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4-WEEK PUPPY FOUNDATION

Give Your Puppy the Best Start to Life

 

Our intensive 4-week board and train program, designed specifically for puppies aged 14 to 16 weeks, gives your young dog the best foundation for a calm, confident, and well-mannered life. Under the guidance of internationally respected dog trainer and behaviour specialist Mark, this program helps shape emotional stability, good manners, resilience and obedience—so your puppy is ready to thrive in the real world.

Perfect for puppies who

  • Are between 14-16 weeks old​

  • Need proper socialization during critical period​

  • Lack foundation training and structure​

  • Will benefit from early professional guidance

What your puppy learns

  • Basic obedience (sit, down, come, stay basics)​

  • Calm loose lead walking foundations​

  • Appropriate socialization with dogs and people​

  • Confidence in new environments​

  • Impulse control and patience​

  • Proper play behaviour​

  • House manners and calm behaviour​

  • Foundation for advanced training later

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Special puppy considerations

  • Age-appropriate training sessions​

  • Extra play and socialization time​

  • Gentle introduction to structure​

  • Focus on positive experiences​

  • Building trust and confidence

What you get

  • Handover lesson covering puppy's progress​

  • Puppy development guidance​

  • Socialization continuation plan​

  • Training video for home practice​

  • Ongoing support as puppy grows

Duration & Timeline

  • 4-week residential program​

  • Shorter, frequent training sessions​

  • Plenty of supervised socialization​

  • Foundation for future training

Pricing & Program Options

4-week puppy foundation board & train – Investment:
18,000,000 VND

Program Goals

Week 1: Structure, Boundaries & Emotional Regulation

  • Calm exposure to new environments, people, sounds, and surfaces

  • Toilet training & crate routine (continues throughout program)

  • Teaching impulse control and calmness around food, toys, and people

  • Name recognition & engagement (“look at me”)

  • Marker training for clear communication

  • Calm feeding and handling rituals (no rushing, mouthing, or grabbing)

Week 2: Obedience Foundations & Manners

  • Basic obedience: sit, down, stay

  • Place/stay training for calmness and focus

  • Polite lead walking (no pulling or lunging)

  • Recall foundations using a long line

  • Waiting politely at doors and gates

  • “Leave it” / “Off” (impulse control around temptations)

Week 3: Confidence Building & Real-World Practice

  • Structured socialisation with calm dogs and people

  • Confidence-building games & mild environmental challenges

  • Settling calmly around distractions

  • Calm greetings – no jumping or hyper behaviour

  • Proofing obedience in low-distraction public spaces (parks, cafés)

Week 4: Proofing, Handover & Owner Integration

  • Practicing obedience outside training environments with more distractions

  • Solidifying calmness around people, dogs, and environmental triggers

  • Review & polish of all core behaviours (sit, down, stay, recall, leash manners)

  • Respect for rules, space, and leadership reinforced

  • Handover session:

    • Full demonstration of all behaviours

    • Personalised daily routine (toilet, crate, feeding, walking, training)

    • Clear communication system (marker words, tone, body language)

    • Education on structure & avoiding common mistakes

  • Follow-up support:

    • 1–2 sessions to ensure smooth transition home

    • 6 months ongoing support via WhatsApp or Zalo  

Foundations Set:

  • Respect for rules, space & leadership

  • Ability to self-settle and regulate emotions

  • Healthy independence (prevention of separation anxiety)

  • Social stability & resilience

  • Clear communication system between you & your puppy

Other Board & Train Programs

If you’re looking for a different pace or training focus, explore our full Board & Train suite:

Program
Starting Price
56-Day Advanced Obedience
40,000,000 VND
14-Day Good Walking
10,500,000 VND
4-Week Puppy Programme
18,000,000 VND
Reactive Dog Training
TBC
28-Day Basic Obedience
22,000,000 VND

*All programs include personalised lessons, real-world training scenarios, and ongoing owner support.*

FAQs

What is a Board & Train program?

Our Board & Train program is an intensive, immersive training experience where your dog stays with us for a set period to receive professional training multiple times per day. We work on obedience, manners, impulse control, emotional stability, and real-world behaviour in a variety of environments. These programs are ideal for busy owners who want effective results guided by experienced professionals.

What happens when my dog arrives at Victoria Falls?

When your dog arrives at Victoria Falls Ranch, we allow a 24 hour settling in period, to allow your dog to become accustomed to its new environment. Once your dog settles in I will take your dog for a walk and a free run in our large training and social area and asses your dogs behaviour, before any formal training is started. If I consider that your dog has any major behavioural issues that must first be worked through first, I will contact you and discuss this with you. If you decide you do not wish to continue with your dogs training, you are more than welcome to take your dog back home. You will only be charged for your dogs boarding at the current rate. This is a very rare occurrence, as most behavioural issues can be worked though during training for the particular course.

What training methods do you use?

We use a balanced and humane training approach tailored to the individual dog. Our focus is on developing emotional stability, calmness, impulse control, and respect — not fear or over-stimulation.

