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Board & Train in North Dallas

Immersive Board & Train — Built for Real Life, Not Just the Classroom.


Home-based training in Anna, TX where your dog lives in a real home, practices in the real world, and you get the coaching to keep the results.

Have questions first? Contact DJ.

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What Board & Train Really Is (and Isn’t)

Board & train means your dog comes to live with a trainer for a set period of time and practices the right things, the right way, every day. Instead of one lesson a week, they get structure, repetitions, and clear communication from morning to night in a calm, consistent environment.

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At Mosaic K9, that doesn’t happen in a crowded kennel. Your dog lives in my home in Anna, gets to know my family, and trains in the same kinds of places you actually go — neighborhoods, parks, stores, and everyday life around North Dallas.

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What board & train does not mean is dropping your dog off broken and picking them up “finished.” Dogs are contextual learners. A good board & train gives your dog a clear reset and strong momentum. Long-term change still depends on what you do at home — which is why our handoff and follow-up support are built into the program, not bolted on the end.

What Board & Train Does

What Board & Train Does Not Do

  • Erase every habit your dog has ever rehearsed.

  • Make your dog listen everywhere if rules at home don’t change.

  • Guarantee “perfect off-leash” in every situation for every dog.

  • Replace your role — owner follow-through is still the deciding factor.

Is Board & Train the Right Fit for You and Your Dog?

Board & train can be a powerful tool — but only if it matches your dog, your goals, and your willingness to do your part at home.

Board & Train Is a Great Fit If…

  • You feel overwhelmed or stuck and need more than a weekly lesson.

  • Your dog’s patterns (leash chaos, constant barking, no off switch) feel bigger than your skillset.

  • You’re busy but willing to follow a clear plan once your dog comes home.

  • You’re open to fair tools and structure that put your dog’s wellbeing first.

You May Be Better Off Starting With Lessons If…

  • You’re not comfortable with your dog being away for multiple weeks.

  • You’re hoping for a fix without changing much at home.

  • Your dog’s issues clearly benefit from you being present from day one.

Not sure? Start with a FREE in-person evaluation so we can decide together.

How Board & Train Works at Mosaic K9

Free Evaluation

We meet at your home, look at your dog, your goals, and your lifestyle, and decide if 2–3 weeks or 4–6 weeks (or lessons instead) is the fairest, most realistic path.

Customized Plan

We agree on length, focus, and what is and isn’t realistic in that timeframe. No vague promises, no “any dog, any problem” claims. Just real expectations.

Your Dog's Stay

Your dog lives in my home, trains multiple times a day, and follows a predictable routine. You get regular photo/video updates and weekly recaps.

Owner Handoff & Follow-Up

You don’t just pick up and go. You get a detailed packet, a video skills library, and follow-up lessons at weeks 1, 2, 3, 8, and 12 to make sure change sticks in real life.

What Your Dog’s Stay Actually Looks Like

Your dog lives in my home in Anna — not a row of kennels. They learn to settle in a real living room, walk through real neighborhoods, load into a real car, and handle day-to-day life.

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At first, a lot of the work is decompression and relationship: calm walks, clear boundaries, simple structure. A dog who feels safe learns faster than a dog being rushed for quick results.

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As they settle, we layer in the Five Non-Negotiables, house manners, and outings around North Dallas. When it’s appropriate and safe, my family helps, too — including supervised practice around my 5-year-old daughter. If a dog can follow the rules for a kid who knows those rules, that’s a strong sign the communication is real.

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We follow a consistent rhythm (morning walk/work, midday rest and training, afternoon outing or structured play, evening settle), but adjust timing based on your dog and your future routine.

Program Lengths & Tracks

2–3 Week Foundations & Everyday Reliability

For stable dogs and puppies who need clear rules and better manners, without deep behavior issues.

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  • 2 weeks – Minimum stay. A strong jump-start for dogs who simply haven’t been shown what’s expected.

  • 3 weeks – The sweet spot. In two weeks, most dogs can learn the basics. In three, they start to rehearse those skills in more places, with more distraction and a calmer brain.

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Typical outcomes: cleaner leash manners, stay/place in the home, early recall and leave-it, better household behavior. For the right dog, we may also start early off-leash foundations in safe, controlled spaces.

4–6 Week Behavior Reset & Off-Leash Freedom

Four weeks is the starting line when we’re:

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  • Addressing reactivity or aggression (case by case).

