Nu Paws Academy:
Board & Train Program
Board, Learn & Love - Because Your Dog Deserves It All
On a 2-acre fully fenced open-air space:
Send your dog to Live, Learn, and Flourish - in a calm, loving home where they study manners, build confidence, and gain real-world experience while you (finally) catch a break and a snooze. With options to find exactly what’s right for you:
Boarding Only for All Ages (detailed information & pricing)
Puppy Boarding & Training (detailed information & pricing)
Adult Dog Boarding & Training (detailed information & pricing)
If only dogs were just fuzzy vacuums that came with manuals . . .
You’ve tried leash training, crate training, potty training... but your dog still pulls, ignores you, or melts down at the door.
Your schedule is packed - long work hours, meetings, social life, family commitments - and you don’t have time (or energy) to watch YouTube tutorials, attend group classes, and micromanage progress. You've been handed a hard-knock life since your dog arrived.
You wish there were a better way - one that doesn’t involve shouting, force, or endless stress. If any of this sounds familiar… you’re not alone. Many dog parents feel the same way.
I get it.
Your dog is part of the family. Their mischief or anxiety isn’t a “problem to fix” - it’s a communication gap waiting to be bridged. Most “bad behavior” isn’t bad will; it’s confusion, fear, or lack of consistent guidance.
You didn’t sign up to be a drill sergeant. You signed up to be a pet parent. And pet parents deserve help.
After all, most people send their children away to schools to learn and be educated, so why not the 4-legged too?
That’s why I offer Nu Paws Academy Board & Train: a loving, science-based solution that gives your dog a second chance at learning things the human way - and gives you back time, peace, and sanity.
Here’s the Good News - Your Dog Can Learn
At Nu Paws Academy, Board & Train isn’t “drop off and hope for the best.” It’s a careful, nurturing, results-oriented program. Here’s what happens:
Your dog stays in a home, not a kennel - where comfort, fun, and consistency reign.
Daily one-on-one training and structured behavior work, using positive, science-based methods.
Socialization, practiced behaviors, consistent routines, and confidence-building across environments.
At the end, you get a dog who understands more, learns boundaries, and is more thoughtful - and you get the tools to maintain it all.
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An in-person, hands-on deep dive into your dog’s world.
We tailor this session based on whether you have a puppy or an adult dog, making sure you walk away with clarity, tools, and a solid plan.
For Puppies:
We go through a full, comprehensive puppy packet together - everything from foundational body language to how to interact with your puppy in ways that build trust, confidence, and healthy habits. You’ll get detailed handouts (I’m big on body language!) and we’ll also walk your yard and your home to puppy-proof each space so your little one stays safe.
If your puppy is already home, I bring plenty of treats and start gently working with them so I can understand their personality and help you navigate those first overwhelming moments - not formal “training,” but practical, real-life guidance that makes your home feel instantly more manageable.
For Adult Dogs:
We jump right into hands-on work. Learning begins from the moment I arrive at your door for the initial consultation. You and your dog will start making progress from that moment on, not waiting until they arrive at my academy. You’ll learn what to practice, how to adjust your routines, and how to support your dog effectively based on their history, temperament, and your lifestyle.
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Your dog arrives at my home, settles in, and I observe temperament, preferences, fears, and triggers.*
*Adult dogs have to pass the boarding trial to move forward.
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Consistent, positive reinforcement, social exposure, enrichment, emotional support.
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Photos, updates, so you see the transformation as it happens.
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On the day your dog returns home: a wrap-up session where I teach you all the skills and habits your dog learned - so the foundation lasts.
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Advice and check-ins because real life doesn’t end when the dog leaves my home.
Next Steps for Board & Train:
Benefits of Nu Paws Academy Board & Train
Better leash manners and calmer, enjoyable walks
Reliable basic manners: sit, come, polite greeting, leave it, drop it, recall.
Confidence - in new environments, around people, in unpredictable situations.
Reduced fear, anxiety, reactivity, or shyness for sensitive dogs.
Consistent potty, crate, and house manners (especially for puppies).
A smoother, more harmonious home life - fewer chewed shoes, less stress, better boundaries.
Clients who feel confident - not frazzled - because they understand their dog.
A stronger bond - clear communication, trust, thoughtfulness - so your dog becomes a true family member.
Convenience for dog and family, with transportation provided on certain days.
Hear from happy dog parents:
Hey there! I’m Susan - Your dog's new favorite auntie.
I combined my background in early childhood education with more than a decade of dedicated dog behavior training to found Nu Paws Academy. I studied at SIRIUS® Dog Training Academy and Trish King’s Canine Behavior Academy, Fear Free® Certified - plus I’ve done continuous education with top experts in fear, behavior modification, body language, and positive reinforcement.
All dogs learn through reinforcement. The more positive the reinforcement, the more fun. The more fun it is while learning, the more likely the new habits stick. That’s why I craft custom training plans with patience, compassion, and humor.
At Nu Paws Academy, your dog is treated as family - and you’re treated like the caring, dog-loving human you are.
Susan Wu - Founder & Lead Trainer
Pricing & Everything It Includes
Brand new dogs are with me 24/7 for the most optimal care! If you want someone who really treats your dog like family, look no further.
Puppy Board & Train
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After an initial 2-hour consultation (required before the program starts), there is a 14-day program option and a 28-day program option, subject to availability.
