Forest School is designed to help dogs build real-life skills in a natural, low-stress environment. Because the program is small and personalized, your dog receives focused training, fulfillment, and hands-on practice throughout their entire day.

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Rather than learning skills in a kennel environment like traditional board and train, Forest School teaches dogs in the same type of setting they live in—a home, yard, wooded space, and training room—so the behaviors transfer more easily to daily life.

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Why Forest School Works (and Who It’s Perfect For)

Forest School offers many of the benefits of board and train—without the separation stress or the risk of skills not transferring back home.

Dogs learn:
• In a calm, real-world environment
• With a balance of training, enrichment, and exploration
• With consistent human interaction
• In short repeated sessions throughout the day (ideal for learning)
• Without being removed from family life for weeks

This is ideal for owners who want meaningful progress, fulfillment for their dog, and a more natural, low-stress approach to training.

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Here’s what your dog can learn:

Manners & Everyday Skills

From polite greetings to not jumping, waiting at doors, settling calmly, and impulse control—your dog will practice the everyday manners that make home life smoother.
These skills are taught during natural moments, not just in structured sessions, so your dog learns how to behave in real-life situations.

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General Obedience

Every day includes focused work on skills such as:
• Sit, down, place
• Stay with distance or distractions
• Impulse control
• Handler engagement
• Calmness around excitement
• Stationing and settling
These practical skills help dogs make progress quickly and carry that progress home.

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Leash Skills & Walk Etiquette

Forest School offers individualized leash training sessions, including:
• Loose-leash walking
• Heel foundations
• Check-ins and engagement
• Leash manners around distractions
Because we work on wooded trails, open spaces, and yard paths, dogs learn to walk politely anywhere, not just in a parking lot.

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Recalls & Off-Leash Foundations

A reliable recall is one of the most important—and most freeing—skills a dog can learn.
At Forest School, we practice recalls using:
• Long lines
• Safe fenced areas
• Natural movement and exploration
• High-value rewards
By training recalls in an environment with real smells and natural distractions, dogs learn to come when called even when they’re excited.

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Enrichment & Confidence Building

Dogs need more than obedience—they need fulfillment.
Each day includes enrichment such as:
• Sniffing and scent work
• Puzzle toys and food games
• Exploration through woods and trails
• Natural obstacle confidence
• Decompression walks
These activities reduce anxiety, build confidence, and help dogs return home satisfied—not overstimulated.

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Social Skills & Emotional Wellness

Forest School offers safe, supervised social exposure—not chaotic daycare.
Dogs learn:
•  Neutral walking near another dog
• Sharing space calmly
• Appropriate play styles (if compatible)
This helps dogs become well-rounded without being overwhelmed.

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Dog Sport Foundations (Optional)

For owners interested in agility, obedience, or adventure sports, we can introduce foundations such as:
• Body awareness
• Confidence obstacles
• Focus and engagement
• Directional cues
• Intro to impulse control for sports
This gives dogs a great start toward performance or adventure activities.