  • Building serious e-collar and off-leash foundations.

  • Pushing distance, duration, and distraction on the Five Non-Negotiables.

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We use the extra time to decompress, build trust, teach clearly, and stress-test in your dog’s real world. Some dogs and goals are fair at 4 weeks. Others truly need 5–6 weeks for more environments, more reps, and more coaching for you.

 

We’ll always explain why we’re recommending 2, 3, 4, or 6 weeks — and what that means in plain English.

What We Train During Board & Train

Every program is built on the Mosaic K9 Five Non-Negotiables:

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  • Engagement – Your dog checking in and staying mentally with you.

  • Recall – Coming when called the first time, starting on a long line and, in longer stays, moving toward off-leash reliability where it’s appropriate.

  • Stay / Place – Remaining calmly where you ask, in the house and around everyday distractions.

  • Leave It – Ignoring food, objects, and situations that aren’t theirs.

  • Loose Leash Walking – Walking together without dragging you or exploding at everything that moves.

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On top of that, we add what your dog specifically needs: confidence, neutrality around dogs or people, crate and door manners, car skills, and more. In 4–6 week programs, that may include e-collar conditioning and serious off-leash work when it fits the dog and the owner.

What Off-Leash Freedom Really Looks Like

Off-leash training isn’t “perfect heel forever.” It’s a dog who can explore, sniff, and move — and still come back or stop when it matters.

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At Mosaic K9, serious off-leash work lives in our 4–6 week programs. We first make sure your dog understands the basics on leash. Then, when it fits the dog and the owner, we layer in e-collar work on low levels over known cues. The e-collar becomes a clear, fair way to communicate at a distance, not a shortcut or a shock out of nowhere.

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Only after a solid on-leash foundation is in place do we practice off-leash work in safe, legal environments. For some dogs, that includes e-collar conditioning; for others, it doesn’t. The tools and timeline depend on the dog in front of us — not a preset formula. What we won’t do is promise “off-leash in two weeks” or send you home believing a collar is a shortcut rather than a safeguard.

Owner Handoff:
Where the Real Change Happens

Board & train can reset your dog. Your habits at home decide whether it sticks. That’s why every program includes built-in coaching over the first three months.

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You’ll get:

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  • Pick-Up Handoff (Day 0) – 60–90 minutes: skills, tools, and your first-week plan.

  • Week 1 Lesson – Clean up the first leaks in your real routine.

  • Week 2 Lesson – Tighten leash, recall, and thresholds; answer “what do I do when…?”

  • Week 3 Lesson – Stress-test around walks, guests, kids, and real-life distractions.

  • Week 8 Lesson – Check in on patterns and recalibrate.

  • Week 12 Lesson – Make sure the new habits are actually part of your life.

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You’ll also receive a detailed go-home packet and a video skills pack showing your dog working key exercises, with my voice-over, so you can replay exactly how they were trained.

Transparency and Support

During your dog’s stay, you get:

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  • Regular photo/video updates – Short clips 2–3 times per week with a quick note on what we worked.

  • Weekly recaps – A simple summary of progress and what’s next.

  • Mid-program check-in – For longer stays, a structured session (or call) so you can see where we are and start learning your side early.

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After your dog goes home, you get:

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  • Open access for questions – If you’re a Mosaic K9 client, you can call, text, or email when you hit a snag or need advice.

  • Three 50%-off refresh lessons in the first 12 months – Extra in-person help when you want to refresh or build on the skills we taught.

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The goal: you’re never stuck wondering what to do next.

How Board & Train Compares to Other Options

Board & Train

Best when you need a deeper reset or off-leash work but don’t have the bandwidth for daily training. Your dog lives with me, trains daily, and you receive a structured handoff with continued support.

In-Person Lessons

Best when you want to be hands-on from the start and can practice between sessions. Ideal for leash skills, obedience, and ongoing coaching to build consistency in your day-to-day life.

Virtual Coaching

Best if you’re outside North Dallas or want flexible, frequent check-ins. Ideal for fine-tuning handling, troubleshooting challenges, and maintaining progress over time.

Ready to Talk Through What’s Best for Your Dog?

Board & train is powerful when it’s used thoughtfully and matched to the right dog and family. The first step isn’t picking a number of weeks — it’s sitting down together and making a plan that’s fair, realistic, and built for your actual life.

Prefer to start with lessons? Learn more about In-Person Training.

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