Very Important Paws · West Palm Beach
Dog Training in West Palm Beach, FL
Very Important Paws offers dog training in West Palm Beach to fit your schedule: daycare training, board and train during an overnight stay, and private lessons at VIP or in your home. Every program is customized to your dog and arranged in advance with one of our trainers.
Training at VIP is led by co-founder Marc Street, who has trained and rehabilitated dogs for over two decades. Our methods are no-nonsense and easy to follow, so what your dog learns with us carries over at home.
Find the Right Dog Training Program
We offer three training formats. Each one is built around your dog’s needs and your schedule.
Daycare Training
Your dog enjoys our open-play indoor daycare between multiple daily training sessions, and you never part overnight. Daily drop-off and pick-up is required. Each program includes at least one follow-up lesson with you and your dog.
Board and Train
Your dog can be obedience-trained, have commands reinforced, or work on behavioral issues while staying in our indoor, open-play boarding facility. Our trainers design the program with you, and it includes at least one follow-up lesson.
Private Lessons
One-on-one private dog training at a time that suits you. Our trainers can come to your home, where many unwanted behaviors happen, or you can train at VIP to focus away from home. Single lessons and lesson packages are available.
All training must be arranged in advance and scheduled with a trainer.
What Can Our Dog Training Programs Help With
Our trainers work on everything from basic obedience to specific problem behaviors. Every dog learns at its own pace, so we build each plan around your dog and your goals.
Obedience and Commands
Dog obedience training teaches new commands or sharpens the ones your dog already knows, giving you clear, reliable communication in daily life.
Manners and Everyday Habits
Help with pulling on the leash, jumping on people, mouthing, excessive barking, digging and housebreaking issues, so your dog is easier to live with at home and out on walks.
Individual Behavioral Challenges
Our trainers will work with you to decide the best course of action, through in-facility training, private lessons or both. Please tell us about any aggression when you inquire so we can recommend the right format.
Meet Our Dog Trainers
Our training program is led by VIP’s co-founder, who works with our team of trainers to shape each dog’s program.
Marc Street
V.P. of Training/Behavior, Co-Founder
Marc has been training and rehabilitating dogs for over two decades and specializes in “difficult” dogs that no one else can handle. He is Co-Founder and Owner of Very Important Paws and President of Happy Dog Training Inc., founded in 1993 and serving Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts and Palm Beach County, Florida. From 1988 to 2001 he was National Director of Training and Media Spokesperson for the Invisible Fence Co.
Marc has performed live training demonstrations at the North American Veterinary Conference and the American Veterinary Medical Association conference, and served as a panel member with the late Roger Caras, President Emeritus of the ASPCA. His professional opinions have been sought for segments of the CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, Fox News Channel and the American Baby Show. He was featured weekly on “Pet Corner” on Channel 25 ABC News West Palm Beach and has appeared on news programs in Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, Orlando, New York and other cities across the country.
Marc is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), an Instructor/Mentor for the Animal Behavior College and an AKC Approved Evaluator for the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program. He has volunteered as a consultant and obedience instructor at the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League (Humane Society of the Palm Beaches) and the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard.
Our Dog Training Approach
A good leader gives clear, decisive direction, and training is the best way to establish that role with your dog. Our methods are no-nonsense and easy to follow, so you can keep using them long after a session ends.
Every program is customized. Our trainers work with you to design a plan for your dog, whether that means learning new commands, reinforcing familiar ones or working through a specific behavior. Some problems are best solved where they happen, which is why we also train in your home.
We teach you as well as your dog. Daycare training and board-and-train programs include at least one follow-up lesson to show you what your dog has learned and how to maintain it, and private lessons teach you to reinforce commands and good behavior yourself.
What to Expect From Your Dog’s Training Program
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Inquire
Call 561-366-9000 or send a training inquiry. Tell us about your dog, your goals and any behavior concerns.
