Trainer-led puppy boarding
PUPPY
BOARDING GTA
First-time puppy parents in Toronto and the GTA — your puppy stays with a working trainer, not minimum-wage kennel staff. Crate-training reinforcement, structured mealtimes, curated socialization (never random off-leash with strangers). $90/day at Paddock Estate (Pickering). Free phone consult before any first stay.
Why puppies need different boarding than adult dogs
A 5-month puppy is in the middle of every formative window — crate tolerance, settle work, bite inhibition, food manners, first impressions of new dogs and new humans. A standard kennel with 12 dogs in a yard and no structure will teach a puppy exactly the wrong lessons: chaos is normal, mealtimes are a scramble, strangers are exciting, and the crate is jail. The Dogfather puppy protocol reinforces what your $1,750 obedience program (or your at-home foundation work) is building — not against it.
The puppy protocol — what's included at $90/day
- —Trainer on-site 24/7 — not minimum-wage kennel staff
- —Crate-training reinforcement — rest periods, post-meal settle, overnight
- —Premium crates for rest periods + overnight (safe separation from other on-site dogs)
- —Mealtime structure — fixed schedule, sit before bowl, no scramble feeding
- —Curated socialization — calm adult dog models, never random off-leash with strangers
- —Toilet schedule logged — bladder-control tracking
- —Settle drills + place-command foundations woven into rest periods
- —Gentle exposure to new sights, sounds, surfaces (no flooding)
- —Daily photo + 30-second video update sent proactively
- —Flat collar walks only (no harness — flat collar from week one prevents pulling)
- —20 acres at Paddock Estate (Pickering) for structured exposure
Trainer on-site, not kennel staff
Most GTA boarding facilities run on minimum-wage staff doing feed-and-clean rotations. That works for adult dogs with stable habits. For a puppy, it is the difference between coming home the same dog you dropped off vs. coming home with a regression that takes weeks to fix.
At The Dogfather, the same working trainer who runs the obedience and aggression-rehab programs is the one feeding your puppy, doing the crate work, and supervising the socialization. Same hands, same standards.
Vaccine + age requirements
- —Minimum age: 16 weeks (4 months).
- —Vaccines required: Two complete rounds of DHPP, current Bordetella, Rabies if age-eligible. Email a PDF of the vet record to support@dogfather.ca before drop-off.
- —8–15-week puppies: Not boarded. Book a $50 phone consult — we recommend an in-home foundation approach until vaccines complete.
- —Spay/neuter: Not required. Intact puppies are welcome with full vaccine disclosure.
Free phone consult before first stay
First-time puppy parents get a free phone consult before any booking — 10–15 minutes, no commitment. Covers vaccine status, age fit, your puppy's current routine, what to bring, and whether plain boarding ($90/day) or Board & Train ($150/day) is the better fit for the stay length. Call 647-551-2633 or text. The $50 evaluation (if booked) is credited toward the first stay.
Puppy boarding FAQ
What's the minimum age for puppy boarding at The Dogfather?
16 weeks (4 months) with the second round of DHPP vaccines complete and Bordetella up to date. Younger puppies (8–15 weeks) are not boarded — their immune systems and socialization windows are too sensitive for an away-from-home stay. For 8–15-week puppies we recommend the in-home foundation program plus a $50 phone consult.
What vaccines does my puppy need?
Two complete rounds of DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parvo, parainfluenza), Bordetella (kennel cough), and Rabies if old enough. Bring the vet record at intake or email a PDF to support@dogfather.ca in advance. Without complete vaccines we cannot accept the booking — this is non-negotiable for the safety of every dog on site.
How is puppy boarding different from adult dog boarding?
Five things change. (1) Mealtime structure is enforced — puppies eat on a fixed schedule, not free-fed. (2) Crate-training reinforcement runs all day — rest periods, post-meal settle, overnight. (3) Socialization is curated, not random — no off-leash with strangers, no chaotic group play. (4) Toilet schedule is logged (puppies still building bladder control). (5) Trainer supervises 24/7 — a puppy alone in a kennel for 12 hours is how bad habits form.
How much does puppy boarding cost in Toronto / GTA?
$90/day standard rate at The Dogfather — same as adult boarding. Most GTA facilities either don't take puppies under 6 months or charge a premium for the extra handling. We don't charge a premium; puppies get the same $90/day rate but with trainer attention built into the protocol. Full upfront, non-refundable, e-transfer to support@dogfather.ca.
Will my puppy meet other dogs?
Curated, never random. Healthy adult dogs on site can model calm behaviour for a puppy when supervised — that is how socialization is supposed to work. What we never do: throw a puppy into a free-for-all dog yard with strangers. Off-leash with unknown dogs is not part of the puppy boarding protocol.
Can boarding include puppy training reinforcement?
Yes — that's the Board & Train tier at $150/day. Adds daily training reps on top of boarding (sit, place, recall foundations, leash basics, crate duration, settle work). For an extended puppy stay (7+ nights) the Board & Train tier is the higher-leverage choice. Talk it through on the free phone consult before booking.
Book the free puppy consult
10–15 minutes. Honest fit assessment. Dates locked via e-transfer.
Book Puppy ConsultSee also: standard boarding ($90/day) · board & train ($150/day) · obedience program ($1,750) · summer boarding