Dog Boarding and Training in Sacramento CA
Dog boarding and training means your dog stays with a trainer and trains every day, instead of just being boarded. Sacramento dogs in JPK9 Academy's program stay at the training facility in nearby Elk Grove for 3 to 5 weeks, and Juan Portillo trains every dog himself, three to four sessions a day. Programs start at $3,200, and every one starts with a free phone call with Juan.
Boarding and Training, Not Just Boarding
Many Sacramento owners start by looking for a place to board the dog and hope to add some training. JPK9 works the other way around: new dogs come in for boarding and training, so every stay includes daily work with Juan and the dog goes home with new habits.
| Boarding onlyA place to stay | Boarding and training at JPK9Stay + daily training | |
|---|---|---|
| What happens | Care, meals and routine while the owner is away | The dog stays at the Elk Grove facility and trains with Juan every day |
| Training | None | 3–4 sessions a day, at the facility or a local park |
| Length | Any number of days | 3–4 or 4–5 weeks (6–8 weeks for aggression cases) |
| Owner's role | Drop-off and pickup | Video updates every 5–7 days, two owner lessons, a group class and a follow-up session |
| Goes home with | The same habits it arrived with | New habits, and an owner who knows how to keep them |
| At JPK9 | Only for existing JPK9 clients | Open to new dogs, from $3,200 |
Can a dog get training while being boarded?
Yes, at JPK9 that is exactly what boarding and training is: the dog stays with Juan and trains every day. JPK9 does not take new dogs for boarding only. Once a dog has trained with Juan, the family can book boarding later, and the dog keeps the same routine and rules it already knows.
Not sure if your dog needs boarding and training? Ask Juan.
Call (916) 571-0157Dog Boarding Training at JPK9: Quick Facts
These are the details Sacramento owners usually ask about first: who trains the dog, where it stays, how long it takes and what it costs. Each part is covered in more detail further down the page.
- Trainer
- Juan PortilloTrains every dog himself. 15+ years, 500+ dogs trained.
- Location
- Elk Grove, CAJust south of Sacramento, close for Sacramento-area dogs.
- Program length
- 3–5 weeks3–4 or 4–5 weeks. Aggression cases take 6–8 weeks.
- Daily training
- 3–4 sessions a dayAt the facility or a local park.
- Where dogs stay
- Never sharedOwn shaded outdoor kennel by day, own crate in a dog room at night.
- Updates
- Every 5–7 daysA video update so the owner sees the progress.
- Price
- From $3,200A $500 deposit holds the spot and counts toward the total.
- First step
- Free phone callTalk to Juan first, then an in-person evaluation (from $100).
Should You Send Your Dog Away for Training?
Boarding training for dogs is not the right choice for every family. It works best when the dog needs daily, consistent work that the owner can't give right now, and the owner is ready to keep the new habits going after pickup. This is how to tell which side your dog is on.
A good fit when
- Your schedule is full. Work or family leaves no time for daily training, and the dog is falling behind.
- You have a new puppy. A few weeks of structure early on sets up house manners, crate habits and the basics.
- The dog ignores you outside the house. Pulling on the leash, jumping on guests, not coming when called.
- There is a behavior problem. Reactivity or aggression, where a longer program with Juan makes a real difference (6–8 weeks for aggression).
- You will keep it going. You plan to attend the owner lessons and practice what Juan shows you at home.
Another option may fit better when
- You want to train the dog yourself. Private lessons with Juan teach you each step while the dog stays home.
- You only need care while you travel. JPK9 doesn't offer boarding only for new dogs, so a regular boarding kennel is the right call.
- You can't take part after pickup. Training needs the owner to follow through. Without the owner lessons, old habits tend to come back.
Still not sure? That is what the free phone call is for. Juan will ask about your dog and tell you honestly whether boarding and training, private lessons or something else makes more sense.
How Much Does Dog Boarding and Training Cost in Sacramento?
At JPK9, dog boarding and training costs from $3,200 for a 3–4 week program, from $4,200 for 4–5 weeks, and from $5,500 for aggression cases, which take 6–8 weeks. The price covers the dog's stay, daily training with Juan and the owner lessons, so there is no separate boarding bill. Prices shown are starting prices, and the exact price is confirmed on the free phone call. For a full breakdown of what each length includes, see the board and train cost guide.
Every program includes
- The dog's stay, with its own kennel and its own crate
- 3–4 training sessions a day with Juan
- A video update every 5–7 days
- Two owner lessons and one group class before pickup
- One follow-up private session in Elk Grove after pickup
- Written notes on every training exercise
How to get started
- 1Free phone call
Talk to Juan about your dog and what you want to change.
- 2In-person evaluation
From $100 ($175 for behavior modification and aggression). Separate from the program price.
- 3$500 deposit
Holds your dog's spot and counts toward the total. Non-refundable.
Find out which program fits your dog.
What Happens When a Dog Goes to Boarding and Training?
This is how a training and boarding stay at JPK9 runs, from the first phone call to the follow-up session after the dog is home. The owner stays involved the whole way, which is what keeps the training working once the dog is back in its own house.
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Before the stay
Phone call and evaluation
It starts with a free phone call with Juan, then an in-person evaluation where Juan meets the dog and recommends a program. A $500 deposit holds the spot.
