Canine Life Skills

Canine Life Skills offers two main program types: One-on-One Private Lessons (weekly, 1-hour sessions) and Board and Train Camps (5 to 20 days). The Puppy Head Start Camp is a 10-day intensive program for puppies 12–16 weeks old, focusing on name recognition, loose-leash walking, and discouraging nipping. The Basic Home Manners Camp (10 days) teaches dogs 16 weeks and older foundational obedience like sit, stay, recall, and doorway manners. The 20-day Home and On The Go Camp adds distractions and real-world scenarios. Refresher and Puppy Grow-Up Camps build on prior training. All board and train programs include a final owner lesson and follow-up support.

Pricing Summary

One-on-One Basic Obedience: $775 (6 lessons + e-collar); Off-Leash Skills: $240 (3 additional lessons); Puppy Head Start Camp: $1,600 (10-day board and train); Basic Home Manners Camp: $1,800 (10-day board and train); Puppy Grow-Up Camp: $1,350 (10-day board and train). All board and train programs include a final lesson with the owner, 2 free follow-up private lessons, email/Facebook updates, and training equipment.

Policies

Board and train programs require puppies to have at least 2 vaccinations and a negative fecal test and UTI clearance from a veterinarian prior to admission. Clients may opt to have their dog go home for the weekend during 10-day programs. No specific cancellation or rescheduling policies are stated for private lessons or camps.

Canine Life Skills is a dog training business serving the greater St. Louis area since 2007, founded by Angela Bentley and now owned and operated by Diana Korenak. They offer private one-on-one training classes and intensive Board and Train Camps designed to help dog owners build a well-mannered, obedient pet. Their programs focus on leadership, training, and management to solve common behavior issues like jumping, mouthing, leash pulling, and poor recall. Their facility is located on a 5-acre rural property in Hillsboro, MO, offering a natural, distraction-rich environment for training, with 24-hour monitoring and limited to only four campers at a time for personalized attention. They also provide Puppy Head Start and Puppy Grow-Up Camps specifically for young dogs, along with Refresher Training Camps for ongoing skill development. Training includes the use of remote training collars and other equipment, with follow-up lessons and video updates provided to owners. Diana Korenak is also a certified remote training collar specialist and a Raw Dog Food Nutrition Specialist, integrating nutrition into behavior management.

They emphasize teaching owners how to maintain their dog’s training at home, ensuring long-term success. Their services are tailored to both puppies and adult dogs, with programs ranging from 5 to 20 days for board and train options, and weekly one-hour private lessons for ongoing guidance.

Additional services include training videos, free meet-and-greets, and email/Facebook updates during boarding programs. They do not offer grooming, daycare, or pet sitting, focusing exclusively on training and boarding for behavioral development.

Accomplishments

Diana Korenak, owner and lead trainer, is a certified remote training collar specialist (2012) and a Raw Dog Food Nutrition Specialist (2020). She is a Professional Member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP). The business has been operating since 2007, with over 17 years of combined experience in dog training and behavior modification.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients can schedule a free meet-and-greet at the facility in Hillsboro, MO. Contact via phone, email, or website to arrange an appointment and discuss training needs before enrolling in a program.