Ready to Ditch Old-Fashioned Doggy Daycare?

Do you come home from work to a dog who is overly excited, bursting with pent-up energy, bored, or destructive? You’re not alone.

With today’s busy schedules, it can be difficult to consistently provide the exercise, structure, and training our dogs truly need to thrive. Even the most well‑intentioned dog owners can feel stretched thin.

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That’s where Achieve Obedience Academy’s Day Training Camp comes in.

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What Is Day Training Camp?

Day Training Camp is a structured, enrichment‑based learning program where your dog spends the day working directly with a professional, certified trainer—not just burning energy, but building skills.

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While you’re at work, your dog enjoys a purposeful day that may include:

• Fun, engaging training games

• Learning new skills and cues

• Practicing polite manners and impulse control

• Reinforcing house training and real-life behaviors

• Leashed group training sessions focused on neutrality, engagement, and calm behavior

• Leashed adventure walks for mental and physical enrichment

• Structured rest periods to prevent overstimulation

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There is no un-controlled group play at Day Training Camp. All dog-to-dog interaction is intentional, trainer-led, and conducted on leash for safety and emotional well-being.

Your dog returns home fulfilled, calmer, and mentally satisfied—not just exhausted.

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How Is Day Training Different From Traditional Doggy Daycare?

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Day Training Camp at AOA

• Small, carefully managed groups

• Leashed group training sessions only (no uncontrolled group play)

• Trainer-guided structure throughout the day

• Focus on learning, confidence, neutrality, and calm behavior

• Balanced physical activity and mental enrichment with built-in rest

All dog-to-dog interaction is intentional, structured, and conducted on leash to support safety, emotional well-being, and appropriate social skills.

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Ideal for dogs who:

• Get overstimulated or stressed in traditional daycare

• Prefer working with people over free-for-all dog play

• Need help with manners, confidence, reactivity, or impulse control

• Benefit from predictable routines and clear expectations

Day Training Camp isn’t about chaos—it’s about quality engagement.

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Our Training Philosophy: LIMA & CCPDT Standards

At Achieve Obedience Academy, all training is guided by the LIMA framework (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) as defined by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT).

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What Does LIMA Mean?

LIMA is an evidence-based, ethical approach to dog training that prioritizes:

• Your dog’s emotional and physical well-being

• Clear communication and learning

• Safety for dogs, owners, and the public

Training always begins with the least intrusive methods reasonably likely to be effective and progresses only as necessary to support learning, safety, and behavior change. Decisions are made based on each dog’s individual needs, history, and environment—not a one-size-fits-all approach.

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Transparency, Comfort, and Trust

We believe owners should feel confident and comfortable knowing exactly how their dog is being trained at all times.

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During Day Training Camp, methods and tools may include:

• Food rewards and play-based reinforcement

• Verbal markers and praise

• Leashes, long lines, harnesses, and head halters

• Management tools such as crates, gates, barriers, and controlled setups

• Safety equipment such as muzzles (used only for safety, never as punishment)

These tools are used to teach skills, build confidence, and create clarity, not to intimidate or suppress behavior.

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What We Will Never Use

Punishment-heavy techniques and purely aversive tools are not part of our program.

Achieve Obedience Academy will never use:

• Electronic or shock collars

• Prong collars

• Choke chains

• Intimidation, fear-based handling, or pain-based corrections

We do not believe these methods align with ethical training, long-term behavior change, or healthy human–dog relationships.

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Why This Matters

Dogs learn best when they feel safe, understood, and supported. LIMA-based training helps dogs:

• Think through challenges instead of reacting emotionally

• Build trust with their handlers

• Develop lasting skills that carry over into real life

Owners can feel confident knowing their dog is learning in a way that is humane, effective, and respectful.

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Possible Day Training Camp Activities

Day Training Camp is designed to be engaging, enriching, and enjoyable, while still maintaining structure, safety, and purpose. Activities are selected based on each dog’s individual needs, age, energy level, and comfort, and are always trainer-led and thoughtfully planned.

