Puppy Boot Camp
Overview
Puppy Camp is a program where your puppy comes and stays at our facility for 4-weeks, 8-weeks, or 12-weeks in length. This is referred to as 'Board-and-Train,' because your puppy will be boarding overnight, and training 7-days a week, from course start till graduation. This immersion into a learning environment is how we can train young dogs to such a high standard at a young and impressionable age. Imagine, a team of experienced dog training professionals, dedicated to working with your puppy, 7-days a week.
Our focus is on teaching dogs and puppies to be excellent pets, family companions, and manners for living in the home.
Puppies that graduate from our Puppy Camp become super learners; because they will develop focus and learn how to engage processes for extended periods of time. Many of the puppies that graduate from our school will excel at therapy work, dog sports, and be capable of higher levels of learning, due to this type of foundation training.
Our puppy boot camp is unlike anything you will find, worldwide. This inboard program will immerse your puppy into obedience training exercises, structured learning activities, confidence building, and provide unique experiences that will create a foundation that will shape and mold your puppy for life.
Puppy Boot Camp
Programs
4-Week Puppy Boot Camp
Our puppy training camp in Minnesota focuses on building strong, reliable responses to basic commands in a controlled, distraction-free environment.
4-week
Tuition
$4200
4-week
Commands include
4-week
Considerations
Our 4-week puppy boarding school teaches basic obedience course that will teach your puppy the meaning of obedience commands. It does not include off-leash commands, distraction-proofing, field trips, “drop it,” or treadmill training.
* Age: 4-12 months of age. If your dog is over 12 months, see the Dog Boot Camp program.
**No pre-requisites are required for this course.
Note: A $200/month fee will be applied for giant breed puppies needing a colossal size crate.
8-Week Puppy Boot Camp
This extended puppy boarding and training program includes everything from the 4-week course, plus advanced training outdoors in real-world environments.
8-week
Tuition
$6800
8-week
Commands include
8-week
Considerations
The 8-week puppy camp course teaches an off-leash recall (come when called from a distance), drop-it, training outdoors for an added level of distraction proofing, and treadmill training. The 8-week course does NOT include field trips into the city, or off-leash heeling.
* Age: 4-12 months of age. If your dog is over 12 months, see the Dog Boot Camp program.
**No pre-requisites are required for this course.
Note: A $200/month fee will be applied for giant breed puppies needing a colossal size crate.
12-Week Puppy Boot Camp
Our most comprehensive puppy boarding and training builds off the 8-week course and adds real-world, urban environment training.
12-week
Tuition
$8800
12-week
Commands include
12-week
Considerations
This camp includes field trips into the city for distraction proofing, off-leash heeling (where permitted), and longer distance recalls. If two dogs from the same household are enrolled for the 12-week, the owner can choose for them to work tandem (together) instead of off-leash heeling.
* Age: 4-12 months of age. If your dog is over 12 months, see the Dog Boot Camp program.
**No pre-requisites are required for this course.
Note: A $200/month fee will be applied for giant breed puppies needing a colossal size crate.
Puppy Boot Camp
Enrollment
Due to the rigorous training involved, spots are limited. Start dates for this program are as follows:
01/11/26 | In-session
02/08/26 | 3 spots left
03/08/26 | 6 spots left
04/05/26 | Open Enrollment
To register
- Click the yellow ""Get Started"" button to submit the enrollment form.
- We'll email you a contract and payment form (50% deposit via Visa/MasterCard).
- Complete the behavioral questionnaire and health form (signed by your vet). Return both at least 1 week before camp.
- Arrive with your dog and required items on the start date.
Puppy Boot Camp
Training Curriculum
Our puppy training program is designed to build lasting skills and confidence, combining structured obedience training with real-world experiences. The curriculum include:
Weeks 1-4
Foundational Training (Controlled Environment)
Our puppy training camp in Minnesota focuses on building strong, reliable responses to basic commands in a controlled, distraction-free environment. Over four weeks, your pup will engage in hundreds of repetitions with one-on-one trainer support.
Puppies also enjoy daily playgroups for socialization with friendly dogs.
Puppy obedience training includes:
Weeks 5-8
Outdoor Transitions & Obedience Training
This extended puppy boarding and training program includes everything from the 4-week course, plus advanced training outdoors in real-world environments.
From weeks 4–8, your dog will:
Weeks 9-12
Real-World Obedience & Off-Leash Control
Our most comprehensive puppy boarding and training builds off the 8-week course and adds real-world, urban environment training.
In weeks 8–12, your dog will:
Confidence Building
Obstacle courses, environmental stability, and dealing with adversity is why we call this boot camp. Your puppy will learn to work through various conditions that build confidence such as jumping in/out of vehicles, going over agility equipment (A-frames and dogwalks), and going up/down stairs.
