Common questions
Questions, answered.
Straight answers on how Rachel trains, how board & train works, and how to get on the waitlist. Don't see your question? Ask it in your application and Rachel will answer you directly.
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How Rachel trains
The tools Rachel uses and a closer look at how she trains.
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Balanced training teaches a dog both "yes" and "no." Most owners already have the yes part down, since treats and praise make good behavior easy to reward. "No" is harder: it only means something once it's paired with a real consequence, and most dogs have never had that.
That's where the e-collar comes in. Once a command is learned, it lets Rachel follow through at a distance when a dog chooses not to comply. It's not a correction for trying and failing. It's accountability for a dog who knows the command and ignores it anyway.
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An e-collar works like the TENS units physical therapists use: mild electrical stimulation, no heat, closer to a tap on the shoulder than pain. Each dog is conditioned at the lowest level they respond to. The goal is clarity and communication at a distance.
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The e-collar, yes: Rachel trains with it on every dog, so it's part of every program. The prong collar isn't required. It's used only for dogs who need it while they wait for a board & train spot, and in her experience, it can amp some dogs up more than it helps.
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Yes. The crate is one of the easiest ways to keep structure in place, during training and after. Your dog learns it's a safe place to relax and decompress, which helps with separation anxiety and heads off problems like window reactivity, or a chewed and swallowed object turning into an emergency vet visit.
Board & train
The logistics of your dog's stay with Rachel, how the days are spent, and the handoff at pick-up.
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Your dog lives with Rachel in her home for the length of the program. No facility, no rotating staff. Training happens every day in real-world settings, and there's no going home at night to the old routine. That consistency is why the results hold once your dog is back with you.
Dogs need to be at least 6 months old to start.
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Rachel asks that you hold off on visits during the program, since they interrupt the training. You can follow along on Instagram instead, where she posts updates every weekday so you can watch your dog's progress as it happens. For anything that genuinely needs a conversation, you can text Rachel anytime during the program.
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Every dog travels in a Ruffland kennel, secured in the vehicle rather than loose in the back seat, where they could pace, pant or fixate out the window. Crate expectations from training carry over to the car, and Rachel builds in practice for calmness and relaxation there as well.
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Rachel makes every introduction intentional, working toward neutrality. Dogs start with a structured walk or place time to coexist without a face-to-face meeting, then progress to pack walks and yard time based on comfort. Interaction is never forced, and dogs are only paired directly when it's a good match.
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Most owners see a different dog at pick-up. The real work is the first 8 weeks at home, which is why every program includes a go-home session and follow-up lessons.
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Plan on 1 to 2 hours. Rachel walks you through the e-collar itself, how to use it, and every command and expectation your dog now knows. You'll go over scenarios specific to your dog and get hands-on practice, so you leave a better handler, not just an informed one.
It's a lot to absorb in one session, which is why follow-up lessons are built into every program. They're there to keep the training on track and troubleshoot anything that comes up while you're both still learning.
Applying & the waitlist
How to get your dog signed up, and what happens if your plans change.
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Fill out the application and tell Rachel about your dog. She'll review it and follow up with next steps.
Wait times change often, so check the banner at the top of the homepage for current timing, or email Rachel at rachel@onthemarkbalancedtraining.com.
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You don't need to know that before you apply. Rachel reads every application herself and recommends a program based on your dog's history and what you want life with them to look like.
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Yes. Once you apply, your dog goes on the waitlist. Openings are offered in the order applications come in. When your spot comes up, a $1,000 non-refundable deposit holds your dates and goes toward the program total. Puppy Jumpstart dogs pay a $500 deposit due at enrollment. If your schedule changes, you can push your start date back.
Applying early is the only way to get in sooner.
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You can reschedule your start date twice at no charge. Missing your second new date forfeits the deposit. Outside of a documented emergency involving you or your dog, deposits are non-refundable, including if you cancel before your board & train begins or decide to end training early. The full program balance is still due either way.
If Rachel ends training early, for reasons like safety, welfare or program fit, you'll get a prorated refund for the unused portion.
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Often, yes. A bite history doesn't rule a dog out. Rachel looks at how serious the bites were and what led up to them, along with breed and genetics, which can limit how far training goes. Even then, it rarely means no progress.