Fun, structured activities may include:

• Scent games and nose work to encourage natural problem-solving and mental enrichment

• Leash skills practice, including polite walking, engagement, and responsiveness

• Agility-style obstacles and movement games designed for confidence, coordination, and body awareness (not speed or competition)

• Dog “arts and crafts” activities that promote curiosity, creativity, and positive interaction with novel objects

• Solo toy play to encourage independent engagement and appropriate play skills

• Leashed decompression walks that allow dogs to explore their environment calmly and at their own pace

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Off-Campus Experiences

Participation in off-campus, leashed park walks and controlled public-environment outings is an optional component of Day Training Camp. These outings provide valuable real-world learning opportunities, such as practicing calm behavior, leash skills, and focus in new environments.

All off-campus activities are:

• Conducted on leash

• Carefully supervised by professional trainers

• Optional and based on owner authorization and the dog’s suitability

Our goal is to make each day productive, enriching, and enjoyable, combining learning with fun in a way that supports confidence, good behavior, and overall well-being.

 

Body Awareness, Confidence & Functional Enrichment

A key component of Day Training Camp is helping dogs develop body awareness, physical confidence, and trust—both in their environment and in the people guiding them.

Many behavior challenges stem not from disobedience, but from dogs feeling unsure of their bodies or uncertain in new situations. By intentionally teaching dogs how to move, balance, and problem-solve, we help them navigate the world with greater ease and confidence.

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How We Build Body Awareness & Confidence

During Day Training Camp, dogs may participate in carefully designed activities such as:

• Navigating low, safe obstacles and balance equipment

• Exploring novel surfaces with different textures, heights, and footing

• Gentle, age-appropriate stretching and conditioning exercises

• Slow, thoughtful movement games that encourage coordination and control

All activities are trainer-led and tailored to each dog’s age, physical condition, and comfort level.

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Why This Matters

These exercises provide more than physical movement—they offer meaningful enrichment that helps dogs:

• Build confidence when faced with unfamiliar situations

• Learn how to think through challenges calmly

• Develop trust in human handling and guidance

• Improve emotional regulation and resilience

Dogs who understand how their bodies move tend to feel safer and more capable in the world around them.

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Real-Life Benefits

Improved body awareness and conditioning often translate into everyday advantages, including dogs who are:

• More comfortable being handled, groomed, and examined

• Less stressed during veterinary visits

• More confident navigating new places, surfaces, and environments

• Better able to recover from startle responses or uncertainty

By incorporating body awareness and confidence-building into Day Training Camp, we support not just better behavior—but healthier, happier, more adaptable dogs.

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Day Training Camp for Puppies: Setting the Foundation for Life

Raising a puppy is exciting—but it can also be time-consuming, overwhelming, and exhausting. Between socialization, house training, crate training, and teaching good manners, many owners find it hard to keep up, even with the best intentions.

At Achieve Obedience Academy, we understand how critical the early months of a puppy’s life are—and we have the knowledge, structure, and tools to help you give your puppy the best possible start.

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Why Day Training Is Especially Valuable for Puppies

Puppies go through a critical socialization window, generally from around 3 to 16 weeks of age, when their brains are especially open to learning about the world. Experiences during this time shape how your puppy responds to:

• New people

• Other dogs

• Novel environments

• Sounds, sights, surfaces, and movement

• Mild stressors and unexpected situations

Positive, well-managed exposure during this window helps puppies grow into confident, resilient, and emotionally stable adult dogs.

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Structured Socialization—Not Overwhelming Play

In Day Training Camp, puppy socialization is intentional and trainer-led. Rather than uncontrolled group play, puppies participate in leashed group training sessions that focus on:

• Calm exposure to other dogs

• Learning to coexist without overstimulation

• Building confidence around distractions

• Developing appropriate social skills

This approach helps prevent fear, reactivity, and frustration later in life.

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Building Focus in a Distracting World

One of the most important skills a puppy can learn is how to stay engaged with their handler, even when the environment feels exciting, confusing, or scary.

Through structured training games and real-world practice, puppies learn:

• To check in with people instead of reacting

• To recover quickly from startling experiences

• That their handler provides guidance and safety

These skills form the foundation for reliable behavior, emotional regulation, and strong communication as your puppy matures.

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Foundation Skills That Matter

During Day Training Camp, puppies work on essential life skills such as:

• Crate training and calm confinement

• House training reinforcement

• Polite greetings and impulse control

• Basic cues and engagement skills

• Learning how to relax around distractions

All training is age-appropriate, positive, and guided by our LIMA-based training philosophy.

