Training Programs

At Riptide Thunder Kennels, we believe every great dog begins with a strong foundation. Our award-winning training programs are designed to help dogs of all ages develop the skills, confidence, and reliability needed to succeed at home and in the field. Whether you're raising a new puppy, looking to build dependable obedience, or developing a skilled hunting companion, every dog receives a personalized training plan tailored to their individual needs and your goals. Explore our training programs below to find the perfect fit for you and your dog.

Available Training Programs:

  • Puppy Head Start

  • Board & Train (Obedience Training)

  • Gun Dog Training

Puppy Head Start

Our Puppy Head Start Program is designed for puppies 8 to 24 weeks of age and focuses on building the foundation for a lifetime of good behavior. Through personalized training, socialization, confidence-building, and daily enrichment, your puppy develops essential life skills in a safe, structured environment. While staying at Riptide Thunder Kennels, your puppy becomes part of our family—living in our home, sleeping in a climate-controlled kennel, and receiving multiple one-on-one training sessions each day tailored to their individual needs. To provide enough time for meaningful progress, the Puppy Head Start Program requires a minimum stay of four weeks.

    • Multiple one-on-one training sessions daily

    • Potty & crate training

    • Name recognition

    • Basic Commands: Sit, Down, Place, Recall, Leave It, Off, Crate/Kennel

    • Leash introduction

    • Socialization with people & other dogs

    • Confidence building

    • Car rides

    • Public outings

    • Water introduction

    • Exposure to household noises

    • Multiple photo and video updates each week

    • Climate-controlled boarding inside our home

    • Personalized training plan

  • By the end of Puppy Head Start, your puppy may be confidently working on:

    • Sleeping quietly in a crate/kennel

    • Potty training routine

    • Sitting politely for attention, greetings, meals, and everyday interactions

    • Relaxing on a designated spot until released

    • Coming when called

    • Ignoring food, objects, and distractions when asked

    • Keeping all four paws on the floor around people and furniture

    • Entering and settling calmly in their crate/kennel

    • Leash walking

    • Building confidence in new environments and situations

    • Enjoying car rides, public outings, and new experiences

    • Calm behavior around distractions

    • Building engagement with their owner

    Progress depends on age, length of stay, and each puppy's personality.

  • To ensure every puppy has the best possible experience, we ask that all participants meet the following requirements before enrolling in our Puppy Head Start Program:

    • Age: Puppies must be between 8 and 24 weeks of age at the start of the program.

    • All Breeds Welcome: The Puppy Head Start Program is open to all breeds and sizes.

    • Vaccinations: Puppies should be current on age-appropriate vaccinations before arrival. If your puppy has not yet completed their full puppy vaccinations, we'll schedule any remaining vaccination appointments with our veterinarian. All veterinary services, vaccinations, medications, and any health-related expenses are the responsibility of the puppy owner.

    • Minimum Stay: The Puppy Head Start Program requires a minimum enrollment of four weeks to allow puppies enough time to build confidence, develop consistent routines, and make meaningful progress in their training.

Inquire About Puppy Head Start

Board & Train

Our Board & Train Program is designed for dogs 6 months of age and older and focuses on building reliable obedience, confidence, and good manners through personalized, one-on-one training. Every dog begins by learning the basic obedience commands they'll use every day before progressing to more advanced skills based on your goals. Each training plan is customized to fit your dog's personality, your lifestyle, and the behaviors that matter most to you.

    • Personalized training plan for every dog

    • Multiple one-on-one training sessions daily

    • Basic obedience taught before advancing to customized goals

    • Structured daily routine with exercise and enrichment

    • Climate-controlled boarding accommodations

    • Safe, supervised environment

    • Multiple photo and video updates each week

  • Every dog enrolled in our Board & Train Program begins by mastering the basic obedience skills needed for everyday life.

    • Name Recognition

    • Sit

    • Down

    • Place

    • Heel

    • Recall

    • Leave It

    • Off

    • Leash Manners

    • Crate/Kennel

    Progress depends on age, length of stay, and each dog's personality.

  • No two dogs—or owners—are exactly alike. That's why every Board & Train program is personalized to fit your lifestyle and priorities.

    Once your dog has mastered the basic commands, we'll focus on the goals that matter most to you. Whether you want better manners at home, more confidence in public, or a dog that's easier to live with every day, we'll create a training plan designed specifically for your dog.