Training is:

  • A balanced methodology, using praise, food, and toys for desired behaviours

  • Structured and consistent, helping dogs understand what is expected

  •  Fair and clear, with appropriate consequences delivered through calm, consistent leadership

  • Focused on building a psychologically stable, well-mannered companion who can think clearly and stay calm, even around distractions

My methods are grounded in decades of experience and a deep understanding of canine behaviour and psychology.

What types of behaviour can be addressed in a Board & Train?

Mild to moderate issues such as leash pulling, jumping up, overexcitement, or poor recall, and general obedience are commonly addressed in our standard programs. For more serious problems — such as aggression,  fear, or reactivity — we offer tailored Board & Train programs following a behavioural assessment.

More details are provided in the Board & Train course information on the website.

Is this suitable for puppies?

Our Board & Train programs are suitable for dogs aged 6 months and older. For younger puppies (14 to 16 weeks), we offer a specialised Puppy Training Package, designed to instill essential skills during this critical stage of development.

Intact males are welcome as long as they're not excessively reactive or aroused around other dogs. If behavior becomes an issue, we adjust their routine to solo activities. Every dog is managed as an individual.

Where will my dog stay?

Your dog will stay in clean, secure, and climate-controlled kennel accommodation, with professional staff attending to their physical, emotional, and behavioural needs throughout the program.

Will my dog be trained every day?

Yes. Your dog will receive several short, focused training sessions each day, along with structured play, rest, calm socialisation (where appropriate), and downtime to ensure healthy balance. Training occurs in a variety of settings to encourage generalisation and real-world success.

What should I bring when dropping off my dog?

Please bring:

  • Any medication your dog is currently taking

  • Your dog’s own food (if on a specific or special diet we cannot replicate)

  • Your dog’s vaccination certificate

  • A leash and collar

  • One or two favourite toys (optional)

  • Your dog’s bedding (optional)

Is food provided? Can I bring my own?

Yes, we provide high-quality food tailored to your dog’s dietary needs. You may choose between:

  • Raw feeding: Fresh meals prepared daily with red meat, heart, liver, egg, chicken, fish, and vegetables

  • Premium kibble: A high-quality dry food option for dogs on a standard diet

If your dog has specific dietary needs, we recommend bringing your own food.

Will my dog forget me during the program?

Absolutely not. Your dog will be in a calm, structured, and caring environment and will form a working relationship with the trainer. However, this does not replace the bond with you. During the handover, we support the re-establishment of your leadership while reinforcing the training your dog has received.

Can I visit my dog during training?

We generally do not recommend visiting your dog during their Board & Train program. While we understand it can be hard to be apart, visits can sometimes disrupt your dog’s focus and progress — especially in the early stages, when they are still adjusting to the new environment, structure, and relationship with the trainer.

That said, visits can be arranged in certain situations, particularly for longer stays or when assessed as appropriate by your trainer. These visits are always planned carefully to support your dog’s progress, rather than risk setbacks in training or emotional stability.

To help you stay connected and reassured, we provide regular video updates throughout the program showing your dog’s training progress, condition, and wellbeing. You're also welcome to contact us anytime if you’d like an update.

Will I receive updates during my dog’s stay?

Yes. We provide regular updates including photos and short videos so you can follow your dog’s progress. You’re also welcome to contact us during the program if you have questions or want additional updates.
What happens at the end of the training program?


At the end of the Board & Train, you’ll receive:

  • A personalised handover lesson with your trainer

  • A video guide with step-by-step instructions tailored to your dog’s training

  • Included follow-up lessons to support long-term success at home

  • A private Zalo group for direct support from your trainer after the program

What follow-up support is included, and why is it important?

We provide included follow-up support because your long-term success depends on consistency. Even though your dog returns trained, it's your ability to continue and reinforce the lessons at home that cements results.

​

Support includes:

  • In-person follow-up sessions at Victoria Falls

  • Ongoing guidance via your private Zalo group with your trainer

  • In-home support is available for an additional fee

Full follow-up details are provided in our Board & Train course materials.

What if I don’t use the follow-up support that’s included?

Failing to take advantage of your follow-up support increases the risk of regression. Training is a process — not a magic fix — and your consistency plays a crucial role. If inconsistent handling or unclear expectations reappear at home, old behaviours may return.

We strongly recommend attending all follow-up sessions and reaching out early via Zalo if you experience any challenges. We’re here to help — but only if you stay involved.

Can I do my handover lesson at home instead of at the kennels?

Yes, this is possible for an additional fee. As our trainers are heavily scheduled during the day, a home handover must be arranged in advance when you book your dog into the program. Availability is limited and depends on travel time and scheduling logistics, so early planning is essential. Also it is essential you have a location with enough space to hold the handover lesson.

What happens if I can’t pick up my dog on the scheduled completion day?

If you’re unable to collect your dog on the scheduled date, a daily boarding rate will apply for each additional day. Your handover lesson will be postponed until you are available. If the stay is extended, continued training can be arranged at the standard daily training rate. Please let us know early if delays are likely, so we can accommodate your needs.

How long does the handover lesson take?

Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for your handover session, depending on the course completed. This allows your trainer to demonstrate key behaviours, explain your dog’s training, and coach you through handling techniques so you can maintain and build on your dog’s progress at home.

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