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Puppy Socialization, Health & Safety Standards

Leading veterinary behavior organizations, including the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), emphasize that early socialization is critically important for puppies—even before they are fully vaccinated. According to AVSAB, the risk of developing serious behavior problems due to insufficient or delayed socialization can outweigh the risk of infectious disease when puppies are exposed thoughtfully and responsibly.

The critical socialization window occurs early in a puppy’s life, and experiences during this time strongly influence how a dog responds to people, other dogs, new environments, sounds, and handling throughout adulthood. Carefully managed, positive exposure during this period helps puppies grow into confident, resilient, and well-adjusted dogs.

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How We Minimize Health Risks

At Achieve Obedience Academy, puppy safety is taken seriously. Early socialization is provided in a controlled, structured environment, not through uncontrolled group play.

We follow AVMA-recommended, industry-standard, veterinary-grade cleaning and disinfecting protocols, including:

• Routine disinfection of shared spaces and equipment

• Use of veterinary-approved disinfectants

• Structured scheduling and thoughtful management of dog interactions

While no environment involving animals can ever be completely risk-free, these practices significantly reduce health risks while allowing puppies to receive the social and developmental experiences they need.

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Vaccination Requirements

All Day Training Camp participants are required to have age-appropriate vaccinations. For puppies, this includes:

• A minimum of two rounds of Distemper/Parvovirus (DHPP) vaccines appropriate for their age

We encourage all owners to work closely with their veterinarian regarding their puppy’s vaccination schedule and overall health.

By balancing early, appropriate socialization with strong health and sanitation protocols, we support both the behavioral development and physical well-being of every puppy in our care.

 

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Raising a well-socialized, well-mannered puppy takes time, consistency, and support—and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed.

Day Training Camp allows your puppy to learn and practice critical skills during the day, while you focus on work and life, knowing your puppy is in capable, professional hands.

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Not sure if your puppy is ready for Day Training Camp? We’re happy to help you decide and tailor a plan that supports both you and your puppy.

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Is Day Training Camp Right for Your Dog?

Day Training Camp is a great fit for dogs who:

• Have excess energy or boredom

• Need help with manners or impulse control

• Struggle in traditional daycare environments

• Benefit from structured learning

• Enjoy working with people

• Need consistent reinforcement of good habits

Not sure? We’re happy to help you decide.

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Ready to Get Started?

 

Convenient Pickup & Drop‑Off Included

We know convenience matters.

🚐 Complimentary Transportation Available

• Pickup: Between 7:00–10:00 AM

• Drop‑off: Between 5:00–7:00 PM

• You may:

  • Hand off your dog in person

  • Leave a key or door code

  • Or transport your dog to the facility yourself

For your dog’s safety, all transported dogs ride in crash‑rated, professional dog crates.

Availability & Pricing

📅 Schedule

• Tuesday through Saturday

• No minimum attendance required

• You choose how many days your dog attends

💲 Pricing

• $40 per day for the first dog

• $30 per day for each additional dog

Flexible scheduling makes Day Training Camp easy to fit into your routine.

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Service Areas

Pickup and drop‑off routes currently include:

• Mocksville

• Bermuda Run / Clemmons

• Winston‑Salem

Outside these areas? Reach out! We are happy to see if we can add you to a route.

Spaces for Day Training Camp are limited to ensure every dog receives individualized attention.

📩 Have questions? Contact us anytime—we’re happy to help.

📅 Ready to reserve your spot? We recommend signing up early to secure availability.

We can’t wait to welcome your dog to Day Training Camp at Achieve Obedience Academy, where learning, enrichment, and care come together every day.

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Day Training Camp – Frequently Asked Questions

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What is Day Training Camp?

Day Training Camp is a structured, trainer-led program where your dog spends the day learning skills, practicing manners, and receiving enrichment under professional supervision. Unlike traditional doggy daycare, the focus is on training, confidence-building, enrichment, and encouraging calm behavior, not free-for-all play.

​

How is Day Training Camp different from traditional doggy daycare?

Traditional daycare often relies on large group play to tire dogs out, which can be overwhelming or stressful for many dogs.

Day Training Camp offers:

• Leashed group training sessions only

• No uncontrolled group play

• Small, carefully managed groups

• Trainer-guided structure throughout the day

• Balanced mental enrichment, physical activity, and rest

Our goal is quality engagement, not chaos.

