Breeds
What breeds do well in board and train?
What breeds do well in board and train? Any breed can. What changes is the plan and the pace: what each type of dog finds rewarding and where it tends to stick.
Breed shapes the plan, not the eligibility
No breed is excluded from board and train, and no breed is sure to breeze through it. What breed tells a trainer is where to start: what a dog was bred to do, what it is likely to find rewarding, and which behaviors tend to cause trouble. A Labrador and a Shiba Inu can learn the same cues; they just take different routes.
That is why Dogtown builds each plan individually after the assessment. Gabby looks at the dog in front of her, not the breed label, and adjusts rewards, session length and pace to suit.
How common breed groups tend to approach training
These are broad tendencies, not rules. Mixed breeds and individuals often break the pattern.
| Type | Often finds rewarding | Common sticking points |
|---|---|---|
| Retrievers and doodles | Food, play, people | Jumping, mouthing, over-excitement with other dogs |
| Herding breeds | Movement, work, problem-solving | Chasing, nipping, noise sensitivity, busy minds |
| Working and guardian breeds | Clear structure, a job | Size, strength, wariness of strangers |
| Hounds | Scent, food | Recall around smells, independent decisions |
| Northern and spitz breeds | Running, choice | Recall, pulling, patience with repetition |
| Toy and small breeds | Food, closeness | House training, barking, being handled too much |
What changes in the plan by breed
Rewards come first. A food-mad retriever will work for kibble; a sight hound may need very high-value treats or a chance to chase a toy. Pace comes second. A Border Collie may learn a new cue in a few repetitions and then need help switching off, while a Basset Hound may need more repetitions and more patience.
Size and strength matter too. Large and giant breeds need leash manners early, because pulling that is cute in a puppy becomes a safety problem at 100 pounds. Our pages on large and giant breeds and working and herding breeds cover those plans.
Individual dogs matter more than breed
Within any breed, temperament varies widely. A nervous Golden Retriever and a confident one need different plans, and a rescue mix with an unknown history may need more time than any breed guide would predict. Age, health and past experiences all shape what a dog is ready for.
Behavior problems also cut across breeds. Significant fear, reactivity or resource guarding may point toward Dogtown’s six- to ten-week behavior-modification programs, regardless of breed. Gabby makes that call honestly at the assessment.
- Temperament: confident, cautious, sensitive, excitable
- Age: puppy, adolescent, adult, senior
- Health: joints, hearing, vision, energy levels
- History: previous training, rescue background, past scares
Which program fits which dog
Program choice follows the dog’s needs, not its breed. Puppies, young dogs and dogs missing the basics usually suit the one-week Foundation program. Adolescents and dogs that lose their manners in busy places usually suit the two-week Advanced program, with its distraction proofing and real-world outings.
If you want the detail for your dog, our breed pages cover the specifics, from Labrador Retrievers to mixed-breed rescues.
The two programs
FAQs
Related questions
Are some breeds too stubborn for board and train?
Do you accept bully breeds and large guardian breeds?
Is my doodle’s coat a problem during the stay?
More questions? Read the full board & train FAQ
Next step
Tell us about your dog.
Send the enquiry and we reply within one hour on business days to set up a short assessment with Gabby. The evaluation is free.
- 01Send the enquiryReply within the hour on business days
- 02Assessment & evaluationPick Foundation or Advanced
- 03Train & go homeDaily updates, go-home coaching
