Know what you are buying
Start With What a Stay Actually Is
Before comparing prices, it helps to know what you are buying: days of structured work with a trainer, then lessons that teach you to keep the results going. The pages below break down the stay itself and the lesson-based options that sit beside it.
A sample stay
What a Two-Week Stay Can Look Like
Programs differ, but many follow a similar arc. Use this sample as a yardstick, not a promise, when a trainer describes theirs.
- Days 1 to 3
Settling in
The dog gets used to the space, the people and the daily rhythm. Good programs go slowly here and avoid heavy training until the dog eats, rests and moves normally.
- Days 4 to 7
Building core cues
Short sessions teach sit, down, a calm place to rest and walking on a loose leash. Rewards are used often and sessions end while the dog still wants more.
- Days 8 to 11
Adding real-life distractions
The trainer starts working near doors, other dogs at a distance, car rides and new spots. Mistakes are expected and the trainer simply resets.
- Days 12 to 14
Preparing for home
The trainer tests cues in new places and writes down what worked, what equipment helped and what to avoid.
The handoff lesson is where you learn the cues, the timing and the household rules. Ask whether it happens at your address, who should attend and what follow-up support exists afterward.
Choose your path
Stays and Their Alternatives
A stay is one path among several. Read how each option works, what moves the cost and what to ask before you commit.
Board and Train
In a board and train stay, your dog lives with a trainer and works on set skills each day, then you learn what the dog learned in handoff lessons.
$1,500 to $2,500+ for a stay of about 2 to 3 weeksRead the guide →
Obedience Package
Some owners want the same core skills without sending their dog away.
$500 to $1,200 per packageRead the guide →
Behavior Coaching
Barking at windows, lunging on leash and fearful reactions can be hard to fix away from home, since the trigger is often on your street.
$600 to $1,800 per programRead the guide →
In-Home Lessons
A stay ends at your front door, and that is where results are tested.
$100 to $200 per visitRead the guide →
Private Lessons
A single lesson is a low-cost way to meet a trainer before you commit to a stay, or to refresh skills after one.
$75 to $150 per lessonRead the guide →
Puppy Foundations
Very young puppies are usually better served by short lessons at home than by time away.
$150 to $350 per packageRead the guide →General estimates only. Prices vary by trainer, dog and market.
Calm work, patient pace
Training looks quiet. That is the point.
Most progress comes from unhurried repetition, not drama. These photos show the steady, low-key moments a careful program is made of.
About this stay guide
Explained plainly, with no sales push.
Sending a dog away for training is a big decision, and most owners make it without knowing what a good program looks like. This guide exists to fill that gap with clear explanations and honest cost ranges.
Each town page adds practical notes about local weather, trails and travel. Those notes come from public sources such as city pages and encyclopedia entries, not from advertising.
About this guide →How it works
Learn. Compare. Decide.
- 01
Learn the stay basics
Read how a stay runs day by day and what the handoff should include.
- 02
Compare programs side by side
Use the same list of questions with every trainer you talk to.
- 03
Decide with terms in hand
Get costs, rules and emergency plans in writing before you pay anything.
Trainer availability
Ready to Compare Programs?
We are lining up professional trainers in Salt Lake City, and nobody is taking requests from this site yet. You can browse the towns this guide covers and read the questions to bring to any program you contact on your own.
- No form, no sign-up and nothing sent anywhere
- A checklist of questions to carry into any tour or phone call
- Local notes for eight Wasatch Front towns
Service areas
Eight Wasatch Front Towns
Each town page covers its setting, walking spots, weather swings and the travel questions that come with leaving a dog for a stay.
Ground rules for this guide
Clear costs. No pressure.
Run by K9PN. The Disclaimer has the full details.
Good questions
Before you begin.
What is a board and train program?
Your dog stays with a trainer for a set period, usually a couple of weeks, and works on skills each day. You then learn those skills in handoff lessons.
What does a stay usually cost near Salt Lake City?
General estimates run about $1,500 to $2,500 or more. Length, level of attention and follow-up all move the price.
What should I ask before booking?
Ask where the dog sleeps, how many dogs a trainer handles, what tools are used, how updates arrive and what the handoff includes.
How do I compare two programs?
Put the same questions to each, ask to see a daily schedule and get every term in writing before paying.
Is a stay better than lessons?
Not always. A stay saves your time, while lessons teach you directly. The right choice depends on your dog and your schedule.
Does this site recommend a facility?
No. It names no trainers or facilities and takes no requests.