

• Progress tracked with milestones, plus regular video updates so you’re included every step of the way.

• Constant oversight and professional support, which greatly reduce setbacks and accelerate positive change - especially with more challenging behaviors.

Exclusive training at Saugapaws means peace of mind, real progress, and a deeper family bond that lasts.

Explore Our Distinct Training Packages for Every Stage and Need

Every dog is unique - training should reflect that. Saugapaws offers a range of distinct board and train packages for puppies, adolescents, adult dogs, and companions with special behavioral needs. Each brings together our Private Boutique Residency and focused instruction, always including owner coaching for long-term results.

Package Name Duration Focus Area Price Ideal Dog Profile

Premier Puppy 10 days Early socialization, house training, basic manners. $1,850 Puppies 8–20 weeks; new puppy owners who want strong early development

Puppy Manners. 14 days Emotional. regulation, communication, confidence for adolescence. $2,500 Puppies 4–6 months with rising energy or who need boundary support

Elite Foundation 14 days Basic obedience, household manners $2,800 Older puppies (over 20 wks) and adult dogs lacking consistency

Polished Companion 14 days. Impulse control, outdoor reliability, guided enrichment $3,200. Dogs ready for dependable real-world performance; graduates of Elite Foundation

Saugapaws Signature 14 days. Advanced reliability - duration, distance, distraction-proofing. $3,500. Polished Companion graduates or those with a solid foundation seeking fine-tuning

Serene Retreat. 21–28 days Intensive behavior modification for anxiety, reactivity, arousal. $5,150. Dogs with significant anxiety, barking, or severe reactivity

Boutique Boarding Per night Cage-free, luxury boarding (after One Day Vibe Stay) $85/night. Dogs best-suited to a calm, personalized environment with prior acclimation

All packages feature:

• Cage-Free Home-Style Environment: Residential comfort, home-stay, small group, plenty of individualized attention.

• Daily Narrative Video Updates: You receive narrated clips showing what your dog is learning and how they’re feeling.

• Skill Transfer & Hands-On Coaching: Owner sessions to ensure you understand and can apply each lesson at home.

• Behavior Modification, Emotional Regulation, Impulse Control: Tackling both the behavior and the underlying emotion.

• Professional Spa Exit: A clean, calm finish for a positive transition home.

The Saugapaws Standard: Guest Requirements

The Signature Vibe Stay

Our commitment to a serene, high-standard environment begins with a mandatory Vibe Stay. This introductory visit ensures your dog’s temperament perfectly aligns with the sophisticated, low-stress atmosphere of our 14-acre estate. It is the essential first step in curating a peaceful experience for all our guests.

Elite Health & Veterinary Protocols

To ensure the collective well-being of our boutique community, we require formal documentation from your veterinarian for all "core" vaccinations. Please note: To guarantee full immunity, all vaccines must be administered at least 7 days prior to your dog's arrival for boarding or training.

• Rabies: Required by state law.

• Distemper/Parvo (DHPP or DHLPP): Comprehensive protection.

• Bordetella: Prevention of kennel cough.

• Canine Influenza: Required for the safety of all guests in our care.

Social & Behavioral Standards

• Spay/Neuter: To maintain a balanced and harmonious environment during group activities, all guests over the age of 6 to 9 months must be spayed or neutered.

Custom Nutrition & Care

• Dining: To prevent digestive upset and maintain your dog's specific routine, we request that you provide their preferred diet in labeled, airtight containers.

• Medications: For the highest safety standards, all medications must arrive in their original prescription bottles with clear, professional dosing instructions.

Find even more program details and additional amenities when you Explore our luxury dog board and train programs.

What to Expect from Your Dog’s Time with Us

Your decision to enroll in a board and train program is an investment in your dog’s confidence, skills, and your shared happiness. The Saugapaws Estate is far more than a training space - it's a nurturing home where each guest can thrive. Here’s what your dog (and you) can expect:

• Private Boutique Residency: Limited to five dogs, offering tranquility, personalized routines, and a strong sense of belonging.

• Serene Soundscape: Carefully curated dog-friendly melodies to reduce environmental stresses and create peaceful rest.

• Zen-Air Diffusion: Subtle stress-reducing pheromone technology to naturally promote calm and stress relief in the environment.

• Vagal Massage: Therapeutic canine massage that soothes the vagus nerve - helping lower heart rates and ease tension, ideal for anxious or high-energy dogs.

• The Estate Sniffari: Guided sensory walks through meadows and wooded paths where dogs express their instincts to explore in a safe, engaging setting.

• Daily Narrative Video Updates: Owners stay connected to their dog’s growth and daily joy through frequent video check-ins.

• Skill Transfer & Owner Coaching: Collaborative, step-by-step coaching sessions in-person or virtually so new habits last at home.

• Behavior Modification and Emotional Regulation: Programs go beyond surface behaviors to help dogs manage feelings and self-regulate amid typical triggers.

• Professional Spa Exit: Enjoy peace of mind knowing your dog will come home relaxed, groomed, and refreshed.

Safety and individualized care always come first. The Estate is secured with on-site staff and surveillance, ensuring a worry-free experience for every guest.

For an in-depth look at the full range of sensory comforts, routines, and amenities, Learn more about our Private Boutique Residency environment.

