Serving Waynesville, Asheville & Western North Carolina
Our board and train program is the fastest way to a well-behaved dog. Your dog lives at our facility on a mountain farm property in Western NC, receives multiple daily training sessions, and comes home with reliable obedience. $400/week, boarding included. Serving Waynesville, Asheville, Hendersonville, Brevard, and all of WNC.
Boarding included
Based on your dog’s needs
Fields, trails, pond
Photos and videos, free
32 Google reviews
You drop off your dog. We handle the rest. Here is exactly what happens from start to finish.
We meet your dog, assess their temperament and current skill level, and talk through your goals. We recommend a program length (most dogs: 2 to 3 weeks) and give you an honest timeline for results.
Bring your dog to the facility with their food, medications (if any), and vaccination records. We handle the rest. Your dog settles into their individual, climate-controlled kennel and starts the program.
Your dog receives multiple structured training sessions per day on our farm property. Field walks, forest trails, pond work, and real-world proofing with natural distractions. You get daily photo and video updates.
At pickup, we walk you through every command your dog learned. You practice the handling techniques under our guidance. You leave confident that you can maintain the training at home. Follow-up support is included.
Your dog does not just learn to sit in a quiet room. Every skill is trained and tested on our farm property with real distractions: other dogs, wildlife, open space, water.
Solid positions with duration. Your dog holds the command until you release them, even with distractions.
Walking at your side without pulling, lunging, or dragging. Structured walks that work on sidewalks and trails.
Your dog comes back when called, the first time. The most important command for safety and off-leash reliability.
Go to a spot (bed, mat, cot) and stay until released. For doorbell moments, mealtimes, guests, and restaurants.
No bolting. No jumping on visitors. Your dog waits calmly at thresholds until given permission to move.
Ignore food on the ground, other animals, and distractions on command. The foundation for everything else.
This is the first thing people worry about. Your dog stays in an individual, climate-controlled Mason Kennel with room to stand, stretch, and lie down. The entire building is heated and cooled year-round with Mitsubishi Mini Split units. But the kennel is just where they sleep and rest between sessions.
The rest of the day, your dog is out. Training on the farm property, walking the fields, working on the forest trails, or at the pond. Multiple sessions per day, every day of the program.
Most board and train programs in the Asheville area work out of suburban homes, strip mall suites, or small indoor facilities. Your dog learns to sit in a quiet room, then falls apart the moment they see a squirrel.
We train on a mountain farm property with open fields, forest trails, a pond, and other animals on the property. Your dog learns to listen in the same kind of environments they will actually live in. That is the difference between a dog that performs in a training session and a dog that performs at the park, on the trail, or at a brewery patio.
Some people worry that their dog will “come back different” after a board and train. That the goofy, loving personality will be gone and they will get back a robotic animal that only responds out of fear. That is not how we train.
We use balanced training: positive reinforcement to teach commands, and fair, low-level accountability once the dog understands the command but chooses to ignore it. Your dog comes home with the same personality they left with, plus the impulse control and manners to actually enjoy life with you. Calmer on walks. Better around guests. Reliable when it counts.
We send daily photos and videos throughout the program so you can see your dog’s progress (and their personality) for yourself. There is no extra charge for updates.
This is the part that separates a good board and train from a waste of money. We can train your dog perfectly, but if you do not know how to maintain the commands at home, the training falls apart within a month.
Every program ends with a hands-on owner transfer session. We walk you through every command, show you the handling techniques, practice with you, and make sure you are confident before your dog goes home. This is not a 15-minute overview. This is a real working session where you learn the same skills your dog learned.
We also provide follow-up support after the program ends. If a behavior regresses or you need a refresher, call us and we will help.
Structure keeps dogs calm, focused, and progressing. Every day of the program follows this routine.
First walk on the farm property. Bathroom break, fresh air, stretch. Then the first structured training session: new commands, repetition, and skill building with positive reinforcement.
Second training session focused on proofing skills in distracting environments. Field walks, forest trails, or pond work depending on the dog and the weather. Rest period in the climate-controlled kennel.
Final outdoor session. Short review of the day’s work. Dinner on schedule. Dogs settle into clean kennels for the night with fresh water and a quiet building. Photos and video updates sent to you.
One price. Everything included. No hidden fees, no add-on upsells, no “premium tier” that costs double.
per week, boarding included
2 weeks: $800 | 3 weeks: $1,200 | 4 weeks: $1,600
Bring your dog’s regular food to prevent stomach upset. If you do not bring food, house food is available for $5/day. Medication administration is always included at no charge. See full boarding details.
