Clear Answers Before You Take the Next Step

Puppy Academy is for dogs up to 6 months on the first program day. Adolescent Academy is for dogs 6–18 months. Screening also considers health, development, behavior, household goals, and the individual dog.

No. The short form begins a conversation and does not require payment, commit your family to enroll, or guarantee acceptance.

Yes. Use the contact page, Facebook Messenger, email, text, or a requested phone call.

That is one of the most important questions to ask about any board-and-train program. Dogs do not automatically perform every learned behavior equally for a new person or in a different environment. GCA addresses this through repeated owner coaching, home weekends, family practice, following-week adjustments, graduation coaching, and two private follow-ups.

Repeated sessions give you time to see the skills, practice with guidance, use them at home, report what happened, and make adjustments before habits become harder to change.

Your family practices the same cues, reinforcement, management, routines, and everyday-life skills introduced during coaching. The plan is made practical for your home rather than built around perfect training sessions.

Mistakes are expected while learning. Willingness to practice, communicate honestly, and adjust matters more than arriving with training experience.

No. GCA performs intensive professional training, but the family must attend coaching and continue the agreed routines and practice at home.

No. Results are not guaranteed. Dogs vary in genetics, health, development, temperament, experience, and environment; owner habits and continued practice also affect progress. No behavior involving a living animal can be 100% reliable.

GCA builds behavior through reinforcement, clear communication, thoughtful management, and repetition. The Academies do not use shock/e-collars, prong collars, choke chains, or equipment intended to cause fear or pain.

Yes. GCA builds useful behavior through reinforcement, clear communication, thoughtful management, repetition, and carefully increased difficulty.

No. The Academies are designed so families can continue the work without relying on shock/e-collars, prong collars, choke chains, or equipment intended to cause fear or pain.

Dogs have individual crates for sleep and appropriate rest inside a renovated, insulated, climate-controlled Academy building.

The day blends focused training with routines, rest, potty breaks, movement, enrichment, handling, play when appropriate, and practice settling during ordinary indoor life.

The Academy operates on approximately 40 rural acres with secure indoor and fenced areas plus fields, woods, ponds, streams, livestock, and ordinary rural sights and sounds used selectively when appropriate.

No. Access is supervised, managed, and selected for the individual dog. Enrollment does not mean unrestricted roaming.

Not automatically. Direct livestock interaction, swimming, or water access is not promised. Exposure is chosen according to safety, temperament, training needs, owner goals, and readiness.

Only when the trainers consider the interaction appropriate for temperament, safety, training needs, and owner goals.

Participating families receive optional access to a private, hidden Facebook group for informal photos, short videos, and lighthearted glimpses. Sensitive or time-sensitive matters are communicated directly.

Erik and Selena both work hands-on with Academy dogs. Erik directs screening, assessment, training plans, and family coaching; Selena carries training into daily routines, care, reinforcement, enrichment, and lifestyle practice.

The building uses temperature monitoring plus fire and carbon-monoxide alerts sent to multiple phones. Camera monitoring is not claimed.

Overnight potty routines are individualized according to the dog’s age, established routine, health, and individual need.

The preparation visit is an opportunity to meet the trainers, review the plan, and raise concerns. Contact GCA promptly if you are uncomfortable; cancellation and refund rights are governed by the signed enrollment agreement.

Tuition includes weekday training and care, home weekends, the program’s guided owner sessions, graduation transfer, two private follow-ups, and transportation for eligible addresses.

GCA reviews the information, contacts you to answer questions, and may invite you to complete the detailed Academy application. Initial inquiries stay outside the private enrollment dashboard.

GCA confirms program details, sends the appropriate enrollment materials, collects the 25% reservation payment, schedules preparation, and confirms the remaining balance due date and transportation plan.

Monday pickup and Friday return are included for eligible addresses within approximately two hours of ordinary one-way driving time from Bulls Gap, Tennessee.

No. You may begin with the short fit inquiry. Exact records and due dates are confirmed later during screening and enrollment.

Gladwater Canine is not accepting new Private Coaching clients at this time. Existing clients may continue to contact Erik directly.

Puppy Academy tuition is $3,795. Adolescent Academy tuition is $3,295.