Choose your path
Six Ways to Get Help
A stay is one of six options. Each guide covers how it works, what it costs in general and who it tends to fit.
Board and Train
A board and train stay means your dog lives and practices with a trainer for a couple of weeks, then you learn to keep the work going.
$1,500 to $2,500+ for 2 to 3 weeksRead the guide →
Puppy Training
Puppies are often too young for a long stay, and many trainers prefer to teach the owner first.
$150 to $350 per lesson packageRead the guide →
Private Lessons
A private lesson puts you, your dog and a trainer together on a plan built for your daily life.
$75 to $150 per lessonRead the guide →
In-Home Training
In-home lessons deal with the habits that live in your house: door barking, counter surfing, yard escapes and pulling on your own street.
$100 to $200 per lessonRead the guide →
Obedience Training
An obedience package builds core skills across several weeks, with you doing the practice in between.
$500 to $1,200 per packageRead the guide →
Behavior Coaching
Fear, strong reactions to people or dogs and sudden changes in behavior need a patient plan, not a quick fix.
$600 to $1,800 per programRead the guide →General estimates only. Prices vary by trainer, dog and market.
Start with the plan
Know the Plan Before You Pick a Place
A good stay is a series of small, boring wins that the owner learns to repeat. Read how stays are run, what drives the price and which questions help separate a careful program from a risky one.
Quiet work in open country
Focus first. Distance later.
Good training is mostly calm repetition. These photos show the patient, low-key moments that daily practice is built from.
Skills in focus
Skills a Stay Usually Works On
Tap a card to flip it. These are common goals for a stay, not a promise of what any program will teach.
Trainer availability
Where Things Stand
See which towns the guide covers and what that means for you today. Tell us about you and your dog. A K9PN coordinator reads every request and replies about trainers near you.
- A K9PN coordinator reads every request
- Honest guides and general price ranges
- Notes on eight Pikes Peak towns
How it works
Read. Ask. Practice.
- 01
Read how a stay works
See what a typical day looks like, what the owner learns and what it costs in general.
- 02
Ask the right questions
Use the checklists to compare where dogs stay, who handles them and how updates arrive.
- 03
Plan the return home
Line up cues, routines and practice spots so the work carries on.
Service areas
Eight Towns, One Region
From the plains edge to the pass, each page covers roads, elevation, places to walk and how the setting shapes a stay.
About this guide
Straight talk, not a sales pitch.
Sending a dog away to be trained is a big decision. This guide lays out how stays work, what to ask and how to tell a careful program from a risky one.
Each town page adds notes on elevation, main roads and places to walk. They come from public sources such as Wikipedia and county websites, not from reviews or ads.
About this guide →How this guide works
Plain words. Clear limits.
Operated by K9PN. See the Disclaimer for details.
Good questions
Before you begin.
How much does board and train cost near Colorado Springs?
General estimates run about $1,500 to $2,500 or more for two to three weeks. Longer stays cost more, and trainers set their own prices.
What is board and train?
Your dog stays with a trainer for a set time and follows a daily plan. You then take handoff lessons to repeat it at home.
Does altitude matter?
It can. Ask a trainer how exercise is paced and how they handle water, shade and cold, and talk to your veterinarian about any concerns.
What should I look for in a program?
Open doors, plain answers about methods, a written agreement, regular updates and handoff lessons for you.
How do I keep results after the stay?
Practice daily, keep cues consistent across the household and book follow-up lessons if the trainer suggests them.
Should I choose lessons or a stay?
Lessons build your own skills. A stay gives your dog concentrated daily work. The best fit depends on your dog and schedule.