Puppy Obedience Training (on and off-leash)
Practical and necessary commands for daily living. Commands to walk at your side without pulling, sit automatically when you stop sit-stay, down-stay, 'come' when called, 'wait' at doors or in a kennel until released, go into a kennel on command, and more!
Proper Etiquette
In puppy training camp, your puppy will learn to meet-and-greet humans under control and without jumping (all four paws on the floor), sit and wait at heel position when the handler stops, and wait to get in or out of a vehicle on command.
Treadmill Training
We teach puppies to run on a human treadmill; these workouts improve stamina, tone muscles (incline, intervals, power walking), and will help your dog absorb more during the training process.
Pack Socialization
A puppy needs to be able to co-exist within the pack and have proper play style. Boot Camp puppies in training get to run and play in groups of dogs, learning how to act as a pack, and take direction from human pack leaders, the trainers at Neuman K-9 Academy. Dogs in our boot camp also learn to come when called even while engaged in play with other dogs or on a nature hike. Group play and pack exercises are not intended to solve or address dog aggression. If a dog is aggressive, it may be excluded from pack socialization.
Field Trips
Puppies enrolled for the 12-week course will go into public places the final month of training for distraction proofing, public-etiquette, and conditioning to environmental stimulus. This includes stopping and sitting automatically at a crosswalk, holding stationary positions when people or cars pass, and responding to commands in an urban environment.
Video Proof
At the end of boot camp, we create a YouTube video of your pups, demonstrating their ability to wait in a kennel, run on a treadmill, and respond to obedience commands for male/female trainers. This video illustrates our high standard of training, proving your dog's ability to follow commands.
Handler Training
Each one of our boot camp programs includes handler training and instruction at graduation. Handler training is a daylong seminar, with hands-on training for owners. Each client or family will learn about the training their dog has received, how/when to use the commands, and proper reinforcement of the training. Handler instruction includes a YouTube seminar of the instruction, as well as a video demonstration of the owner's dog performing the commands, written instructions, a daylong seminar + hands on training, 2-hours of post course completion coaching (group or private session), and lifelong support from the Academy.
Upon completion of boot camp, your dog will receive a certificate of completion in recognition from the Academy.
Owner Training
Included In All Boot Camp Levels (Priceless)
In order for ANY form of dog training to be successful, it is important for owners to understand how a dog learns from the training, how and when to use commands, and how to handle a dog lifelong in the real world.
Handler training includes: This half-day session covers:
The success of our camp comes in two forms; Training for the Dogs AND Training for the Owners.
FAQs
What is in-board training?
In-board training is a method of training, where we board your dog at our facility for the duration of the training process. Our programs enable your dog to learn commands quickly and effectively. Having your dog participate in daily training sessions is a key component to the success of our training. With consistent and countless repetition of commands, we accomplish much more than a once-per-week program.
What is the difference between Puppy Camp and Boot Camp?
Puppy camp is for dogs 4 - 12 months of age. If a dog is 12 months or older, it would enroll in the Boot Camp course. Puppy camp is offered in a 4-week course because it is a fundamentals course for young dogs. We do not offer a 4-week option for dogs 12+ months of age, because by this stage of life, a dog will have established behaviors that will take more time and training experiences to address.
How Our Academy is Different
In 2007, when our boot camp course came to be, we were one of the few in the Midwest offering this service. Over the years, we have seen franchise pop-ups, and other trainers imitate this course. We have created the industry standard, often referred to as the ‘Ivy League' of dog training schools, and for good reason. We include a comprehensive learning process for dogs, utilizing all four quadrants of operant conditioning, distraction proofing, impulse control, physical conditioning, pack socialization, and more. We provide video proof of every dog that graduates from our Academy, published (publicly) to YouTube. We also understand the importance of owner training; ensuring a lifetime of happiness, freedom, and the ability for dogs to go more places, and be a bigger part of the family.
Our facility is conveniently located in Hugo, Minnesota. We are 28 miles from downtown Minneapolis or 22 miles from St. Paul (Twin Cities, MN). We receive dogs from all over the country and can arrange shipping and receiving from the Minneapolis International Airport (MSP). The in-board training or board-and-train options we provide allow you to enroll your dog for boot camp, even if you are not close to our Academy.
Our Happy Clients
5.0
Score on Google Map
Deborah Hamilton
After 60 days of boot camp, Murphy is home. I cannot express how thankful I am to Josiah and his whole team of trainers! Murphy is a changed dog! He walks and heels next to me with NO leash pulling! He’s not counter surfing! He listens to me when I give him a command.
Read their story
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Questions?
For questions, comments or assistance regarding dog boot camp or other training services, Contact Us or complete our Services Inquiry form.