How to read a board and train contract

What to check in a board and train contract: deposit and cancellation terms, injury and vet care, a methods clause, the handover and what to add in writing.

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The short answer

To read a board and train contract, check six areas: what the price covers and when payment is due, the deposit and cancellation terms, what happens if your dog is injured or ill, a clause describing training methods and equipment, how updates and owner lessons are delivered, and what happens if the program is not a fit. Anything promised verbally that matters to you should be added in writing before you sign.

At a glance

Read for: Price, deposit, cancellation, injury, methods, handover
Add in writing: Anything said on the phone that matters to you
MA consumer law: M.G.L. c. 93A covers unfair or deceptive business practices
Not legal advice: For a dispute, talk to a lawyer or the Attorney General’s office

By the Dogtown Training team in Gloucester, MA · Last reviewed October 28, 2026 · Our trainer and methods

Price and payment: what exactly are you buying?

The contract should name the program, its length and what is included: boarding, training, any daycare or enrichment, updates and the number of owner lessons. If the quote you were given on the phone included a follow-up lesson or pick-up, check it appears in the document.

Look for when payment is due, whether it is split, and what extras can be added later, such as grooming, medication administration or transport. Dogtown, for example, quotes every stay after the assessment and confirms payment terms in writing at booking; whatever program you choose, the figure on the contract should match the quote.

Deposit and cancellation

Deposits are common in businesses that hold a limited number of spaces. What matters is that the terms are clear: how much, whether it is refundable, by when, and what happens if you need to move dates because your dog is ill or the family has an emergency.

Check the other direction too. What happens if the program has to cancel or shorten the stay, for instance because your dog is unwell or the trainer decides it is not a fit? A fair contract says how unused days or lessons are handled.

Is the deposit refundable, and until what date?
Can dates be moved, and is there a fee?
What happens to payment if the program ends the stay early?

Injury, illness and emergency vet care

Dogs in group settings can get scrapes, upset stomachs or kennel cough even with good care. The contract should say how the facility will contact you, which vet it uses, who authorizes treatment if you cannot be reached, and who pays. Many contracts ask you to pre-authorize emergency care up to a certain amount; decide that figure deliberately.

Read any waiver or release carefully. A waiver may limit what you can claim, but it does not make a business free to act carelessly. Massachusetts’ Consumer Protection Act, M.G.L. chapter 93A, prohibits unfair or deceptive business practices. The state is also developing rules for boarding kennels and daycare under Ollie’s Law; our page on Ollie’s Law and board and train covers the background.

The methods clause: ask for one

Most contracts say little about how your dog will be trained. If methods matter to you, and they should, ask for a short clause stating the approach and listing equipment that will not be used, such as prong, choke or shock collars. It turns a conversation into a commitment and avoids ‘we only used it once’ surprises.

A force-free program should have no difficulty agreeing. If a program will not put its methods in writing, treat that as a warning sign, and see our guide on how to spot board and train red flags.

Updates, handover and what to add

Check that the contract, or the written confirmation that goes with it, says how often you will get updates and how many owner lessons are included, with rough timing. Then add anything that was promised verbally and matters to you.

Area	Look for	Consider adding
Updates	Frequency and form	Who to contact with questions during the stay
Owner lessons	Number and timing	Where they take place and how long they run
Methods	Approach described	Equipment that will not be used
Feeding and meds	Your food and labeled medications given as directed	What happens if your dog will not eat
Fit	What happens if the dog is not suited	How unused time is handled
Results	No promised outcomes	What the program commits to doing, not achieving

If something goes wrong

Raise concerns in writing with the business first and keep copies of the contract, receipts, updates and photos. Most disagreements are settled that way. If not, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office offers consumer complaint and mediation services, and smaller money disputes can go to small claims court; check the current limit and process on mass.gov. For anything serious, talk to a lawyer.

Concerns about an animal’s welfare in a facility are a different matter; contact the local animal control officer. This page is general information, not legal advice.

How to do it

Step by step

01

Ask for the contract before paying

Request the full terms in writing, not just an invoice, and read them before you send a deposit.
02

Match it to the quote

Check the program name, length, inclusions, price and payment schedule against what you were told.
03

Read deposit and cancellation terms

Note refund deadlines, date-change rules and what happens if the stay ends early.
04

Check injury and vet sections

Find who is contacted, which vet is used, what you pre-authorize and who pays.
05

Request a methods clause

Ask for the training approach and excluded equipment to be stated in writing.
06

Add verbal promises and keep copies

Get updates, owner lessons and anything else you were promised added, then file a signed copy.