Lodge 'N' Learn Programs

Lodge 'N' Learn Vacation Boarding with Enrichment & Training

* All dogs coming into our care are required to be current on Rabies, Distemper w/ Lepto combination, and Bordetella vaccinations, a negative on their Fecal within 6months, and on Heartworm and flea/tick prevention monthly. This is for protection not only of your pet, but for our own and the other pets in our care.

Don't have time to start Basic Manners on your dog due to a hectic work schedule? Just want them to learn some new skills and need someone to help kick-start their education?
Going on vacation? Need to board your dog or need a pet sitter but want your pet to learn some new skills at the same time?
Enroll them in our Lodge N Learn Program below! Due to the nature of this personalized program, space is very limited, especially around holidays, so make your reservations early. The rate varies depending on length of stay, but typically is a per night rate unless booking an extended stay or full program over 28days. Most programs are 3-4 weeks in length to start the foundation training and more advanced programs can be any length.
- Holidays always book fast, so we recommend as soon as you book your plans, book your pet's as well!
- Unlike most training facilities, we are HOME-BASED and only accept a certain number of enrollees at any one time - and even this depends on the behaviors being addressed (Basic Manners versus Competition versus Aggression or Anxiety).
  - We are usually enrolling 6-8weeks out but may have openings sooner.
- INCLUDED: Personal Kennel, Personal Bedding, Dishes, Home-based care (we are NOT a kennel environment like most facilities, which is why we are very limited on space and personalize ALL of our programs to your pet's needs for actual Life Skills in the Real World!), training time, weekly Field Trips (to pet stores, dog parks, vet offices, regular pet-friendly stores, pet-friendly restaurants, regular parks, dog-friendly beaches, and more!), Social Skill development with dogs in our care AND while out and about in the Real World (like tolerance and working around distractions versus all play), Human-Socialization time with us and while out in the Real World, Personalized Program based on needs (Basic Skills, Puppy Programs, Aggression/Reactivity Modification, Anxiety Modification, Competition Preparation, and so much more)! We can monitor the animals in our care if we are not home on our camera systems (like when on grocery shopping, errands, etc). They also get individual AND group time daily because this is our main focus. We have the ability to do some agility like: tunnels, jumps, teeter, dog walk, sometimes do kiddie pool time for water-loving dogs or ball bit enrichment games, and also do scent games and nose work enrichment. We provide many opportunities for fun learning while helping them learn all of the fundamental and potentially life-saving skills needed to thrive in our very human world, filled with completely different rules.
- Nightly rates consist of the day of arrival, overnight, and up to 12pm the next day. Rates range from $60-75/night depending on program needs (senior enrichment boarding versus puppy skills versus behavior modification). Pickups after 12pm up until 8pm are 50% of the daily rate. Pickups after 8pm until 11pm may also be assessed a $15 after hours convenience pickup fee.
- For dogs who have already completed 30 day programs (can be all at once or over multiple stays), they may be eligible for a Frequent Boarder Program we are starting that has reduced rates! Ask about this program when booking your subsequent reservation.
- Multi-dog households: Unless boarding for other reasons than vacation, we stagger the multi-dog household programs to make them more individualized and successful. By taking in one dog from a household at a time we eliminate competitive household reactions (which actually can stunt the learning process) and instead work individually on the first dog while the other starts their program with you (usually via our online learning) and then we swap out/switch the dogs for the next program to focus on the 2nd dog, then we integrate both back together. This allows for quicker, more successful learning and lifelong habit forming because they will have basic foundation habits started and can then group learn much more effectively while transitioning back to the at home "normal" environment and continuing their education.
- Talking by phone is generally best for more in-depth discussions about goals, so feel free to call us: 217-859-6696.
  - We HAVE taken in multiple dog households at the same time and with our own multi-dog household and revolving door of fosters and other lodgers there are always plenty of distractions, however, dogs from the same family tend to stick together because of bonding and so, depending on your goals, that can be both a good - and bad - thing for learning. We can better assess after speaking with you more directly about your long-term goals.
Pet Taxi services for pickup and drop off can be arranged and would be a flat rate of $30 each way + $0.35 per mile. Otherwise we will decide on a mutual time and you can drop off and pick them up.
We do include a go-home session of what we have covered in the program for any program over 10days.
Video playlist options and Written Homework are also other available options to elect for additional fees as add-on services.
If you want your pet to have an exit bath/nail trim prior to go home, we can arrange that as well. Typically, we schedule appointments with a local grooming salon, so fees may vary, but sometimes we are able to do the baths at our home.
- Larger, Giant breed and longer-haired dogs will be done with a groomer automatically, so fees vary depending on what they charge for time, but full grooming options are usually available. These may be more than the quoted rate if we do not know the fee until you check in and they assess how long it may take based on hair length and actual temperament/time involved, but we will get an estimate soon after they check in for these cases and you can decide.
Please call us to discuss your training goals and we will discuss all available options for field trips, enrichment exercises and dates available.
Although we do accept intact animals into our programs, females coming into season during their program or actively in-season upon arrival will have restrictions and additional care fees ($15/day), due to the increased cleaning, care, and husbandry maintenance that is involved with the blood and hormones surrounding an active heat cycle coming into our home environment. We do believe in working in and around distractions such as these, but sometimes first heat cycles or dogs that ARE affected by their cycles may take some extra time to work with during this normal ~3week cycle. Working with intact animals routinely in our own home (we compete with, trial, health test, and breed on rare occasions) we are very familiar with intact animals. Our methods donot change, but we do allow for some extra rest and needing for space or comfort to ensure we satisfy their needs.
A nonrefundable deposit for 50% of your desired stay dates is required if you want us to reserve your dates, as we block these days for you and have limited space to make each pet's program as successful as possible. Should your plans change, this deposit does become a training credit for future training options, but carries no cash value.
We look forward to training with you soon!