Chucktown Charley

Chucktown Charley offers comprehensive training programs including Board and Train, Puppy Training (Train and Play), and Day Training. The Board and Train program is immersive, with dogs spending the entire day in a structured environment receiving hands-on training. This program is customized to individual dog needs and covers relaxation exercises, socialization, proprioception, learning games, manners, on-leash and off-leash obedience, behavior modification, and dog rehabilitation.

The Puppy Training program is designed for puppies aged 8 weeks to 6 months, focusing on relaxation exercises, socialization, manners, body awareness, useful obedience, and crate conditioning. It also includes exposure to various environments in the Charleston area and preparation for grooming. Day Training involves dogs working daily with professional trainers and pet care technicians. All training programs include private lessons at their facility for owner learning.

Their daycare services are structured into three options: Playful Essentials, Perpetual Performance, and Climb Higher. Playful Essentials provides a full day of private and social activities, along with enrichment activities aimed at increasing problem-solving skills, reducing anxiety, and boosting confidence. Perpetual Performance builds upon this by adding learning games to reinforce engagement and social skills. Climb Higher is an exclusive program for alumni of their signature training programs, offering one-on-one training sessions with a professional trainer to focus on specific skills like walking, heel, climb, recall, distraction work, and relaxation. Boarding and playcare services are exclusive to alumni of their signature training and/or socialization programs, which require at least a 4-6 week commitment.

Pricing Summary

Daycare pricing includes Playful Essentials at $42.95/day, Perpetual Performance at $59.95/day, and Climb Higher at $84.95/day. Discounted, pre-paid daycare subscription packages are available.

A non-refundable deposit of $80 per dog per reservation is required upon booking. There is a two-night minimum for most holidays, including Memorial Day, Easter, July 4th, and New Year’s. A surcharge of $25/day is added for intact male dogs over 9 months old and for females who unexpectedly go into heat. If owners forget to bring their dog’s food, house food is provided at $5 per meal. Outside of regular hours pick-up and drop-off are available by appointment for a $25 fee. For daycare dogs not picked up by closing, a charge of $1/minute incurs for the first 15 minutes, after which they will lodge overnight at the standard nightly fee.

Policies

Requests are responded to between 8 am and 4:30 pm on weekdays, with Saturday requests after 10 am addressed on Monday. All dogs must have veterinarian proof of up-to-date vaccinations, including DHLPP, Rabies (1 year+), and Bordetella; puppies 10 weeks and younger also require a clear fecal record. A pest preventative is highly suggested.

A non-refundable deposit of $80 per dog per reservation is required. There is a two-night minimum stay for most holidays. Specific holiday closures for pick-up and drop-off are observed for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, and Independence Day. A $25/day surcharge applies to intact male dogs over 9 months old and females who unexpectedly go into heat; females in heat are not permitted to board. Dogs must be on leash or carried at all times. If fleas are present at check-in, a flea bath will be administered at the owner’s expense. Dogs on behavior-altering medication are not allowed in social play. Owners are asked not to bring their dog’s toys or bedding due to limited storage. In case of illness or injury, the facility will contact the owner and, if unreachable, will take the dog to their regular veterinarian or the closest available veterinarian for treatment. Tours are provided to clients during their foundations lesson by request, not on a walk-in basis, to maintain a calm environment for all guests.

Chucktown Charley is a boutique pet retreat and learning experience located in Charleston, SC, founded by Allison and Janie. They position themselves as Canine Lifestyle Experts, dedicated to providing a safe, fun, and stimulating environment for dogs, with a strong focus on good manners and proper socialization. Their ultimate goal is for every dog to have a calm, well-balanced experience.

They offer a comprehensive range of services including dog training, specialized puppy training programs, immersive board and train programs, day training, dog daycare, dog boarding, and dog spa services. Their unique advantages include an immersive, structured environment for training, hands-on professional guidance, and customized training plans tailored to each dog’s and owner’s specific needs.

Chucktown Charley specializes in relaxation exercises, conflict-free techniques, manners, obedience, dog rehabilitation, and advanced behavior modification. They utilize a motivational game style of learning to encourage engagement and are the only training and behavior retreat in their area that also offers boarding and daycare. They are also noted as Charleston’s only activity and behavior-based facility with full-time dog behaviorists/trainers on staff.

Accomplishments

Chucktown Charley was founded by Allison and Janie, both Charleston, SC natives. Allison holds a degree in behavioral science from Charleston Southern University and has over twenty years of professional dog training experience as the owner of Well Mannered Dog, LLC. Janie began her career in the pet industry at age seventeen, working in grooming, boarding, and veterinary hospitals, eventually managing a grooming salon before acquiring a kennel in 2012.

Chucktown Charley is recognized as Charleston’s only activity and behavior-based facility and the only training and behavior retreat in their area that also offers boarding and daycare. They are unique in having full-time dog behaviorists/trainers on staff. Their training methodology incorporates techniques developed by Mark McCabe of Training Between the Ears.

How to Get Started!

To begin, prospective clients can set up a free, no-obligation discovery session, which can be conducted over the phone or via Zoom. During this session, the trainers will discuss the owner’s training goals, inquire about their lifestyle with their dog, and assess the dog’s personality and temperament. Based on this information, a customized training plan will be created. The business emphasizes ensuring clients are completely comfortable before committing to their services. It is important to note that boarding and playcare services are exclusive to alumni of their signature training and/or socialization programs, which require a minimum commitment of 4-6 weeks.