Board and train terms glossary

A plain-English board and train glossary: proofing, neutrality, place, LIMA, extinction burst, decompression and more, each linked to a fuller explainer.

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Trainer teaching an Australian shepherd the place command on a cot

Program and process terms

These are the words you meet before and during a stay. Several describe Dogtown’s own process, from the first enquiry to the handover.

Term	Plain definition
Board and train	A program where the dog lives at the training facility and trains daily, then the skills are handed to the owner. See what is board and train.
Assessment	A short conversation with the trainer to agree goals and choose a program. At Dogtown it is with Gabby, and it is where the price is quoted.
Evaluation (temperament test)	A free, hands-on check of how a dog copes with people, handling and other dogs, which also shows playgroup readiness. See the evaluation.
Go-home lesson	The handover session where the owner learns each cue with the trainer beside them. One with Foundation, two with Advanced. See the go-home lesson.
Daily update	A report on each day of the stay; the format is confirmed at booking. See daily updates.
Behavior-modification program	A longer plan, six to ten weeks at Dogtown, for significant fear, reactivity or resource guarding. See behavior modification.
Day training	The dog trains during the day and sleeps at home; Dogtown’s version is Canine Campus. See board and train vs day training.

How dogs learn

These terms come from learning science. You do not need them to train a dog, but they make it much easier to understand what a trainer is doing and why.

Term	Plain definition
Positive reinforcement	Adding something the dog wants after a behavior so it happens more. See positive reinforcement explained.
Marker	A word or click that tells the dog the exact moment it earned a reward. See marker training.
Lure	Food used to guide a dog into position while a behavior is new; faded quickly so it does not become a bribe.
Fading	Gradually reducing and varying rewards once a behavior is reliable, without dropping them all at once.
Generalization	Teaching a dog that a cue means the same thing in every place and from every person. See generalization.
Latent learning	Learning that shows up after rest, which is why a skill can look sharper the next day. See latent learning.
Extinction burst	A short spike in an old behavior when it stops paying, just before it fades. See extinction bursts.
Counter-conditioning	Pairing something a dog dislikes with something it loves, to change how it feels. See counter-conditioning and desensitization.
Desensitization	Exposing a dog to a trigger at a level so low it stays calm, then raising it slowly.

Dogtown trainer working with three doodles on the deck

Skills taught during a stay

These are the skills that appear on program pages. Each sounds simple; the work is in making it hold up in real life.

Term	Plain definition
Place	Going to a bed or cot and staying there until released. See what place is used for.
Recall	Coming when called, ideally first time and from anywhere.
Loose-leash walking	Walking without tension on the leash, so the walk is not a tug of war.
Impulse control	Waiting instead of acting on the first urge, at doors, bowls and greetings. See impulse control.
Proofing	Practicing a known cue with more duration, distance and distraction (the three Ds). See proofing.
Neutrality	Staying calm and unbothered around other dogs, people and busy places. See neutrality training.
Long line	A leash of fifteen to fifty feet that gives freedom while keeping control, used for recall work. See long lines.

Behavior and welfare terms

These terms describe what is going on inside the dog, and how good programs protect its welfare during training.

Term	Plain definition
Decompression	A settling-in period after a big change, when a dog needs rest and routine more than training. See decompression.
Trigger stacking	Several small stressors adding up until a dog overreacts to something it normally copes with. See trigger stacking.
Threshold	The point where a dog moves from noticing a trigger to being unable to think around it; training happens below it.
Reactivity	Over-the-top responses, such as lunging and barking, to triggers like other dogs; can come from fear or frustration.
Fear period	A phase of heightened sensitivity in puppyhood or adolescence. See puppy fear periods.
Isolation distress	Panic when alone that eases with any company; different from separation anxiety tied to one person. See the difference.
Management	Arranging the environment so unwanted behavior cannot happen or pay. See management vs training.
Cooperative care	Training a dog to take part willingly in handling and vet care, often using a start button. See cooperative care.

People, methods and rules

These terms help you compare programs and understand who does what. None of them is a substitute for asking a program direct questions.

Term	Plain definition
Force-free	Training without pain, fear or intimidation; built on rewards and management. See force-free board and train.
Balanced training	Training that mixes rewards with aversive tools or corrections. See balanced training.
LIMA	Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive: a principle of choosing the gentlest effective method. See LIMA.
Veterinary behaviorist	A vet board-certified in behavioral medicine who can diagnose and prescribe. See behavior medication.
Ollie’s Law	A 2024 Massachusetts law on boarding kennel and daycare safety. See Ollie’s Law.

How to use this glossary

If a trainer uses a word you do not recognize, ask what it means for your dog specifically. A good trainer can explain any term in plain language and show you what it looks like. If they cannot, that tells you something too.

Keep these terms in mind at the go-home lesson. Knowing what proofing, fading and generalization mean makes the plan for the weeks after the stay much easier to follow, because you understand why each step is there.

The two programs

1 week · Puppies, young dogs & foundational manners Foundation Board & Train A one-week stay for puppies, young dogs and dogs missing the basics: obedience, leash skills, place, stay, recall, impulse control and household manners, with daily updates and a go-home lesson. Read about Foundation 2 weeks · Adolescent dogs & real-world reliability Advanced Board & Train A two-week stay for adolescent dogs and dogs who know their cues at home but lose them everywhere else: everything in Foundation, plus distraction proofing, real-world outings, neutrality and two go-home coaching lessons. Read about Advanced

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