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Drop-off
The dog moves in
Each dog gets its own shaded outdoor kennel and sleeps in its own crate in a dedicated dog room. Dogs are never housed together, and on hot days there is air conditioning and indoor playpens.
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Every day
3–4 training sessions with Juan
Juan trains the dog himself, three to four sessions a day, at the facility or a local park. Some dogs also come along to Juan's in-home lessons, which adds practice in new places.
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Every 5–7 days
Video updates
The owner gets a video update every 5–7 days, so the progress is easy to see while the dog is away.
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Around week 2
Two owner lessons
The owner comes in for two transitional lessons and learns to handle the dog the same way Juan does, before the dog goes home.
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Pickup and after
Going home, with follow-up
The dog goes home with written notes for the family. After pickup, the program still includes one group class and one follow-up private session in Elk Grove.
Where Dogs Stay and Train in Elk Grove
Most owners worry less about the training and more about where the dog will sleep. At JPK9 each dog has its own space for the whole stay, and training happens both at the facility and out in local parks, so the dog learns to listen in more than one place.
- Its own outdoor kennelEvery dog has an individual, shaded outdoor kennel.
- Never housed with another dogDogs don't share kennels or sleeping space.
- Its own crate at nightEach dog sleeps in its own crate in a dedicated dog room.
- Ready for Sacramento summersOn hot days dogs have air conditioning and indoor playpens.
- Training in real placesSessions happen at the facility and at local parks, and some dogs join Juan on in-home lessons.
What a Dog Learns in 3 to 5 Weeks of Boarding and Training
Goals are set at the evaluation, so every dog's plan is a little different. The table shows the skills most dogs work on during dog boarding training with Juan, and what the longer 4–5 week program adds.
| Skill | 3–4 weeks | 4–5 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Sit, down and stayHolding position around distractions | ||
| Coming when calledA recall that works outside the house | ||
| Loose-leash walkingWalks without pulling | ||
| Place / bedSettling on a spot on cue | ||
| Calm crate timeResting quietly in a crate | ||
| Waiting at doorsNo more bolting out | ||
| House mannersLess jumping and nipping | ||
| Advanced obedienceThe same skills around bigger distractions | – | |
| Off-leash reliabilityIn controlled settings | – | |
| Reactivity workCalmer around dogs, people and triggers | – |
Aggression cases follow their own 6–8 week program, and the dog lives in Juan's home during the program.
What Owners Say After Boarding and Training with JPK9 Academy
"Juan is a great trainer. My dog Rudy has benefited immensely from Juan's board and train 5 week program."
"She is a completely different dog now!"
Meet Juan Portillo
The trainer behind every program
Juan Portillo owns JPK9 Academy in Elk Grove and runs it with his wife, Sarah. He has been training dogs for more than 15 years and has worked with over 500 of them, from young puppies to dogs with serious behavior problems.
When a Sacramento family sends a dog for boarding and training, Juan is the one who trains it, every session, every day. He is also the person the owner talks to on the first call, meets at the evaluation and learns from in the owner lessons.
Common Questions About Boarding and Training
These are the questions Sacramento owners usually ask Juan on the first call. If yours isn't here, call and ask him directly.
Is boarding included in the price?
Yes. At JPK9 the program price covers the dog's stay, 3–4 training sessions a day with Juan, video updates and the owner lessons. There is no separate boarding bill. Programs start at $3,200 for 3–4 weeks and $4,200 for 4–5 weeks.
How long will my dog stay with Juan?
Most dogs stay 3–4 weeks or 4–5 weeks. Dogs with aggression stay 6–8 weeks, and during that program the dog lives in Juan's home. Juan recommends a length after he meets the dog at the evaluation.
Will Juan train my dog himself?
Yes. Juan Portillo trains every dog in the program himself, three to four sessions a day, at the facility or a local park. He is also the person you speak to on the first call and the one who teaches your owner lessons.
How will I know how my dog is doing?
You get a video update every 5–7 days, so you can see the progress while your dog is staying with Juan. Around week 2 you also come in for two owner lessons and see the training in person.
Can I board my dog without the training?
Not as a new client. Boarding on its own is only offered to existing JPK9 clients whose dogs have already trained with Juan. New dogs start with a training program.
Does the evaluation fee count toward the program?
No. The in-person evaluation is from $100 ($175 for behavior modification and aggression) and is separate from the program price. The $500 deposit that holds your dog's spot does count toward the total, and it is non-refundable.
What happens after my dog comes home?
Your dog goes home with written notes for the family. After pickup, the program still includes one group class and one follow-up private session in Elk Grove, so you can keep the new habits going.
Can my puppy do the program?
Yes. Puppy programs start at $3,200. A few weeks of daily structure early on helps a puppy learn house manners, calm crate time and the basics.
Can Juan help an aggressive dog?
Yes. JPK9 has a dedicated aggression program that runs 6–8 weeks, starts at $5,500, and the dog lives in Juan's home during the program. It begins with a $175 evaluation so Juan can see the dog first.
Do you work with dogs from all over Sacramento?
Yes. JPK9 Academy is in Elk Grove, just south of Sacramento, and families from across the Sacramento area bring their dogs to Juan. The first step for everyone is a free phone call with Juan.
Ready to Talk to Juan About Your Dog?
Every program starts with a free phone call. Tell Juan what is going on with your dog, and he will tell you honestly whether boarding and training is the right fit, and which program makes sense.