Puppy Training Camp in Minnesota

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 Obedience Training (imprinting) - Practical and necessary commands for daily living. In this course your dog will learn to walk on a leash at your side without pulling, sit-stay, down-stay, 'come' when called, 'wait' at doors, go into a kennel on command, and more!

Pack Socialization - A puppy needs to be able to co-exist within the pack and have proper play style. Campers get to run and play in groups of dogs, learning how to act in a pack, and take direction from human pack leaders. 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.

Physical Conditioning - A valuable skill, both mentally and physically; treadmill training is a fun outlet for dogs. A tired, well exercised dog is happier and will absorb more in the training phase.

Treadmill Training - We introduce the treadmill at a young age so when your puppy matures, you can use the treadmill for year-around exercise. This serves a benefit during the training process, it boosts confidence by teaching your puppy to walk on a new/different surface, and it enables the owner long-term to supplement their dog's exercise regimen.

For more in-depth details regarding puppy treadmill training, click on the link to get started.

Confidence Building - Obstacle courses, environmental stability, and dealing with adversity is why we call this puppy camp. Dogs learn to work through various conditions that build confidence such as jumping in/out of vehicles, and going up/down stairs.

Proper Etiquette - Meet and greet human companions with all four paws on the floor, waiting at the doors until given a command to enter, and more...

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 camp, we create a YouTube video of your dog, 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 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 puppy 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, your dog will receive a certificate of completion in recognition from the Academy.

4-week Camp ($4200)

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.

Puppy obedience training includes:

• Name recognition (eye contact)
• Dog commands: Sit, Down, Stay, Heel (on-leash walking)
• Wait at doors, Place (go to bed), Kennel training
• Recall (on-leash, short distance)
• No jumping or mouthing/nipping

Puppies also enjoy daily playgroups for socialization with friendly dogs.

Our 4-week puppy boarding school teaches on-leash obedience only. It does not include off-leash commands, distraction-proofing, field trips, “drop it,” or treadmill training.

8-Week Camp ($6800)

This extended puppy boarding and training program includes everything from the 4-week course, plus advanced training in outdoor and real-world environments.

From weeks 4–8, your dog will:

• Practice commands under distractions outdoors
• Participate in structured obedience drills with simulated distractions
• Learn off-leash recall from a distance
• Master automatic sits during walks, vehicle entry/exit (if able), and the “drop it” command
• Experience treadmill training and nature hikes
• Continue socialization and structured obedience drills

Dog commands covered: Name, sit, down, stay, wait at doors, place, kennel, drop-it, heel (on-leash), and off-leash come when called. Puppies will also be taught not to jump or nip.

Our puppy training boot camp provides foundational off-leash obedience training, but does not include city field trips or off-leash heeling.

12-Week Camp ($8800)

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:

• Train in public spaces to build distraction-proof obedience
• Learn off-leash heeling and long-distance recall
• Practice automatic sits at crosswalks and staying calm near people, cars, and distractions
• Develop impulse control with duration-focused commands like down/stay and place
• Continue off-leash recall training and urban socialization

Dog commands covered: Name, sit, down (including from distance), stay, place, wait at doors, kennel, drop-it, heel (on- and off-leash), and off-leash come when called in high-distraction settings.

Dogs are also taught general manners such as not jumping or mouthing.

Our puppy obedience camp includes public outings and optional tandem training for households enrolling two dogs.

* 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.

Owner Training - Included In All Levels of Puppy Training Camp (Complimentary)

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 for the owner(s) is a half-day process, where we teach how and when to use the commands, how a dog will continue to learn life-long, and the owner's role of influencing and reinforcing their dog's behavior returning home. The success of our camp comes in two forms; training for the dogs AND training for the owners.

Compare Boot Camp Programs

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Enrollment:

Due to the rigorous training involved, spots are limited. Start dates for this program are as follows:

06/15/25 | 0 spots remaining
07/13/25 | 2 spots remaining
08/10/25 | 5 spots remaining
09/07/25 | 6 spots remaining

**Last Updated on: 6/25/2025**

Get Started

To register:

1. Click the yellow "Get Started" button to submit the enrollment form.
2. We'll email you a contract and payment form (50% deposit via Visa/MasterCard).
3. Complete the behavioral questionnaire and health form (signed by your vet). Return both at least 1 week before camp.
4. Arrive with your dog and required items on the start date.

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In 2007, when our puppy 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 puppy 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 puppy that graduates from our Academy, published to YouTube (publicly). 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 puppy for camp, even if you are not close to our Academy.

We are certain you will see a positive impact in your puppy returning home. Don't take our word for it - See what clients are saying about Neuman K-9 Academy!

Other pages you may find helpful:
Neuman K-9 Academy FAQs
Dog Training Articles
To see recent graduates of the academy click here --> Dog Training Videos

Click here to learn 10 Key Benefits of Our Puppy Boot Camp.