Leaving your dog for weeks with a stranger can be scary! What if your dog gets lonely? God forbid they don't eat enough! You can search for a fear-free Positive Board and Train program like we have at The Bark but they are few and far between and you still may not love the idea of not seeing your dog for weeks. There is an alternative! Its called day training!

What is Day Training

Day training is where you drop your dog off at school in the morning and pick them up at in the evening. Your dog still gets the individualized dog training attention that they need and you still get the perks of having a professional put in the training hours for you. You are in charge of all their meal times before and after their day of dog training and you get a cute report card all about their day and progress!

How long does Day Training Take?

In a traditional board and train program you dog finishes their training in just a couple weeks. That's made possible by the amount of hours the trainers has to pour into them day after day and the consistency the dog gets since they don't have any other interactions. How long Day Training takes is really dependent on how often you dog is coming to dog training class and how well you are maintaining the program at home overnight.Day Training usually takes place over a few months but can be done in weeks if they dog is scheduled for daily lessons.

Does my dog train ALL day at Day Training?

We could have the best treats in the world and no dog is going to train all day long. Their brains have the stamina for about 1-2 hours of training per day and the shorter the intervals the better it sticks! Day training dogs participate in numerous one on one training sessions with their positive dog trainers. The time between sessions they can spend in a playgroup with other dog friendly dogs, or if they are not dog friendly, they get a private and spacious suite all to themselves with interactive toys!

How much does day training cost?

We charge for day training by the hour. You can purchase (1) hour session for $100 or get a package of (10) one hour sessions for $800.

Ready to get your dog started on day training? Book their first session today or schedule a meet and greet to speak with a trainer using our Pet Portal.

Alright a day running around dog friend sounds like fun for your dog but is doggy daycare really worth the cost? Doggy daycare isn't just play time, for some dogs and pet parents it is crucial to maintaining balance and meeting a dog"s needs.

Socialization

Knowing how and when to socialize your dog can be hard and scary! What if the dogs you introduce them to aren't friendly? A quality doggy daycare program performs a behavior check to ensure the dogs coming to playgroup are balanced players who are friendly. You also want to find a program that offers different groups for different temperaments.

Keep your dog active & fit

Did you know dogs require a minimum of 30-120 minutes per day of exercise everyday! That can add up to 14 hours per week for some active breeds! It isn't always easy to squeeze in essential dog walks before and after work and it sure shows in their behavior at home. Restlessness, digging holes, whining, chewing things up, licking obsessively, escape artistry and nuisance barking can all signs your dog is B-O-R-E-D. Doggy daycare can be an essential tool in ensuring your dog gets enough exercise.

Give your dog something to do during the day

Laying around doing nothing for eight or ten hours per day isn't your dog's idea of nice time. All of that idleness can actually stress your dog out. This stress and restlessness is often what lead to destruction and other signs of separation anxiety when pet parents leave in the home. The cost of repairing your home and replacing your belongings far exceeds the cost of doggy daycare.

Having a Doggy Daycare can save you in a pickle

Doggy Daycare in Knoxville, TN is hard to get into! Most places are on a waiting list and a last minute pop in as a new customer will often get you turned away at the door. Doggy daycare can be a great place to send your dog when staying home for the day isn't a good option like when a repair visits, you are moving, or maybe the AC goes out. Having people you trust to watch your dog for the day is invaluable!

Ready to get your dog into doggy daycare in Knoxville, TN? The Bark has a completely cage free and fear free experience in our over 18,000 sq ft facility! We have three huge nature themed play spaces with features like a swimming pool, jungle gym, tunnels and more!

Steps to get started

• Check our entry requirements
• Create a pet profile
• Complete a Behavior Evaluation
• Drop your dog off for a day of fun!

COULD BOARD AND TRAIN BE YOUR DOG TRAINING SOLUTION?

Long work hours, kids, cleaning the house, and the million other things on your to do list can prevent you from being able to spend the time your dog needs on dog training. We know that with such busy schedules, the last thing you want to come home to in a misbehaving dog. How frustrating! Board and train programs can be a really attractive dog training option in these situations. Your dog gets dedicated, daily attention to their training needs, you get a short break, and your dog will return home with better behavior than they left. Its just that simple right? Not quite. Board and train is a great option for a lot of dogs and owners, but it may not fit every dog and client.

