Dog Training
Dog Training at Runchkin Hill
Any Dog. Any Breed. Any Goal.
At Runchkin Hill Farm and Kennel, we don’t believe in “difficult” dogs—only in finding the right way to communicate. Whether you are looking for a reliable family companion, a high-level competition partner, or a specialized working dog, our mission is to build a bridge of understanding between you and your canine.
Our training is rooted in partnership. By listening to your dog’s body language and adjusting our methods to suit their individual temperament, we create lasting results that go far beyond simple commands. From 4-pound “Chi-weenies” to 150-pound Great Danes, every dog is welcome here.
Download our intake form listed below and bring it to your first session.
Our Core Training Options
We offer multiple ways to reach your goals, depending on your schedule and how involved you want to be in the process.
Board and Train Program
Price: $225 per night
Total Immersion
Our most popular and effective option for busy owners or complex behavioral issues. Your dog stays with us in our climate-controlled facility and receives professional training every single day.
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Duration: Typically 2–4 weeks.
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Focus: Foundation behaviors (Sit, Down, Heel, Place, Recall) and correcting unwanted habits.
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The Hand-Off: Every Board & Train includes private lessons at the end of the stay to ensure you know exactly how to maintain and lead your newly trained dog.
Day School
Price: $130 Full Day/$90 Half Day (12-1pm)
Structured Learning
Think of this as “School for Dogs.” You drop your pup off in the morning for a day of structured learning and pick them up in the evening. It’s the perfect middle ground—professional training progress during the day, with your best friend home with you at night.
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Note: Day School students who have completed 5 sessions are eligible for our Saturday morning group classes.
Private Training
Price: $150 Per Class
One on One Coaching
If you want to be at the end of the leash every step of the way, our private lessons are for you. We coach you through the process, tailoring each session to your specific needs.
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At the Farm: Work with us at our West Newbury facility.
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In-Home: We can come to you (available throughout the North Shore and surrounding areas).
Specialized Training Excellence
With over 30 years of experience in high-stakes environments, we offer specialized programs most facilities can’t match
Scent Training
Scent detection and Detection Dogs are some of the most sought-after dogs in our country, and scent work can be used for many purposes. While law enforcement and Search and Rescue teams have used Detection Dogs for years, many family dogs have worked with scent training for a wide variety of purposes. At Runchkin Hill Farm, our Scent Detection program teaches a wide variety of scent work to all breeds and all levels of dogs – even puppies.
Some of our most popular training modules are for hunting, service work, narcotics, explosives, and bed bug detection dogs. But we also teach dogs to find electronics, mold, currency, nuts (for those who have a nut allergy), guns and ammunition, deer sheds, and SO MUCH more.
Evaluation is necessary before training begins, but we are confident that if your dog is ready for the challenge, we can help them reach their full potential.
Personal & Family Protection
Savior, Guardian, protector, family member – only a few of the words that we use to describe a Runchkin Hill Farm personal protection dog. Training your dog to have fun with your family and friends, but be ready to stand in front of you and protect you with their life, takes time and patience.
Matching the right dog to the right family is imperative in having everything you are looking for. Whether you are active and outdoors or a homebody and relaxing, we can help accommodate your needs.
Personal protection dogs are used as a non-lethal weapon to help keep you and your family safe if the situation may arise. There is a lot of time spent working with these dogs to make sure they are of sound mind and have what it takes to be a personal protection dog, and most importantly, a part of your family.
Obedience Training
Runchkin Hill Farm and Kennel offers everything from basic household canine obedience and behavior to competition-level obedience. Whether you’re considering AKC, Conformation, IPO, PSA, Ring Sports, or any other competition style obedience, we can accommodate your needs and tailor-fit a program to suit you.
Competition training is very precise obedience with a flashy heel, quick and crisp movements, which go beyond your basic sit and stay commands. We will not only train your dog how to compete, but we will also train you how to handle your dog during a competition to help you retain the most amount of points.
Let us know what your goals are, and what you would like to compete in, and we can evaluate your personal dog or help you select a dog that will be everything you need for the sport you wish to compete in.
Service Dog Training
Having a dog trained as a service animal for you or your loved one can be invaluable. The benefit of a service dog for someone who is disabled is a more independent lifestyle. Runchkin Hill Farm offers some of the best trainers available to help your dog to become the very best of service animals. We have extensive experience training dogs for public access and service work for their handlers.
Evaluation is necessary before training begins, but we are confident that if your dog is ready for the challenge, we can help them reach their full potential.
Take the First step
All of our training begins with a professional evaluation. We’ll meet you and your dog, assess their temperament, and design a custom path to success.