Tall Oaks Dog Training Academy

Training is organized into five core paths: Puppy Right Start (for puppies 8 weeks–5 months), Home Harmony (for calm indoor behavior), Loose Leash Lifestyle (for leash pulling), Out & About (for public manners), and Reliable Recall (for off-leash reliability). Each path includes 4–6 lessons with in-home and public training, a video learning series, and ongoing text/email support. Board-and-train options are available for all paths, with dogs staying at the trainer’s home for 1–3 weeks, followed by a private lesson to transition skills home. Add-ons like tune-up lessons and recall reinforcement are available to extend progress.

Pricing Summary

Training packages are offered as 4-lesson sets for $450 or 6-lesson sets for $650, including in-home and public lessons, video learning series, and email/text support. Board-and-train options range from $550 for 1 week (puppy) to $2,200 for 3 weeks (out & about). Add-on tune-up lessons are $85 each or 2 for $150. Recall add-ons are $175 for 2 extra lessons. Equipment such as long-lines and training collars are not included.

Policies

Client inquiries require a 48-hour response time due to their boutique, personalized service model. No explicit cancellation or rescheduling policy is stated, but clients are encouraged to contact directly for assistance.

Tall Oaks Dog Training Academy is a family-focused dog training business led by Melissa Graf, a certified trainer with a Master’s degree in education and years of hands-on experience. They specialize in reward-based training that respects both dogs and their owners, offering personalized coaching to help dogs and humans enjoy life together. Services include in-home and public lessons, board-and-train programs, and video learning series to reinforce skills at home. They offer structured training paths for puppies, leash manners, reactivity, recall, and home harmony, with add-ons for ongoing support. Melissa also engages in dog sports like agility and scent work, bringing practical, real-world expertise to her training methods.

They serve dog owners in East Tennessee and beyond, with a boutique, personalized approach focused on building strong communication and confidence between pets and their families. Their training emphasizes real-life scenarios, from calm home behavior to off-leash freedom in public spaces, and they provide daily video updates during board-and-train programs to keep owners involved.

Melissa’s background as a former educator and her compassionate, patient style make her especially effective at coaching both dogs and their human partners through behavioral challenges.

Additional services include a curated selection of favorite dog products and a referral program for clients.

They do not offer grooming, boarding, walking, or daycare as standalone services beyond their training-focused board-and-train program.

Accomplishments

Melissa Graf holds a Master’s degree in education and has multiple dog training certifications. She continuously expands her knowledge through annual educational events and actively participates in dog sports including agility, Fast Cat, and scent work with her own dogs. She is recognized for her ability to coach both dogs and owners with patience and expertise, as reflected in numerous client testimonials.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients are encouraged to take a quick online quiz to identify the best training path based on their dog’s struggles and goals. After selecting a path, they can contact the business to schedule a free consultation and begin their customized training plan.