Dogma Boarding School
Training for real life
starts in a real home.
Your dog doesn't learn to navigate the world in a kennel. They learn it in a kitchen, at a front door, on a neighbourhood walk, in a home that runs exactly the way yours does. Dogma Boarding School brings your dog into our home โ supervised every moment by two certified behaviour consultants โ so the skills they build are real, durable, and ready for the life you share together.
"Your dog doesn't train in a kennel.
They train in a home."
Why a home changes everything
Real life is where learning sticks.
A kennel can't ring a doorbell. A facility can't have a kitchen. And no training run has ever prepared a dog for the moment a guest walks in, a neighbour's dog appears on the corner, or dinner hits the table and everyone needs to stay calm.
Every room, every routine, and every distraction in our home is part of the curriculum. That's not a coincidence โ it's the point.
- Doorbell Dog hears it, responds, learns to settle.
- Guests Real arrivals, real greetings, handled with confidence.
- Meals Boundaries practised daily, naturally reinforced.
- Walks Neighbourhood distractions. Your dog focused.
- Downtime Crate, couch, yard. All of it, intentional.
What sets us apart
Not just board and train. The opposite of it.
Most board-and-train programs are a black box. You drop your dog off and get back a different animal โ with no idea how it happened, and skills that fade within weeks. Dogma Boarding School is built around transparency, relationship, and the transfer of everything your dog learns back to you.
Relationship-first, always
We don't use punishment. Every method is science-based and built around confidence, resilience, and trust โ the kind that holds up in the real world long after your dog comes home. Training your dog to perform for us isn't the goal. Training them for a better life with you is.
World-class credentials
Megan is one of only four people in Canada to hold the CBCC-KA โ the highest behaviour consulting credential available anywhere. Kris is a certified behaviour consultant with nearly 15 years of experience. You won't find a more credentialled in-home training team in Calgary. Or in Canada.
The handoff is half the program
Skills that live only with the trainer aren't skills โ they're a rental. Every Boarding School program ends with a dedicated owner coaching session and a written transition plan. We spend real time making sure what your dog has learned transfers completely to your home, your routines, and your hands.
Your trainers
You're not dropping your dog at a facility.
You're trusting them to a family.
Megan and Kris Stanley bring your dog into their home and their daily life. There are no shift changes, no rotating staff, no days off from the curriculum. Every training moment is supervised by the same two people โ start to finish.
Studio backdrop in brand palette or clean home interior.
Warm, approachable โ professional without being stiff.
Megan has spent over 20 years working with dogs and the people who love them. She is one of only four people in Canada to hold the CBCC-KA certification โ the most rigorous behaviour consulting credential in the field โ and one of only five worldwide to hold the CBCC-KSA. She developed the Dogma curriculum and trainer accreditation program, and has built a reputation in Calgary as the trainer other trainers call when a case is complex. Boarding School is a direct extension of that standard โ the same expertise, now in her home.
20+years experienceStudio backdrop in brand palette or clean home interior.
Warm, approachable โ professional without being stiff.
Kris brings nearly 15 years of experience as a certified behaviour consultant, with a particular depth in fearful and reactive dogs. He is methodical, patient, and deeply committed to the dogs and families he works with. His approach is rooted in the same science-based methods that define all of Dogma's work โ and his ability to read a dog, build trust slowly, and create genuine confidence in dogs who have struggled is what makes the reactive track of Boarding School possible. Together, Megan and Kris are the only team your dog will work with. That consistency is part of what makes this work.
15years experiencePrograms & pricing
Find the right program for your dog.
Two tracks. One approach โ science-based, relationship-first, and built around your dog's individual needs. Every program includes a dedicated owner handoff session, a written transition plan, and full payment before the program start date.
Puppyhood is short. The habits formed in it last a lifetime. Boarding School gives your puppy the most important foundation they can have โ built in a real home, through real routines, by two of the best trainers in Canada.
- Obedience foundations in a real home environment
- Confidence and resilience building
- Attention and relationship work
- Navigating everyday home life and distractions
- Owner handoff session (included)
- Written transition plan (included)
$1,095/week ยท Minimum enrolment ยท Full payment due before start date
- Everything in the 2-week program
- Deeper real-world distraction work
- Stronger recall and off-leash foundations
- One VIPups or Foundations class (included)
- Reduced rates on follow-up private sessions
- Owner handoff session (included)
- Written transition plan (included)
$1,095/week ยท Recommended for most puppies ยท Full payment due before start date
- Everything in the 3-week program
- Advanced real-world exposure and reliability
- Off-leash confidence across varied environments
- VIPups or Foundations class (included)
- Discounted private follow-ups for 12 months
- Ongoing class access for 12 months
- Owner handoff session (included)
- Written transition plan (included)
$1,095/week ยท Our most comprehensive puppy program ยท Full payment due before start date
Fearful and reactive dogs don't fail because of who they are. They struggle because no one has given them the right conditions to succeed. Boarding School gives them time, safety, consistency, and two handlers who know exactly how to build the foundation they're missing.