We believe you should see the numbers before you call. Here is how Crabtree compares to other programs in the Asheville and Western NC area.
| Program | Typical WNC Range | Crabtree |
|---|---|---|
| 2-Week Board & Train | $1,500 to $2,900 | $800 |
| 3-Week Board & Train | $2,200 to $3,500 | $1,200 |
| 4-Week Board & Train | $2,800 to $4,200+ | $1,600 |
| Boarding Included? | Varies | Yes, always |
| Owner Transfer Session | Some charge extra | Always included |
| Daily Photo/Video Updates | Some charge extra | Free, every day |
| Farm Property Training | Rare | Fields, trails, pond |
| Follow-Up Support | Varies | Included |
Market ranges reflect publicly available rates from trainers in the Asheville, Hendersonville, and Western NC area as of early 2026. The most-searched competitor, Off Leash K9 Asheville, lists their 2-week board and train at $2,900.
“Our puppy Maggie had a wonderful experience at Crabtree Kennels. The kennels were very clean, spacious and climate controlled. The owners made us feel welcomed and assured us that our puppy would be well cared for. Crabtree’s owners were very flexible to meet us when we were available. Would highly recommend!”
Read on Google →“I Found Chuck online, and he took my big boy last minute with no problem. He sent photos, daily updates, daily activities with him, he’s just been amazing! Highly recommended! He’s our new go to!”
Read on Google →“This place has a beautiful new building! Everything is super clean. The owners, Chuck and Kay are fantastic and extremely caring and helpful. I highly recommend! Reasonable price.”
Read on Google →Current vaccination records (Rabies, DHLPP, Bordetella, flea/tick/heartworm). Your dog’s regular food for the full stay, pre-portioned and labeled. Any medications with written instructions. Emergency contact info.
A familiar blanket or bed. A favorite toy (labeled with your name). Feeding instructions if your dog has a specific schedule. Anything that helps your dog feel comfortable during the first night.
Need to download our boarding agreement? Get it here (PDF) or complete it at check-in.
$400 per week with boarding included. Most dogs complete basic obedience in 2 to 3 weeks ($800 to $1,200 total). Dogs with more complex needs may benefit from 3 to 4 weeks. For context, the most popular competitor in the Asheville market charges $2,900 for a 2-week program. Call (828) 508-4448 to get started.
Most dogs complete basic obedience board and train in 2 to 3 weeks. Dogs with more complex behavior issues, older dogs with deeply ingrained habits, or dogs needing advanced off-leash work may benefit from 3 to 4 weeks. We recommend a program length during your consultation after evaluating your dog. There is no one-size-fits-all answer.
In an individual, climate-controlled Mason Kennel at our facility. Each dog gets their own space with room to stand, stretch, and lie down. The building is heated and cooled 24/7 with Mitsubishi Mini Split units. Kennels are cleaned and sanitized daily. Your dog is never shared with unfamiliar dogs. See full facility details on our boarding page.
Not if you maintain the training. Every program ends with an owner transfer session where we walk you through every command, show you the handling techniques, and let you practice under our guidance. This is the most important part of the process. We also provide follow-up support after pickup. If something regresses or you need a refresher, call us and we will help.
Yes. We send daily photo and video updates throughout the program at no extra charge. You will see your dog’s progress, their daily activities, and their general demeanor so you know they are happy and learning.
Yes. We use modern e-collar conditioning at low, communication-level stimulation for off-leash reliability and recall. The e-collar is introduced only after the dog understands the command through positive reinforcement. It is not used as punishment. Every dog is individually conditioned, and we show owners exactly how to use it during the transfer session. If you have questions about this, bring them to the consultation.
All breeds and all ages. While we specialize in retrievers and sporting breeds, our board and train program is designed for every dog. Puppies (16 weeks minimum for board and train), adult dogs, and senior dogs are all welcome. For puppies under 16 weeks, we recommend our puppy training program first.
All dogs must be current on Rabies, DHLPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvo), Bordetella (kennel cough), and flea/tick/heartworm prevention. Bring shot records at drop-off or have your vet email them before the stay.
Depends on your dog, your goals, and your schedule. Board and train works best if you want faster results, if your schedule makes weekly lessons difficult, or if your dog needs the consistency of an immersive environment. Private lessons work well if you want to be hands-on throughout the process and can commit to weekly sessions plus homework. Some people do a board and train followed by a few private tune-up sessions. We help you decide during the consultation. See our full obedience training options.
Private lessons and lesson packages for owners who want hands-on involvement. From $85/hour.
Obedience details →
Socialization, crate training, housebreaking, and foundation commands. Start them right from 8 weeks.
Puppy program details →
Field work, water retrieves, steadiness, and AKC/UKC hunt test prep for retrievers and sporting breeds.
Retriever training details →Tell us about your dog and your goals. We will recommend the right program length and get you on the calendar.
(828) 508-4448