Board & Train in Northern Virginia

Get a calm dog you can take anywhere in 4 to 6 weeks

How to fix reactivity, pulling and lack of control without months of trial and error, even if every trainer you've tried has failed.

❗️ Next opening: a 4 or 6 week program starting early January 2027

I train only 2 to 3 dogs at a time, about 30 to 35 dogs a year.

SEE IF MY DOG IS A FIT

★★★★★ 4.6 on Google (22 reviews) · Over 2,000 dogs trained · 1+ million followers

Apply below. After you apply, you'll receive:

✅ Whether we think your dog is a good fit

✅ Pricing and financing options

✅ Current availability and the next start date

What 24 hours of my board & train looks like

Domino: came down from New Jersey for my 6 week program

Reactive his whole life. Barking and lunging at any dog that passed. One day in, I said it on camera:

"This is a night and day difference in 24 hours of training."

Tap to play. It starts at the moment I'm talking about.

What your dog gets

✅ Lives in a real home, not a kennel. Your dog stays in my home in Alexandria, VA or one of my trainers' homes.

✅ Only 2 to 3 dogs at a time. I personally train every dog, with one of my trainers alongside.

✅ Video updates every week, made for you and your family, so you see the progress and learn the handling.

✅ Trained for real life: new places, other dogs, public places, movement and distractions.

✅ A hands-on session with me on the final day, so your dog listens to you, not just to me.

✅ Your dog's full video catalog and unlimited access to the Board & Train Course.

✅ Unlimited lifetime support after graduation, as long as you keep doing the work.

✅ Eligible for boarding with us once your dog graduates.

How the program works

  1. Days 1 to 10: ground rules. Loose leash walking, heel and basic obedience.
  2. Days 11 to 21: proofing. The e-collar is introduced and minor behavior work starts: barking, jumping, thresholds.
  3. Days 21 and on: behavior modification. Reactivity, aggression, resource guarding and fear. This is where the real change happens.

Two or three weeks isn't enough time for the foundation and the deeper behavior work. That's why my programs are 4, 6 and 12 weeks.

APPLY FOR A SPOT

4.6 stars on Google from 22 reviews

"Before training, walks were something I dreaded because he pulled nonstop and was extremely reactive to other dogs... After Ethan's 6 week board and train, Bogey is a completely different dog."

Bogey, 6 week board & train

"The front door was a nightmare, trash men or delivery people would send him into a spiral... The difference in Kelce is night and day... It was worth the 4 hour drive from NJ to drop Kelce off and pick him up!"

Kelce, 6 year old rescue pit mix, 6 week board & train

"We decided to do a 6-week board and train to deal with our dog Lucie's resource guarding... When we got our dog back after the board and train our pup was eager to be a good girl, which was tough to imagine before."

Lucie, 6 week board & train

"Klaus was always barking and lunging at dogs, at humans, at inanimate objects, at EVERYTHING... Our veterinarian couldn't believe the transformation; he said Klaus seemed like a different dog."

Klaus, board & train

Google reviews of NOVA Canine Academy

Questions owners ask before applying

How much does it cost?

4 Week Board & Train: $8,500. 6 Week Board & Train: $12,000. 12 Week Board & Train (for larger behavioral issues): $22,000.

You can pay a 20% deposit to book, with the rest due a few weeks before training starts, or finance the full amount through Affirm (6 or 12 month plans, typically 0% APR).

My dog is reactive or aggressive. Can you help?

Yes, that's what my 6 week program is for: reactivity, aggression and resource guarding. Tell us everything in the application. Ethan and the team review every application before we recommend a program.

What if my dog has bitten someone?

Put it in the application, with as much detail as you can. Ethan and the team review it before we say whether board & train is the right fit for your dog.

I'm not in Northern Virginia. Can I still do this?

Yes. About 50% of our board & train clients are from outside the D.C. area, including Chicago, Florida, New York, Ohio and Texas. D.C. area clients: Ethan picks up your dog and drops them off at the end. Out of town clients drop off and pick up.

When could my dog start?

We usually book out months in advance. Right now there's a last minute opening for a 4 or 6 week program starting early January 2027. If you have specific dates in mind, tell us in the application and we'll try to make it work.

Where does my dog stay?

In Ethan's home in Alexandria, VA or in one of his trainers' homes, never a kennel or a facility. We train only 2 to 3 dogs at a time.

Will my dog listen to me after, or only to you?

You get video updates every week, then a hands-on session with Ethan on the final day where he walks you through everything your dog learned. After that you have unlimited lifetime support.

What kind of training do you use?

Balanced training: clear rewards and fair corrections, so your dog knows exactly what's expected. The e-collar is introduced in the second phase, after the foundation is in place.

Your dog doesn't need more random tips

It needs the right steps in the right order, from someone who does this every day. Tell me about your dog and I'll tell you if it's a fit.

❗️ Next opening: 4 or 6 week program, early January 2027

APPLY FOR A SPOT

Questions first? Email sales@novacanine.com