The Wayward Canine

The Wayward Canine offers customized training programs with a clear and balanced approach. Their services include Boarding & Training, Doggy Day Camp, Doggy Daycare, Fit Camp, Obedience Training, Puppy Training, and Private Lessons.

Board & Train programs are intensive, typically several weeks, providing concentrated training in a structured environment, often in the trainer’s home. These programs offer consistency, professional expertise, immersion, socialization, and customized plans. They include a lifetime of support and free group classes for longer programs.

Day Camp is a training service that includes obedience, behavioral training, socialization, and exercise, with packages available that include free group classes. Doggy Daycare provides a safe environment for mental stimulation, exercise, and socialization, requiring prior approval through Day Camp. Fit Camp is an alternative for non-dog social dogs or those needing specific exercise, offering activities like fetch, treadmill, fit paw workouts, and pack walks.

Obedience Training covers Foundation (food luring for puppies), Basic On-Leash (reinforcement of obedience behaviors), Advanced Off-Leash (for reliable off-leash skills), Competition Obedience coaching, and Behavior Modification (for anxiety, aggression, etc.). Private Lessons are available at the facility or in-home for various behavioral issues and obedience. Group Obedience Classes are held Saturday mornings at 10 am, focusing on manners, leash training, and off-leash skills, and are for dogs who have completed Day Camp or Board and Train programs.

Pricing Summary

Regular Boarding: $65 per day (base price for dogs with no behavioral tendencies), $85 per day (for dogs with behavioral tendencies), $85 per day (Boarding with Training for manners and obedience), $100 per day (Behavior Modification Boarding with Training for aggression/fear/anxiety).

In-Home Boarding: $100 per day (base price), $120 per day (for dogs with behavioral tendencies), $150 (In-Home Boarding with Training), $170 (In-Home Behavior Modification Boarding with Training). Add training for an additional $50 to regular in-home boarding.

Private Lessons: $80-$100 per hour at the facility. In-Home Lessons: $250 + Travel fee ($1/mile both ways).

Puppy Day Camp: $60 per camp day. Packages include 6 pack ($354), 12 pack ($696 with 6 FREE Group classes), 18 pack ($1,044 with 8 FREE Group classes), 24 pack ($1,368 with 10 FREE Group classes). Puppy Private Training Lessons: $150/hr for non-camp clients, $100/hr for those enrolled in camp or a training program. In-home puppy private lessons are $150 per hour plus travel fee.

Doggy Day Camp starts at $60 with free classes included with packages. Group Obedience Classes are required to be prepaid.

Policies

Reservations are required for Daycare and Day Camp. Drop off hours for both services are between 7AM-9AM and pick up hours are between 4PM-7PM. Group Class requests must be in by Wednesday each week and are required to be prepaid. Dogs must be approved for Daycare or Group Obedience Class through Day Camp or Board and Train programs.

The Wayward Canine is a dog training business that offers a clear and balanced approach to dog training, aiming to help owners achieve a peaceful and joyful life with their dogs. They provide customized training techniques based on a dog’s age, temperament, and owner goals, emphasizing reward-based training while also correcting unwanted behaviors.

Their comprehensive services include Boarding & Training, Doggy Daycare, Obedience Training, Puppy Foundation Training, Private Training Sessions, and In-Home Lessons. They focus on enhancing communication between dogs and owners through effective cues and commands.

A unique advantage is their offer of a lifetime of support for clients and their dogs after the board and train program, which includes free group classes for those who sign up for longer programs. They also offer Fit Camp for dogs not suited for traditional daycare, providing alternative exercise and mental stimulation.

Accomplishments

Joshua Knowlton has been a certified dog trainer for 20 years, starting with an apprenticeship in obedience and behavior modification. He competed in frisbee with his pit bulls and in the Protection Sports Association (PSA) as a decoy and competitor, earning a PSA1 title with his dog Dino. He was voted a National Select Decoy multiple years. Josh is currently competing with his Dutch Shepherd Kano, earning their PSA3 Title and becoming the PSA3 National Champion in 2021. He is also training his Belgian Malinois Rayne, who has earned her PSA1 Title, towards PSA2.

Alyssa Normandie has 12 years of experience in canine care, including pet sitting, boarding, daycare supervision, and training. She actively trains her personal dogs, Valak (Dutch Shepherd) and Zagan (Belgian Malinois), in the Protection Sports Association. Valak earned his PSA1 Title and is now retired from protection sports due to injury, but will compete in herding, nose work, and AKC obedience. Zagan achieved both legs of his PSA1 competition, coming in 1st place each time, and became PSA’s National Vice Champion in 2021. Alyssa and Zagan are currently training for their PSA2.

How to Get Started!

To get started, dog owners can email thewaywardcanine@gmail.com to schedule a time to chat with one of their trainers. For boarding services, clients should reach out via email. Reservations for Daycare and Day Camp are made through the PetExec software portal; new clients can have an account set up for them. An evaluation or completion of the Day Camp program is required for daycare approval. For group obedience classes, dogs must have gone through the Day Camp or Board and Train program.