A Woman-Owned Business in the Heart of Virginia
1180 Tye Brook Highway
Piney River, Virginia, 22964
info@campmerricks.com
(434) 981-7538 Text or Phone
Training is an investment in the relationship you and your family have with your dog. A well trained dog is a joy to be around and can be with its family in most environments. We believe each dog and handler is unique and requires a specific approach, tools, and timeline to achieve goals. We start with the least intrusive method that produces results and work from there. We use all available tools, including slip collars and leashes, head halters, prong collars and e-collars.
​
Training the people in the equation is just as important as training the dog. We provide hands on assistance, written materials and follow up to help you continue training with your dog at home. We also provide follow-up support after training. We offer several different programs, outlined below. Schedule a meet and greet if you aren't sure what type of training you need.
Puppy Camp
Have a new puppy? Bring them to Puppy Camp! We can tailor a Puppy Camp program to your needs with several different options.
​
Under 6 Months:
Based on the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy program this Camp includes full-day daycare, appropriate socialization, dog play, desensitization for grooming & nail trims, assistance with house training and basic obedience. We provide you with a verbal daily review and printed weekly report including homework. This program is six weeks in length, 2 times a week, so 12 full-day visits and 6 homework sessions. You will receive at least one video of our training with your pup. Under 6 Months Puppy Camp Complete training plan: $750.
​
Enrolled Puppy Campers under 6 months also receive reduced boarding rates should you require boarding. We charge $50 a night for puppies under six months if they are not Puppy Campers. Puppy Campers are charged our regular $35 a night rate.
​
Over 6 months (Adolescent/Young Adult):
Most dogs over six months have the basics and need targeted training or socialization. The program for adolescents and young adult dogs consists of six full-day sessions to target specific training needs and socialization like leash walking or reactivity. This is also a supplement for Campers who have completed our Core Puppy Camp and need a little extra help. We provide you with a verbal daily review and emailed report card including homework. You will receive at least one video of our training with your pup. Over 6 Months Puppy Camp training plan: $500.
​
Drop-In Puppy Camp:
Designed for existing Campers (we are familiar with your pup) or puppies who have completed one of the above Puppy Camps. Each Drop-In package has two full-day sessions for small issues or refreshers on areas your puppy seems to have "forgotten". Drop-In Puppy Camps: $140.
​
Start your puppy off right, from the first day you bring them home. Investing in training EARLY is the best way to keep problems from arising in adult dogs.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Boot Camp
For older dogs with specific training issues like fear reactivity, recall or jumping we offer a three day program that consists of one full day of training and daycare at Camp, one full day of training and Daycare with an offsite visit (typically the Blue Ridge Rail trail or Lowe's) and a third day meeting you and your dog at a place of your choosing to teach you what we taught your dog (~ 2 hours). We provide written feedback and training plans as well as one video. Boot Camp training plan: $550.00.
Drop In Camp Training
Sometimes your dog just needs a little brushing up on some basics or help with a smaller behavior problem while at Camp. We can add training sessions to their boarding to address these behaviors. This is most often requested by existing Campers who have had other training with us. We can schedule one or two sessions here at Camp with you and your dog even if you aren't boarding. Drop In Camp training: $150.00 per session.
​
Off-Site Training
When you have issues specific to being in public, walking on leash, or meeting new people an off-site training session or two can help. We have trained with owners and dogs on trails, at breweries, at Lowe's and at orchards. We meet you there and help work through the training issues. Off-site training: $175.00 per session.
​
E-Collar Training
Contact us about our E-collar training programs. We offer Board and Train
plans for new clients and day training plans for clients who have already
worked with us. We provide all training materials and the e-collar.
We are registered dealers of E-Collar Technologies, Inc. products.
Board & Train
We offer board and train programs on a limited basis to address behavior issues or assist with transitioning a new dog to your home. Contact us for more information.
Sponsor a Board & Train or Daycare
We offer special board and train programs for foster dogs from local shelters and rescue organizations. We try to keep several foster spots open depending on the time of year. Additionally we host shelter dogs for daycare days so they get a break from the shelter.
​
When we have an opening, you can Sponsor a Board and Train to help your favorite shelter dog get the training and socialization they need to be adopted faster! Once we take in a foster we keep them through adoption unless they are not a good fit for the Camp environment. Contact us for details.
We offer group classes twice a year. The course: Basic Obedience and K9 Communication is designed to give you the tools to teach basic skills and manners, better communicate with your dog, and understand why they behave the way they do, and teach them the requirements to be certified as a Canine Good Citizen. The sixth week is the AKC Canine Good Citizenship qualification test.​
-
Where: Camp Merricks. 1180 Tye Brook Highway, Piney River.
-
When: Saturdays this fall. TBD.
-
Class cost: $200 per student, prepaid, nonrefundable.
-
Training leash and long line provided.
-
Required: Current vaccinations including DHLPP, rabies, Bordetella and a clean fecal test.​
​​
You must have a Camper Account to sign up. Use the "New Client Registration" button at the bottom of this page to register yourself and your dog(s) and request the class. If you already have an account, use your "Happy Camper Login" to request your spot.