​

Will my dog play with other dogs?

No uncontrolled group play occurs during Day Training Camp.

Dog-to-dog interaction is intentional, structured, and conducted on leash during trainer-led group sessions. This allows dogs to learn calm coexistence, neutrality, and appropriate social skills without overstimulation.

​

What training methods do you use?

All training follows the LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) framework as defined by CCPDT standards.

We prioritize humane, evidence-based training methods that support learning, confidence, and emotional well-being.

​

What tools will be used on my dog?

Owners should always feel comfortable knowing exactly how their dog is being trained.

We may use:

• Food rewards and play-based reinforcement

• Verbal markers and praise

• Leashes, long lines, harnesses, and head halters

• Management tools such as crates, gates, and barriers

• Safety equipment such as muzzles (used only for safety, never as punishment)

​

Do you use shock collars, prong collars, or choke chains?

No. Achieve Obedience Academy will never use:

• Electronic or shock collars

• Prong collars

• Choke chains

• Fear-based, intimidation, or pain-based techniques

These methods are not consistent with ethical training practices or long-term behavior change.

​

Can reactive, shy, or sensitive dogs attend Day Training Camp?

Many dogs who struggle in traditional daycare environments do very well in Day Training Camp.

Because our program uses leashed sessions, predictable routines, and trainer-guided interactions, it is often a good fit for dogs who are easily overstimulated, anxious, or in need of confidence-building.

We are happy to help determine whether the program is appropriate for your dog.

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How does body awareness and confidence training help my dog?

We incorporate obstacles, novel surfaces, stretching, and conditioning exercises to help dogs develop body awareness and physical confidence.

This work helps dogs feel more comfortable being handled, groomed, examined by veterinarians, and navigating new environments, while also supporting emotional regulation and resilience.

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How often does my dog need to attend?

There is no minimum attendance requirement. You choose how many days your dog attends based on your schedule and your dog’s needs.

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Do you offer pickup and drop-off?

Yes. Complimentary pickup and drop-off are available on select routes. Dogs are transported in crash-rated professional dog crates for safety. Owners are also welcome to transport their dogs themselves.

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Puppy-Specific Frequently Asked Questions

Is Day Training Camp appropriate for puppies?

Yes. Day Training Camp can be an excellent option for puppies when done thoughtfully and safely.

We focus on:

• Age-appropriate, structured socialization

• Foundation skills such as crate training, house training, and engagement

• Confidence-building in new environments

• Teaching puppies to maintain focus on their handler, even during distractions or uncertainty

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What is the critical socialization window?

The critical socialization window generally occurs between 3 and 16 weeks of age. During this time, puppies are especially receptive to learning about the world around them.

Positive, well-managed exposure during this period helps puppies grow into confident, resilient, and well-adjusted adult dogs.

Is it safe for puppies to socialize before they are fully vaccinated?

According to guidance from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), the risk of behavioral problems caused by insufficient socialization can outweigh the risk of disease when puppies are exposed thoughtfully and responsibly.

AVSAB supports early socialization in clean, controlled environments with appropriate health screening and sanitation protocols in place.

At Achieve Obedience Academy, puppy socialization is:

• Structured and trainer-led

• Conducted on leash

• Carefully managed to minimize risk

• Designed to build confidence without overwhelming puppies

We encourage owners to discuss their puppy’s individual vaccination status with their veterinarian.

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What sanitation and cleaning protocols do you follow?

We follow industry-standard, veterinary-grade cleaning and disinfecting protocols.

This includes:

• Regular cleaning and disinfection of shared spaces and equipment

• Use of veterinary-approved disinfectants

• Thoughtful management of dog flow and spacing

While no environment with animals can be completely risk-free, we take sanitation seriously and implement best practices to reduce the risk of illness.

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I’m overwhelmed—can Day Training Camp really help with raising my puppy?

Yes—and you’re not alone.

Raising a well-socialized, well-mannered puppy takes time, consistency, and energy. Day Training Camp allows your puppy to practice critical skills during the day while you focus on work and life, knowing your puppy is learning in a professional, supportive environment.

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If you’re unsure whether your puppy is ready, we’re happy to help you decide and create a plan that supports both you and your puppy.