Everything included:
14-day or 28-day stay in a calm, loving home environment.
Personalized training program tailored to your puppy’s age, breed, temperament, and learning style.
Daily one-on-one training, socialization, and supervised play using only positive, science-based methods.
Daily updates - texts/photos/videos so you can feel connected.
Socialization with humans, dogs, and environments - so they grow up confident and well-adjusted.
Core skills: housetraining, crate training, bite inhibition / soft-mouth, basic manners (sit, come, drop it, door manners, polite greetings, etc), social behavior, and alone-time comfort.
Final “go-home” session: I bring your puppy home to teach you everything your puppy learned - so the new habits stick.
Considering the amount of time, care, personalized training, socialization, and owner coaching you receive, this investment gives you a lifetime of improved behavior, a confident pup, and peace of mind.
Pick up & Drop off included on selective days.
Puppy Board & Train graduates are eligible for future boarding services,
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Initial 2-hour consultation: $250
14-Day Program: $3,250
28-Day Program: $6250
*Pick up & Drop off included on selective days.
Adult Dog Board & Train*
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After an initial 2-hour consultation, adult dogs will have a 1-2-night overnight trial. Then, once approved, adult dogs have a 28-day minimum program available. After the 28th day, if a longer stay is needed, it'll be at 1-week increments from there with the same daily rate.
Everything included:
Structured board and train (for approved adult dogs) - you get boarding + training and peace-of-mind
Behavior evaluation, customized plan to address leash issues, reactivity, fear, lack of manners, pull, recall, anxiety, etc.
Consistent positive reinforcement-based training, socialization, enrichment, and safety.
After-school guidance so you and your dog maintain progress together.
*Adult dogs are subject to evaluation and 1-2 nights of trial overnight boarding. Certain behavioral issues in adult dogs will be referred out to other trainers. (Not all adult dogs are suitable for Board & Train, especially if they have never, or have very little experience, boarding away from home.)
Considering the amount of time, care, personalized training, socialization, and owner coaching you receive, this investment gives you a lifetime of improved behavior, a confident dog, and peace of mind.
Pick up & Drop off included on selective days.
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Initial 2-hour consultation: $250
1-2 nights of trial overnight: $180 a day
After approval: 28-day minimum requirement at $250 per day rate
After the 28th day, if a longer stay is needed, it'll be at 1-week increments from there with the same daily rate.
*Pick up & Drop off included on selective days.
Boarding Only
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Dogs stay with me while you’re away, ensuring they’re loved and comfortable and have ample time to play. Dogs over 6 months old are subject to a 1-2 night trial after free initial call and free meet & greet.
Everything included:
Home-Style Care While You’re Away
Dogs stay with me, receiving attentive care, comfort, and plenty of playtime.Not a Warehouse Facility
My space is a 2-acre, fully fenced, open-air, single-family property—not a traditional boarding warehouse.Designed for Dogs
Multiple designated areas for play, rest, learning, and potty breaks create a routine that feels like home.Room to Move & Decompress
Puppies and adult dogs can explore, relax, and unwind in a natural, spacious setting that supports better behavior and learning.
Pick up & Drop off included on selective days.
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$180/night - Pick up & Drop off included on selective days.
Look - maybe your dog is the greatest showman at being goofy. Maybe they have a PhD in “selective hearing.”
But they can also be gentle, polite, confident, and a joy to live with. And they don’t need to learn that in a cold, secluded, chain-linked kennel with very limited human interaction. Send them to a home, not a cage. Let them learn, play, and grow - all under loving supervision and guided expertise. Because they’re family. And family deserves more than “good enough.”
If you want behavior that lasts, confidence that radiates, and walks that don’t feel like an Olympic sport - let’s get started.
Because I Believe in Progress, Not Perfection
I can’t promise to “fix” all of your dog’s quirks overnight. But I guarantee that when your dog leaves my care, you’ll come away with:
Better communication between you and your dog
A foundation of trust, structure, and calm
Clear guidance and confidence for you, the guardian
That foundation is the beginning of building a lifelong positive routines, such as smoother walks, calmer mornings, happier homes, fewer stained carpets - and a dog who feels like family.
If you’re ready to turn chaos into calm, frazzled into fabulous, and regret into relief -
your dog’s new chapter starts now.
FAQs
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Sometimes, adult dogs are accepted after a behavioral evaluation. If approved, they’ll receive the same care, consistency, and personalized training as puppies.
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No. I use positive, science-based, reward-driven training only. No shock collars. No harsh corrections. Ever.
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That’s actually one of my strengths. Many of our dogs are shy, nervous, or reactive - and with patience, positive reinforcement, and gradual socialization, many make incredible progress.
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Yes - I send daily updates (texts, photos, video) so you can see their happy (and goofy) moments, and feel connected even while you’re away.
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That’s what the initial consultation is for. We talk about your dog’s history, temperament, goals - and only commit if we believe we’re the right match. Schedule a consultation today.
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On the day the dog goes home, we do a go-home session where I coach you on how to maintain and build on what your dog learned - plus I offer ongoing support and guidance.
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Monterey Peninsula: Carmel‑by‑the‑Sea, Carmel, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach
SF Peninsula: Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Stanford, Mountain View, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, Gilroy
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Contact me - we can discuss remote guidance or travel possibilities.