    Customized Training May Include:

    Household Manners

    • Greeting guests politely

    • No jumping on people

    • Waiting patiently at doors

    • Settling calmly in the home

    • Better impulse control

    • Improved mealtime manners

    Leash & Public Behavior

    • Loose-leash walking

    • Remaining focused around distractions

    • Calm behavior in public places

    • Confidence in new environments

    • Loading into vehicles politely

    Advanced Obedience

    • Longer stays

    • More reliable recall

    • Off-leash obedience (when appropriate)

    • Increased duration, distance, and distractions

    • Improved responsiveness to commands

    Confidence & Socialization

    • Exposure to new environments

    • Meeting new people

    • Appropriate interactions with other dogs

    • Building confidence through structured experiences

    Personalized for Every Dog

    Every dog learns at a different pace. Throughout the program, we'll continually evaluate your dog's progress and adjust their training plan to ensure they receive the greatest benefit from their stay. Our goal is not only to teach commands but to build lasting habits that continue long after your dog returns home.

  • To ensure every dog has the best possible experience, we ask that all participants meet the following requirements before enrolling in our Board & Train Program:

    • Age: Dogs must be 6 months of age or older at the start of the program.

    • All Breeds Welcome: The Board & Train Program is open to all breeds and sizes.

    • Vaccinations: Dogs should be up to date on the following vaccines: Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella (Kennel Cough). All dog owners must provide recent documentation of vaccinations prior to their dog’s stay.

    • Minimum Stay: For our Board & Train Program, the duration varies based on your dog’s individual needs, progress, previous training and your desired outcomes. While there is no set minimum, most dogs typically stay with us for six to eight weeks.

Inquire About Board & Train

Gun Dog Program

Our Gun Dog Program is designed for dogs 6 months of age and older and is a 5 month training program for owners who want to develop a reliable hunting companion or prepare for AKC and HRC Hunt Tests. Once your dog has established a solid foundation in obedience, we begin introducing the field skills and concepts necessary for success. Whether you're preparing for your first hunting season or working toward earning hunt test titles, our personalized training program is designed to build the confidence, drive, and reliability your dog needs to perform in the field.

  • Every dog enrolled in our Gun Dog Program receives individualized training designed to develop a confident, reliable hunting companion. Throughout their stay, your dog will receive:

    • Personalized training plan tailored to your dog's experience and your hunting goals

    • Five-month immersive training program

    • Multiple one-on-one training sessions daily

    • Basic obedience taught before advancing to field work

    • Structured daily routine with exercise and enrichment

    • Climate-controlled boarding accommodations

    • Safe, supervised environment

    • Multiple photo and video updates each week

  • Every dog enrolled in our Gun Dog Program begins by mastering the basic obedience skills needed for everyday life.

    • Sit

    • Down

    • Place

    • Heel

    • Recall

    • Leave It

    • Off

    • Leash Manners

    • Crate/Kennel

    Progress depends on age, length of stay, and each dog’s personality.

  • Once your dog has established a solid obedience foundation, we begin introducing the retriever-specific skills and field concepts needed for success in hunting and hunt tests. Throughout the program, your dog will develop the drive, confidence, and consistency required to perform effectively in the field.

    • Hold and delivery to hand

    • Marking drills

    • Bird introduction

    • Bird boy thrown marks & winger thrown marks

    • Water retrieves

    • Steadiness

    • Gunfire introduction

    • Decoy exposure

    • Holding blinds

    Progress depends on age, length of stay, and each dog's personality.

  • To ensure every dog has the best possible experience, we ask that all participants meet the following requirements before enrolling in our Gun Dog Program:

    • Age: Dogs must be 6 months of age or older at the start of the program.

    • Breeds: The Gun Dog Program is open to retriever breeds.

    • Vaccinations: Dogs should be up to date on the following vaccines: Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella (Kennel Cough). All dog owners must provide recent documentation of vaccinations prior to their dog’s stay.

    • Minimum Stay: Because developing a finished gun dog takes time, consistency, and repetition, our Gun Dog Program requires a minimum enrollment of five months. This allows dogs to build a solid foundation, progress through each phase of training, and develop the skills needed for success in the field.

Inquire About Gun Dog Program