Enrichment First

Board & Train

A holistic alternative to traditional board and train.

The Pawsitive Pups Academy board and train program takes an enrichment first, reinforcement-based approach to achieve lasting results.

Unlike traditional board and train programs that focus on simple obedience skills, our program combines socialization, enrichment and arousal regulation exercises to build well rounded, confident and happy canine companions for our clients

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What Makes Pawsitive Pups Academy different from other board and train programs?

  • We believe in enrichment first. All of our programs start with two weeks of letting your dog play, run, sniff and just be a dog! That way, they are feeling happy, mentally and physically fulfilled, and ready to grow and learn when it comes time to start building skills through training.

  • We believe that education and experience are both essential. Pawsitive Pups Academy is owned and operated by Ash Osborn, a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and Family Dog Mediator with over a decade of experience in the pet care industry.

  • We can’t do all the work for you, but we can focus on skills that are both easy to transfer and easy to maintain! Instead of traditional obedience commands, we focus on teaching “default behaviors.” This means that we will teach your dog to offer certain behaviors automatically, like following you when they are on or off leash or laying down when you stand still to chat with someone on a walk.

    Instead of saddling you with a heavy load of homework and training drills, you will learn how and when to reinforce the behaviors your dog has already learned to offer, and how to easily work that reinforcement into your day-to-day life.

  • We know how scary it is to send your dog off with someone for six whole weeks, especially in an industry rife with cases of neglect and abuse.

    For that reason, we offer optional weekend home visits throughout your dog’s training program, with transportation included*, so that you are able to see and spend time with your dog throughout the training process.

    We also offer regular text message, video and picture updates and open, transparent communication about your dog’s health and behavior.

    Dogs who experience high levels of stress such as decreased appetite, changes in activity or energy level or GI distress will either be dismissed from the program with a pro-rated refund for unused training, or we will work with you and your veterinarian to reduce your pet’s stress through the use of medication or other medical interventions.

    *Location dependent. Additional fees and scheduling restrictions may apply for long distance clients.

  • Our board and train program is based out of our home in Prattsburgh, NY where we have 7 acres to train and play. We maintain strict capacity limits to ensure all dogs are receiving plenty of one-on-one attention, with no more three dogs enrolled in the program at one time.

  • We offer professional grade, experienced and high-quality care in a home-based environment. You can rest assured that your pet is being monitored by a knowledgeable, qualified pet care professional at all times, while still experiencing the comforts of a low stress, home based boarding environment.

  • We do not accept just any dog into our board and train program. This program is specifically designed for dogs who are most likely to benefit, long term, from a board and train program.

    For this reason, we require an initial consultation and evaluation prior to enrolling in the board and train program.

Our Four Part Process

Weeks One and Two

During your dog’s first couple of weeks of board and train, we will focus on:

  • Meeting their exercise, enrichment and social needs

  • Building relationship and drive for food and toys through games

  • Getting them comfortable with other dogs, being handled by their trainer and settling in the kennel.

Weeks Three and Four

Once your dog is comfortable, well exercised and mentally enriched, we will start skills training.

We focus on skills that will be easy for you as the owner to continue to reinforce. Our primary goal is that our training plan is easy for you to maintain.

In order to achieve this, we focus on teaching “default behaviors.” These are behaviors your dog should offer automatically, so all you have to do is reinforce them, rather than needing to maintain commands.

Your dog will learn to:

  • Follow your movements, on and off leash

  • Sit or lay down automatically when you are standing still and when they want something (this can help with behaviors like leash pulling, jumping up and counter surfing)

  • Use calming behaviors like sniffing to bring their own arousal down instead of barking, lunging, jumping, etc. when they are excited or frustrated.

Weeks Five and Six

The last couple weeks of your dog’s board and train program will be focused on expanding and practicing their skills in new environments, with new distractions, while continuing to provide fun and exciting enrichment and socialization opportunities.

As soon as they are ready to take their skills out on the road, your dog will join us on regular field trips to:

  • Dog shows and sporting events

  • Hiking trails

  • Dog friendly beaches and lakes

  • Parks

  • Pet friendly stores

  • Pet friendly patios

  • Campgrounds

  • And other pet friendly events and spaces where they can have fun and practice their new skills