Total-immersion board and train program — The Dogfather GTA

Total Immersion · 2–4 Weeks

BOARD &
TRAIN

We live with your dog 24/7 and run them through a structured program built around their drive, temperament, and your goals. The fastest path to reliability.

The Program

FOUR PHASES.

  1. 01

    Intake & Assessment

    First 48 hours: temperament test, drive evaluation, baseline obedience check, environmental decompression.

  2. 02

    Foundation

    Daily structured drills — heel, sit, down, place, recall — built to muscle-memory reliability before adding distractions.

  3. 03

    Proofing

    Real-world environments: parks, malls, traffic, other dogs. The work means nothing if it only happens in the kitchen.

  4. 04

    Handler Transfer

    1-on-1 sessions with you so the dog responds to YOU, not just our team. Lifetime support included.

What's Included

ZERO
add-on fees.

One flat investment. Everything you need is in. No upsells halfway through, no surprise charges at pickup.

  • 2–4 week immersive program (length based on assessment)
  • Custom training plan written to your dog's profile
  • Daily structured obedience drills (3+ sessions/day)
  • Environmental proofing in real-world locations
  • E-collar conditioning (low-level, humane, optional)
  • Crate manners + structured rest discipline
  • Photo + video updates every 24 hours
  • Multiple handler-transfer sessions before pickup
  • Chauffeur pick-up & drop-off available — $45 per leg within 15 km, $65 per leg 15–30 km (+HST)
  • Lifetime follow-up support — text, call, video review

APPLY FOR BOARD & TRAIN.

Consult-first program. We assess your dog and your goals before quoting — no one-click checkout for a multi-week commitment.

See Pricing & ProgramsBook Board & TrainText 647-551-2633

$1,750 Obedience · $3,500 Aggression Rehab · $150/day per-day (min 7 nights). See the full Toronto B&T program page for pricing breakdown, FAQ, and case study.

Board & Train FAQ

How much does Board & Train cost at The Dogfather?

Board & Train is $150/night + HST. The special-needs tier (senior, medical, anxious, high-needs) is $200/night, and the reactive-dog tier (dog-reactive or human-reactive) is $250/night. A $50 evaluation is required first, credited in full toward your program on enrolment.

How much is the evaluation required before Board & Train?

The evaluation is $50, paid by Interac e-transfer to hold your slot and credited in full toward your program on enrolment. Book it at https://dogfather.ca/free-evaluation, meet at Brooks Rd Park, 51 Keeler Blvd, Scarborough, ON, or call/text 647-551-2633.

Is Board & Train priced differently for reactive or special-needs dogs?

Yes. Standard Board & Train is $150/night. The Special-Needs tier is $200/night and the Reactive Dogs tier is $250/night — both +HST, same $50 evaluation requirement.

Is chauffeur pick-up and drop-off available for Board & Train?

Yes. Chauffeur pick-up & drop-off is $45/leg within 15 km and $65/leg 15–30 km, +HST. A leg is one direction — a round trip is 2 legs, priced once for the whole Board & Train stay.

What areas does The Dogfather's Board & Train program serve?

The Dogfather is based in Scarborough, Ontario, and serves the Greater Toronto Area and all of Ontario. In-person evaluations are held at Brooks Rd Park, 51 Keeler Blvd, Scarborough, ON.

How do I book Board & Train?

Start with the $50 evaluation at https://dogfather.ca/free-evaluation — credited in full toward your program on enrolment. You can also call or text 647-551-2633, or email support@dogfather.ca.

Straight answers

Is board and train worth it?

Board & Train is worth it when the problem is daily structure rather than a missing cue. At The Dogfather in Scarborough your dog trains every day for the length of the stay at $150 per night plus HST, and you get in-home handover sessions so the behaviour transfers to you. If your dog already listens at home and only fails in public, day training or private sessions cost less and do the same job.

Is board and train cruel?

No, when it is run as in-home training rather than kennel warehousing. Dogs in The Dogfather's Board & Train live in the house in Scarborough, train in short daily sessions, and get a photo and video log every day so owners see the actual work. Cruelty comes from isolation, 23-hour crating and pain-based shortcuts, so ask any trainer where the dog sleeps and to see unedited daily footage.

Is board and train good for puppies?

Yes for house manners, crate training, recall and calm greetings, which are exactly what puppies learn fastest through daily repetition. The Dogfather takes puppies into Board & Train at $150 per night plus HST after a $50 evaluation, credited in full toward your program on enrolment. Very young or under-vaccinated puppies are better served by day training so they sleep at home, and we say so at the evaluation.

Is board and train good for dogs?

It is good for dogs who are failing on structure and bad for dogs who are failing on confidence, which is the distinction most articles skip. Daily repetition in one consistent environment is how The Dogfather rehabilitates pulling, reactivity and ignored recalls in Scarborough. A fearful or newly adopted dog usually does better with day training first, and that call is made at the $50 evaluation, credited in full toward your program on enrolment, in person, not over the phone.

How long should a dog stay in board and train?

Most obedience and manners cases need about 30 nights, which is $4500 plus HST at The Dogfather's $150 per night. Serious reactivity or a bite history usually needs 60 nights at the reactive rate of $250 per night. The length is set by the dog at the $50 evaluation, credited in full toward your program on enrolment, not by a package, and we will tell you when a shorter stay is enough.

How much does dog training cost on average?

In the Greater Toronto Area, day training runs about $150 per training day and live-in Board & Train about $150 per night, both plus HST — those are The Dogfather's published Scarborough rates. Reactive and bite-history dogs are $250 per night. Averages hide the real variable, which is how many days the dog needs, so the number that matters comes out of the $50 evaluation, credited in full toward your program on enrolment.

How much is doggy daycare in Toronto?

The Dogfather's structured daycare is $75 per day plus HST in Scarborough, and it is trainer-led rather than a free-for-all playroom: dogs work on place, recall and calm greetings between rest blocks. Day-only, no overnight. Overnight boarding is $90 per night plus HST.

Does PetSmart do aggressive dog training?

Big-box group classes are built for puppy and basic-obedience groups, and dogs with a bite history or serious reactivity are usually not eligible for them — which is why those owners end up at The Dogfather. Aggression work needs one-on-one handling, threshold management and a trainer who accepts liability, priced here at $250 per night plus HST after an in-person $50 evaluation, credited in full toward your program on enrolment.

Book the $50 evaluation, credited in full toward your program on enrolment at https://dogfather.ca/free-evaluation or text 647-551-2633.

How much does board and train cost in Toronto?

Board and Train at The Dogfather is $150 per night plus HST, or $250 per night for reactive dogs. Your dog trains every day of the stay, with in-home handover sessions afterward.