Fill out the application with as much detail as you can, and Rachel will give you an honest read on what's realistic.
Before your dog arrives
What to send ahead and what to pack.
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Yes. Your dog needs to be current on three vaccines:
Rabies: Legally required in nearly all areas. Protects against a fatal viral infection.
DHPP (distemper combo): Covers distemper, parvovirus, parainfluenza and adenovirus, which spread easily in group settings.
Bordetella (kennel cough): Protects against kennel cough.
Send your dog's records to hello@onthemarkbalancedtraining.com.
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Bring enough food and medication for the full stay. If you run short, more can be shipped to Rachel through Chewy or a similar service.
Also bring a flat collar with ID tags. Food must be in an airtight container, Pearl-proof: Rachel's cat will chew through anything else.
Leave blankets, toys and other belongings at home.
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Text Rachel when you arrive, then stay in the car until she comes out to get you, even if you're early.
Stay in the car. Some dogs need to be secured first, and other clients or dogs may be dropping off or picking up too.
Keep your dog on a leash at drop-off.
Text your ETA on the way, and flag it if you're running late.
Drop-off and pick-up: before 9am or after 5pm only.
Boarding
What a typical day looks like while your dog stays with Rachel.
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Plenty of boarding facilities turn dogs loose in big groups with no real oversight. Some dogs handle it fine; many come home stressed, with new bad habits or worse reactivity.
Dogs boarding with Rachel follow a set routine built around pack walks, outdoor time and place work, so training doesn't stall. Whether dogs play together depends on temperament.
Boarding is open to OTM graduates and Puppy Jumpstart dogs on the waitlist. Dogs trained elsewhere can board after an evaluation, with additional training required if needed.
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A typical day includes a 40 to 50 minute structured walk, yard socialization time, place time, crate downtime, potty breaks and time in the outdoor kennel runs.
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Your dog sleeps in a crate, in a temperature-controlled kennel room with AC. Every dog has its own individual space, plus a smaller, quieter room for dogs who need it. Only Rachel and her walk helpers go in, to keep the space calm, especially for dogs who struggle around people.
A virtual tour of the kennel room is saved to the Instagram highlights. To see it in person, just ask. Because some dogs have people issues, visits are kept brief, a quick look from the doorway rather than a walk-through.
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Contact Rachel right away. She'll separate the affected dog from the others, then notify your dog's owner and the owners of any dogs who may have been exposed.
Post board & train
How to keep the training and structure going once your dog is back home.
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Before pick-up, get a crate that's the right size for your dog and set it up somewhere quiet and calm. Keep it out of the bedroom. You'll also need a raised place cot. The crates and cots Rachel likes are on the Items We Like and Use page.
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For at least 2 months, keep the structure strict: the crate, no dog parks, and no time on furniture or the bed. Your dog sleeps in the crate overnight and when left alone. Outside of that, your dog should be on place or directly interacting with you, not roaming the house freely.
This period rebuilds your relationship with your dog. Expect them to test the new rules. It also takes time to get comfortable with the structure and the e-collar yourself. Consistency for the full 2 months is what makes it stick.
After 2 months, you'll have a baseline for your dog's behavior. From there, add freedoms back one at a time and see what happens. Some dogs get pushy or more reactive again; others do fine. Extra affection can shift behavior too. Every dog is different, and strict structure for the full 2 months often reveals it.
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Your dog has been off-leash trained and has practiced with Rachel, but your handling skills still need to catch up. You're still getting to know each other and rebuilding that relationship.
Start in safe, low-distraction areas, away from heavy dog or foot traffic, and use a long-line until you're both comfortable. Follow-up lessons with Rachel are a good way to build those skills together.
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Furniture and bed privileges come later, once your relationship with your dog is reestablished. Dogs remember life before training and will test whether old habits still work at home. The first 2 months are about holding your dog to the new rules, before freedoms return one at a time.
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Rachel recommends skipping dog parks and traditional daycare. They're unpredictable and overcrowded, and most don't have the experience to advocate for individual dogs. You never know who will show up or whether that dog is actually friendly.
Sniffspot.com is a great alternative for supervised off-leash time. Playing with dogs your dog already knows and is comfortable with is always a good option too.
Didn't find yours?
Ask Rachel directly.
Put your question in your application and Rachel will answer it herself. For anything else, email her.