Choosing the Right Package for Your Dog’s Unique Needs

Choosing the most appropriate training package is about understanding your dog’s current needs, temperament, and your family’s goals. Here’s a simple process to guide your decision:

1. Assess Your Dog’s Age and Needs

• Puppies (8–20 weeks): Prioritize socialization, gentle boundaries, and foundational house training. The “Premier Puppy” program is tailored for these crucial first weeks.

• Adolescents (4–6 months): As energy increases, so can challenging behaviors like jumping or mouthiness. The “Puppy Manners” program builds emotional regulation and a calm learning foundation.

• Older Puppies & Adults: Dogs lacking basic manners or reliable obedience thrive in the “Elite Foundation” residency, with a plan customized to their temperament and history.

• Impulse Control and Reliability: The “Polished Companion” package bridges smooth home routines with reliable performance outdoors, integrating impulse control and structured walks.

• Advanced Skills: Confident dogs or recent graduates benefit from “Signature,” building duration and focus even with distraction.

• Behavior Modification: If your dog is anxious, reactive, or overwhelmed by new situations, the “Serene Retreat” delivers intensive, supportive transformation for emotional reset.

2. Prerequisite for Boutique Boarding

Before enrolling in Boutique Boarding, dogs enjoy a gentle “One Day Vibe Stay.” This ensures dogs acclimate to the estate’s low-key, cage-free setting and that every guest is a good match for a calm, happy group.

3. Consider Duration and Intensity

• 10–14 Days: Ideal for socialization, manners basics, and obedience refreshers.

• 21–28 Days: Best for intensive behavior modification, reactivity, or stress-related challenges.

• Each program is individualized; energetic dogs may need more exercise and mental enrichment, while reserved dogs benefit from gradual exposure at their own pace.

4. Owner Involvement for Lasting Change

• All packages include skill transfer sessions. You’ll learn why training methods work and receive practical tools for real life.

• Daily narrative updates keep you engaged, so progress at Saugapaws seamlessly transfers to home.

• Coaching empowers you to reinforce positive habits and problem-solve challenges in your daily routine.

5. Ongoing Professional Support

Your relationship with Saugapaws doesn’t end at pickup. Each package includes a year of professional support - call, text, or email as questions arise. This ongoing partnership helps ensure continued success and confidence for the entire family.

Dogs thrive when their humans are involved, informed, and inspired - Saugapaws supports you in every moment, both on-site and long after your dog comes home.

Partnering with a Certified Trainer for Behavioral Success

A great trainer combines expert knowledge with heartfelt care. At Saugapaws, every session is led by a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Trainer, recognized for both technical mastery and kindness.

• What Does Certification Mean? Karen Pryor Academy Certified Trainers have completed in-depth study, hands-on evaluations, and practice rooted in animal learning science. Certification means your trainer is committed to proven, ethical methods and ongoing professional development.

• Reward-Focused Methods Only: We never use prong collars, shock devices, or fear-based techniques. Instead, your dog is rewarded for desired behaviors and gently redirected from unwanted ones. Positive reinforcement ensures that learning is joyful and trust lasts.

• Owner Collaboration: Training is a team effort. You will participate in coaching sessions, receive clear feedback on your dog’s progress, and feel confident applying new skills.

• Transparency and Trust: Open communication keeps you informed at each stage. Video updates, personal check-ins, and skill transfer sessions guarantee no surprises - just mutual accomplishment.

• Safety & Supervision: With a five-guest limit and 24-hour presence, individual care is never sacrificed for volume. Security and supervision are built in, so every dog receives utmost attention.

All training programs are centered on helping your dog thrive, and ensuring you feel supported as you nurture your companion’s growth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Dog Training Packages

How long does training usually take for behavior improvements?

Timelines vary based on your dog’s temperament and goals. Most foundational programs are 10–14 days. For more involved behavioral work such as anxiety or reactivity, 21–28 days may be recommended. Real change starts during the residency and continues as you support practice at home. You’ll often notice progress within days, while full reliability comes from ongoing reinforcement.

What ongoing support is available after training completion?

Every package includes a full year of professional support. Should you need guidance, trouble-shooting, or just a refresher, you are welcome to reach out by call, text, or email. Our partnership is designed to grow with you as your dog’s needs evolve.

Are harsh corrections used or avoided?

We strictly avoid harsh corrections or punitive methods. Saugapaws is built on science-based, positive reinforcement, rewarding good choices and gently redirecting unwanted behavior. This keeps learning joyful and trust intact.

Is a one-size-fits-all approach used or customized plans?

Every training plan is custom. We begin with thorough assessments - considering your dog’s age, personality, history, and your priorities - to build a plan that matches your goals and your dog’s capabilities.

What costs and commitments should owners expect?

Prices range from $1,850 for foundational puppy programs to $5,150 for advanced behavior modification, with Boutique Boarding at $85 per night. Owners should expect to engage with coaching, daily updates, and hands-on skill transfer sessions for true transformation. Commitment means active participation before, during, and after the stay - ensuring your investment leads to lifelong harmony.

Ready to see the difference in your dog’s confidence and your family’s peace of mind? Book your dog’s exclusive training package today.

Saugapaws is dedicated to more than obedience. We nurture trust, confidence, and the joy of a balanced life together. Start your journey to behavioral success in a place where every dog is truly family. Join the pack and experience the Saugapaws difference - where genuine care and lifelong learning go hand in paw.