How does board and train work?

At The Bark, our trainers first want to meet with you to discuss your dog training goals. Our professional dog trainers will evaluate your dogs behavior to suggest a length of stay that can accommodate your goals. Your dog training goals could include work on obedience, impulse control, and even address issues like fear, anxiety, and dog aggression. Our dog trainers use positive reinforcement and dog psychology to reach your training goals. We never use e-collars, prong/choke collars, or starvation tactics. You will receive daily updates about your dog's successes and struggles so you can monitor how they are progressing through their dog training program. Upon return your trainer will go over the skills they learned and make sure you know how to maintain the progress that was made and continue to build even better behavior over time.

How is Board & Train so fast?

It's all in the numbers, hours of daily practice from our dog trainers adds up quickly. It would take the typical dog owner months to get through the amount of training hours we complete in a couple weeks. The full immersive experience and consistency of a Board & Train program is largely why dogs make such huge strides in a short period of time.The most important thing to remember about training your dog, is the work is never done. If you don't use it, you lose it. It is important to practice your dog's new skills to keep them on the right track.

What kind of goals can Board and Train help my dog reach?

• Basic Obedience
• Improving Impulse Control
• Resource Guarding
• Dog Aggression
• Off Leash Skills
• Public Manners
• So much more!

Where do I sign up?

Our board and train availability is limited and books up very quickly. You aren't alone a LOT of dog owners struggle to find the time and patience to train their dog. Book a complimentary, in-home meet and greet with a trainer today to discuss your goals and reserve a date for your dog to get started. Better behavior is only two weeks away!

Your dog is so good and you are hoping we see it too? You are not alone, a lot of customers come into our lobby nervous about their Behavior Pre Check. Our behavior checks are important to make sure we are inviting dogs to join our playgroups that are friendly and most importantly comfortable! There is very little reason to worry. The pre-check only takes about 15-20 mins and less than 1% of the dogs we see do not pass their behavior check the first time. For those dog's that don't get to pass their first day there are a lot of Dog Training Options to help your dog gain more confidence and comfortability within playgroups during doggy daycare or dog park visits. So many have passed and your dog can too!

Behavior Pre-Check Overview

• Step 1: Behavior History Questionnaire One of our Barkrangers will sit down and ask you questions about your dog's history playing with dogs. They will ask questions to learn more about your dog's temperament and play style. Do they like to chase? Do they like to wrestle? Are they laid back? Are they bursting with energy all the time? We want to know.
• Step 2: Greeting a Stranger Our Barkranger will offer to let your dog approach them on their own. They will pet your dog and inspect their harness to see if handling is an issue at all. Barkrangers have an important job to maintain safety within the playgroups and sometimes that means separating dogs or having a dog walk away. Being able to touch your dog and grab their harness is important for everyone's safety.
• Step 3: Sniff Test with One Dog Your dog will take a walk on leash to go visit a new dog. They will do some short sniffs while our Barkrangers are monitoring body language.
• Step 4: Meeting a Group of Dogs If your dog does well on their sniff test, they may be invited to join a group of dogs to finish their pre-check.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I have to schedule my Behavior Pre-Check? No, you are welcome to do a walk-in for your pre-check and get service the same day. We do not perform them Monday-Friday 12-3pm so our staff can take their lunch breaks. Scheduling your pre-check does allow us to plan for your visit and minimize any wait time.
• Can my dog visit the dog park or stay for doggy daycare the same day as their pre check? Yes, if your dog passes their Behavior Pre-Check they can immediately join a playgroup!
• What if my dog doesn't pass? We recommend your dog joins our day training program where our trainers work one-on-one with your dog during daycare to help ease them into a playgroup or you can start working alongside one of our positive trainers through private or in-home lessons.

Your dog is just a short 15-20 minute pre-check away from a day full of fun and off leash play! Schedule your dog's behavior pre-check today and they'll be enjoying doggy daycare while your work and running around the dog park with you while you enjoy a cold beer. Be ready for your visit by logging into the pet portal and uploading your dog's proof of vaccines!