Doghouse Girls in Baltimore: Board-and-Train Programs for Working Dogs
Doghouse Girls is a dog training facility in Baltimore that specializes in board-and-train programs, where dogs stay on-site for intensive instruction over weeks rather than attending hour-long classes. The business focuses on obedience, leash manners, and behavioral problem-solving for dogs of all ages, positioned between group class trainers and one-on-one private coaching in both cost and depth of work.
What Doghouse Girls Actually Does
The facility boards dogs during the day and evening while trainers work with them on commands, loose-leash walking, recall, and addressing specific issues like jumping, pulling, or reactivity toward other dogs. Dogs are kept in individual kennels between training sessions and have access to a yard. The program is designed for owners who want measurable progress without the weekly logistics of dropping off and picking up for classes, or for those working with dogs that need more structure than a single weekly session provides.
Services and Pricing
Board-and-train packages run from two weeks to eight weeks, with pricing starting around $1,400 for a two-week program and scaling upward based on duration and any specialized behavioral work. The facility typically includes three to four individual training sessions per day, yard time, feeding, and a take-home reinforcement plan tailored to your household. Owners receive a final meeting to learn how to maintain the dog's new behaviors at home. Confirm current rates directly, as board-and-train pricing adjusts with fuel and staff costs.
Group classes are also offered if you prefer to train alongside your dog, running roughly $150 to $250 for a four- to six-week session depending on the focus area.
How It Compares to Other Baltimore Training Options
Baltimore has several trainers, but most operate on a per-session model: Bmore Dog Training offers private sessions at around $75 to $100 per hour, suitable for owners who can commit to weekly work and reinforce lessons at home. The Bark Baltimore provides group obedience classes at similar pricing to Doghouse Girls' classes but does not offer board-and-train. If your dog pulls hard on walks or has shown aggression toward other dogs, a two-week board-and-train removes the owner's learning curve and guarantees consistent daily work; private sessions require more owner discipline and spread progress over months. Group classes suit owners with stable schedules who want to bond with their dog during training. Board-and-train suits busy owners, multi-dog households where one dog is disrupting the pack, or behavioral issues serious enough to warrant intensive intervention.
Who This Suits and Who It Does Not
Board-and-train works well for owners juggling work schedules, those adopting rescue dogs that need structure, owners of adolescent dogs in the chaos phase, or anyone facing a specific problem (jumping on guests, leash reactivity) that a few weekly classes have not solved. It does not suit owners who view training as a bonding activity or who want to be hands-on during the learning process. It also requires a dog calm enough to board away from home; extremely anxious or undersocialized dogs may struggle in a kennel setting and should start with private in-home training.
What the First Visit Involves
Schedule a consultation before enrollment. You will meet a trainer, discuss your dog's history and specific goals, and tour the facility to see the kennels and yard. The trainer will assess whether board-and-train is appropriate or whether private sessions or classes would be a better fit. A behavior history form captures issues like resource guarding, leash aggression, or separation anxiety. Once enrolled, drop-off typically happens on a Monday, with pick-up four weeks later (or your chosen duration); you will receive weekly photos or updates and a final training summary before taking your dog home.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
Doghouse Girls operates Monday through Friday during business hours; weekend boarding is available. The facility is located in Baltimore; parking is on-site. Confirm holiday closures and any blackout dates before booking. If you have a second dog at home, ask whether the facility offers discounts for boarding multiple dogs simultaneously or whether it can recommend a compatible boarding option for your other pet.
Board-and-train fills quickly during spring and summer, so book two to three months ahead if you need a specific start date. The program is most effective when owners commit to the take-home plan, so factor in time to practice new commands for the first two weeks after pick-up.
Doghouse Girls fills a gap for Baltimore owners who need faster results than weekly classes allow but want a trainer handling the day-to-day work rather than managing it themselves.