- For current Dogma dogs with an existing training foundation
- Highly individualized โ built around your dog's specific needs
- Targeted desensitization and confidence work
- Owner handoff session (included)
- Written transition plan (included)
$1,295/week ยท Current Dogma clients only ยท Full payment due before start date
- Individual assessment before program begins
- Fully customized plan โ built around your dog, not a protocol
- Desensitization, play-based learning, and trust-building
- Real-world exposure in careful, controlled progression
- Discounted follow-up private sessions
- Owner handoff session (included)
- Written transition plan (included)
$1,295/week ยท Duration confirmed after assessment ยท Full payment due before start date
- Everything in the 2-week program
- Extended real-world exposure and desensitization
- Greater confidence, resilience, and self-regulation
- Relevant group class (included)
- Discounted private follow-ups for 12 months
- Ongoing class access for 12 months
- Owner handoff session (included)
- Written transition plan (included)
$1,295/week ยท For dogs that need time to build lasting confidence ยท Full payment due before start date
For fearful & reactive dogs
For dogs who struggle in the world, the right home is the first step toward trusting it.
There is no standard protocol here. Every fearful or reactive dog gets an individual assessment and a program designed entirely around their specific triggers, history, and goals. Progress is the measure โ not the calendar. Some dogs move faster than expected. Some need more time. We follow the dog.
For a dog that has struggled in the world, being placed in a calm, consistent home environment with expert handlers is itself a form of treatment. That's something no facility can replicate.
Already a Dogma dog?
Current Dogma clients have a shorter path in.
Dogs who are already part of the Dogma family โ through Day School, private training, or group classes โ have an existing relationship with our methods and our team. That foundation matters. It's why we offer a 1-week Boarding School option exclusively to current Dogma clients whose dogs need targeted, immersive work.
How it works
Boarding School isn't something you book.
It's something you're accepted into.
We take a limited number of dogs at a time โ because your dog deserves our full attention, not a shared facility and a rotating cast of handlers. The application is straightforward. We'll be in touch within 48 hours.
Complete a short application telling us about your dog โ their history, their challenges, and what you're hoping Boarding School will achieve.
We'll review your application and reach out within 48 hours to discuss whether Boarding School is the right fit and which program makes the most sense.
Full payment is due before your dog's start date. Your dog comes home with us. Every day is structured, purposeful, and documented โ with regular updates to you throughout.
Photo: A handoff moment โ owner and trainer with a dog. Written transition plan visible in frame. Collaborative and warm.
Before your dog comes home, we spend dedicated time with you โ walking through everything they've learned, how to maintain it, and what comes next. The transition plan is yours to keep.
"Not only have I noticed such an improvement with Murphy, but also with myself. I've already been in situations with him where I'm impressed with how confidently I handled it โ compared to how I used to be. I know Murphy and I will always have a ways to go but I'm really happy we have made such great progress."
โ Courtney, with Murphy
Placeholder โ replace with a Boarding School-specific testimonial when available.
Common questions
A few things worth knowing.
Is Boarding School right for my dog?
It's a good fit for puppies who need a strong early foundation, and for dogs who are fearful, reactive, or struggling in everyday life. If you're unsure, the application process will help us figure that out together โ we'll be honest if we think a different program is a better match.
Where does my dog stay?
With us โ in our home. Not a kennel, not a facility, not a shared space. Your dog lives as part of our household for the duration of the program, which is precisely what makes the training work.
What does a typical day look like?
Every day is structured around your dog's program and the natural rhythms of home life. That means morning and evening training sessions, walks in real neighbourhood environments, calm household time, meals with boundaries, and any socialization appropriate for your dog's stage and temperament. There are no idle hours โ every part of the day is an opportunity, and we use them.
Can I visit during the program?
We ask that owners hold off on visits during the program. It's not about keeping you at a distance โ it's about giving your dog the space to settle, build new patterns, and trust the process without the emotional disruption that visits can cause, particularly in the early days. We'll keep you updated regularly so you always know how things are going.
How many dogs do you take at a time?
Very few. The number is intentionally limited to ensure every dog receives the attention, consistency, and individualized instruction the program requires. Spaces are limited and in high demand โ we recommend applying early.
What happens when my dog comes home?
Every program ends with a dedicated owner handoff session and a written transition plan. The 3-week and 4-week programs include discounted follow-up private sessions and ongoing class access for 12 months โ so the work continues long after pickup day.
Do you use punishment-based methods?
Never. Every method we use is science-based and rooted in building confidence, resilience, and trust. We don't train compliance through fear. We build the kind of behaviour that holds up in real life because your dog genuinely understands what's expected and feels safe delivering it.
What breeds do you work with?
All of them. Dogma is breed-agnostic โ always has been. Size, breed, and temperament don't determine whether your dog is a fit for Boarding School. Their needs and goals do.
Do you require vaccinations?
Yes. All dogs must be up to date on vaccinations before the program begins. Full requirements will be confirmed during the application process.
What's the difference between Boarding School and Day School?
Day School is a structured daytime program your dog attends at the Dogma facility. Boarding School is full immersion โ your dog lives with Megan and Kris in their home, receiving instruction through every part of the day and evening. It's the most intensive, most individualized training Dogma offers.
How does the 1-week alumni option work?
The 1-week option is available exclusively to current Dogma clients whose dogs have an existing foundation with us. It's designed for targeted, intensive work on specific challenges โ not a first introduction to training. If you're an existing client and think your dog could benefit, include that in your application.
How does payment work?
Full program fees are due before your dog's start date. For extended fearful and reactive programs, final duration and total cost is confirmed after the initial assessment. We accept all major credit cards. Spaces are confirmed upon receipt of payment.
