Puppy boot camp
Often a structured block of professional training. It may be a daytime program or involve an overnight stay.
Ask how much individual training your puppy receives, where they rest, and what happens when they are worried.
Minneapolis & nearby suburbs · Go Anywhere Dog®
A puppy boot camp alternative.
More help. More life together.
Looking for puppy boot camp or board-and-train because you need someone experienced to take on more of the training? You have another option.
With Ultimate Puppy Training Packages, your Dog Life Coach works directly with your puppy at home and on thoughtfully paced outings. Off-leash group classes and practical guidance bring your family into the learning. Your puppy continues living with you.
10 or 20 private sessions plus the class journey.
Scheduled training and classes; no overnight boarding or all-day care.
A little breathing room.
You love your puppy.
You could use another pair of hands.
The teeth are tiny. The job is not. Wanting professional help with potty routines, play biting, settling, leash manners, or coming when called makes sense.
Our coaches take on hands-on practice during private sessions. You join key sessions to learn the cues and routines, with videos and guidance to help between visits. You do not have to figure out the whole puppy project by yourself.
Meet your Dog Life Coaches and explore our Boundaries Without Trauma® approach.
Know what you’re comparing.
Boot camp, board-and-train,
and training at home.
Program names are not standardized. Ask each provider about the actual schedule, methods, rest arrangements, and family involvement. Some boarding programs operate in a trainer’s home; some boot camps send puppies home every evening.
Puppy board-and-train
Typically combines training with overnight care away from your home. The setting may be a facility or a coach’s home.
Ask about supervision, sleep, time alone, training tools, and how your family will learn to continue the work.
GAD Ultimate Puppy
Your puppy lives with you. Private sessions combine home practice and coach-led outings, with off-leash group classes and support for your family.
Choose 10 or 20 private sessions. You join key private sessions and attend the class journey.
Early confidence deserves attention.
Every experience
teaches something.
Young puppies are learning how the world feels, alongside learning what to do in it. Meeting more dogs or visiting more places is useful only when the experience suits the puppy.
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior identifies the first three months as especially important for socialization. It recommends safe experiences that avoid excessive fear, withdrawal, or avoidance. Overwhelming exposure can increase fear instead of helping a puppy feel comfortable.
Sources: AVSAB puppy socialization statement and Socialization is more than mere exposure.
What that looks like at GAD
- We watch the puppy. Their body language helps us decide whether to continue, give space, offer comfort, or take a break.
- Play includes a choice. We pause interactions and check whether puppies want to rejoin.
- Small puppies get thoughtful matches. Small-breed class groups and adjustments within the room support comfortable play.
- Learning happens in your life. Home routines, local outings, and the class journey give skills different places to grow.
See the class part of the journey.
Come inside
a GAD class.
Get a feel for the people, puppies, and learning environment. Then read why we pause play for a consent test, why comforting a scared puppy is welcome, and why off-leash social learning continues at every level.
The Ultimate package
Professional practice.
A whole class journey.
10 private sessions
Four socialization outings and six in-home sessions. Join at least two private sessions so you can keep learning going at home.
Under 16 weeks: $2,175
16 weeks or older: $1,990
20 private sessions
Six socialization outings, eight in-home sessions, and six outings to practice around distractions. Join at least four private sessions.
Under 16 weeks: $3,425
16 weeks or older: $3,240
Every package includes Life Skills 101, 201 and 301, three group Outings, one 30-minute Zoom consultation, the puppy video eCourse, report cards, and support between sessions. Under-16-week packages also include Puppy & Me. Private outings count toward your 10 or 20 sessions; the three group Outings are separate.
Prices in USD. Starting age means age at your first class. Confirm service area and scheduling before purchasing. Package credits do not reserve dates.
“This has been such an amazing experience!”
Jennifer Isernhagen, Vivienne’s mom, chose Ultimate to combine classes with personal training. Excerpt from her previously published Go Anywhere Dog® review.
Questions worth asking any provider.
Look beyond the program name.
- Where will my puppy spend training time, rest time, and the night?
- How will you respond if my puppy hides, freezes, growls, or tries to get away?
- What training methods and equipment will you use?
- How do you select play partners and check that both puppies want to continue?
- How will training transfer to our home, and what will I need to practice?
- What is included, what costs extra, and which dates are actually available?
At GAD, we welcome these questions. They help us find a plan that fits your puppy and your family.
Before you choose
A few helpful answers.
Do you offer puppy board-and-train?
We offer an alternative through Ultimate Puppy Training Packages. Your puppy continues living with you while a Dog Life Coach provides private training and outings. Group classes and family guidance are included. We do not provide overnight boarding through Ultimate.
Can someone train my puppy while I work?
Your puppy can work directly with their Dog Life Coach for many private sessions. You join at least two private sessions in the 10-session plan, or four in the 20-session plan, and participate in the class journey. Scheduling depends on your family and coach availability. These are scheduled sessions, not an all-day care service.
Is this suitable for a small-breed puppy?
Yes. We offer small-breed puppy class groups for puppies expected to weigh 25 pounds or less as adults. We also adjust play within the room and check that puppies want to participate. Read how we support small-breed puppy socialization.
How young can my puppy start?
Puppies under 16 weeks at their first class begin with Puppy & Me; older puppies begin with Life Skills 101. Contact Jeannie with your puppy’s age, health and vaccination information, and ZIP code to plan an appropriate start. Follow your veterinarian’s guidance about your puppy’s individual health risks.
What does the program cost?
Under-16-week packages cost $2,175 with 10 private sessions or $3,425 with 20. Packages starting at 16 weeks or older cost $1,990 with 10 private sessions or $3,240 with 20. All prices are USD. See the full inclusions and age options.
Will my puppy be fully trained when the package ends?
We build practical skills and help you keep them growing. Puppies develop at different rates, and learning continues through adolescence and everyday life. Your participation, practice between sessions, and your puppy’s needs all shape progress. We do not promise a finished dog by a fixed date.
Where is this available?
Private sessions serve southwest Minneapolis and nearby western and southwestern suburbs, including Edina, Richfield, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, Shakopee and Lake Minnetonka communities. Group classes meet at 14500 Martin Dr, Suite 1500, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Confirm your ZIP code and coach availability before purchasing.
Let’s make puppy life a little easier.
Your puppy.
Your next step.
Tell Jeannie your puppy’s age, ZIP code, and what you most want help with. If you’re considering boot camp or board-and-train, tell her that too. She’ll help you check availability and choose a starting point.
Training close to home
Private training in southwest Minneapolis and nearby western and southwestern suburbs. Group classes at our Eden Prairie school.
14500 Martin Dr, Suite 1500
Eden Prairie, MN 55344