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Confirm Requirements
We need current proof of Rabies, Distemper, Parvo and Bordetella vaccinations. Daycare training and board-and-train dogs also meet our daycare and boarding guest requirements.
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Plan and Schedule
A trainer helps you choose the right format and designs a program for your dog. All training is arranged in advance and scheduled with a trainer.
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Training Sessions
Daycare training dogs are dropped off and picked up daily, board-and-train dogs train during their stay, and private lessons run about an hour at VIP or at your home.
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Follow-Up Lesson
Daycare training and board-and-train programs include at least one follow-up lesson showing you what your dog has learned and how to keep it up.
Program length depends on the format and your dog’s plan. Ask your trainer what to expect when you schedule.
Dog Training Prices and Enrollment
Because every program is customized, we quote training once we know your dog and your goals. Call 561-366-9000 or send an inquiry for pricing on any format.
| Option | What's Included | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Daycare Training | Multiple daily training sessions during open-play daycare, plus at least one follow-up lesson | Quote after assessment |
| Board and Train | A training program designed for your dog’s boarding stay, plus at least one follow-up lesson | Quote after assessment |
| Private Lesson at VIP | About one hour, one-on-one with a trainer at our facility | Quote after assessment |
| Private Lesson at Your Home | About one hour; our trainer comes to you and shows you how to reinforce commands | Quote after assessment |
| Private Lesson Packages | A series of private lessons at VIP or at home | Call for package pricing |
Not sure which program fits? Our trainers will help you choose based on your dog, your goals and your schedule. We recommend reserving training ahead of time, and we accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and cash (no checks).
Why Choose VIP for Dog Training
- Experienced leadership. Our training is led by Marc Street, an AKC Approved Evaluator for the Canine Good Citizen Program, APDT member and former National Director of Training for the Invisible Fence Co.
- A format for every schedule. Daycare training, board and train, and private lessons at VIP or at home, each customized to your dog.
- Training that fits with care. Daycare training dogs play in our open-play dog daycare between sessions, and board-and-train dogs stay in our dog hotel, staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our trainers can also help nervous dogs with grooming.
- A trusted local facility. VIP has served West Palm Beach since February 2004 and is licensed and inspected every year by Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control.
Dog Training FAQs
Which training programs are available?
VIP offers daycare training, board and train (boarding training), and private lessons at our facility or in your home. Every program is customized to your dog and scheduled in advance with a trainer.
How does board-and-train work?
Your dog stays in our indoor, open-play boarding facility and works with our trainers during the stay, whether on obedience, reinforcing commands or behavioral issues. We design the program with you, and it includes at least one follow-up lesson.
Can training be added to daycare?
Yes. With daycare training, your dog enjoys our open-play dog daycare between multiple daily training sessions and goes home each night. Daily drop-off and pick-up is required, and the program includes at least one follow-up lesson.
Are at-home lessons available?
Yes. Our trainers come to your home for private lessons of about one hour, training your dog and teaching you how to reinforce commands and desired behavior. Private lessons are also available at VIP.
Which behaviors can training address?
Training can help with obedience and commands, housebreaking issues, jumping on people, pulling on the leash, mouthing, excessive barking, separation anxiety, digging and aggression. Every dog progresses differently, and our trainers will help you choose the best course of action.
Who will train my dog?
Your dog will work with a VIP trainer. Our training program is led by co-founder Marc Street, V.P. of Training/Behavior, who has trained and rehabilitated dogs for over two decades.
What does training cost?
Training is quoted for each dog because every program is customized. Call 561-366-9000 or send a training inquiry for pricing. Single private lessons and lesson packages are both available.
How do I choose a program?
Daycare training suits dogs who go home each night, board and train suits dogs staying with us overnight, and private lessons suit one-on-one work at VIP or on behaviors that happen at home. Our trainers will help you decide.
Ready to Get Started?
Tell us about your dog and your goals, and our training team will help you choose the right program. You can also call us at 561-366-9000.